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BMW 3-Series (E90 E92) Forum > E90 / E92 / E93 3-series Powertrain and Drivetrain Discussions > NA Engine (non-turbo) / Drivetrain / Exhaust Modifications > What e90 motors are compatible with a 2006 325xi for a swap



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      01-11-2018, 10:37 AM   #1
ColoradoCale
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What e90 motors are compatible with a 2006 325xi for a swap

Looking to replace the engine in my 02/2006 e90 325xi (silver top) with a another motor with fewer miles.

Will an '07+ be compatible with my car for a straight swap or will I need a specific year engine to swap?

Found a few N52s locally through a salvager with ~80k-90k from 325xi, 328xi, and 330xi's and a couple 52Xxi's in the $1k range and waiting to hear back from the seller for what years they are (does anyone know which would have the MSV70 vs MSV80 in them?) Have everything to do the swap in my garage.

Looking on RealOEM for the pre-LCI cars, it shows 09/2004 to 08/2006 for the 2004-2008 e90 and shows the MSV70 DME for everything from 09/2004 to 08/2006 and then looking at the LCI cars it doesn't show USA market parts for the 2007-2012 325xi, only EUR and RUS. I'm guessing as long as it isn't from a car with the MSV80 it should be a (relatively) straight swap where I can use my current DME (MSV70) for the swap?

Already have a Bentley manual and would be following the engine removal/reverse order from a few guides from people doing LS swaps.

Last edited by ColoradoCale; 05-19-2018 at 06:28 PM..
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      01-11-2018, 01:04 PM   #2
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If u swap DME then your going to run into CAS/FRM alignment issues. The engine is the same across the board but wiring will be different
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      01-11-2018, 01:25 PM   #3
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Cool, I'm trying to stick with a motor I can use my old DME with, don't mind if I have to swap harness/splice connections if needed.
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      01-12-2018, 01:13 AM   #4
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The 330xi motor will come with a three stage intake manifold and if you combine that with a tune for your ECU you can net 30+ horsepower.

Without the tune it will still work perfectly fine in your car and uses the same ECU.

If it’s in good shape it’s the better motor to have.
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      01-12-2018, 08:18 AM   #5
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I believe the 330i (N52B30) and 325i (N52B25) use MSV70 while N52N uses MSV80/MSV80.1. And then the N51 uses MSV80.1

Obviously correct me if I'm wrong. This is a good question for Hassmachine

If I were you, I'd just try to hunt down a 330i motor assuming it'll work natively with the 325i MSV70. You'll probably need a 330i-esque tune, but that's in the works.
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      01-12-2018, 08:40 AM   #6
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Any N52 will work really. If you got one from a later car, you'd want to swap harnesses, the valve cover, and the MAF (other sensors are the same).

If you get a 3 stage motor, the 3 factory stage flash is available now for free (soft launch).
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      01-12-2018, 04:50 PM   #7
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Quote:
Originally Posted by hassmaschine View Post
Any N52 will work really. If you got one from a later car, you'd want to swap harnesses, the valve cover, and the MAF (other sensors are the same).

If you get a 3 stage motor, the 3 factory stage flash is available now for free (soft launch).
Damm, did no one notice what you said here?
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      01-12-2018, 05:04 PM   #8
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nope

actually, I still need to build a file for the 325xi - shouldn't be too hard though.
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      01-12-2018, 05:15 PM   #9
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Quote:
Originally Posted by hassmaschine View Post
nope

actually, I still need to build a file for the 325xi - shouldn't be too hard though.
You need to post that message on your "I Cloned my MSV" pages. More people pay attention to that.
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      01-12-2018, 05:17 PM   #10
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Quote:
Originally Posted by hassmaschine View Post
Any N52 will work really. If you got one from a later car, you'd want to swap harnesses, the valve cover, and the MAF (other sensors are the same).

If you get a 3 stage motor, the 3 factory stage flash is available now for free (soft launch).
I thought the throttle body is different as well. Same size just a different connection/plug and controlling circuit.
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      01-12-2018, 05:52 PM   #11
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Great information all!

Excited to see the soft launch Hassmachine!!

I've been following your MSV70 thread for a while with the upgrades in mind for this car from the getgo. The plan is to do the 3-stage upgrade if I don't get an engine from a 330 a little bit further down the road.

Any chance I can get a link or download of the 330 tune for the 325xi when I'm at that point?

Last edited by ColoradoCale; 01-12-2018 at 05:57 PM..
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      01-12-2018, 06:01 PM   #12
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Quote:
Originally Posted by rjahl View Post
I thought the throttle body is different as well. Same size just a different connection/plug and controlling circuit.
I think it is but I'm pretty sure it works anyway.

as far as the files, yeah - I think I want a couple days more testing before blaring it everywhere.
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      01-12-2018, 11:52 PM   #13
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Sounds great to me, I'll update once I nail down what donor motor I'm picking up. Fingers crossed for a MSV70 330xi.
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      01-12-2018, 11:54 PM   #14
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Can be a 330i too - engines are the same, just different pans. You need to use your front diff anyway.
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      01-13-2018, 12:07 AM   #15
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Good to know, I'm planning on doing the pan gasket while the motor is on the stand(plus oil filter gasket and VCG while taking the ESS I put on the current motor on the new one), even better if I can pick up an xi pan for cheap. Definitely makes it easier to find a viable motor(not a whole lot of relatively low mileage + inexpensive motors for these AWD e90s, at least on CL, in Denver.)
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      01-13-2018, 01:58 AM   #16
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Quote:
Originally Posted by hassmaschine View Post
Any N52 will work really. If you got one from a later car, you'd want to swap harnesses, the valve cover, and the MAF (other sensors are the same).

If you get a 3 stage motor, the 3 factory stage flash is available now for free (soft launch).
I will now be buying a three stage in short order.
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      01-13-2018, 10:16 AM   #17
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Quote:
Originally Posted by hassmaschine View Post
I think it is but I'm pretty sure it works anyway.

as far as the files, yeah - I think I want a couple days more testing before blaring it everywhere.
My DISA repair kit/manifold gaskets should be here soon so I'll let you know how the 130i files are.
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      01-13-2018, 10:47 AM   #18
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Quote:
Originally Posted by desertman123 View Post
My DISA repair kit/manifold gaskets should be here soon so I'll let you know how the 130i files are.
make sure you download them again as I made some changes after my last email to you
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      01-16-2018, 08:30 PM   #19
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Found a 330i for a decent price without too many miles. How large, metrically, of a pain in the ass would it be to swap my current oil pan over to get it to work with my xi?

Is it as simple as pulling the pans, and swapping them(with new gaskets and oil level sensor seals) while both engines are out? Easy enough to have one engine on the stand and one on the shop crane to do it?
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      01-16-2018, 09:52 PM   #20
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Should be easy with the eninge out. Remember you need new bolts.
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      01-21-2018, 10:15 PM   #21
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Super stoked for this!!!


Soft launch only applies for MSV70 I suppose? Any news on 80.1?
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      01-21-2018, 10:46 PM   #22
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I can generate files for MSV70, MSV80 and MSV80.1. But on MSV80.1 - you already have the 3 stage, so I haven't done anything there yet - custom tuning would be more appropriate I think.
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