S54 CSL Engine Transplant

[nigelonich]

Looking for some technical help guys if you have it.

Planing a Winter (or several months after that) project and 'in principle' its a E46 CSL engine into an E30 M3. After surfing a bit I think a manual e46 box would be the best idea as the flappy paddles look hard to integrate so that leaves the engine. I want to keep it as 'BMW' as possible.

What parts would be esential to remove from the donor as im not sure what items too make sure and get from a CSL and what items i can pick up from a stock E46m3. The obvious are engine with anciliaries, loom, ecu, intake and exhaust manifolds but does the airbox need a specific ecu and is the CSL loom a must to rob off a donor?

Even if someone found a 'good' link to help me it would be appriciated. There are plenty people talking about s54 trasplants but not so many about the transplant of the CSL variant.

I had an E30 M3 a few years back and i liked everything about the car apart from feeling it was a bit slow all the time so I fancied seeing if we could do something about that.

Nigel

[shimmy]

Others will know beter than me for sure but I'm guessing best to take the CSL S54 lump, ignition and engine ECU and then drop the SMG to a manual box if you really want to. I think this would make life the easiest.

I guess as many standard ancillaries as will fit at least then you know the cooling etc will suit the car if the air flow is there, but I'm guessing you'll be up against space problems.

From personal experience if you get hold of motor that has done north f 40k miles I would factor in a new HG before you start.

Sounds like a great plan and will sound awesome.

[Yanto_csl]

Sounds like a thread for the Gorilla :smokin:

[glendog74]

Welcome Nige :thumbs:

Member 'The Gorilla' has some knowledge of what you seek. I'm sure he'll add some sound advice soon or try sending him a PM.

[glendog74]

Sounds like a thread for the Gorilla :smokin:

Tw*t! Beat me to it :hahaha:

[Yanto_csl]

Tw*t! Beat me to it :hahaha:

Keep up at the back, short stuff :hahaha::hahaha:

[glendog74]

Keep up at the back, short stuff :hahaha::hahaha:

What's Steve got to do with this? :whistle:

[Rutkowski]

Looking for some technical help guys if you have it.

Planing a Winter (or several months after that) project and 'in principle' its a E46 CSL engine into an E30 M3. After surfing a bit I think a manual e46 box would be the best idea as the flappy paddles look hard to integrate so that leaves the engine. I want to keep it as 'BMW' as possible.

What parts would be esential to remove from the donor as im not sure what items too make sure and get from a CSL and what items i can pick up from a stock E46m3. The obvious are engine with anciliaries, loom, ecu, intake and exhaust manifolds but does the airbox need a specific ecu and is the CSL loom a must to rob off a donor?

Even if someone found a 'good' link to help me it would be appriciated. There are plenty people talking about s54 trasplants but not so many about the transplant of the CSL variant.

I had an E30 M3 a few years back and i liked everything about the car apart from feeling it was a bit slow all the time so I fancied seeing if we could do something about that.

Nigel

Engine + anncilaries, Carbon fibre CSL airbox, wiring loom, ignition + key, ECU.

The latter is essential if you want the added security of keeping the engine immobiliser...

IMHO - get a good S54, install Schricks 288 / 280 + good remap, 2005 + M3 manifolds or Supersprint ones if budget allows and you're ready to go.

I tried the CSL route and it is very expensive with little benefit over a stock M3. Where CSL shines is not the power advantage but handling. Now that's where that magic is at. A balanced weight reduction combined with quality suspension and brakes.

If you're interested, pm me as i am parting out my M3.

By the way - the SMG isn't that hard to integrate... about as hard as doing an engine transplant.

[plug]

A 3.2 straight 6 in an E30, will it fit? They sure are a long engine.
Off topic a bit but how are them engines in terms of reliability, the S54's?

[shimmy]

A 3.2 straight 6 in an E30, will it fit? They sure are a long engine.
Off topic a bit but how are them engines in terms of reliability, the S54's?

Faultless. :smokin:

[E30M3SE]

Looking for some technical help guys if you have it.

Planing a Winter (or several months after that) project and 'in principle' its a E46 CSL engine into an E30 M3. After surfing a bit I think a manual e46 box would be the best idea as the flappy paddles look hard to integrate so that leaves the engine. I want to keep it as 'BMW' as possible.

What parts would be esential to remove from the donor as im not sure what items too make sure and get from a CSL and what items i can pick up from a stock E46m3. The obvious are engine with anciliaries, loom, ecu, intake and exhaust manifolds but does the airbox need a specific ecu and is the CSL loom a must to rob off a donor?

Even if someone found a 'good' link to help me it would be appriciated. There are plenty people talking about s54 trasplants but not so many about the transplant of the CSL variant.

I had an E30 M3 a few years back and i liked everything about the car apart from feeling it was a bit slow all the time so I fancied seeing if we could do something about that.

Nigel

IMO, you are better off 'playing with' the S14 already in a E30M3 rather than stuffing a S54 in the nose, it will never handle and behave like an E30 should with the extra weight mounted further forward, great for a straight line monster.

[_Nathan_]

If you go S53 then avoid the OEM ECU, you'll need loads of sensors, throttle pedal, dash, etc etc.

Stick it on MoTeC and it'll be far simpler, and make more power.

[pinkpanther008]

Space

The s54 will fit as its been done (plenty links on net: http://bmwe30cars.blogspot.com/2009/12/bmw-e30-s54.html) but squeezing the CSL airbox alongside in that wee 80's engine bay will be a challenge too far me thunks?

If you do build it please post up progress as i expect everybody on here would be enthused by a build like this.

[nigelonich]

This makes me think it can be done>

http://www.s14.net/forums/showthread.php?t=39149&page=4

Should have mentioned that I also own a CSL at the moment too....

Thanks for the feedback so far the biggest issue is will it be easier to get a CSL or the E30! as donors.

[The Gorilla]

Hi,

Quote-

''IMO, you are better off 'playing with' the S14 already in a E30M3 rather than stuffing a S54 in the nose, it will never handle and behave like an E30 should with the extra weight mounted further forward, great for a straight line monster.

Pure Myth nothing else, just like the replacing of S14 Timing chains
at 90k etc.

My E30 M3 S54 is 52/48 front to rear weight ratio.

Std E30 M3 is 52/ 48 front to rear weight ratio.

If your car is a genuine E30 M3 good condition and has
a solid S14 engine, my advice is leave it alone, you will only
devaule it.

If value is not a concern and you want a fairly reliable 350 ish BHP
then an S54 Conversion with Brakes, supension, exhaust, drivetrain
ECU/harness etc, done correctly will be 14k + if
you do most of it your self, or allow 18k + if you do not
like dirty hands.

You will salavage around 2/3k for a std S14 engine and Trans.

It been done many times now, but how many of them you would
trust at speed, well you only have to look at the specification
of some of the builds for the answer to that.

A E30 M3 with a S14 engine producing 280 ish BHP, so
still quite reliable, with well sorted mechanical grip, proper
braking and correct diff and drive train, running on an aftermarket ECU
sat on Type R rubber in the correct hands in the
rear world will get very annoying
when constantly viewed in the rear view mirror by a lot of far more
expensive machinery.

Might not be the very quickest car but will without doubt, be one
of the most rewarding and enjoyable.

With an S54 engine, set up correctly then a lot of that more
expensive machinery in the real world
will be in your rear view mirror.

Regards,

The Gorilla.