Pictures here: Pictures
Backstory:
I bought the chassis as a rolling shell back in May of 2011 from another user on Bimmerforums. It came from Boston and has very minimal rust for any E30 anywhere. I jumped on the offer with excitement. The intent of the car was for it to double as a streetable car so I could drive it to and from my driving events and my races.
I had an E30 donor car originally (and I still have plenty – literally boxes upon boxes – of spare parts per request) with an M20 and Getrag 5-speed, but it was all in rough shape. I decided to dump it and thought about an S50 or S52.
The thing about those engines was that the typical asking prices for them were only about $500-$1000 less of that of an S54. So I went two generations up and went with an E46 M3 S54 engine. I thought it was the biggest bang for the buck. And it was. So much so, that given I plan to race this spring and summer for the first time, I’d be outclassed in terms of skill should I have tried to race in NASA’s German Touring Series due to the high power-to-weight ratio. (I’ve been told it by VS Motorsports of Schaumburg, Ill. that it’d fit into GTS4).
The swap was begun by Fluid Motor Union in Plainfield, Ill. back in April 2012. I dropped the car off, with no wiring harness or really anything. All I gave them was the S54, an E36 M3 5-speed and the chassis. They researched what would need to go into the car and troubleshooted solutions around the unusual engine swap. There, I invested $9,743 there into the car. And yes, I realize I will most certainly not get the money I invested back.
The chassis has a welded 6-point cage and includes two Sparco Evo seats, Sparco seat brackets, a Tilton hydraulic pedal setup and a Schroth 5-point harness. It is a gray market car from Germany (originally a 1985 323i) and has Zender sideskirts and front valence with rare two-tone 16" Hartge wheels and a Euro rear bumper. I have the lights (and wiring to go with them) and grill for the car.
The breakdown goes as follows:
Rolling Chassis: $2,000
New Dashboard (No Cracks): $40
VIS Fiberglass Front and Rear Bumpers (unpainted): $600
S54 Engine (from a manual 2006 E46 M3 w/50k miles): $7,000
E36 M3 Getrag 5-Speed Manual Transmission: $500
(Prices as follows are according to Fluid Motor Union’s work order form)
Battery Box: $102.80
Battery: $223.00
Battery Cable 2GA: $17.24
Accelerator Pedal: $177.66
Adapter Plate: $13.63
Fillister Head: $1.02
Stop Nut: $1.57
25mm Blind Plug: $2.50
Socket Housing 6 POL: $4.96
.2-.5mm Busing Contact (x6): $14.16
Starter: $240.67
120 Amp Alternator: $362.36
Clutch Kit: $537.80
Oil Pump: $231.44
Oil Pan Gasket Cork/Rubber: $13.98
Oil Pan (from 3-Series E36 to accommodate smaller engine bay): $281.64
Transmission Bolts: $22.74
Engine Support Arm Right: $97.61
Engine Support Arm Left: $93.10
Accessory Belt Idler Pulley: $47.95
Oil Pan Baffle: $174.95
Lightweight Flywheel: $719.95
Copper Battery Terminal (x5): $20.95
Steering Shaft: $210.21
Secondary Air Block-off Aluminum: $7.49
Oil Pan Drain Plug: $2.99
AN Fitting for Oil Feed Line: $6.79
ATL Fuel Cell with Fuel Level Sender and Gauge: $850
Jump Point Mount Run Power Cable (x2.3): $218.50
Mount Battery Box (x2): $190.00
Relay (X3): $41.69
Labor (in total): $1,786.00
Deposits to Fluid Motor Union (x3): $3,000
That ultimately is $19,883 invested
I would be happy with $15,000.
Contact me at MFL11592@gmail.com or call or text me at 630-418-2953.
Car includes a spare sunroof.
One of only two damage areas (spare fenders available)
Includes stock S54 oil pan.
This genuinely was and still is my dream car and I really know I will regret selling it.