New to me 98 M3 Questions

[Trimmy]

I recently bought a 98 M3 that had a cracked head for $1200. The car is in really good shape and I am ready to get it running. Its been hard to find used heads around me. I was surfing the web and found a 2000 E46 328i 5spd with a good engine and trans in it for $500. From my research the engine is an M52 and the head will work on my car after changing the cams and valve springs. Is this true or will that head not work? I plan to send it in to a machine shop to have it rebuilt.

The M3 is an auto and no car is fun with an auto in it. Will the 328i's trans hold up in the M3? I know it will need a new clutch and a lot of the parts will not work on the M3 but I know I can sell or swap a lot to make back the $500 Im spending on the car.

Sorry for the newbie questions I' just not finding definitive answers and I don't want to waste a bunch of money on a parts car I cannot use.

[gdavid]

You are correct about the head, cams and valve springs. That will work. The 328 and m3 used the same manual transmission, you will need to use the driveshaft and differential from the 328 as well but it will go right in.

www.realoem.com is a great resource for checking part numbers and what models share specific parts.

[Trimmy]

Thank you for the response. I just wanted to confirm what I thought I knew haha.

I did just realize that I had the parts car listed as a 98 328i. The car is actually a 2000 328i so its an e46. The trans will still work but not all the other parts correct?

[gdavid]

Thank you for the response. I just wanted to confirm what I thought I knew haha.

I did just realize that I had the parts car listed as a 98 328i. The car is actually a 2000 328i so its an e46. The trans will still work but not all the other parts correct?

Oh, that changes things. I don't think either driveshaft you already have will be the correct length for the e36 to run that transmission. The differentials aren't interchangeable and you will find the auto m3 rear differential to be geared low for the manual transmission, it would work but your rpm's will be up there and may or may not be something you want. I believe the driveshaft for the auto m3 is what is needed to swap a 6 speed Getrag 420G into an e36 so it is desirable.

[Trimmy]

If the driveshaft is too long that’s no issue. I have a local shop that will rebuild, shorten, and balance realatively cheap. I’ll try to keep the auto shaft for someone doing a swap.

[jc43089]

You cannot use an e46 head on your M3. An M52 is ok if you swap cams and. An E46 and E39 has an M52TU which is dual vanos and not compatible at all.

If you find a head from an M50 or S50 car you will need to swap cams with trays and lifters.

If you find a head from an M52 you just need to swap cams.

If you find an S52 head just bolt it on.


Any head should be pressure checked, inspected for warping and skimmed no matter what.