clarkey1984 Posted April 13, 2012 Report Share Posted April 13, 2012 Just a bit of wild thinking on my part here, as by reading on another thread, i gather that an engine swap on an E46 is near enough plug and play, so i was wondering what would be involved of ditching my painfully slow and worn 165k 2.0 diesel motor for something bigger, and diesel powered, im thinking a 330d engine. I have weighed this up, and im not sure if id be better to just sell my 320 as is and then go and buy a 330 instead, but thats no fun is it, plus this car has so much history (i bought it from a good mate of mine who owned it for 5 years nearly) and id hate to lose that. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Adam T21WAH Posted April 13, 2012 Report Share Posted April 13, 2012 nothing is imposible if you through enough time and money at it. its your motor if you feel the rest of the car is good, and are able to get parts 'worth the money' then go for it. if you change car then you could end up with a bag of bolts and regret it! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
momo Posted April 14, 2012 Report Share Posted April 14, 2012 Off the top of my head you'd have to swap over:- ECU Wiring loom Engine Gearbox Clutch & Flywheel Rear diff Brakes all around Suspension Exhaust 330d lump is quite a bit heavier. You could do it the "cheaper" way and just swap the engine, ecu and gearbox over but I'd personally consider that dangerous.. And for the cost of swapping the engines you may aswell just upgrade the car.. I think only mad engine swaps like Blair's chevvy swap are worth it.. If you said you wanted to go for a 535d engine or something - that'd be cool (but VERY expensive)! mit 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
suhail97 Posted April 14, 2012 Report Share Posted April 14, 2012 Why not try a diesel NOS kit? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
James Martin Posted April 14, 2012 Report Share Posted April 14, 2012 And to be captain boring here, your insurance company may say :-S and when you DO want to sell the car, it will be hard. Is the 320d a four pot? If my missus' compact is anything to go by don't four pots have a different airbox config and engine bay layout to make it look like there's more under there? Diesel could be different because of the extra plumbing I guess, not my field. If you do want to have fun, why not buy a 330d and put a 316i badge on it! Sent from my HTC Vision using Tapatalk Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Matt_S Posted April 14, 2012 Report Share Posted April 14, 2012 Six pot petrol swaps (320 to 330) yes. Diesel swaps no, Theres too many other variables to be changed imho. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CliffThomson Posted April 14, 2012 Report Share Posted April 14, 2012 I'd agree, too much to be done to swap a 320d to a 330d. Easier to sell, or PX for a 330d. C. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Matt_S Posted April 14, 2012 Report Share Posted April 14, 2012 Put it back to std. Sell it. They command good money still. And then get a 320d E90 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Aidan316i Posted April 14, 2012 Report Share Posted April 14, 2012 If you said you wanted to go for a 535d engine or something - that'd be cool (but VERY expensive)! Transmission tunnel in an E46 cant take the gearbox & prop apparently And engine swaps are fun! Just bloody expencive! I still havnt even saved a fiver towards my engine swap! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Matt_S Posted April 14, 2012 Report Share Posted April 14, 2012 Transmission tunnel in an E46 cant take the gearbox & prop apparently And engine swaps are fun! Just bloody expencive! I still havnt even saved a fiver towards my engine swap! Thats bollox. You make it fit! And as for the prop, get one custom made with the front half and yoke from the donor car and the rear from the E46. Oh and balance it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Aidan316i Posted April 14, 2012 Report Share Posted April 14, 2012 Thats bollox. You make it fit! And as for the prop, get one custom made with the front half and yoke from the donor car and the rear from the E46. Oh and balance it. I stand corrected I'd of swore someone on here said that Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chris Posted April 14, 2012 Report Share Posted April 14, 2012 Everything in the 330d is different. So larger diff, prop etc etc. sell and buy a 330d imo. Much stronger engine and parts to the 320d as well. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Longun Posted April 14, 2012 Report Share Posted April 14, 2012 If the parts can be picked up cheap enough and you can do it yourself, labour charges would be very expensive, it I don't see why so many people are against it. Resale isn't an issue on a car with a value of less than 3/4k imo. My 320d around 200bhp (190 realistic) standard 330d 204bhp. Can't see why 320d brakes make it dangerous, or why some of the other components couldn't cope with a 330 lump. Might be different when the 330 got mapped as then the 320d stuff might be struggling then. