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Thread: M Powered: A Motor Swap Story

  1. #1
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    M Powered: A Motor Swap Story

    Project 325why?

    Updated 7/29/07-
    This is my motor swap story.
    The project:
    2003 M3 S54 motor, 19k miles, 6speed transmission
    Vehicle:
    1993 325is.

    Chapter I: The Devil Went Down to Georgia.
    It was an early call this morning. 5:00am. Got up, got showered, got dressed, and got in the truck. We were off!
    Our tow vehicle was a new Ford expedition.


    We were prepped to get there as fast as possible with the V1

    It was only a few hours before we hit the border


    But once we hit georgia, things got funny and ricey.
    We spotted this speed machince-


    and this 'beaut. God it was fugly.


    its only got better when I saw this:
    Black cargo on board!


    I also spotted this sweet 190e, Im guessing an EVO clone of sorts.. it sounded awesome!




    I had to rep the motorcyclers out today-


    and lastly, a clean GTO right before we got there-


    and finally, after 4 hours of driving, I got the prize!
    no, its not rust, just dirt from a dusty shop.


    The Wiring harness:


    the cluster:


    And after the long trip home, we had to hit the bikes before it got dark:


    Look for Chapter Two soon!


    Chapter 2- Ripping the Guts from the Beast
    Here we are at part 2. This time, it wasnt as clean
    Now the M50 is out!
    Start time: 6:00pm
    End time: 9:00pm

    Step One: get prepared. We layed out the tools, and cleaned up our work area.


    Step Two:
    disconnect the wiring harness!


    Step Three:
    Remove cooling system:


    Then we put it up on stands, and got dirty


    Dropped the exhaust, driveshaft, transmission crossmembers, and motor mounts, and your pretty close to this:


    Finally, wiggle the motor free!




    The easy part is done.
    Not bad for 3 hours, give or take a half hour, eh?
    Im gonna clean it up and hope to get the S54 mounted soon.

    Intermission-
    So now I have to wait for stuff to come in and such. Mainly the motor mounts.. its awfully hard to mount a motor without them.

    Well, they got here today..


    and I also have these things sitting around, waiting to go on....



    (the fogs have yellow lamin-x on them, which is coming off. I am not a fan of french fogs.)

    Also, while the car is up, I plan on lowering it a little more.


    I cant post any more images in this post, so further chapters will be linked to other posts in the thread.

    Chapter 5- Preparation

    Chapter 6- Test..1..2.. Test..1..2..


    Chapter 7- "Thats just not going to fit."
    Last edited by SpasticDwarf; 10-30-2007 at 11:59 PM.

  2. #2
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    did you get the ews module and the dme?

  3. #3
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    325is
    how long do you expect this project to take

  4. #4
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    Quote Originally Posted by gt1surfer View Post
    did you get the ews module and the dme?
    yes, I have a matched pair, but its going to get an ews delete.

    how long do you expect this project to take
    I hpoe to have it done by the end of august.

  5. #5
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    E46 325ci & Wide E36
    hot nice work dude

  6. #6
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    E-ballin
    good luck

  7. #7
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    96 328is, 01 M5
    oh man..... you have no clue how long i've wanted to see a full write up on someone doing this.....

    you sir, have made my life.

    ^^ Really old picture.
    Quote Originally Posted by Luftwaffe1O1 View Post
    I am going to make a bold claim, that the f30 is this millenium's e30...... god needed a new chariot, he decided to upgrade to something thats not falling apart and making farting noises down the street having satan laughing at him.
    Quote Originally Posted by sparkchaser View Post
    Idiocracy was supposed to be cautionary tale, not a prophecy.

  8. #8
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    E36
    Wow... thats f*cking sick


  9. #9
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    Yes
    thats a sweet project you make it sound so easy hope all goes smooth i know motor swaps all to well

  10. #10
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    looking good man, cant wait to see the finshed product!

  11. #11
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    1995 M3, 1992 Saab 900, 2003 WRX
    very nice, good luck
    I have an S50, and an S52 for sale if anyone is feeling as daring...

  12. #12
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    '08 335i, '89 325i
    lets keep this thread alive guys. Cant wait to see chapter three. YOu got prettymuch all of bf.c behind you

  13. #13
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    Quote Originally Posted by 328ischef View Post
    very nice, good luck
    I have an S50, and an S52 for sale if anyone is feeling as daring...
    Thanks
    haha I dont think an s50/52 swap is anywhere CLOSE to this level of a swap.

    lets keep this thread alive guys. Cant wait to see chapter three. YOu got prettymuch all of bf.c behind you
    <3

  14. #14
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    Falcor
    Have my babies.

  15. #15
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    so your going to try to use the stock s54 wiring harness and adapt it to the e36?

    i know thats how another member did this swap but he wouldnt go about how it was accomplished.

  16. #16
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    Bf.cAcclaim-m3 going in storage for the billboard!
    .

  17. #17
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    That beast is really going to surprise a lot of people.

    Good Luck

  18. #18
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    Quote Originally Posted by Serious View Post
    so your going to try to use the stock s54 wiring harness and adapt it to the e36?

    i know thats how another member did this swap but he wouldnt go about how it was accomplished.
    lol at Amirani even if he tried to explain it to you, you wouldn't understand lol crazy europeans lol

  19. #19
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    Quote Originally Posted by Serious View Post
    so your going to try to use the stock s54 wiring harness and adapt it to the e36?

    i know thats how another member did this swap but he wouldnt go about how it was accomplished.
    Apparently it is much easier to use the wiring harness and ECU from an S54 M Coupe/Roadster since it is a closer sibling of the E36.

  20. #20
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    Very nice man, glad to see you got started on it. Looks great so far.


  21. #21
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    I want another E36
    hmm, this sounds really good. post detailed info about the adaptation of the wiring harness, and any probs you ran into swapping the motor. this could be a potential mod for me.
    1995 Performance Motorsports Built SC300 740whp Supra 6 speed
    2000 BMW M5

  22. #22
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    Quote Originally Posted by DiScoTeknix View Post
    Apparently it is much easier to use the wiring harness and ECU from an S54 M Coupe/Roadster since it is a closer sibling of the E36.
    Only if you happen to have that harness. I have the E46 harness :-/

  23. #23
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    Porsche, e30 M3, MB-500e
    awesome project, you are going to love the torgue !

  24. #24
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    Quote Originally Posted by carreraboy911 View Post
    awesome project, you are going to love the torgue !
    coming from the KING of projects... Thanks!

  25. #25
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    95 Cosmos M3...
    Nice!Glad to see your on your way!Good Luck!

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