E90Post
 


TNT Racewerks
 
BMW 3-Series (E90 E92) Forum > BMW E90/E92/E93 3-series General Forums > General E90 Sedan / E91 Wagon / E92 Coupe / E93 Cabrio > Engine swap bmw 325i



Reply
 
Thread Tools Search this Thread
      02-18-2019, 10:04 PM   #1
Anonymous05
New Member
2
Rep
5
Posts

Drives: Bmw 325i
Join Date: Feb 2019
Location: Victorville

iTrader: (0)

Engine swap bmw 325i

So I own a bmw 325i 2006 and im positive that the head gasket is blow I was going to replace it but I was also thinking of swaping the engine with a 328i engine and I was wondering if it was possible. the engine I maybe able to get it for around 600 or 700 what do you guys think I should do?
Appreciate 0
      02-18-2019, 10:16 PM   #2
tlow98
Brigadier General
2163
Rep
4,968
Posts

Drives: 2009 E91, 2014 F15 x35i
Join Date: Aug 2011
Location: Bay Area

iTrader: (2)

How do you know it’s blown?

I’d prolly swap motors before attempting too end rebuild.

Which job do you have the tools/knowledge for?
Appreciate 0
      02-19-2019, 05:54 AM   #3
smass
Lieutenant Colonel
393
Rep
1,578
Posts

Drives: 06 325i - 10 335i
Join Date: Sep 2010
Location: Scottsdale, AZ

iTrader: (1)

Garage List
2010 E90 335i  [0.00]
2016 F15 35i  [0.00]
2003 E53 3.0  [0.00]
2006 E90 325i  [0.00]
Research the N52 engine to understand the differences. It is used in the 325, 330, and 328.
Appreciate 0
      02-19-2019, 06:36 AM   #4
mecheng77
Colonel
mecheng77's Avatar
Canada
1005
Rep
2,239
Posts

Drives: 2007 328i / 2014 M235i
Join Date: Nov 2017
Location: Ontario Canada

iTrader: (0)

Garage List
  [0.00]
  [0.00]
Quote:
Originally Posted by smassey321 View Post
Research the N52 engine to understand the differences. It is used in the 325, 330, and 328.
Yes the 328 has more hp, but I believe you need a new ecu. Replacing the head isn't bad
Appreciate 0
      02-19-2019, 07:21 AM   #5
slonikas
Registered
0
Rep
2
Posts

Drives: n52b25 e90 bmw
Join Date: Feb 2019
Location: lithuania

iTrader: (0)

Hey sorry for offtopic guys but maybe you can help me. I have n52b25 e90 2005 and I cant start the car when it has about 15(litres) or less gasoline. When it is over 15L it starts good. Is it fuel pressure regulator? Is it below rear seat on the driver side? just want to make sure thanks
Appreciate 0
      02-19-2019, 08:15 AM   #6
relative4
Major
United_States
611
Rep
1,272
Posts

Drives: '08 335xi E90 MT stage 1+
Join Date: Feb 2019
Location: Denver, CO

iTrader: (0)

Quote:
Originally Posted by mecheng77 View Post
Yes the 328 has more hp, but I believe you need a new ecu. Replacing the head isn't bad
You'd also need to swap the harness. Fixing the head gasket is much less work, and the little bit of added power does not merit the extra effort.
Appreciate 0
      02-19-2019, 08:15 AM   #7
relative4
Major
United_States
611
Rep
1,272
Posts

Drives: '08 335xi E90 MT stage 1+
Join Date: Feb 2019
Location: Denver, CO

iTrader: (0)

Quote:
Originally Posted by slonikas View Post
Hey sorry for offtopic guys but maybe you can help me. I have n52b25 e90 2005 and I cant start the car when it has about 15(litres) or less gasoline. When it is over 15L it starts good. Is it fuel pressure regulator? Is it below rear seat on the driver side? just want to make sure thanks
Appreciate 0
      02-19-2019, 10:54 AM   #8
tlow98
Brigadier General
2163
Rep
4,968
Posts

Drives: 2009 E91, 2014 F15 x35i
Join Date: Aug 2011
Location: Bay Area

iTrader: (2)

Quote:
Originally Posted by mecheng77 View Post
Yes the 328 has more hp, but I believe you need a new ecu. Replacing the head isn't bad
No. OP can swap all his original stuff over from the donor 328/330. If he wants to upgrade then he goes with 330i hardware and tune uploaded to his existing ECU.
Appreciate 0
      02-19-2019, 10:58 AM   #9
tlow98
Brigadier General
2163
Rep
4,968
Posts

Drives: 2009 E91, 2014 F15 x35i
Join Date: Aug 2011
Location: Bay Area

iTrader: (2)

Quote:
Originally Posted by relative4 View Post
You'd also need to swap the harness. Fixing the head gasket is much less work, and the little bit of added power does not merit the extra effort.
No need to swap harnesses. Swap the hardware instead. Much easier. See explanation above.

Also, I’d wager for the average person swapping the motor would be easier and less risky than swapping the head.