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chris Posted April 14, 2012 Report Share Posted April 14, 2012 It's mainly the diff and running gear, as the 320d's components would have to cope with quite a lot extra torque. And of course you would want to map it, otherwise why do it? You can get a 320d to 205 fairly easily Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Longun Posted April 14, 2012 Report Share Posted April 14, 2012 Fair point about the torque, forgot the 330 has a fair bit more. Yes you'd certainly be mapping the 330, else as you say why bother Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
momo Posted April 14, 2012 Report Share Posted April 14, 2012 Can't see why 320d brakes make it dangerous, or why some of the other components couldn't cope with a 330 lump. The 330d is MUCH heavier than the 320d. Probably a good couple of hundred kilos. Don't know about the other 330d owners out there but I found the standard 330d brakes really quite poor. All that weight with 320d brakes I think you'd be pushing it quite a bit! As I said before, I honestly wouldn't feel that safe behind the wheel of a car like that.. At the very least you'd want uprated discs/pads. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Longun Posted April 14, 2012 Report Share Posted April 14, 2012 The 330d is MUCH heavier than the 320d. Probably a good couple of hundred kilos. Don't know about the other 330d owners out there but I found the standard 330d brakes really quite poor. All that weight with 320d brakes I think you'd be pushing it quite a bit! As I said before, I honestly wouldn't feel that safe behind the wheel of a car like that.. At the very least you'd want uprated discs/pads. Is the 330 really that much heavier? That would give a mapped 320 a better power to weight than a standard 330 and not far off a mapped 330. Brakes on the 320 aren't terrible. I've driven quicker cars with older brakes that felt less safe. They're nothing special but certainly not dangerous even after a map and decat. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Blair Posted April 15, 2012 Report Share Posted April 15, 2012 I see all the haters are out again.... At OP ask on E46fanatics or bimmerforumns where a few have done similar swaps & won't just rubbish your idea like this site. I'm amazed people on this site like my car! Anybody that suggests doing anything other than a normal bolt on mod gets rubbished.... And people stating stuff won't fit when they haven't tried it themselves......... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chris Posted April 15, 2012 Report Share Posted April 15, 2012 I see all the haters are out again.... At OP ask on E46fanatics or bimmerforumns where a few have done similar swaps & won't just rubbish your idea like this site. I'm amazed people on this site like my car! Anybody that suggests doing anything other than a normal bolt on mod gets rubbished.... And people stating stuff won't fit when they haven't tried it themselves......... I can see where your coming from, but yours is different from the norm. If its an M3 lump into a 318, or even better a comapct or estate, then brilliant. But one tractor engine to another tractor engine Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Matt_S Posted April 15, 2012 Report Share Posted April 15, 2012 (edited) Blair, I dont see the point of the OP doing it for a few reasons: 1) Its not like he cant go BUY an E46 with a 3L diesel engine in it from factory! 2) Its not just a plug and play swap like the petrol engine swaps 3) Its not JUST the engine/box that need swapping, its the brakes and diff/prop/suspension too. I just think its moronic to do it to his car, when he could sell it, or part ex it towards a 330d. Im not against engine swaps. Ive done a few in my Nissan days! Edited April 15, 2012 by Matt_S Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Blair Posted April 15, 2012 Report Share Posted April 15, 2012 I can see where your coming from, but yours is different from the norm. If its an M3 lump into a 318, or even better a comapct or estate, then brilliant. But one tractor engine to another tractor engine Don't see how it's any different at all, if I had come onto this site & said "hi guys I want to buy an e46 & put a yank V8 in what do you think?" If your honest almost every single person on here would have slated the idea because it doesn't fit them or they can't do it for whatever reason (skil/budget/patients etc) infact many people did say that! The OP could be a dreamer? The best engineer on earth? A millionaire? Boyd Coddington so don't rubbish someone's thoughts unless you know it can't be done. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Blair Posted April 15, 2012 Report Share Posted April 15, 2012 Blair, I dont see the point of the OP doing it for a few reasons: 1) Its not like he cant go BUY an E46 with a 3L diesel engine in it from factory! 2) Its not just a plug and play swap like the petrol engine swaps 3) Its not JUST the engine/box that need swapping, its the brakes and diff/prop/suspension too. I just think its moronic to do it to his car, when he could sell it, or part ex it towards a 330d. Im not against engine swaps. Ive done a few in my Nissan days! Disappointed in you Matt coming from Jap crap/drift scene you'll have seen people do stuff that makes no sense financially just for fun or because someone said they can't!!! Maybe the OP has a mint 320d with upgraded suspension/brakes etc but his swil flaps have destroyed the engine & his long lost uncle buck has left him his wrotten as pair 330d which has done 1k from new & he's got 6 months garden leave from his job as a rocket engineer..... Obviously I'm talking b******s but I'm trying to make the point that most people on this site rubbish others ideas for no good reason. mit 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chris Posted April 15, 2012 Report Share Posted April 15, 2012 Did you buy your car to stick with the current engine, or was it always planned to have the LS1 in there? And fair enough. OP are you prepared for all the work? So short list Engine, hopefully later M57TU lump (complete so airbox and housings) plus mounts Full exhaust from a 330d, and manifold etc Gearbox (6sp) from a 330d Fuel pump and lines from a 330d Diff, prop shaft, drive shafts from a 330d Complete ECU and engine loom from a 330d Some bits you can use, just get coded. So cluster, LCM etc Yes this can be done, but personally if you are going to do it, then 535d injectors, uprated Garret turbo, quaiffe LSD. And then strenghten the rear subframe as the 330d's were. Really would like to see it done, but would be boring just to do the engine swap, so get it to 350 or 400 horses Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Matt_S Posted April 15, 2012 Report Share Posted April 15, 2012 Disappointed in you Matt coming from Jap crap/drift scene you'll have seen people do stuff that makes no sense financially just for fun or because someone said they can't!!! Maybe the OP has a mint 320d with upgraded suspension/brakes etc but his swil flaps have destroyed the engine & his long lost uncle buck has left him his wrotten as pair 330d which has done 1k from new & he's got 6 months garden leave from his job as a rocket engineer..... Obviously I'm talking b******s but I'm trying to make the point that most people on this site rubbish others ideas for no good reason. LOL. No need to be disappointed mate. I stuck a Skyline engine in my S13 before anyone else, and it cost me $$$$! People used to ask me "why dont you just buy a Skyline" and Id say 'cos I dont want a Skyline and cant afford an R34' whcih was true. Then, years later, we put an RB26DETT into my mates S14a and then swapped it out to another mates car a couple of years later. IF, like you suggest the guy is lucky enough to be in those exceptional circumstances, then its up to him. But if the OP has any small amount of common sense, he'd be best to stick with the std motor. Has the OP considered that the car wont be a 330d, it will be a MODIFIED 320d and therefore straight away, it wont be insurable via the normal routes that he perhaps takes. When you budget an engine swap, price it up and then add at LEAST 20% as all jobs cost more than you think. I think it fair that we advise the OP on all matters, rather than just not add to the OPs bubble of 'a 330d lump in my car? Mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm!' Or else, we may be reading of a 'unfinished project up for grabs' thread in 6 months time! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Blair Posted April 15, 2012 Report Share Posted April 15, 2012 Did you buy your car to stick with the current engine, or was it always planned to have the LS1 in there? Mine was bought to do the swap. And fair enough. OP are you prepared for all the work? So short list Engine, hopefully later M57TU lump (complete so airbox and housings) plus mounts Full exhaust from a 330d, and manifold etc don't need the exhaust just the headers & adapt to fit original exhaust Gearbox (6sp) from a 330d just use the 5speed Fuel pump and lines from a 330d 320 ones will be adequate Diff, prop shaft, drive shafts from a 330d use 320 stuff when if it breaks upgrade it! Complete ECU and engine loom from a 330d don't forget EWS or you'll needed to be an expert with NCS Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...