240hoke Posted October 19, 2003 Share Posted October 19, 2003 A swap that i have always been interested in and am considering more is the BMW straight 6 engine into my 260z. Preferably a E36 M series engine. It seems like the perfect engine, 333 normally asperated horsepower, and if youve ever driven a BMW you know how smooth they are. At any rate ive been searching around and cant find anybody who has done the swap. Are they any particular reasons? If I can find a M3 engine for the right price I think I may tackle the project, but thats if i can find an engine. -Austin Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
240hoke Posted October 19, 2003 Author Share Posted October 19, 2003 Alternativez2003, you out there? This is the only other BMW engine post i have seen http://www.hybridz.org/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?t=27050&highlight=bmw -Austin Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alternativez2003 Posted May 23, 2005 Share Posted May 23, 2005 My, does time fly? I was just checking in and saw your post. The M engine would be fantastic. I haven't done the 3.5 swap, because I was driving the 635, and hated to give it up. It's a great car, but beginning to age. Now I've taken it off the insurance and it's parked waiting until school lets out (I'm a teacher) so I can actually start taking it apart. The problem of the M engine may be the fit, but for me it's the cost. Plus, if you want to turbo, the M would not be such an advantage. The lower comp 3.5 (8:1) would be a better candidate, and cheaper too. Besides, it's pretty good power as it is. Hope you check in, and let me know how it's going. alternativez2003@yahoo.com Later, Jim Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
240hoke Posted May 24, 2005 Author Share Posted May 24, 2005 Hey I sent you a pm but I thought i would reply here too, I was posting about this at the time when i was looking to do an engine swap in my 260. Unfortunately I wrecked the car and it took me quite a while and some money to get a new one and start rebuilding it. While I love BMW engines and there incredible smoothness ( drive a 325is with 200K no less), they are incredibly high priced. I think a turbo m3 engine in a z would be absolute bliss and im wondering why someone hasnt done it. The thing that holds me back is money a rb26 z could be built for less then a s30 with a e46 333hp n/a bmw m3 motor. SO a 600hp twin turbo z or a 333hp n/a z, hurm lemme think about the one See the below post for things im thining about cheers -Austin Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nismo280zEd Posted June 4, 2005 Share Posted June 4, 2005 That and BMW parts are made of gold and can only be obtained from certain places like Porsche parts. I have thought about doing this swap as well. -Ed Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ZHeadV8 Posted June 6, 2005 Share Posted June 6, 2005 If you put a fairly new BMW M engine in you will end up with a load of technical PIA's - the keys have transducers in that sync with the ignition lock and ecu etc. Not a simple swap, I went to a BMW specialist to discuss it and decided against it. More power for less money and hassle from an LS6 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jsquared Posted June 7, 2005 Share Posted June 7, 2005 Yeah, that's the thing that stinks about German cars. They're so freaking nice and well-designed (for the most part, hahaha), but parts are a FORTUNE. That's one of the big reasons I went with an SR-swapped 240SX a few years ago instead of just buying my dad's lightly-modded 944 turbo... prices for some stuff is just absurd. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
slownrusty Posted June 9, 2005 Share Posted June 9, 2005 The best M-engine to transplant into a Z would be the early 286hp twin cam 24V straight six, less fussy electronics and supercharging or turbocharging it would be down right siiiiick! Plus removing the emissions crap and opening the exhaust up would yield an easy 300+hp... From either of these M cars, same engine: Yasin Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alternativez2003 Posted June 16, 2005 Share Posted June 16, 2005 I'm going to tear apart the 85 635 very soon. I've been parting it out some. It's the only reasonable choice for me right now, since I already have the car. I think at my age I will be satisfied with the near 200 hp I can put into the Z, and if not, there is the turbo route. I really want smoothness and a clean, well-appointed, reliable Z, so the power is only one issue. These engines are strong, durable, and simple to work on, and actually parts are very accessible and not as expensive as one might think. If the six can pull the overweight 6er around, I think it will do fine with the lighter Z. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DeusEx Posted July 3, 2005 Share Posted July 3, 2005 Good to see someone else appreciates a fine german 6 hahaha. Its my dream to trransplant a e46 M3 3.2 into my Z...but the costs....bah dont get me started. I found an engine on ebay for 15k...but no tranny. I would imgaine thath to go for more than double thath if it was the SMG (correct me if im wrong). I love and hate to see it done by someone else, but hey, who wouldnt want the worlds best 6 in their Z? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jsquared Posted July 8, 2005 Share Posted July 8, 2005 best NA inline-6 in the world And there are some odd reliability issues with some of the more frequently-wailed-on engines... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DeusEx Posted July 14, 2005 Share Posted July 14, 2005 My bad, yes best NA 6. Oh god the noise lol. Doesnt sound as good as mine i dont think, but its very metalic and very angry, though ive been told that the metallic noise is due to the carbon intake. Not that id be complaining....But as far as bang for your buck goes, this is def not a viable option. But dare to dream.