Possible 2.5 to 2.8 swap and next steps....

[Chase_DE]

I am here to ask advice from ye Z gurus!

the situation

I have a running 2000 2.5 manual Z3 w 140k miles on it, Oliver. Pretty much stock other then an intake i made for the noise and a resonator in place of the muffler. Pics attached cause yay pictures.

I have a wrecked 2000 2.8 auto Z3 with 70k miles on it, Greg. Bone stock. Was my kids car, she got rear ended and pushed into the car in front of her, pics attached. I bought it back from insurance to harvest for parts. No leaks at scene of accident, I am assuming the previously very healthy motor is still healthy.

the goal

Get the not wrecked car to maybe 300HP or so and spend very little if anything. big bonus if i can swap the 2.8 low mile mill into it. the 2.8 was sentimental to my daughter and if Greg could live on through Oliver it would make her happy.

the plan

I suppose the engine swap would be fairly straight forward but would like to hear any pitfalls that may arise or links whatever of  people doing it, my buddy does ls swaps all the time i already prepped him for this. i have worked on BMW's for years and have several, never done and engine swap though by myself.

then i would have the 140k mile 2.5 engine to sell along with the rest of the wrecked car except the hood, bumpers, and maybe the trunk. a non exhaustive list of comps on ebay that i low balled today gets me to $4600 to spend on go fast parts.

so if you have a healthy 70k mile 2.8 (M52TUB28?) 5 speed and $4600~ to spend, what would YOU do. Free Labor other then tuning I suppose.

 

[andyglym]

Hi and welcome. @Lee and @Pingu would probably be best placed to advise. I've tagged them so they'll be along.

 

[Chase_DE]

Thank you Andy, I have been digging around a few days.

the 2.5 has the VF engineering supercharge kit for like 4500 bucks that bumps the power up a quite a bit but would retain the 140k mile 2.5 which sounds like a bad idea.

the 2.8 has a few turbo options I guess but it would be great to buy everything at once, what kit is best? cost effective? reliable? i just dont know...

 

[Zephyr]

i would sell both engines and all other parts and LS swap that sweet gulf livery z3 of yours.
seriously.
Sikky has a kit at about 2.5k.
(you asked…. i answered)……

 

[Chase_DE]

i would sell both engines and all other parts and LS swap that sweet gulf livery z3 of yours.
seriously.
Sikky has a kit at about 2.5k.
(you asked…. i answered)……

I am not opposed to that either.... hmmm... more searching hahaha thanks

I just feel like that is a lot more complicated swap and could be more expensize considering I already have a possible engine...

 

[Zephyr]

Yep. Easier it is.
But the 300 hp target points at an ls or an S54
Both have 330 out of the box.

 

[Lee]

You're a man with many options, you wont be able to achieve 300bhp without forced induction but you can make 250bhp with the 2.8 swap very easy. The ratio with the 2.5 diff matched to the swapped 2.8 would make a good combo.

Doing that swap its all plug an play, you will need the engine loom and foot pedal assembly from the 2.8 to switch over to the 2.5. The 2.5 is an M54 unit which uses flybywire the 2.8 is M52 which uses half pedal and cable up to the throttle body. everything else you can pick and choose which bits you want to use between the two cars.

The final part will be the EWS (immobiliser System) get the EWS disabled on the ECU and you wont have to change anything else, here in the UK I send the ECU's and I'm told its a 15min job with software.

This is the best solution financially, I quite like Zephr's suggestion above you guys can get V8's dirt cheap over there. The cross over looms and engine mounts for these conversions are already on the market so this should be pretty straight forward.

 

[Chase_DE]

Thank you Lee for the detailed response, I am heading to DMV tomorrow to take care of the salvage paperwork and get the car back to my house this week. Accident wasn't my kids fault and the other drivers insurance is giving my $11,239 USD. Then the buyout was $665 to get the car back.

I will keep you all updated.

 

[Pingu]

Thank you Lee for the detailed response, I am heading to DMV tomorrow to take care of the salvage paperwork and get the car back to my house this week. Accident wasn't my kids fault and the other drivers insurance is giving my $11,239 USD. Then the buyout was $665 to get the car back.

I will keep you all updated.

It sounds like you are what we would call "quid's in". I would be looking at LS3. There's a few Z3s that have been converted to LS3 in the UK and they are mental. You will need to be quite skilled at fabrication, as they are not "plug and play", but all the work would be worth it.

If you just want something that is almost "plug and play", I'd be looking at an S54 from an E46 M3. You will be very lucky to get one from an M Roadster or M Coupe. If you get a Z3 based one, you will benefit from getting the exhausts, the ECUs, the suspension and the rear end.

 

[Dino D]

View: https://youtu.be/ltvqN1ka6nY