Results 1 to 17 of 17

Thread: 94 318is Auto S52 5-speed swap.

  1. #1
    Join Date
    Oct 2010
    Location
    Indianapolis
    Posts
    741
    My Cars
    F30 328d X-Drive

    94 318is Auto S52 5-speed swap.

    I just picked up a 1994 BMW 318is Auto Coupe today with a blown motor. I also have a 1998 BMW M Roadster with S52 and 5-speed manual in it. I am going to LS swap that car so I picked up this 318 to put my S52 pull out into. Figured it would be a fun little car.

    The 318 has a nearly perfect interior and just a few blemishes on the exterior. The rear passenger side sideskirt has a bit of cancer on it I am not sure what I am going to do about that since I don't think this has the removable side skirts. Maybe i can just cut it off and bolt some newer style skirts over it. I would say the interior on this car is a 9/10 and the exterior is 7/10. The lady just spent like $3500 on the car over the past two years in maintenance. I guess someone did a shit job changing out the timing chain on the engine and it went.

    I may be slow to post updates on this thread but I will post them as they come. I am also finishing up a few 3rd gen RX-7 LS1 swaps for some people here locally. So this project takes a back seat to the paying jobs! If anyone has good advice for the swap I'd be happy to hear it.

    I basically have everything from my M roadster that wouldn't be needed for an LS swap available to go into this car. Not sure if there is much else I will need aside from a shift boot and a clutch/brake pedal assembly and hydraulics for that.

    The 318is
    00D0D_bI17JIAlKZj_1200x900.jpg

    this is my 98 M Roadster (that's just pearl blue plastidip)
    IMG_2147.jpgIMG_2146.jpg

    Few shots of the RX-7 LS1 swap I am finishing up right now.
    IMG_3069.jpgIMG_3063.jpg

  2. #2
    Join Date
    Oct 2010
    Location
    Indianapolis
    Posts
    741
    My Cars
    F30 328d X-Drive
    Ran out and got some more photos of the 318si

    IMG_3163.jpgIMG_3165.jpgIMG_3168.jpgIMG_3171.jpg

    I picked up a set of Black E36 M3 Side skirts and a clutch/break pedal assembly off eBay yesterday. I am working with some local people parting out some cars trying to get the following parts.

    Manual Driveshaft
    Shift boot w/ frame
    M Door sills
    M Floor Mats
    M Gauge Cluster
    Rubber door seal (body side)
    Rubber trunk lid seal (Body side)

    I have decided to keep the motor OBD2 after finding a good wiring schematic for the job.

  3. #3
    Join Date
    Mar 2013
    Location
    Upstate NY
    Posts
    1,154
    My Cars
    M3
    Doing an identical swap. I've got a 95 alpine 318is pretty much swapping everything though. Will be following this for sure.

  4. #4
    Join Date
    Mar 2018
    Location
    Mozambique
    Posts
    8
    My Cars
    Bmw e36 318is
    I have a 318is as well but the previous owner wanted the engine and auto gearbox so I figured why not do a project.. so ive got a m20b25 engine stroked 2.7L and was wondering if my plan to swap it in to the 318is is a good idea.. I would go for a m52 or m50 swap but im currently low on budget and this is the option I got so far

  5. #5
    Join Date
    Oct 2010
    Location
    Indianapolis
    Posts
    741
    My Cars
    F30 328d X-Drive
    Quote Originally Posted by Mklock View Post
    Doing an identical swap. I've got a 95 alpine 318is pretty much swapping everything though. Will be following this for sure.
    Nice! Post up here if you run into any issues for sure

    Quote Originally Posted by E30Lover1997 View Post
    I have a 318is as well but the previous owner wanted the engine and auto gearbox so I figured why not do a project.. so ive got a m20b25 engine stroked 2.7L and was wondering if my plan to swap it in to the 318is is a good idea.. I would go for a m52 or m50 swap but im currently low on budget and this is the option I got so far
    If you already have an engine might as well. Transmissions aren't hard to find.

    I was given this info from a member on here that helps for using the OBD2 engine in an OBD1 car.
    obd2-jpg.jpg
    1995 Mazda RX-7 Feed Widebody LS3 6-speed (Toy, project)
    2010 Cadillac Escalade Luxury (Daily, Pulls my 18' car hauler)
    2014 BMW 328d XDrive (Wife's Daily)
    Have owned 4 other BWM's I no longer have.

  6. #6
    Join Date
    Mar 2018
    Location
    Mozambique
    Posts
    8
    My Cars
    Bmw e36 318is
    Quote Originally Posted by Venom13132 View Post
    Nice! Post up here if you run into any issues for sure



    If you already have an engine might as well. Transmissions aren't hard to find.

    I was given this info from a member on here that helps for using the OBD2 engine in an OBD1 car.
    obd2-jpg.jpg
    Thank you for the advice and the guide for obd2 engine in an obd1

  7. #7
    Join Date
    Oct 2010
    Location
    Indianapolis
    Posts
    741
    My Cars
    F30 328d X-Drive
    Picked up a few parts locally today from a guy with a wrecked 98 M3

    Manual Driveshaft
    New Carrier Berring

    Found a nice shift boot with the frame with no broken clips on eBay also

    So I pretty much have everything I need to get started on this project. Just have to find time. I will be done with the Red RX-7 this week but I have 4 more LS1 RX-7 swaps to finish for people who are giving me money so my project doesn't have priority at the moment.
    1995 Mazda RX-7 Feed Widebody LS3 6-speed (Toy, project)
    2010 Cadillac Escalade Luxury (Daily, Pulls my 18' car hauler)
    2014 BMW 328d XDrive (Wife's Daily)
    Have owned 4 other BWM's I no longer have.

