E46 compact 325i to 330i who's done it ?
Discussion
I have a 325ti and was considering exactly the same, especially when someone on here mentioned that the gains would be more than the 40hp I thought (which is about the difference between the two, 193bhp-328bhp ish), as the diff and gear ratios are different apparently, so I was told gains would be more. I estimated the job to cost about a grand or so provided you have a reasonable technician as an engine would be about 500 quid on ebay. I was assured by plenty of decent folks on here that ALL the ancillaries are the same so its a straight swap, happy days. but I always had the niggling problem of do I tell the insurance company of the change, or don't I as visually it would look exactly the same, so I got quotes for modified car insurance which meant I would pay about £500, almost twice as much as I paid for my M3 and v8 audi s4 for only 2 thirds of the power and that was only rough estimates, I reckoned it could have been more. Plus I had the dilemma of opening a can of worms if the cost started escalating as this that and the other needed replacing etc, so eventually I gave up on the idea and now just looking into a ported throttle body, a Vortex exhaust ( which should give decent gains) and a re-map which could bring it close to a 3L engine. sometimes its better the devil you know, please PN me of any more developments as I would be interested to know what you do. cheers
330i engine with loom, ECU and the EWS box under the dash as well as the key and lock barrel. You'll have two keys, one to blip the central locking open and one to start the car. Too risky to open the keys up and swap the EWS chip over but you can recode the 330i key to open the central locking on the recipient. Door lock very easily swapped. The 325i and 330i exhausts only really differ in the rear box. If the 330i donor car is a 5 speed, drop the engine and gearbox in whole using a 328i propshaft.
The five speed 325Ti uses the Gertra 250G gearbox that is not really up to the 3.0 engine. It's the smallest unit (316i-325i) and 231 bhp will eventually kill it. Five speed 330i's use the 310/320 ZF that is a far more serious unit. Six speeders will need the prop as well as the diff - the 330i has a big Type 210 diff (same size as M3), different driveshafts etc. If yours in an ASC car, try and get an ASC donor case for ease of swapping - many 330i's have DSC. the 325Ti prop and diff will be fine as long as you don't go mental. The gearing is shorter so it'll go very well. Starter, alternator, rad, PAS pump etc all the same. Some cars have the LF20 PAS pump (domed back) and they're crap, prone to failure. Others have the flat backed LF30 that is a straight swap with the long pump to rack PAS pipe.
Best way is to buy a tatty/damaged 330i with a good engine. You can break the rest of the car and sell anything half decent to recover some monies. If it only has one key, use the V5 to get a spare cut by BMW before it gets weighed in. 330i's have bigger brakes that need 17 inch wheels
The five speed 325Ti uses the Gertra 250G gearbox that is not really up to the 3.0 engine. It's the smallest unit (316i-325i) and 231 bhp will eventually kill it. Five speed 330i's use the 310/320 ZF that is a far more serious unit. Six speeders will need the prop as well as the diff - the 330i has a big Type 210 diff (same size as M3), different driveshafts etc. If yours in an ASC car, try and get an ASC donor case for ease of swapping - many 330i's have DSC. the 325Ti prop and diff will be fine as long as you don't go mental. The gearing is shorter so it'll go very well. Starter, alternator, rad, PAS pump etc all the same. Some cars have the LF20 PAS pump (domed back) and they're crap, prone to failure. Others have the flat backed LF30 that is a straight swap with the long pump to rack PAS pipe.
Best way is to buy a tatty/damaged 330i with a good engine. You can break the rest of the car and sell anything half decent to recover some monies. If it only has one key, use the V5 to get a spare cut by BMW before it gets weighed in. 330i's have bigger brakes that need 17 inch wheels
Edited by iSore on Friday 24th February 22:51
Fox- said:
This seems like a huge amount of effort for 40bhp.
I wouldn't beleive the pub talk about it being more than 40bhp either. My M54B30 is spot on book power..
Much as I would like a 3 litre in mine, it does seem like too much effort (well, unless my 2.5 breaks). I wouldn't beleive the pub talk about it being more than 40bhp either. My M54B30 is spot on book power..
If planning a conversion you might as well start with a spares or repair 316 or 318 (I'm sure someone on here has done a 316 to 330 conversion).
Alternatively stick an S54 in it. I'm sure someone offered this back in the day - that would really make a difference!
thanks for all the info
will the 325ti car loom plug straight in to the 330 engine loom and will the 330 ecu plug straight into the 325ti loom ?
cheers
will the 325ti car loom plug straight in to the 330 engine loom and will the 330 ecu plug straight into the 325ti loom ?
cheers
iSore said:
330i engine with loom, ECU and the EWS box under the dash as well as the key and lock barrel. You'll have two keys, one to blip the central locking open and one to start the car. Too risky to open the keys up and swap the EWS chip over but you can recode the 330i key to open the central locking on the recipient. Door lock very easily swapped. The 325i and 330i exhausts only really differ in the rear box. If the 330i donor car is a 5 speed, drop the engine and gearbox in whole using a 328i propshaft.
The five speed 325Ti uses the Gertra 250G gearbox that is not really up to the 3.0 engine. It's the smallest unit (316i-325i) and 231 bhp will eventually kill it. Five speed 330i's use the 310/320 ZF that is a far more serious unit. Six speeders will need the prop as well as the diff - the 330i has a big Type 210 diff (same size as M3), different driveshafts etc. If yours in an ASC car, try and get an ASC donor case for ease of swapping - many 330i's have DSC. the 325Ti prop and diff will be fine as long as you don't go mental. The gearing is shorter so it'll go very well. Starter, alternator, rad, PAS pump etc all the same. Some cars have the LF20 PAS pump (domed back) and they're crap, prone to failure. Others have the flat backed LF30 that is a straight swap with the long pump to rack PAS pipe.
