E46 rb25det

Now, I know most of the BMW guys are wanting to lynch me for even think about this, but I sure as hell know it's possible. Just wondering what I will need to complete this. I was originally thinking of a 2jz, but their manual transmissions are around 3~5k on a good day. Now, I know I will need custom mounts, wiring, and/or drive shaft? Anything I'm missing there? There's huge potential in the RB series engines, I'm looking for at least 400WHP, which is achievable on the the stock RB block, with a proper tune. Now what are your thoughts on this? Thanks again for reading and replying.

You're asking for tons of fabrication, tons of work, and tons of custom electronics. Its not going to be cheap, easy, or a quick process. You'd honeslty be better off supercharging your 325. I'm all for originality, but thats a bit too much, an M3 engine swap would be even easier, and thats not saying much. You chose the wrong platform if you want to swap some other engine into it.

Originally Posted by AdamBath

You're asking for tons of fabrication, tons of work, and tons of custom electronics. Its not going to be cheap, easy, or a quick process. You'd honeslty be better off supercharging your 325. I'm all for originality, but thats a bit too much, an M3 engine swap would be even easier, and thats not saying much. You chose the wrong platform if you want to swap some other engine into it.

Well, I was thinking about it, it's about the same size engine, yea custom mounts I can do on my own, just the drive shaft will require some time, and this will be for a 323/328 I purchase, my 325i will remain the same . But I have about 10k to spend, and I think it's doable, and when it does hit the streets, it's going to be one hell of a e46.

PS- The M3 motors are insane expensive, I can get a RB26 for the same price as the M3 motor, and we all know the RB has more potential on stock internals.

my opinion will piss off purists, but by far the best bang for the buck engine swap into an E46 is going to be an LSx motor.

Originally Posted by Enraged

my opinion will piss off purists, but by far the best bang for the buck engine swap into an E46 is going to be an LSx motor.

You'd think that, but the LSx's are common for engine swaps. I'd go for it instead of a Nissan engine if you're really considering doing it.. but for shits and giggles go M3+s/c.. or a stage 3 turbo.. 780WRHP

Make sure the 323's non sport and you're good to go

Originally Posted by Acarder

You'd think that, but the LSx's are common for engine swaps. I'd go for it instead of a Nissan engine if you're really considering doing it.. but for shits and giggles go M3+s/c.. or a stage 3 turbo.. 780WRHP

Make sure the 323's non sport and you're good to go

an M3 motor + s/c or turbo kit is going to be stupid expensive, hence why I said the best bang for the buck is LSx. Yes, they are common, but that makes them cheap to maintain and modify. Plus, with the right exhaust setup, noone would ever know you had one under the hood, if you want a sleeper.

Not a V8 guy . My previous car was a s14 with a 2jz-gte swap, did the swap my self, and was tuned by my local indy shop. I'm a big fan of i-6's, great motor design. Rb25/26 will be my only option, and I will make a thread on how to do it also . I know its gona be hard, but in the end, the car will be a one-of-a-kind, no one will know whats gona go down until they meet the car at full throttle

anything is possible with $$$

Honestly man. If you have 10k total (if i read that right), I would buy an older 325 like an e30 and do the bastard swap.


Damn.... that would be sick!

Originally Posted by wesCUHz

Honestly man. If you have 10k total (if i read that right), I would buy an older 325 like an e30 and do the bastard swap.


Damn.... that would be sick!

Hmm, well e46 are dirt cheep now, like 3~4k for one with about 200k+ miles on them.

Originally Posted by iDriftYou

Hmm, well e46 are dirt cheep now, like 3~4k for one with about 200k+ miles on them.

...

Dude go E30, totally baller car for an engine swap.. would probably work better as well.. just my 0.02, if you really want to go E46 then hell might as well but an E30 with a beast under the hood is sex.

theres one with a supra motor
http://forum.e46fanatics.com/showthr...highlight=rb26
theres a company somewhere too that specializes in doing rb's for bmws, i remember seeing it
there have even been ls1 motor swaps into bmws
lots of rb25s in e36's and what not..

If you're considering going that route...

Get an older s50 or s52 engine with the iron block. They'll handle a ton of power, stock form. I'm talking ~700 hp on factory internals with a head gasket spacer. There's a huge amount of online FI info for that engine as well.

Originally Posted by cancell

If you're considering going that route...

Get an older s50 or s52 engine with the iron block. They'll handle a ton of power, stock form. I'm talking ~700 hp on factory internals with a head gasket spacer. There's a huge amount of online FI info for that engine as well.

Yea, but again, I wana do something different. I love the RB engines, there purely amazing,and the sound is sex.


How insane is the sound?

They sound about the same to me. The BMW's sound a little bit throatier, but it maybe just the different mufflers and vid-cams used.

Originally Posted by iDriftYou

Yea, but again, I wana do something different. I love the RB engines, there purely amazing,and the sound is sex.


How insane is the sound?

wow....



























WTF

If you don't have to worry about keeping the car street legal, and not having to use the stock ecu and dash, it shouldn't be that hard. Pretty much, if you car making the car from the ground up like a purpose built car and not a street car, than it's really not that big of an issue. Hardest part would probably be transmission mounts and/or adapting a non OEM transmission to the driveshaft or adapting a bmw transmission to a non OEM engine.

Good luck with the build, looks like E46 are taking the place of the E30 now with all the engine swops going on.

Originally Posted by Lukask

Good luck with the build, looks like E46 are taking the place of the E30 now with all the engine swops going on.

Yeah, kinda sad that the E46 is so cheap, but on the positive you end up seeing a lot more creativity and ingenuity because of it. It's amazing to see what people do to get money, but even more amazing to see what they'll do to save it.

Originally Posted by iDriftYou

Yea, but again, I wana do something different. I love the RB engines, there purely amazing,and the sound is sex.


How insane is the sound?

Quick acceleration, but that sounds stupid as **** or is that how they drive?