e46 325ti 330i conversion

e46 325ti 330i conversion

Author
Discussion

Andy70

Original Poster:

1,113 posts

158 months

Saturday 21st January 2017
quotequote all
I discussed this topic last year or so regarding dropping a 330i engine into a 325 compact. the reason why I was thinking of this before everyone tells me to just go and buy a 330i, was I like the compact, I like the fact its marginally lighter and perhaps more nimble and I prefer hatch backs to saloons, but the largest engine they put in a compact was a 2.5 and yes I did the maths, for the budget I have this is the cheapest option of more power, I'm not in a position to afford Audi S4's or M3's any more as they are out of my price range and for the extra obtainable power you'd get from super/turbo chargers, an engine swap is much cheaper. the only thing that put me off is having modified car insurance which massively restricts the companies that will cover you and I'd pay twice as much for cover than my M3, for a slower car. So my question is, is there any way around it (besides lying and saying the car is standard?), for example, if the car is reregistered with the DVLA as a 330i compact, would I be able to go on compare the market and get a quote as a standard car, or am I just hoping? or is there another way? or does anyone know any modified car insures that are really good? (none of them seem to be on comparison sites any way). when I called one once to ask what I would pay, he was basically saying as far as I could tell, that he couldn't give me an accurate quote until I done the job, well I do it and it then costs me a grand, I'm stuffed. I gave up on the idea really until a chap on here suggested that the power gains would be greater than I thought as the gear ratios and diff was different in the 325, so it got my thinking about it again, but getting reasonable insurance is still bugging me

helix402

7,832 posts

181 months

Sunday 22nd January 2017
quotequote all
Both engines look identical externally. Reminds me of a main dealer technician who accidentally made a customers 323i into a 328i some years ago. It was during the warranty block and piston campaign, he picked the wrong box up. Customer was not informed, just got a free upgrade!

Andy70

Original Poster:

1,113 posts

158 months

Sunday 22nd January 2017
quotequote all
hehe, are you trying to tell me something?

helix402

7,832 posts

181 months

Sunday 22nd January 2017
quotequote all
Sounds like a great conversion!

corozin

2,680 posts

270 months

Monday 23rd January 2017
quotequote all
If you're going to all that trouble why not go all the way and put the S54 engine in it?

helix402

7,832 posts

181 months

Monday 23rd January 2017
quotequote all
corozin said:
If you're going to all that trouble why not go all the way and put the S54 engine in it?
That's a whole different ball game.

Andy70

Original Poster:

1,113 posts

158 months

Monday 23rd January 2017
quotequote all
the reason why I was looking at the 330 engine was that after extensive research on here and other places, I discovered that every component and ancillary was transferable and would fit, someone even suggested that the 325 ecu would find the suitable map too, If I went with an s54, Id assume Id need to replace everything, the appeal with the 330 engine was that apparently its about a 13 hour job or so and you can pick an engine up for around 500 quid, so I could do the lot for about a grand, based on my mechanics rate of £35 an hour. My interest in the project was lifted even more when it was suggested id get more that the 40hp I thought as someone mentioned about ratios and diff being different, so to me for an N/A car that's a lot of extra power for about a grand or so