Engine Modification

[Bguinee]

Does anyone know if the enigine in the 323i can be bored out and bigger pistons & rods can be installed? If so, is there a company that sells a kit?

[ridin325]

Yes every engine that is made can be bored and stroked out.

[ChrisTKHarris]

Yeah it can be, but it's not worth the money.

[Activ3]

The crank/rods/pistons from a M54B30 can be used to stroke to a 3.0L.

[tinkwithanr]

^^ seriously, what else would need to be done along with that. ecu tuning etc im guessing....

[Rayce185]

^^ seriously, what else would need to be done along with that. ecu tuning etc im guessing....Schrick cams, Intake, Headers.

IMO that would cover up the ideal NA engine modification, along with 3.0L stroke and ECU.

[shady3one3]

If you have a street car, don't bother.

[Rayce185]

:hmm:

[shady3one3]

There's no point in opening up a 323 motor if its in a street car. You cant make appreciable power gains without doing the kind of modding that ruins streetability, reliability, and practicality. If you just want 330 power, its cheaper and easier to swap an m54b30.

[simsima325]

^ werd, check out some prices on 3.0 motors, and THEN decide if you feel like opening your motor up.

[dpgrand]

your best bet is probably finding the internals from a 330 engine (crankshaft, con rods, pistons)

[shady3one3]

its cheaper to drop in the whole motor in most cases

[Sev21]

wouldit be a good idea to get a 330 motor and manual trans? what prices would i be looking at rounded out?

[ChrisTKHarris]

wouldit be a good idea to get a 330 motor and manual trans? what prices would i be looking at rounded out?

Probably around 3-5k.

[NOVAbimmer]

I'll sell You a manual trans if You want it

[NOVAbimmer]

You can also talk to Hamann about their stroker kit. I'll give You a guess as to their prices.

Here's a hint...whatever You're thinking, You're probably guessing low

[mechanicalmadness]

Anything you do and buy that's BMW specific will probably be really, REALLY overpriced. NO I mean really overpriced.

Your better off finding a bigger motor. As for force induction on a 323 motor, simply forget it. Anything without a forged crank will pop in no time flat.

If anything do what i plan on doing. Find a bigger motor.

[Rayce185]

I'm wondering why it would be cheaper to change the entire engine instead of just the internals.

The swap would require a new transmission, drive by wire, and probably to complete electronics, not just the software. Plus the entire swap is pricey as hell.
If you go with the internals, I would only guess that modified software would be needed. And the install should be cheaper than a swap. I'm just guessing here.

Headers and pulleys are no-brainers, and cams can be installed by any halfway competent shop with the right tools.

Only thing I imagine to be really pricey, is if the ECU needs custom software tuning. Other than that, I can't imagine an internal swap to be physically or financially more complicated than a complete engine/tranny/electronic swap. As said I have no experience with this stuff, and only know as much as I read on forums... :dunno:

It may be cheaper to just FI the engine, or change the car for a 330ci/i.

[Activ3]

I'm wondering why it would be cheaper to change the entire engine instead of just the internals.

The swap would require a new transmission, drive by wire, and probably to complete electronics, not just the software. Plus the entire swap is pricey as hell.
If you go with the internals, I would only guess that modified software would be needed. And the install should be cheaper than a swap. I'm just guessing here.

Headers and pulleys are no-brainers, and cams can be installed by any halfway competent shop with the right tools.

Only thing I imagine to be really pricey, is if the ECU needs custom software tuning. Other than that, I can't imagine an internal swap to be physically or financially more complicated than a complete engine/tranny/electronic swap. As said I have no experience with this stuff, and only know as much as I read on forums... :dunno:

It may be cheaper to just FI the engine, or change the car for a 330ci/i.


You can swap the M54B30 in to the 323 and keep the 323 intake manifold so that you keep the cable TB. You can also keep your 323 transmission. A simple flash tune can then be done to get it running perfect.

[Rayce185]

You can swap the M54B30 in to the 323 and keep the 323 intake manifold so that you keep the cable TB. You can also keep your 323 transmission. A simple flash tune can then be done to get it running perfect.Okay, but wouldn't it be very expensive to remove the entire engine, and insert a new one?

With an internal swap, I would imagine it would just take to raise the car, drain oil, remove the oil pan, disconnect the crank and remove it with rods and pistons mounted :dunno:

[shady3one3]

To properly maximize gains from building internals and/or changing compression...you need a new ECU. To get any appreciable power at all...you need a new ECU. So you need a little under $3k to buy it, you'll need someone familiar with it to help you wire it for at least another $1k, then you need a tuner who has done it before and lots of hours on a dyno....and now we're at $5k on top of the cost of new internals and the labor to swap them. And you still wont be making as much power as an NA S54 with cams and headers, you wont have VANOS anymore, and your motor will need a rebuild it otherwise wouldnt.

Get cams and headers and generic software. If that isn't enough power for you, you need a new motor/car.

[Bimmer Dude Xi]

where would i find performance camshafts for a 325

[PEI330Ci]

Stick a supercharger kit on and call it a day.

Rebuilding an M54 isn't for the meek.

[mkodama]

Stick a supercharger kit on and call it a day.

Rebuilding an M54 isn't for the meek.

+1

Swapping engines or internals would give you electronic nightmares. E46's have tons of electronics and security features and what not.

Bolting on a supercharger and having the ECU reflashed with appropriate tuning would be soooooo much quicker, cheaper, and easier.

[shady3one3]

where would i find performance camshafts for a 325

VAC sells two different Schrick options somewhere between $1200 and $1300.

[gialaur]

I just saw on e bay some one selling internals for $300