-Ls1 in a e30 BMW
02-11-2006, 02:05 PM
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-Ls1 in a e30 BMW -Hello all, Im new. I own a 1988 BMW 325 and would love to do an LSx/t56-swap. The LSx weighs 40 lbs less than my inline-six, and obviously makes more power 
Soooo.... anyone done it? Any ideas, tips, suggestions or links?
-This got me inspired
-Thanks guys.
Soooo.... anyone done it? Any ideas, tips, suggestions or links?-This got me inspired
-Thanks guys.
02-11-2006, 02:26 PM
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i know a dentist did it to a 318 or 330 a few years ago on this site, he swapped the engine and 6speed in there.
i recal him saying how much he enjoyed doing the swap and how everything just seemed to fit. ( i.e. the transmission used the stock cross member without modification and so on).
sorry but i don't have any links , but just hope this helps you find the information you are looking for.
i recal him saying how much he enjoyed doing the swap and how everything just seemed to fit. ( i.e. the transmission used the stock cross member without modification and so on).
sorry but i don't have any links , but just hope this helps you find the information you are looking for.
02-11-2006, 06:51 PM
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I have one in the works, most major work done. Contact me if you are interested in details or possibly components purchase. It has all of the good e30 stuff + V8 & 6 speed.
02-12-2006, 08:50 AM
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The orange car is owned by a member over on the V8 Forum, here in the UK
No pics in this link, but his username is v8m3
http://www.v-8.org.uk/forum/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=3148
No pics in this link, but his username is v8m3
http://www.v-8.org.uk/forum/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=3148
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02-13-2006, 10:11 AM
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Originally Posted by Derek 357i
I have one in the works, most major work done. Contact me if you are interested in details or possibly components purchase. It has all of the good e30 stuff + V8 & 6 speed.
-Ls1's have OBD II, right? How did you get around that?
02-13-2006, 10:14 AM
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Originally Posted by non2os13
wow, i have an e30 that needs the m20 snatched out for that
-But I have a m20b27 super-ETA (127hp, 170tq) , imagine how eager I am to swap!
02-13-2006, 12:14 PM
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-My e30 325 wieghs about 2700 lbs. w/o ps or ac, but a full tank of gas. (according to a trash-dump's scales). I am confident I can get out another 100 lbs WITH the LS1/T56 swap AND be streetable.
-357i pics? Yes please!
-357i pics? Yes please!
02-14-2006, 07:17 PM
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http://pg.photos.yahoo.com/ph/derek3.../ph//my_photos
Here are some pics. I have fabbed everything myself, no kits available. The pics show the wheels more than the engine.
D
Here are some pics. I have fabbed everything myself, no kits available. The pics show the wheels more than the engine.
D
02-15-2006, 10:32 AM
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-Nice. Did you use a stock rear-end? I've heard that a medium-case 2.93 can hold 440 lb-ft.
-What was the hardest part of the swap?
-Now go paint and tuck those bumpers! It will look 10x better.
-What was the hardest part of the swap?
-Now go paint and tuck those bumpers! It will look 10x better.
02-15-2006, 01:56 PM
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Originally Posted by LS1 Swapper
Derek,
Pretty nice, are you planning on running some M3 fender flares? Your going to love driving that, mines a blast (E36 though).
Pretty nice, are you planning on running some M3 fender flares? Your going to love driving that, mines a blast (E36 though).
-Easier/ cheaper to start with a M3 shell. But, I'd feel funny about ditching a s14 for a ls1. Sorry, I think M3's should have a s14b23/b25, s50b30, s52b32, or the like.
-Sorry to all not down with BMW engine codes!
02-15-2006, 09:49 PM
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Originally Posted by SpecM
-Front M3 fender are easy to swap, but the rears are VERY difficult.
-Easier/ cheaper to start with a M3 shell. But, I'd feel funny about ditching a s14 for a ls1. Sorry, I think M3's should have a s14b23/b25, s50b30, s52b32, or the like.
-Sorry to all not down with BMW engine codes!
-Easier/ cheaper to start with a M3 shell. But, I'd feel funny about ditching a s14 for a ls1. Sorry, I think M3's should have a s14b23/b25, s50b30, s52b32, or the like.
-Sorry to all not down with BMW engine codes!
I don't see putting the rear E30 M fenders onto a regular E30....I think all the body panels in the rear are different. Very nice progress so far, Derek!
Last edited by Bimmer Tech; 02-16-2006 at 04:36 PM.
02-15-2006, 10:29 PM
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Thanks guys. I am using an e30 (6cyl) 3.73 LSD with M Roadster stub axles and half shafts. I am actually using full M Roadster suspension. I have Bilstein Sports with Ground Control [coilovers, rear shock mounts, and adjustable caster/camber plates], Ireland Engineering [Adjustable Sways, urethane subframe mounts], Sparco Strut brace, M3 alum control arms so on and so forth.
The hardest part has been finding the time and funds to work on it. It started out as a "semi-budget swap" and then I started buying all of the goodies I could get my hands on. I have almost as much in the dry sump oiling system as I paid for the motor with 31K miles.
I am going to run e46 style fender flares and I have since tucked the front bumper. I'll try to get some better pics once the weather gets better.
D
The hardest part has been finding the time and funds to work on it. It started out as a "semi-budget swap" and then I started buying all of the goodies I could get my hands on. I have almost as much in the dry sump oiling system as I paid for the motor with 31K miles.
I am going to run e46 style fender flares and I have since tucked the front bumper. I'll try to get some better pics once the weather gets better.
D
02-16-2006, 03:57 PM
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If i can scrape some money together i want to swap to an LS1 next, at the moment my Tourings got a tuned M30 3.5L but i want more power ! 
Only trouble is buying the engine and box over here in the UK isn't cheap
I saw the orange LS1 powered M3 and it's owner at a BMW show a while back but at the time i didn't appreciate the strong points of the LS1 so i didn't ask enough questions about the swap
I don't know if you can get the Practical Performance Car magazine over in the US but the car was featured in the October 2005 issue 18.
Try either www.ppcmag.co.uk or ebay.co.uk ?
Only trouble is buying the engine and box over here in the UK isn't cheap
I saw the orange LS1 powered M3 and it's owner at a BMW show a while back but at the time i didn't appreciate the strong points of the LS1 so i didn't ask enough questions about the swap
I don't know if you can get the Practical Performance Car magazine over in the US but the car was featured in the October 2005 issue 18.
Try either www.ppcmag.co.uk or ebay.co.uk ?