Swapping a motor into your automobile that it couldn’t initially be ordered with is arguably probably the most consequential improve you can provide it at one time. Apart from a full hover conversion, after all. Folks have been dropping higher-performance, higher-efficiency, and/or higher-risk engines of their rides ever since vehicles first got here with propulsion motors, nicely earlier than the times of Twenty first-century YouTube, ‘60s muscle automobile wars, post-WWII hot-rodding, ‘30s seashore races, and highway rallies over 100 years in the past (the place world pace information have been in the present day’s freeway pace limits).
The probabilities are as limitless as our engine-swap wishlist – however after all, we’re all the time certain by money and time, and whereas each may be the identical factor, the latter’s normally what we run wanting first. Right here’s a information with the highest 5 engines (and what they initially have been fitted in) which you can swap into your traditional BMW – or something actually, however the traditional dealing with, suspension, and elegance of a 2000s-and-earlier Beemer is what we’re dwelling right here for. Pair any of the beneath motors together with your selection of something from E36s to E46s (but, the E46 is now a two-decade-young traditional) and virtually something in between.
I’m not condoning nor recommending that you simply lower up concours-mint-condition examples of donor or recipient automobiles – however an engine swap can rejuvenate new life right into a drained experience with exhausted internals. You’ll discover lists beneath of traditional BMWs ripe for a swap, however actually, when you’ve got an engine and an engine compartment, you swap something into something, can’t you? So swap on, expensive mechanic reader, and proceed the lives and legacies of over a century – and counting – of scorching rodders earlier than us.
- Daring and underlined: Engine Era Code
- Underlined solely: Mannequin Growth Code
- Daring solely: Engine Variant Code
5. BMW M50 (‘90-96)/S50 (‘92-00) Inline-Six
Initially from/donor automobiles:
- M50 – E36: ‘91-95 320i (B20), ‘92-94 320i (B20TÜ), ‘91-92 325i/325is (B25), ‘93-95 325i/325is (B25TÜ), ‘93-95 325iA (B24TÜ); E34: ‘90-92 520i (B20), ‘92-96 520i (B20TÜ), ‘90-92 525i/525ix (B25), ‘92-96 525i/525ix (B25TÜ), ‘92-96 525iA (B24TÜ),
- S50 – E36: ‘92-95 M3 (B30, non-U.S.), ‘94-95 M3 (B30US, only-U.S.), ‘95-99 M3 (B32, non-U.S./Canada); E36/7: ‘96-00 M Roadster/Coupé (B32, non-U.S./Canada)
After its M20(!) ancestor bookended a vaunted 16-year chapter of divine analog simplicity, BMW’s M50 vary started a brand new period in its inline-six motors’ storied historical past. However from the reigning success of the indomitably timeless but inevitably growing old late-‘70s M20 SOHC two-valve design got here its refreshingly up to date ‘90s successor. The M50 nonetheless retained a cast-iron block and 6,750 rpm redline just like the last word M20s – however these have been the one foremost similarities, as the brand new engine bought a dual-overhead cam, a cylinder knock sensor, twice the valves (24 complete now) and exchanged the previous-gen aluminum consumption manifold for a featherweight plastic design. For the E34, the oil pan deviated to the rear, in contrast to with the front-sumped M20s and E36 M50s.
No alternative for displacement, proper? Till you tremendous/turbo/twin-charge the dwelling hell out of your M50, the M3’s S50 is your greatest guess for a secure improve, and a masses extra livable one at that. Bored and stroked to anyplace however boredom, the 282-hp S50 redline was stretched to 7,200 rpm, and featured new cranks, connecting rods, pistons, cams, single (B30)/double (B32)-VANOS (variable consumption cam valve timing), individual-cylinder throttle our bodies, Bosch Motronic M3.3 (B30)/Siemens (B32) engine administration, and fancier consumption and exhaust setups.
Notably, the U.S./Canadian M3s and their house owners bought hoodwinked with a detuned S50 that redlined at 7,000 rpm and solely coughed up 240 hp. It even copied the compression ratio of the essential M52. Okay, let’s pause for a second. Everybody is aware of how the western motors have been down on energy, however does anybody really know why this occurred?.. It’s matter-of-factly easy: as a result of then-more-stringent emissions laws in North America. Nonetheless nothing to sneeze and even scoff at (even within the ‘90s), 240 hp was nonetheless a large disparity to what the remainder of the world’s M3s loved by comparability, and thus extensively thought-about a comparatively paltry sum. Heck, it’s why Individuals all too typically disregard the E36 for being heavier than the E30, or overlook it for being slower than the E46, and thus neither of the revered latter. However for those who do have an S50, you realize it’s really to not ever be counted out.