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BlackBeaut Posted July 14, 2005 Share Posted July 14, 2005 Out of interest, what's the sump like on beemer sixes? Any obvious issues like the V12 has? I'm really interested in a BMW swap, but not anywhere like now! I just happened to be browsing Ebay and found a couple of 3.5 engines on there, one from a 5 and the other from a 7 series, just sparked the old brain a bit Cheers, Rob Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Supra510 Posted July 18, 2005 Share Posted July 18, 2005 We have a 2000 M Coupe (240 hp) and yes it is very smooth, makes good power and sounds sweet with the Remus exhaust. It would be cool to see in a Z, I'm sure it would feel and sound good. Maybe those reasons are enough to make it worthwhile, but unless you're using an older six, (good luck finding an M series) it makes zero sense economically. Not that that should stop you . You can easily get more power out of a V-8 swap or swap in a 7M-GTE and upgrade the headgasket, turbo, and intercooler and you can't find and M series that could touch it at 15 psi, especially torque wise. Anthony http://www.cardomain.com/ride/674663 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alternativez2003 Posted August 17, 2005 Share Posted August 17, 2005 the sumps on the 3.5 L6 vary between series, but the pre 89 or so has the sump a few inches back from the front of the pan, so my 85 3.5 drops in nicely just behind the cross member and below the steering knuckle. Later sumps are at the front of the engine and I'm not sure they will work. I may have some difficulty adaptin AC and PS if I use it, but I'm sure it can be done. I'm certainly not the expert, but the sump is a concern. Also, IMO the earlier electronics are satisfactory even though the later models may have had more hp, but the OBD II would be more complex to mess with. After getting mine assembled I plan to explore megasquirt as an upgrade. Later, Jim Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nismo280zEd Posted September 6, 2005 Share Posted September 6, 2005 but still it would be a sweet @$$ car and everybody would drool. -Ed Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alternativez2003 Posted September 20, 2005 Share Posted September 20, 2005 Spent the past weekend pulling everything out of the 635. I feel a little bad about basically trashing such a nice car, but it was getting some age (rust) on it. I have other cars to maintain and restore, and I'm 5 years into my home remodelling/rebuilding (large) project with at least a couple more years to go, so g'bye 6er. Told my extremely supportive wife I've either made a huge mistake or everything will work out just fine, and I lean very hard toward the latter prospect. The Z is so much more fun to drive anyway, and to me, worth more and more unique than the 6, and I've been sitting on this 70 Z for over 15 years. Bits from the six will go to another 6er owner, to the Z and to my 76 2002, so it is not a total waste. Next steps, dry fit the engine with trans, diff, etc into the Z, figure out mounts, driveshaft, transitions between and within systems, and location of auxilary stuff, then fabrication, pull engine for rebuild, body work and paint, well, you guys know the seemingly never-ending process...wish I had all the time and money to push it, but so much to do with work and other projects, it will take a while, but it's exciting to me to make this progress and to get one more vehicle out of my driveway and off the insurance. Later, Jim Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gollum Posted September 21, 2005 Share Posted September 21, 2005 good luck alternative. Keep us posted if you can. I'd like to learn as much as I can from this swap, as to it's uniqueness. My best friend's dad owns a european auto shop, so a BMW might (key word might) show up as a swap idea for a future project. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alternativez2003 Posted September 21, 2005 Share Posted September 21, 2005 and get some photos. I know there are more powerful or exotic engines out there, but it seems like a good swap because of the basic similarities and the avaiability since I have the 5 spd 635 to strip. Nuts, I suppose, and almost a vulgar reference here on a Z forum, but there is more than a slight connection between BMW and Datsun, if you accept the historical association of German designer Albrecht Goertz to the Z's and Toyota 2000GT. So, I thought it a kind trubute to Al. Anyway, the BMW L6 is cross flow, torquey, smooth, reliable, widely available, somewhat "old school" in it's simplicity even with the early Bosch DME, and not as expensive to maintain as many say, and I've been maintaining old BMW's for several years, so they are familiar. I did a drop in of the 3.5 from my 86 735 a couple of years ago, and the fit seemed very good. I did a swap of the old 327 way back in about 73 because my buddies were all into hot rodding Chevys. It was a really well done project, and it was really strong, but a tuned, high performance carburated 327 was pretty rugged engines, and I just prefer the straight six in the Z. I would think the M engines would be a likely swap, especially from a 3 series, but again, cost is higher on M's. The NA engine lends itself to forced induction, but is capable of some reasonable power with upgrades. I'm not building a race car, I'm getting long in the tooth and hope to live a while yet. These engines are great for highway cruising, but still give very strong acceleration at any speed. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest speedallot Posted November 28, 2005 Share Posted November 28, 2005 Um I think it's the E46 that has the 333 hp. And if you go with the E36 3.2 litter 230 hp, go for the 95 year. Why, well it has the OBD 1 which is easier to tune. And you can get a Vortex Super charger for it and it will put out 400 ponies. Stage 3 I think it is. But the you can also go with the m50 2.5 ( check oil pan the 5 seiers is different than the 3, front sump on the 3 rear on the 5) You can turbo it or a bolt on super charger. You should be able to get the 2.5 with trany and brain for about $1,500.00. Watch out for the 95 M3, they have bad valves. But that is the one that I would do, Or just the head of the 95 on top of the 3.3. Also a killer combo. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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