e46 engine swap

e46 engine swap

Author
Discussion

Andy70

Original Poster:

1,113 posts

158 months

Thursday 11th February 2016
quotequote all
hi there, I'm still considering an engine swap in a compact and wondered how long it would take to drop in say a 330 engine and other bits and pieces I might need? cheers

Andy

jayemm89

4,003 posts

129 months

Friday 12th February 2016
quotequote all
Andy70 said:
hi there, I'm still considering an engine swap in a compact and wondered how long it would take to drop in say a 330 engine and other bits and pieces I might need? cheers

Andy
If you're talking about an E46 Compact, they made a 325ti, and I am pretty sure the 330 motor is externally pretty much the same (and internally extremely similar too). I would have thought that it would be a "relatively" straight swap to change a 25 out for a 30

Andy70

Original Poster:

1,113 posts

158 months

Friday 12th February 2016
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So how many hours ish?

SPORTSTER

160 posts

168 months

Friday 12th February 2016
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3-4 hours, whos doing the swap, you?

Andy70

Original Poster:

1,113 posts

158 months

Friday 12th February 2016
quotequote all
It will be a BMW specialist here, redish Motorsport, he is very good

SPORTSTER

160 posts

168 months

Friday 12th February 2016
quotequote all
oh yeah, James & team will knock it out quicker, now is probably a good time do the cooling system as you may know its a weak point on these

Andy70

Original Poster:

1,113 posts

158 months

Friday 12th February 2016
quotequote all
Yeah sounds really good, more importantly, it's the other implications I'd have such as how do mot stations work around the fact it isn't a standard car? Would I tell the DVLA as it's not got the original engine in and the biggy is insurance quotes, I pay less than 300 quid for the likes of M's and my audi s4 4.2, apart from 1 that can't be specific at around 450 quid most are coming in at a grand, purely because it's modified. any suggestions?

SPORTSTER

160 posts

168 months

Friday 12th February 2016
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yeah you have to get modified car insurance and declare the 330 engine swap tbh

helix402

7,832 posts

181 months

Friday 12th February 2016
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3-4 hours to change the engine? Not likely. Many hours. I can check on the BMW system later. Other parts needed/ recommended at the same time:

Water pump, thermostat, exp tank, downpipe gasket, coolant, oil, oil filter, sump gasket, cam cover gasket, oil filter housing gasket, vacuum hoses, ccv valve and pipes, inlet and exh manifold gaskets. Throttle housing gasket, Disa valve seal. Vanos seals. Ex manifold nuts, downpipe nuts.

Andy70

Original Poster:

1,113 posts

158 months

Friday 12th February 2016
quotequote all
So rough price for the job excluding engine? Bare in mind I think redish rates were very reasonable at around £60 an hour or they used to be

helix402

7,832 posts

181 months

Friday 12th February 2016
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Book time is 131-141 aws. 1 aw=5 mins.

Andy70

Original Poster:

1,113 posts

158 months

Friday 12th February 2016
quotequote all
So I worked that out to be under 11 hours, that right?

helix402

7,832 posts

181 months

Friday 12th February 2016
quotequote all
That's the one, some people charge book times, some people charge more or less, your best bet is speaking to the people doing it. From a by the book approach, DVLA should be informed of new capacity and engine no. However the 330 and 325 engines look identical. In the days of M52 block and Pistons replacements under warranty one customer came in driving a 323 and left in a 328. He was never told! (Wasn't me that fitted it!)

Andy70

Original Poster:

1,113 posts

158 months

Friday 12th February 2016
quotequote all
the strange thing is, Audi claim its a 28 hour job to take out the v8 and repair the chain tensioners and want a few grand for it too, how do they get those figures? (off topic I know, but just curious) with regards to the engine swap, even your times seem reasonable enough so I'll look further into insurance quotes

Vixpy1

42,620 posts

263 months

Friday 12th February 2016
quotequote all
Andy70 said:
the strange thing is, Audi claim its a 28 hour job to take out the v8 and repair the chain tensioners and want a few grand for it too, how do they get those figures? (off topic I know, but just curious) with regards to the engine swap, even your times seem reasonable enough so I'll look further into insurance quotes
Audi's are notorious for getting the engine out, you have to take most of the front of the car apart.

Andy70

Original Poster:

1,113 posts

158 months

Friday 12th February 2016
quotequote all
Vixpy1 said:
Audi's are notorious for getting the engine out, you have to take most of the front of the car apart.
I suppose that would explain it, so with regards engine swap, do you tell the tester that its a 330 engine and alter emissions parameters?

E-bmw

9,105 posts

151 months

Friday 12th February 2016
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Recipe for disaster if you ask me!

Is the loom the same?

The clutch will surely be different.

The brakes will need to be changed too.

The insurance will need to be specialist & MUST be informed, or you are driving illegally.

I REALLY wouldn't bother.

Likely cost (including EVERYTHING) well over £1k.


Andy70

Original Poster:

1,113 posts

158 months

Friday 12th February 2016
quotequote all
Engine, gearbox and loom, £650 and fully aware regarding insurance, that's what I've been discussing

Andy70

Original Poster:

1,113 posts

158 months

Friday 12th February 2016
quotequote all
I was thinking more like 2k for the work maybe a bit more with other bits and pieces, however It's something I'm just toying with, I just sold an S4, I can't afford an M3 these days so fancied a light compact and giving it some extra power, I realise it wont be as quick as an s4 or M3 but still should be fun, I'm trying to weigh up the cost difference between turbo/super charging a 325ti, massively upgrading a 325 engine, or dropping a 330 engine in. there is 40hp difference between a 325 and 330, so unlikely I'd ever get 40 horses from 'tinkering' with the standard engine, so wondered if I could pick one up cheap with a duff engine and dropping a bigger one in, I have a few grand to play with from my car I just sold

helix402

7,832 posts

181 months

Friday 12th February 2016
quotequote all
Andy70 said:
I suppose that would explain it, so with regards engine swap, do you tell the tester that its a 330 engine and alter emissions parameters?
Emissions test will be the same. I presume the swop is a 325ti as the base car. I think you can use the original loom if so, the ecu will adapt to the new engine. Someone such as "the End",* should be able to confirm this. (End Tuning), though a custom map may bring more gains. Re brakes etc the 330 runs larger brakes, and possibly wheel bearings so complete hubs and rear arms would make an easier conversion. 330 brakes do need 17" wheels though. Or you could upgrade the original brakes. A new clutch would be wise too.
Good luck with the project, I expect a write up.