Although necessary steps within the legacies of BMW’s 3 Sequence and 5 Sequence – the M50/S50 would solely be produced till ‘96 (while you keep in mind the M20 was milked from ‘77-’93), and set the sample of shorter manufacturing spans for engines that adopted. Why’d I skip the legendary S38s? Barely too heavy with rareish unobtanium – however for those who get fortunate sufficient to come across one, the principles of the sport are simply the identical, like with any BMW six.
- Swap the M50/S50 into… your E30, E28, E21, E12, and (for those who dare) E9, New Six/E3
4. Chevrolet LS3 (‘08-’17) V8
- Initially from/donor automobiles… Chevy: ‘08–’13 Gen 6 Corvette, ‘10–’15 Gen 5 Camaro SS (manual-transmission-only), ‘14–’17 SS; Pontiac: ‘09 G8 GXP; Vauxhall: ‘09–’17 VXR8 (or, you’ll be able to all the time skip the public sale lot/junkyard and purchase a crate motor)
Purists, look away; open-minded experimentalists, look right here, and no additional! LS3 V8 swaps into BMWs are standard for a lot of causes. And I didn’t say this checklist could be all BMW motors… however that is certainly a prime engine to swap as a substitute of 1! Although why’d the bowtie beat out the blue oval to get on right here? The LS boasts the widest number of aftermarket (from OEM to efficiency) assist, generational similarity (permitting for blanket compatibility of lots of these components), they usually occur to be extra inexpensive and out there at your native junkyard (as a result of there’s almost three many years of LS motors on the market), in comparison with most Ford V8s (however they’re high-quality engines too). The LS3 is full of a few of Common Motors’ prime improvements from its very-extended LS engine household, together with however not restricted to the LS2 casting, high-flow cylinder heads (L92) and consumption manifold, LS7 gas injectors, and an aggressive-life camshaft. In American-hot-rod kind, the LS3 is an amalgamation of the most effective LS components in a single package deal.
However why an LS3 particularly, if not for simply the sum of its components? This variant is collectively agreed by many (simply ask your store class instructor) to be the best possible by way of the aforementioned standards, in addition to probably the most balanced (horsepower/torque to value/weight ratios), tunable, and dependable for high-power builds. If an LS3’s not pleasant sufficient on your price range, fret not – you’ll discover virtually any usable LS V8 (LS2, L76, and so on) from almost any ‘90s-’00s GM automobile, truck or SUV might be greater than ample, however remember that they’ll require some convincing to dial again on the low-end work-vehicle torque and start producing high-revving efficiency.
And naturally, why any V8? Positive, you’ll sacrifice lightness and nimbleness for energy, however two further cylinders in a chassis initially designed for (‘most’) six gained’t bend it while you hit the highway or raceway. In fact, select your ‘drop’ automobile properly: older/smaller automobiles definitely want extra firewall reducing and mount transferring than newer/larger ones. However whereas the LS3’s cheap proportions assist a bit, the LS is not any small rooster, weighing in at 6.2 liters (twice as massive as the rest on this checklist). So many questions right here, a few of which you would possibly’ve had for fairly some time… however an LS3 swap’ll reply all these and plenty of extra forward earlier than you’ve gotten them.