Timing an engine and getting all the valvetronic stuff is most definitely more challenging than unbolting all the mechanical and electrical stuff the doing the reverse. If you’ve never swapped a head or an engine before then there’s less you can screw up by swapping the motor.

Make sure the coolant is bled and it has oil before you start and you’ll be fine with the motor swap.
Appreciate 0
      02-19-2019, 02:24 PM   #10
hassmaschine
Major General
United_States
3940
Rep
7,216
Posts

Drives: "NBO" 330i
Join Date: Jun 2014
Location: earth

iTrader: (0)

Are you sure the head gasket is blown? I've run an N52 to 140c (dead pump) and it was still fine. I just don't see how it's possible in normal use.

in any case, a '328i' engine is exactly the same as a 325i engine. the only difference is very slight changes in software, and the plastic valve cover / updated CCV. If you end up swapping, you need to keep all of your original harnesses, sensors, and computers.
Appreciate 1
Efthreeoh16953.50
      02-19-2019, 02:26 PM   #11
hassmaschine
Major General
United_States
3940
Rep
7,216
Posts

Drives: "NBO" 330i
Join Date: Jun 2014
Location: earth

iTrader: (0)

Quote:
Originally Posted by tlow98 View Post
No need to swap harnesses. Swap the hardware instead. Much easier. See explanation above.

Also, I’d wager for the average person swapping the motor would be easier and less risky than swapping the head.

Timing an engine and getting all the valvetronic stuff is most definitely more challenging than unbolting all the mechanical and electrical stuff the doing the reverse. If you’ve never swapped a head or an engine before then there’s less you can screw up by swapping the motor.

Make sure the coolant is bled and it has oil before you start and you’ll be fine with the motor swap.
you do have to swap the harness. the MAF for the 328i will not work with MSV70 and the connectors are different. the whole CCV system has a different harness.
Appreciate 0
      02-19-2019, 05:34 PM   #12
relative4
Major
United_States
611
Rep
1,272
Posts

Drives: '08 335xi E90 MT stage 1+
Join Date: Feb 2019
Location: Denver, CO

iTrader: (0)

Quote:
Originally Posted by tlow98 View Post
No. OP can swap all his original stuff over from the donor 328/330. If he wants to upgrade then he goes with 330i hardware and tune uploaded to his existing ECU.
What hardware are you talking about?
Appreciate 0
      02-19-2019, 06:16 PM   #13
tlow98
Brigadier General
2163
Rep
4,968
Posts

Drives: 2009 E91, 2014 F15 x35i
Join Date: Aug 2011
Location: Bay Area

iTrader: (2)

Quote:
Originally Posted by hassmaschine View Post
you do have to swap the harness. the MAF for the 328i will not work with MSV70 and the connectors are different. the whole CCV system has a different harness.
Yes but the original harness stays with the car, correct? It’s everything else ok the donor motor that needs to be swapped to 325i status? Maybe I’m confused...
Appreciate 0
      02-19-2019, 06:18 PM   #14
tlow98
Brigadier General
2163
Rep
4,968
Posts

Drives: 2009 E91, 2014 F15 x35i
Join Date: Aug 2011
Location: Bay Area

iTrader: (2)

Quote:
Originally Posted by relative4 View Post
What hardware are you talking about?
I was referring to everything like sensors, plugs etc. it all goes from his 325i to the ‘new’ 328/330 motor. Maybe I’m off, but if memory serves... (sometimes it doesn’t)
Appreciate 0
      02-19-2019, 06:43 PM   #15
3s4u2
Beamer Mantic
3s4u2's Avatar
United_States
82
Rep
1,191
Posts

Drives: 2006 325i Prem
Join Date: Apr 2008
Location: Texas

iTrader: (0)

LT$ E9X

When the 325i gives it up, this is being considered. Just a thought...

https://youtu.be/ZxzgPv9bkeM
__________________
2006 325i
2006 M5
2008 X5 4.8i
2014 X5 50i M-Pkg
Appreciate 0
      02-20-2019, 04:54 AM   #16
Efthreeoh
General
United_States
16954
Rep
18,582
Posts

Drives: The E90 + Z4 Coupe & Z3 R'ster
Join Date: May 2012
Location: Virginia

iTrader: (0)

Quote:
Originally Posted by 3s4u2 View Post
When the 325i gives it up, this is being considered. Just a thought...
Like that'll ever happen
Appreciate 1
e90yyc2424.00
      02-20-2019, 07:44 AM   #17
vilord
Major
488
Rep
1,309
Posts

Drives: E91, Tundra, TT, SV650
Join Date: Apr 2013
Location: boston

iTrader: (1)

Garage List
Quote:
Originally Posted by Anonymous05 View Post
So I own a bmw 325i 2006 and im positive that the head gasket is blow I was going to replace it but I was also thinking of swaping the engine with a 328i engine and I was wondering if it was possible. the engine I maybe able to get it for around 600 or 700 what do you guys think I should do?
Could you find another 325i engine for a similar price? would be much less work to keep the 2006 DME and engine setup than to update everything to MSV80/328.

