E46 Conversion - Whats the problem with it?
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TECH Enthusiast
Joined: Nov 2001
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From: Green Oak, MI
E46 Conversion - Whats the problem with it? No one has done it yet and not much talk about it.
Is there a specific thing that really holds it up?
From the look tons of room...I have an E46 that I bought super cheap, 54K miles on it, clean interior and exterior.
Head has a few bent valves and a slight crack near the spark plug seat. Due to the insane cost of BMW valves I'm looking at around $1,200-$1,300 to fix it myself.
$600 for the head work, about $380 in parts, plus fluids and all the BS stuff you spend extra on. I'm not far away from buying a long block.
So I decided to buy a long block rather than put the puzzle back together and part ouf the good stuff like VANOS and that off the old one.
Then I started to think about a conversion...motor is almost out and winter is coming. The car sat for a year anyways so I'll have time to work on it over winter.
Is there one big thing that is holding it up?
Is there a specific thing that really holds it up?
From the look tons of room...I have an E46 that I bought super cheap, 54K miles on it, clean interior and exterior.
Head has a few bent valves and a slight crack near the spark plug seat. Due to the insane cost of BMW valves I'm looking at around $1,200-$1,300 to fix it myself.
$600 for the head work, about $380 in parts, plus fluids and all the BS stuff you spend extra on. I'm not far away from buying a long block.
So I decided to buy a long block rather than put the puzzle back together and part ouf the good stuff like VANOS and that off the old one.
Then I started to think about a conversion...motor is almost out and winter is coming. The car sat for a year anyways so I'll have time to work on it over winter.
Is there one big thing that is holding it up?
Thread Starter
TECH Enthusiast
Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 585
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From: Green Oak, MI
I'd love to but I don't have the time to invest in doing it as a one off.
I want to know if its going to work, or what the major hold up has been in someone not doing it.
I'm not looking for a kit so much as seeing one done without a ton of custom work.
There is a company that did a E46 wagon but that was a total custom job and the only pic I saw was the hood open and the motor sitting in it.
It looks like it'll fit fine so since fitment is usually the biggest issue thats making me wonder why it has not been done.
I want to know if its going to work, or what the major hold up has been in someone not doing it.
I'm not looking for a kit so much as seeing one done without a ton of custom work.
There is a company that did a E46 wagon but that was a total custom job and the only pic I saw was the hood open and the motor sitting in it.
It looks like it'll fit fine so since fitment is usually the biggest issue thats making me wonder why it has not been done.
Well I delated my post...so to the point the electrical system for the car is all connected and works of 12 volt pulses instead of constant 12 volts it all comes down to getting everything to work..windows,gauges,lights ect
Thread Starter
TECH Enthusiast
Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 585
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From: Green Oak, MI
Thanks thats something to go on.
So the E36 did not work like this?
This has something to do with CANbus?
Hasn't GM gone to CANbus in any cars yet, I thought it was becoming mandatory. So maybe a later model engine controller would be compatible?
I think the upside would be to get the GM engine controller to work with the BMW stuff than trying to get the BMW stuff to work with the GM.
So the E36 did not work like this?
This has something to do with CANbus?
Hasn't GM gone to CANbus in any cars yet, I thought it was becoming mandatory. So maybe a later model engine controller would be compatible?
I think the upside would be to get the GM engine controller to work with the BMW stuff than trying to get the BMW stuff to work with the GM.
The E46 swap has been done.
The problem is the CAN bus; it doesn't effect the engine, but getting the gauges and HVAC to work is a challenge. GM does use CAN on lots of cars, but the systems are not compatible so you have to either figure out how to interact with the BMW CAN (which nobody has done) or rip out the BMW stuff and use your own gauges and HVAC controls, etc.
The problem is the CAN bus; it doesn't effect the engine, but getting the gauges and HVAC to work is a challenge. GM does use CAN on lots of cars, but the systems are not compatible so you have to either figure out how to interact with the BMW CAN (which nobody has done) or rip out the BMW stuff and use your own gauges and HVAC controls, etc.
