How difficult is an engine replacement on an e36 325i? I am looking at buying one with a damaged engine but have found a replacement 2.5 engine from a friend. Also What else would I have to replace? Thanks
I honestly don’t know the motor or car well but I know it would take some work. You may have to change mounting brackets and possibly transmission. Nothing I say about this is 100% true but it is what I’ve learned from other cars.
[cue cheerful music] Hello and welcome to the wonderous world of BMW owning. You got yourself an E36 325, and a brilliant choice it is! What’s that kiddo? Yours does not have a working engine? Well then, it’s a swappie! Don’t be put off by an engine swap, it’s a common thing, and it makes you an ADVANCED Bmw owner, so CHEER UP, get your toolbelt and let’s get cracking [/end cheerful music]
Now, that this is over, you’re swapping an M50 for an M50, so it’s an easy one, also it’s a 2.5 to 2.5 swap to it’s even easier. What you will need, you have already, you have an engine, but that’s never that simple cause of the “while we’re at it”. So here goes. While you got your engine off, you should check the coolant pump, originals had plastic impeller which tends to break and that’s not cool, if yours is plastic - get one with a metal impeller. Also while you got your engine off - it’s a great time to replace your clutch, it’s not a hard thing to do, but it’s a worthy one, since well.. you’re a BMW driver now, you’ll figure it out :) Check the chain and tensioners aswell, cause once the engine is in, it’s harder to get to them. You might want a single mass flywheel, but that requires sourcing an m20 flywheel and IIRC M20 clutch assembly, which isn’t adequate for the M50B25 power output, so you’d want a ceramic one, which isn’t suitable for street use… but we’re getting carried away. What you want for a swap is - get the engine out, leave all the wiring and ECU in, have the engine mounts checked and replaced if necessary, service the clutch, get your serviced good engine in, bolt it all up, connect all the wires back up. You MIGHT need the ECU that went with the engine you’re slotting in, but that’s about it, no wiring, no hustle, nothing. I got my M30 installed in one night.
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I honestly don’t know the motor or car well but I know it would take some work. You may have to change mounting brackets and possibly transmission. Nothing I say about this is 100% true but it is what I’ve learned from other cars.
[cue cheerful music] Hello and welcome to the wonderous world of BMW owning. You got yourself an E36 325, and a brilliant choice it is! What’s that kiddo? Yours does not have a working engine? Well then, it’s a swappie! Don’t be put off by an engine swap, it’s a common thing, and it makes you an ADVANCED Bmw owner, so CHEER UP, get your toolbelt and let’s get cracking [/end cheerful music]
Now, that this is over, you’re swapping an M50 for an M50, so it’s an easy one, also it’s a 2.5 to 2.5 swap to it’s even easier. What you will need, you have already, you have an engine, but that’s never that simple cause of the “while we’re at it”. So here goes.
While you got your engine off, you should check the coolant pump, originals had plastic impeller which tends to break and that’s not cool, if yours is plastic - get one with a metal impeller. Also while you got your engine off - it’s a great time to replace your clutch, it’s not a hard thing to do, but it’s a worthy one, since well.. you’re a BMW driver now, you’ll figure it out :) Check the chain and tensioners aswell, cause once the engine is in, it’s harder to get to them. You might want a single mass flywheel, but that requires sourcing an m20 flywheel and IIRC M20 clutch assembly, which isn’t adequate for the M50B25 power output, so you’d want a ceramic one, which isn’t suitable for street use… but we’re getting carried away. What you want for a swap is - get the engine out, leave all the wiring and ECU in, have the engine mounts checked and replaced if necessary, service the clutch, get your serviced good engine in, bolt it all up, connect all the wires back up. You MIGHT need the ECU that went with the engine you’re slotting in, but that’s about it, no wiring, no hustle, nothing. I got my M30 installed in one night.