Looking for a daily driver and I am mechanically inclined and love to do motor swaps. Do any bmw tuner know if this will work. i want to buy a used 330xi and drop the m3 engine in. ?

 

My roommate has a 330i, and has looked into this very possibility. Yes, it can be done, but there are several other things you need to do to complete it. You have to swap the engine, ECU, transmission, and dash cluster to make it all work. The problem is, by the time you do all this, you've spent just about the same amount as you would on an actual M3!

 

one other thing you'll need to make sure of is whether the xi's center diff can handle the extra power...or whether the xi tranny will even mate to the M3 motor.

 

I don

 

That's the poor mans way! Buy the real thing...

 

I wasn't trying to be negative on what I stated above. You can pick up a used M private owner in the low low 40's if mileage is high! If the car is in near perfect condition low 50's high 40's maybe. If you go brand new 50-60k++. I wouldn't waste time and money on a swap though. If you want to add more performance S/C the 330 I know they have a kit for that model... just a suggestion.

-Bill

 

the fact that the post mentioned 300xi probably means he wants a AWD vehicle with the M3 motor...i think the poster understands this will be expensive (more expensive than just buying a used M3).

 

^ yeah, also maybe he wants a 4 door or even a wagon. m3, as well all know, comes only in coupe and convertible form. or maybe he just likes the mechanical challenge. for some people, owning and driving a car that's already prepackaged to be fast doesn't give them the natural high.

 

Why do a motor swap if he could S/C or something along those lines... then he's not compromising value and reliability...

 

That's very true...