M42club.com - Home of the BMW E30/E36 318i/iS

DISCUSSION => Swaps, Turbos, Buildups => Topic started by: B318M42W on April 06, 2009, 08:09:35 PM

Title: S38 swap???
Post by: B318M42W on April 06, 2009, 08:09:35 PM

has anybody attempted an S38 engine swap??? would it fit in the '91 318?

(and before anyone says search buttons, already tried it and didn,t turn up results...)

Title: S38 swap???
Post by: JoeDellio on April 06, 2009, 08:50:29 PM

Someone did it.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TuExGxheweg

Title: S38 swap???
Post by: B318M42W on April 06, 2009, 11:10:05 PM

yeah already saw that one... doesn't say much about the work involved though.

Title: S38 swap???
Post by: xwill112x on April 07, 2009, 12:09:32 AM

yes it fits.

that motor is a work horse to, check out r3v, some people have done it over there.
in my opinion, i think a nicely modded m50, or s5x would be a better swap ;)

Title: S38 swap???
Post by: Vladi on April 07, 2009, 03:59:52 AM

An S38 is much better in many ways than an M50.
Many people did it in Europe.

Title: S38 swap???
Post by: Deftones on April 07, 2009, 05:57:38 AM

sure, a friend wants to sold me one for 9000 euro, but it wasn't a 318i, it was a 320is (which is an italian version of a normal e30 with M3 2000cc engine), which mount a 3600cc S38, with cams, airbox and muffler, something like 350hp... on a start at full throttle he made a 50 meters burnout without braking, slipping in 1-2 and 3rd gear... i like it but the 6 cilinder iron block engine is very very heavy, making the car understeering a lot

Title: S38 swap???
Post by: Boosted E30 on April 08, 2009, 11:21:16 PM

I have driven one and repaird as well its absolutly amazing if you have lots of money to do the build. heres some pics.

(http://i394.photobucket.com/albums/pp24/E30318is/Photo-0035.jpg)
(http://i394.photobucket.com/albums/pp24/E30318is/Photo-0036.jpg)
(http://i394.photobucket.com/albums/pp24/E30318is/Photo-0038.jpg)

Title: S38 swap???
Post by: B318M42W on April 09, 2009, 12:19:30 AM

starting to get tempting, esp since i spotted an '88 M5 with electrical issues (so most likely cheap). but still no cash and need a DD too...

Title: S38 swap???
Post by: Boosted E30 on April 09, 2009, 06:46:08 PM

Its an awsome swap the car is just amazing with that amount of torque and hp. But you also have to reinforce everything and there are some issues with coolant circulation because the rad sits lower then the engine when its in the e30 body but thats fixed with an auxilary water pump. you will definatly need a complete doner car though so you have everything you will need. It will get pretty expensive though lots of mods to do brakets and mounts to build also.