  8. #8
    Join Date
    Mar 2018
    Location
    Mozambique
    Posts
    8
    My Cars
    Bmw e36 318is
    Thats awesome. I got a few parts as well. I bought a 97 M3 diff, full M3 suspension kit, angel eyes headlights and M3 front bumper. Im still going to buy more stuff like for the engine..

  9. #9
    Join Date
    Oct 2010
    Location
    Indianapolis
    Posts
    741
    My Cars
    F30 328d X-Drive
    Quote Originally Posted by E30Lover1997 View Post
    Thats awesome. I got a few parts as well. I bought a 97 M3 diff, full M3 suspension kit, angel eyes headlights and M3 front bumper. Im still going to buy more stuff like for the engine..
    Nice. I have everything I need to get the swap done now. There are some other pieces I could get to make it more of an M3 swap, but all those things are extra, so just depends on what I want to spend! My buddy has a set of coilovers he got in some sort of trade deal that he is going to give me to put on the car so that is a plus. The car has good shocks and struts as is but cant pass up free coilovers.

    I am on the fence with weather or not I want to:
    Replace the head gasket
    Put in ARP Head studs
    Rebuild the vanos.

    I figure this would be good to do with the engine out. I have already replaced all the other gaskets on the engine because they were all leaking when I got the car (800 mile drive home and lost 2 quarts of oil just from leaking)
    1995 Mazda RX-7 Feed Widebody LS3 6-speed (Toy, project)
    2010 Cadillac Escalade Luxury (Daily, Pulls my 18' car hauler)
    2014 BMW 328d XDrive (Wife's Daily)
    Have owned 4 other BWM's I no longer have.

  10. #10
    Join Date
    Mar 2013
    Location
    Upstate NY
    Posts
    1,154
    My Cars
    M3
    Nice nice, I got my engine and transmission pulled on my 318. Apparently both motor mounts AND both transmission mounts were split in half. For sure not from my redline R..N...D drops hahaha. 318 autos can spin a LSD. Everything is ready for drop in just some detailing.

  11. #11
    Join Date
    Oct 2010
    Location
    Indianapolis
    Posts
    741
    My Cars
    F30 328d X-Drive
    Quote Originally Posted by Mklock View Post
    Nice nice, I got my engine and transmission pulled on my 318. Apparently both motor mounts AND both transmission mounts were split in half. For sure not from my redline R..N...D drops hahaha. 318 autos can spin a LSD. Everything is ready for drop in just some detailing.
    haha nice work. Feel free to post up any pictures or things you run into on this thread. I am hoping to do a little work on the 318 this weekend.
    1995 Mazda RX-7 Feed Widebody LS3 6-speed (Toy, project)
    2010 Cadillac Escalade Luxury (Daily, Pulls my 18' car hauler)
    2014 BMW 328d XDrive (Wife's Daily)
    Have owned 4 other BWM's I no longer have.

  12. #12
    Join Date
    Mar 2013
    Location
    Upstate NY
    Posts
    1,154
    My Cars
    M3
    Well figured out today my 318is has an LSD wondering if it's worth cleaning up and selling. It's an automatic too so I'm guessing it's a really short ratio.

  13. #13
    Join Date
    Mar 2018
    Location
    Mozambique
    Posts
    8
    My Cars
    Bmw e36 318is
    Hey guys im only seeing the messages today🙈 well an update on my 318is is that I didnt swap the m20b25 engine.. instead I swapped in a m52b28.. the engine runs perfectly.. now I just need to focus on body work

  14. #14
    Join Date
    Mar 2018
    Location
    Mozambique
    Posts
    8
    My Cars
    Bmw e36 318is
    https://m.imgur.com/gallery/LPZXonc
    So this is the engine I swapped in

    - - - Updated - - -

    https://m.imgur.com/gallery/USqMReY
    This is the 318is with my old rims

  15. #15
    Join Date
    Mar 2013
    Location
    Upstate NY
    Posts
    1,154
    My Cars
    M3
    Nice everything go pretty smoothly with startup?

  16. #16
    Join Date
    Mar 2018
    Location
    Mozambique
    Posts
    8
    My Cars
    Bmw e36 318is
    Yess very smooth

  17. #17
    Join Date
    Mar 2018
    Location
    Mozambique
    Posts
    8
    My Cars
    Bmw e36 318is
    Hey guys here is a link of a video of my e36 https://youtu.be/5Vpbe1ma89k you will find another video as well.. subscribe to see more updates of the e36

Similar Threads

  1. E36 PA-94 318is auto (M52 OBD1 Manual Swap included in Sale)
    By Lowtush in forum 3 series & Z Series
    Replies: 2
    Last Post: 04-14-2013, 10:48 PM
  2. 94 318i auto tranny swap...connector problem.
    By izzyforreal in forum 1991 - 1999 (E36)
    Replies: 1
    Last Post: 05-31-2009, 08:54 PM
  3. Whats the best site for a chip for my 94 318i Auto?
    By HID_Positive in forum 1991 - 1999 (E36)
    Replies: 2
    Last Post: 09-17-2006, 11:22 AM
  4. E39 auto to 6 speed swap?
    By Gid in forum 1988 - 1996 (E34)
    Replies: 4
    Last Post: 10-01-2005, 12:43 PM
  5. F/S 94 318is auto.Needs fuel pump(NY)
    By zion1976 in forum BMW Cars For Sale / Wanted
    Replies: 6
    Last Post: 01-19-2005, 06:58 PM

Bookmarks

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •