Which V8 for a Z3 engine swap?

Which V8 for a Z3 engine swap?

Author
Discussion

g3org3y

20,631 posts

191 months

Thursday 24th July 2014
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Both Schnitzer and Hartge dropped BMW V8s into the Z3.

J4CKO

41,567 posts

200 months

Thursday 24th July 2014
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Does the Z3 tear its floor with smaller engines in ?


Veeayt

3,139 posts

205 months

Thursday 24th July 2014
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S62 is not bigger than a normal BMW V8 - that would be my choice.

shirt

22,576 posts

201 months

Thursday 24th July 2014
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Pickled said:
Can see why an e39 M5 lump wouldn't fit, they've squeezed a V12 into a 3 series compact, it can't be physically much bigger than the 4.4 V8, that have been dropped into lots of 3 series variants

S52 much be the easiest conversion surely, they did that from the factory
.

M5 sump pan is the issue iirc. M3 v8 goes in no issue.

I also understand the e46 6 speed box will fit as will an lsd from an e28.

Would love a v8 z3m breadvan.

skyrover

12,673 posts

204 months

Thursday 24th July 2014
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ManOpener said:
skyrover said:
wca said:
Hi All,

I was looking at some American lumps but was worried they would be seriously heavy and screw the handling. Googling suggests the M5 V8 won't fit. Any ideas for engines that are small, light, V8 and would fit?
The american engines such as the LS series are actually smaller and lighter than any mass produced V8's from Europe or Japan
The lightest quad-cam stuff, like the Audi ABZ and similar V8s, are about the same as an ally LS series. Round 180kg dry for each.
Of course, the LS is much easier to get massive power out of.
The quad cam engines are much larger physically though smile

wca

Original Poster:

307 posts

166 months

Saturday 26th July 2014
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more pics? - From concept to creation : http://www.madabout-kitcars.com/forum/showthread.p...

Looking at the N74 to keep it BMW but need to check dimensions. There are a few threads of LS3 swaps but nothing for the V12.

Still struggling with the prices of EU engines compared to the LS3 even when factory tuned to 525bhp

rhinochopig

17,932 posts

198 months

Saturday 26th July 2014
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wca said:
more pics? - From concept to creation : http://www.madabout-kitcars.com/forum/showthread.p...

Looking at the N74 to keep it BMW but need to check dimensions. There are a few threads of LS3 swaps but nothing for the V12.

Still struggling with the prices of EU engines compared to the LS3 even when factory tuned to 525bhp
You'd be made to go down the euro V8 route for several reasons. The LS lumps are easier to tune, much much cheaper, and given the Z3 was imported to the US, there will probably be a fitting kit available - or a community that can offer advice.

It really is a no brainer TBH.

Mroad

829 posts

215 months

Saturday 26th July 2014
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anonymous-user

54 months

Saturday 26th July 2014
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Speak to Craig at Dynotorque .He did the Z3 in the picture: http://www.dynotorque.co.uk/index.php/2011/07/spen...

...and does all sorts of LS1/2/3 engine swaps. If you speak to "raving" from this forum he'll be able to find you a donor engine.

Edited by anonymous-user on Saturday 26th July 15:02

007 VXR

64,187 posts

187 months

Saturday 26th July 2014
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LS3 then add a TVS 2300 biggrin

Gooly

965 posts

148 months

Saturday 26th July 2014
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BMW V8s have been done but they are far more work than its worth, due to the sump location and various other factors; and while the engines can be had for cheap, the manual gearboxes cannot. On top of that they are harder to wire up and harder to get power out of. The 1ux lexus V8 is studpidly big for a 4000cc engine due to the early quad cam packaging, and again while they are potent engines it takes a large initial investment to get power gains out of, and on top of that the R154 which is the best gearbox to use goes for the best part of a grand now; plus you need the manual conversion bits such as a bellhousing adapter and flywheel.

LS is a no brainer. You spend more on the engine but there will be a fitting kit out there somewhere in the US for it, getting power out of it is cheap, they are light, compact, reliable, cheap and easy to maintain and hugely tuneable. If you can't stretch for an LS, an iron block LQ works well.

OldSkoolRS

6,751 posts

179 months

Saturday 26th July 2014
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J4CKO said:
Does the Z3 tear its floor with smaller engines in ?
The Z3M and to a lesser degree the Z3 3.0 have been known to do this. BMW did repair under warranty, but I don't know if they modified it in any way to prevent re-occurrence.

I've come across a picture of a Z3 with a V12 fitted over on a Z3 forum I'm a member of, also a few with V8s (LS7)in, one of which was for sale fairly recently (much cheaper than building up one from scratch I suppose).

However, even as a Z3 owner (or perhaps because I am) I'm not sure it's worth the effort of putting a bigger engine in. The Z3 doesn't have the most engaging handling, even when modified with strut braces and polybushes as mine is. A quick drive in other cars such as my friend's VX220 shows just how soft the handling really is. But then it's not that sort of car really...just a nice sound with the roof down and enough power to enjoy (3.0 240PS) without getting into too much trouble.

Maybe I'm just getting old...



TheEnd

15,370 posts

188 months

Saturday 26th July 2014
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The V12s are a little pointless, as they aren't hugely powerful for their size, it's more a show off of engineering skills and novelty value, but that said, I have seen an 850 CSi engine for sale and that's 380bhp.

Still not as much as an M5 V8 or the capability of an LS.

ajprice

27,490 posts

196 months

GTRene

16,565 posts

224 months

Wednesday 23rd December 2015
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and and? what engine did you choose? (@topic starter)


I'm going for a S65B40 M3 V8 engine with a 6-speed gearbox next year.

it will go in tis car, with bigger brakes, new adjustable coilovers with unibal etc etc.

when I bought it it was completely standard, like this, its a 2001 3.0 (also pretty rare)



the outside already changed a bit with wheels and a bit wider and new coilovers etc



from the rear now like this, but in 2016 it will get a bigger/nicer exhaust but still only
on the same side (a bit low profile and weight saving)



Interior will get light sport-seats and alcantara steeringwheel and a S54 M coupe combi-instrument etc





now it still has this engine>



but its going to get this one, which will get new bearings etc to be sure, it has done around
80.000km or 49.720 miles, so it will get a lot new parts to be sure and a clean-up so its more fresh,
and ow, also some tuning and a 'normal' dipstick, because such engine has none.



Edited by GTRene on Wednesday 23 December 23:37

dom9

8,079 posts

209 months

Thursday 24th December 2015
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This looks a great project!