Best way is to buy a tatty/damaged 330i with a good engine. You can break the rest of the car and sell anything half decent to recover some monies. If it only has one key, use the V5 to get a spare cut by BMW before it gets weighed in. 330i's have bigger brakes that need 17 inch wheels
The five speed 325Ti uses the Gertra 250G gearbox that is not really up to the 3.0 engine. It's the smallest unit (316i-325i) and 231 bhp will eventually kill it. Five speed 330i's use the 310/320 ZF that is a far more serious unit. Six speeders will need the prop as well as the diff - the 330i has a big Type 210 diff (same size as M3), different driveshafts etc. If yours in an ASC car, try and get an ASC donor case for ease of swapping - many 330i's have DSC. the 325Ti prop and diff will be fine as long as you don't go mental. The gearing is shorter so it'll go very well. Starter, alternator, rad, PAS pump etc all the same. Some cars have the LF20 PAS pump (domed back) and they're crap, prone to failure. Others have the flat backed LF30 that is a straight swap with the long pump to rack PAS pipe.
Best way is to buy a tatty/damaged 330i with a good engine. You can break the rest of the car and sell anything half decent to recover some monies. If it only has one key, use the V5 to get a spare cut by BMW before it gets weighed in. 330i's have bigger brakes that need 17 inch wheels
Edited by iSore on Friday 24th February 22:51
Andy70 said:
I have a 325ti and was considering exactly the same, especially when someone on here mentioned that the gains would be more than the 40hp I thought (which is about the difference between the two, 193bhp-328bhp ish), as the diff and gear ratios are different apparently, so I was told gains would be more. I estimated the job to cost about a grand or so provided you have a reasonable technician as an engine would be about 500 quid on ebay. I was assured by plenty of decent folks on here that ALL the ancillaries are the same so its a straight swap, happy days. but I always had the niggling problem of do I tell the insurance company of the change, or don't I as visually it would look exactly the same, so I got quotes for modified car insurance which meant I would pay about £500, almost twice as much as I paid for my M3 and v8 audi s4 for only 2 thirds of the power and that was only rough estimates, I reckoned it could have been more. Plus I had the dilemma of opening a can of worms if the cost started escalating as this that and the other needed replacing etc, so eventually I gave up on the idea and now just looking into a ported throttle body, a Vortex exhaust ( which should give decent gains) and a re-map which could bring it close to a 3L engine. sometimes its better the devil you know, please PN me of any more developments as I would be interested to know what you do. cheers
There's no 'niggling problem' about whether you tell your insurer about the changes, even just a 'ported throttle body and exhaust' unless you've got s
t for brains. Any modifications need to be advised otherwise you have no cover. I can't believe anyone would think otherwise in this day and age. Were you going to leave the DVLA in the dark too?
Given that the 2.5 and 3.0 M54 engines are externally identical and that the engine numbers are virtually impossible to read after 10-15 years...............it's not like the old days when a 1275 engine under the bonnet of some youth's drum braked 850 Mini was an easy collar.
I had a 2001 320Ci once. It went very well for a 2.2. When it bit the dust and the engine was hoisted out for reuse, turns out it was a 2.5.
Each to their own. I can see why some would want to follow the strict letter of the law, and also why some just look at the aggro with the DVLA engine change paperwork and possible inspection and think 'fk it'.
I had a 2001 320Ci once. It went very well for a 2.2. When it bit the dust and the engine was hoisted out for reuse, turns out it was a 2.5.
Each to their own. I can see why some would want to follow the strict letter of the law, and also why some just look at the aggro with the DVLA engine change paperwork and possible inspection and think 'f
k it'. Cheapstraitsix said:
What a polite post.
Can't see an insurance assessor measuring the bore of a throttle body myself.
Same can be said for a 3.0 conversion.
Can't see an insurance assessor measuring the bore of a throttle body myself.
Same can be said for a 3.0 conversion.
He's the only one with s
t for brains then. Carry on guys, defraud all you like, tart up your sheds, keep it secret and drive uninsured but don't come crying on here if you do get found out, as many do. I have done 316ti to 330ti conversion,
M54b25 - M54b30 will be very simple in comparison, the loom is the same, you will also be able to use your own ecu if you have the ms43 ecu, it will need the map updated however.
But if you can get the following from a 330
Ecu
Keys and locks/barrels.
Ews unit
Clocks
Engine
Gearbox
Someone above mentioned the 330 has 210mm diff, I disagree and from my experience the only car with the 210mm diff casing is an M3, the 330's I have come across have 188mm case, changing the diff won't be needed however.
If you want 330 front brakes will bolt on.
Rears are a bit of a pain, and will need to change the rear trailing arms and driveshafts to fit the 330 rear brakes.
M54b25 - M54b30 will be very simple in comparison, the loom is the same, you will also be able to use your own ecu if you have the ms43 ecu, it will need the map updated however.
But if you can get the following from a 330
Ecu
Keys and locks/barrels.
Ews unit
Clocks
Engine
Gearbox
Someone above mentioned the 330 has 210mm diff, I disagree and from my experience the only car with the 210mm diff casing is an M3, the 330's I have come across have 188mm case, changing the diff won't be needed however.
If you want 330 front brakes will bolt on.
Rears are a bit of a pain, and will need to change the rear trailing arms and driveshafts to fit the 330 rear brakes.
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