- Swap the LS3 into… your E34, E36, E39, E46, and even your E60/1s and E90/1/2/3s
3. BMW M52 (‘94-’00)/S52 (‘96-00) Inline-Six
Initially from/donor automobiles:
- M52 – E36: ‘94-98 320i (B20), ‘95–98 323i (B25), ‘95–99 328i/328is (B28); E36/5: ‘95–00 323ti (B25); E36/7: ‘97–98 Z3 2.8 (B28), ‘98–00 Z3 2.3i (TÜB25), ‘99–00 Z3 2.0i (TÜB20); E36/7/8: ‘98–00 Z3 2.8 (TÜB28); E46: ‘98–00 E46 320i/320Ci (TÜB20), ‘98–00 323i/323Ci (TÜB25), ‘98–00 328i/328Ci (TÜB28); E39: ‘95-98 520i (B20), ‘98–00 520i (TÜB20), ‘95–98 523i (B25), ‘98–00 523i (TÜB25), ‘95–98 528i (B28), ‘98–00 528i (TÜB28); E38: ‘95–98 728i/728iL (B28), ‘98–00 728i (TÜB28); Land Rover: ‘97–00 Defender (South Africa-only)
- S52 – E36: ‘96-99 M3 (only-U.S./Canada) (B30); E36/7/8: ‘98–2000 Z3M (only-U.S./Canada) (B32)
You thought the M50/S50 was good? Just for 4 years did it completely benefit from the automobile world all to itself, till BMW started releasing the M52/S52 as early as ‘94. Essentially the most noteworthy facet was the debut of BMW’s first aluminum engine block castings, which immediately shaved over 51 lbs/23 kg of weight. That’s, for those who weren’t American or Canadian: M52s within the Northern North American nations have been nonetheless caught with the very same outdated cast-iron kettle bell that the M50 had. As if detuned S50s weren’t unhealthy sufficient! However when the E46 burst on the stars-and-stripes scene in ‘99, that 3 Sequence got here with the brand-new aluminum M52 block, albeit with iron sleeve wienerschnitzel casings to offer warmth resistance that might safeguard the motor’s well being.
The ‘common’ early M52s, DOHC as they have been, and similar to the M50, have been single-VANOS. When the TÜ (technical replace, assume LCI-facelifts for engines) arrived, drivers loved variable valve timing on not simply the single-VANOS-style consumption cam, however on the exhaust cam as nicely! Creatively, it was dubbed ‘double-VANOS’. Intelligent, huh? M52s generally had revised throttle our bodies, ASC/traction management, coolant drain passages, twin consumption manifolds, and even metal lining within the cylinders for that optimum warmth safety.
America, America, O Canada, oh expensive. ‘96-99 M3s elsewhere didn’t have to improve from the unbroken bliss of their 282-hp S50s. Although completely underpowered, the brand new S52 was however unique to the U.S. and Canada from the E36 M3’s sundown ‘96-99 years. And for those who thought the U.S./Canada S50 mirrored the M50 loads, it’s best to know all S52s additionally carried over the M52’s iron block and cylinder head. Not the happiest element, however for those who increase and even calmly tune it, you’ll be able to defeat the additional 51 lbs that the cast-iron thrusts upon you. Or if it irks you that a lot, discover an aluminum block from a Euro M52, or a ‘99-and-later U.S. E46. The S52 does flaunt its personal lighter cams, valve springs, and exhaust setup for elevated effectivity, although energy and gas economic system enhancements are negligible. Do you save 50 kilos with a sub-200-hp M52, get most (inventory) energy through a heavier S50, or discover the center floor with the S52? S50 and S52’s redlines are 7,000. Selections, choices – however a enjoyable dilemma.
- Swap the M52/S52 into… your E30, E28, E21, E12, and (for those who dare) E9, New Six/E3
2. Toyota JZ (‘90-07) Inline-Six
Initially from/donor automobiles…
- 1JZ – GE: Mark II, Chaser, Cresta, Crown, Soarer, Progres; GTE: Chaser/Cresta/Mark II 2.5GT Twin Turbo (JZX81), Chaser/Cresta/Mark II Tourer V/Roulant G (JZX90, JZX100), Mark II iR-V (JZX110), Mark II Blit iR-V (JZX110W), Soarer 2.5 GT-T (JZZ30), Supra MK III 2.5 Twin Turbo (R) (JZA70), Verossa VR25 (JZX110), Crown Athlete V (JZS171 sedan and JZS171W wagon); FSE: Mark II, Mark II Blit, Brevis, Progres, Verossa, Crown
2JZ – GE: Altezza AS 300, Aristo, Soarer, Crown/Crown Majesta, Mark II/Chaser/Cresta, Origin, Progres, Supra; Lexus: IS 300, SC 300, GS 300; GTE: Aristo 3.0V (JZS147, Japan-only), Aristo V300 (JZS161, Japan-only), Supra RZ/Turbo (JZA80); FSE: Toyota Brevis, Progres, Crown (S170), Crown Majesta (S170)
That’s proper, a tuner’s ambrosia: the air-intercooled, belt-driven, iron-block/aluminum head 24-valve DOHC Toyota JZ I-6, which hit the bottom working in ‘90, the identical yr because the BMW M50. What do they are saying about coincidences? They take quite a lot of planning. So was it mere probability? I believe not. Or who is aware of. Everybody says they’re bulletproof, however I wouldn’t shoot yours until it fails to begin, and also you simply misplaced an argument (Yellow Pantera…). Many individuals additionally lose their minds over the 2JZ choices, ushered into stardom by Toyota’s Supra-star, so let’s begin there. The 2JZ-GE was first off the road, beginning in ‘91 with 3.0 displaced liters. 4 years later, it bought VVT-i variable valve timing in all places however the U.S., which earned it for ‘98 model-year automobiles.