If you want more power, just put in a 3-stage intake and flash the 325 to a 330.

(or as hassmachine and tlow said above, you could use a 328i longblock, but you'd want to move all the sensors and modules from your 325 over)
Appreciate 0
      02-20-2019, 09:29 AM   #18
3s4u2
Beamer Mantic
3s4u2's Avatar
United_States
82
Rep
1,191
Posts

Drives: 2006 325i Prem
Join Date: Apr 2008
Location: Texas

iTrader: (0)

Quote:
Originally Posted by Efthreeoh View Post
Like that'll ever happen
You might have a point, I have lots of projects ahead of that!
__________________
2006 325i
2006 M5
2008 X5 4.8i
2014 X5 50i M-Pkg
Appreciate 0
      02-20-2019, 09:41 AM   #19
Efthreeoh
General
United_States
16954
Rep
18,582
Posts

Drives: The E90 + Z4 Coupe & Z3 R'ster
Join Date: May 2012
Location: Virginia

iTrader: (0)

Quote:
Originally Posted by 3s4u2 View Post
You might have a point, I have lots of projects ahead of that!
What's the clock say on the 330i? You must be in the upper 200K's by now...
__________________
A manual transmission can be set to "comfort", "sport", and "track" modes simply by the technique and speed at which you shift it; it doesn't need "modes", modes are for manumatics that try to behave like a real 3-pedal manual transmission. If you can money-shift it, it's a manual transmission. "Yeah, but NO ONE puts an automatic trans shift knob on a manual transmission."
Appreciate 0
      02-20-2019, 10:28 AM   #20
Anonymous05
New Member
2
Rep
5
Posts

Drives: Bmw 325i
Join Date: Feb 2019
Location: Victorville

iTrader: (0)

Im almost positive the head is blow since I have replaced the valve cover and the oil filter house gaskets and I can see right below the valve cover their is oil coming out from where the head gasket would be. I don't care to much about the hp but more so which would be a better option to just go for it and changed the gasket or if possible swap the motor
Appreciate 0
      02-20-2019, 10:37 AM   #21
Efthreeoh
General
United_States
16954
Rep
18,582
Posts

Drives: The E90 + Z4 Coupe & Z3 R'ster
Join Date: May 2012
Location: Virginia

iTrader: (0)

Quote:
Originally Posted by Anonymous05 View Post
Im almost positive the head is blow since I have replaced the valve cover and the oil filter house gaskets and I can see right below the valve cover their is oil coming out from where the head gasket would be. I don't care to much about the hp but more so which would be a better option to just go for it and changed the gasket or if possible swap the motor
Where on the perimeter of the cylinderhead is it leaking? If the cylinderhead gasket is leaking there are several tests to determine if it actually is. Like Hass said, the N52 is quite robust and difficult to blow the head gasket. Do you know if the engine was severely and repeatedly overheated in the past? Did you check for the external head bolt on the left side of the engine next to the OFH to see if it is broken? That broken head bolt is a common problem with the early N52 production engines and can be easily rectified for a few hundred dollars at a competent BMW shop. There are two other head bolts internal at the front of the engine near the timing case that are also known to break and can also be repaired in expensively.

My engine overheated due to a dead water pump over 215,000 miles ago, and it's still running perfectly.
__________________
A manual transmission can be set to "comfort", "sport", and "track" modes simply by the technique and speed at which you shift it; it doesn't need "modes", modes are for manumatics that try to behave like a real 3-pedal manual transmission. If you can money-shift it, it's a manual transmission. "Yeah, but NO ONE puts an automatic trans shift knob on a manual transmission."
Appreciate 0
      02-20-2019, 12:00 PM   #22
smass
Lieutenant Colonel
393
Rep
1,578
Posts

Drives: 06 325i - 10 335i
Join Date: Sep 2010
Location: Scottsdale, AZ

iTrader: (1)

Garage List
2010 E90 335i  [0.00]
2016 F15 35i  [0.00]
2003 E53 3.0  [0.00]
2006 E90 325i  [0.00]
Quote:
Originally Posted by Anonymous05 View Post
Im almost positive the head is blow since I have replaced the valve cover and the oil filter house gaskets and I can see right below the valve cover their is oil coming out from where the head gasket would be. I don't care to much about the hp but more so which would be a better option to just go for it and changed the gasket or if possible swap the motor
Check the bolt in figure 1. It may be a $6 fix.

https://www.pelicanparts.com/BMW/tec...lt_Testing.htm
Appreciate 2
Efthreeoh16953.50
Reply

Bookmarks

Thread Tools Search this Thread
Search this Thread:

Advanced Search

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off



All times are GMT -5. The time now is 10:33 AM.




e90post
Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.11
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions Inc.
1Addicts.com, BIMMERPOST.com, E90Post.com, F30Post.com, M3Post.com, ZPost.com, 5Post.com, 6Post.com, 7Post.com, XBimmers.com logo and trademark are properties of BIMMERPOST