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Thread: 1995 BMW E36 318i ENGINE SWOP/UPGRADE

  1. #1
    Join Date
    Jul 2014
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    Suoth Africa
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    1995 BMW E36 318i

    1995 BMW E36 318i ENGINE SWOP/UPGRADE

    ENGINE SWOP/UPGRADE E36 318i

    Hi All

    My wife drives a 1995 E36 BMW 318i (South Africa) with 360 000km on the clock. The car is still in mint condition and still drives like a dream. However the engine starts to use oil and leaves a small smoke trail. So it is time to overhaul or swop the engine. The only driving complaint we have is lacking power and speed to overtake a vehicle.

    My question to the gurus is the following. What engine can I upgrade it with (M43, M44, N45, Multivalve etc.) without any major changes. Will the newer model engines fit on the gearbox. Will the propshaft ratio and existing brakes still be correct. Will the engine computer be upgrade to the newer model. Will the antitheft system still work or also needs an upgrade. Is it worth the money to upgrade. I'm not selling the car. I don’t want top speed, I just want some power for passing vehicles. I don’t want to upgrade to a six cylinder. Some locals suggested to Turbo the existing vehicle, but I don’t want to increase the fuel consumption. There is no local Supercharger specialist nearby.

    I know the question was asked a couple of times on the internet, but all of them want to upgrade for speed and use a six cyl. Please advice.

    BigJohn

  2. #2
    Join Date
    Jan 2004
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    '03 Z4, '06 Forester
    The easiest swap would be an m42 or m44 out of a 318is ... the harness and ECU will have to be swapped and the EWS II (or anti-theft system as you call it) will have to be reprogrammed for the car to start (your car might or might not have it depending on the production date), but everything else can stay untouched ... the transmission, driveshaft and differential are all the same.

  3. #3
    Join Date
    Jan 2008
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    If your not going to go to a six cylinder you arent going to be able to get much more power easily. The generation of 4 cylinders that will swap into your car are all relatively underpowered.

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  4. #4
    Join Date
    Jul 2014
    Location
    Suoth Africa
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    1995 BMW E36 318i
    Thanks for reply.

    One more question, will the existing manifold and exhaust work or must that be swopped also

  5. #5
    Join Date
    Jan 2008
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    Arida Zona
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    z3
    Quote Originally Posted by bigjohnx13 View Post
    Thanks for reply.

    One more question, will the existing manifold and exhaust work or must that be swopped also
    That depends entirely on which engine you are swapping.

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    PRICE CUT on ALL FABRICS
    Offering the best prices on the best quality reproduction fabrics!

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