What additionally bought VANOS-vibe VVT was the vaunted 2JZ-GTE. Sequential-twin-turbocharged, and it wasn’t diesel-powered like BMW’s sole turboed choices have been at the moment. It was side-mount intercooled, with recessed piston tops to decrease total compression for steadiness, oil spray to chill pistons, and a brand new head, cams, ports, and valves. Energy was actually boosted from the GE’s 212-227/direction-injection FSE’s 217 hp to the GTE’s 311. However the U.S. and Europe gained massive this time round, with particular 320 hp figures unbound by JDM requirements. These motors flexed new cams, injectors, 25% bigger injectors, stronger metal (beats out ceramic) turbo housings, and stainless-steel turbine/impeller fins. Snail nerds fawn over the various fan designs. Stated to be constructed to compete with Nissan’s RB26DETT (and certain the S50/S52), why did the RB26 get swept off my chopping block? Whereas Nissan’s motor is a grand various, and although its short-stroke setup permits it double the redline of a 2JZ (a humble 6,000, in comparison with an RB26’s whopping 11,000), that’s precisely why it’s been lower from this checklist: these detrimental revs sadly shoot its non-bulletproof-self within the foot, slaughtering its reliability.
Although it’s bought a taller block deck and rods, and the identical bore, the 2JZ differs from the bottom front-intercooler 1JZ, which is actually a 2.5 liter model of the previous. The JZ household even outlived the M20 by a yr, going 17 full ones from ‘90 to ‘07. It’s like Toyota made these motors for transplanting, realizing that they’d crew up with BMW to have their future twins.
- Swap the JZ into… your E34, E36, E39, E30, E28, E21, E12, and (for those who dare) E9, New Six/E3
1. BMW M54 (‘00-06)/S54 (‘00-08) Inline-Six
Initially from/donor automobiles…
- M54 – E46: ‘00–06 320i/320Ci (B22), ‘00–06 325i/325xi/325Ci (B25), ‘00–06 330i/330xi/330Ci (B30); E46/5: ‘00–04 325ti (B25); E36/7: ‘00–02 Z3 2.2i (B22), ‘00–02 Z3 2.5i (B25), ‘00–02 Z3 3.0i (B30); E39: ‘00–03 520i (B22), ‘00–04 525i (B25), ‘00–04 530i (B30); E60: ‘03–05 530i (B30); E60/E61: ‘03-05 520i (B22), ‘03–05 525i/525xi (B25); E53 ‘00–06 X5 3.0i (B30); E65/E66: ‘02–05 730i/730Li (B30); E83: ‘03–06 X3 2.5i (B25), ‘03–06 X3 3.0i (B30); E85: ‘02–05 Z4 2.5i (B25), ‘02–05 Z4 3.0i (B30), ‘03–05 Z4 2.2i (B22)
S54 – E46: ‘00-06 M3 (B32), ‘03 M3 CSL (B32HP); E36/7: ‘00-02 Z3 M Roadster (B32); E36/8: Z3 M Coupé (B32); E85: ‘06-08 Z4 M Roadster (B32); E86: ‘06-08 Z4 M Coupé (B32); Wiesmann: ‘02–11 MF 3 Roadster (B32), ‘09 MF 3 Roadster “twentieth Anniversary Version” (B32HP)
The E46 was, and nonetheless is, thought-about a significant leap into the trendy period. And you could rejoice within the spirit of progressive enchancment, as all M54s have been constructed with light-weight aluminum cylinder heads and engine blocks strengthened with iron cylinder lining! These last descendants of the M20-M50-M52 household tree have been armed with an unprecedented (for the lineage) non-return gas system and entirely-electronic throttle (the start of drive-by-wire rule).
