E46 to E36 transplant

Wayne 962 · Wayne 962's Garage

Anyone know if this has been attempted quite yet?

-Wayne

Bruce M. · 11-02-2002, 10:22 AM

This is all rumour and innuendo, of course, but I've heard several stories that the new M3 engine is not exactly bulletproof. Maybe that's why people aren't trying the swap yet...

BLOWN_M_COMPACT · 11-03-2002, 06:53 PM

The E36 M motor is a way better start for modding ...

Wayne 962 · Wayne 962's Garage

Agreed, but where there is an option, I'm sure people will try it. From what I gather, the M3 motor is pretty tricked out - and that there isn't too much you can do to it to grab as much performance as the E46 engine?

Is this off-base or on-target?

-Wayne

BLOWN_M_COMPACT · 11-03-2002, 09:46 PM

You have it the other way around ... The E46 is almost maxed out and there is not to much aftermarket toys for it yet .. E36 is the best motor in my opnion to tune in a BMW .. The 8 cyl is also a nice set up or the 95 M5 motor .. The E36 motor you can get all day so a better all around deal if you blow it up

Wayne 962 · Wayne 962's Garage

How about that, though. Has anyone sucessfully transplanted an M5 into a E36 M3? That would seem to be the hot ultimate ticket. Like the 996 engine in a Boxster?

-Wayne

BLOWN_M_COMPACT · 11-04-2002, 07:41 AM

I have seen the new M5 motor in a E30 and one in a E46 but not yet a E36 . There have been a number of people that did a 4.0 swap into a E36 . There is even some cars E35 and E30 with tthe V12's in them .. Weight distrubution is another story and not worth it unless you want to go strait and that it . I had one of the Tech's that help built the worlds fastes M3 and is also owner of I say the best aftermarket comanie for BMW tell me that the 3.2 M3 motor is the best all around motor to mod !

Jared at Pelican Parts · 11-04-2002, 09:10 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Wayne at Pelican Parts
How about that, though. Has anyone sucessfully transplanted an M5 into a E36 M3? That would seem to be the hot ultimate ticket. Like the 996 engine in a Boxster?

-Wayne

Kinda OT,

But I saw a tuner somewhere in Germany put a 996 motor in the Boxster. Pretty cool.

pete98m3 · 11-11-2002, 02:13 AM

Yes, people have swaped the e39 m5 motor into a 3 series, people have even swapped the last generation 7 series v12 into a 318 hatchback...

nobody wants the e46 m3 motor... not even e46 m3 owners... Its a grenade, and there are no upgrade options for it... Dinan cancelled its supercharger, as did ESS... Active Autowerke dumped all plans of a turbo system... Jim Conforti was quoted as saying "I want touch it with a frozen rope, the liabilities are just too great." when asked about software for it... The only upgrade options are an exhaust and a couple of trick intake box's and such, but no serious mods are in the works...

The e36 m3 motor is much more bulletproof, and is by far the popular choice as for swaps.. More power? a supercharged e36 will outrun an e46 and also be much more reliable... A turbocharged e36 will outrun just about any production car.

bottom line is nobody really wants the S54, even bmw gave up on it in the m3 race car and built a 4 liter v8.