With all these charged add-ons, even the thermostat was electronically plugged-in too. Each M54 additionally wielded double-VANOS, Siemens MS 43 administration, and an improved dual-length consumption manifold (‘DISA’, which varies the size of the engine’s consumption tract) too. For the primary time for the reason that ‘88-90 E34’s M30, a non-M-powered M-code six-cylinder had returned to three.0 liters, having caught as much as the displacement of the E36 M3’s S50 with an improved stroke. Redline topped at 6,500 rpm, and like all different M54 parts, was a profitable system that remained unchanged in the course of its’ ‘00-06 lifespan. It was so good that BMW seemingly couldn’t prime it, and was solely in a position to observe it up with a predominantly new design of their N52… which means the honed S54 would don’t have any direct successor. The royal bloodline would proceed no extra.
Wait, hey, the S54 was nonetheless manufactured from what??? The M54’s so far as the common aluminum engine blocks went: this technology’s efficiency straight-six-shooter additionally sported a totally cast-iron development, similar to with the U.S. M52 and all S52s. However in crystal-clear hindsight, it made excellent sense! Although the S54 was the high-output taste of its spinoff M54 and logically would command lightness, its superior efficiency was optimized by way of the prioritization of its personal materials energy moderately than weight, additionally channeling its S50 and S52 ancestors earlier than it. Although feathery aluminum would profit a automobile’s dealing with even additional, the supreme density of sturdy S54 forged iron stored temperatures steady and energy assured amid excessive high-heat/rpm driving situations. High quality positive was every little thing again then, with all issues really constructed to final, and cementing the S54’s famend reliability and indeniable immortality 19+ years on as one of the vital standard all-around naturally-aspirated BMW motors you’ll be able to sing together with. Is sensible why everybody’s hooked on E46 M3s, proper?
In contrast to the commonalities shared between the highly-friendly M50/S50 and super-tight-knit M52/S52 duos, the S54 is apparently extra carefully associated to not its’ M54, however near-directly to the unique S50, and exists as a descendant of that efficiency powerplant. The S54 has a number of new tips over its grandparent, amongst them a revised bore, cams, Siemens MSS54 ECU (up to date to MSS70 within the through-to-’08 E85 Z4 M Roadster/E86 Coupé), and heightened compression ratio as well. Harkening again to the E36 M3 (particularly the homologated GT’s S50B30, and the S50B32), a scavenging oil pump proactively prevented oil hunger that might in any other case come up from intense cornering and resultant inertial forces.
And what’s subsequent? However wait, there’s extra! BMW famously – maybe infamously – resurrected the three.0 CSL’s Coupé Sport Leichtbau moniker for its one-year-only particular, the ‘03 E46 M3 CSL, and it decisively scored an excellent method cooler S54. It was referred to as the S54B32HP, the ‘HP’ standing for, after all, ‘high-performance,’ denoting that this was an excellent higher-performance model of the high-performance M54 and (more-so) S50-derived workhorse.
A redesigned consumption made out of carbon fiber (value its weight in gold in ‘03, when it was ridiculously onerous to supply in comparison with in the present day’s ease with new-fangled 3-D printers), bigger camshafts, a MAP sensor (moderately than the ‘regular’ S54’s MAF), and straighter consumption and light-weight exhaust air-path manifolds (the latter later a regular providing on last S54s) adorned the B32HP, of which 1,383 have been assembled for battle use within the M3 CSL. Whereas the mass-production S54 churned out a Twenty first-century 338 hp (333 within the U.S./Canada, after all), this final model pumped out a whopping 360 hurtling horses. It wouldn’t shut the BMW e-book on naturally-aspirated I6s – the oblique N52/N53 heirs would take that helm one last time, and falling quick by almost a 100 hp, wouldn’t come even near matching the S54’s would possibly – however the S54B32HP was the ultimate chapter on independently-breathing M-Energy motors. You possible gained’t discover a low-cost clear one although.
- Swap the S54 into… your E34, E36, E39, E30, E28, E21, E12, and (for those who dare) E9, New Six/E3… and Z1 (one thing that wacky deservedly requires the celebrated S54)
