S38b36

decoupe

decoupe

(deceased)
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Location
Alberta, Canada
Not mine etc but curious on opinions of what a good S38 sells for. http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/BMW-...its=Make:BMW&hash=item4aaec2b257#ht_530wt_948

I know enough about the swap requirements and engine management side of things but if $5800 gets you 310hp at the crank to which you add the costs of the transplant wouldn't it be simpler and cheaper to build up an 3.5l Motronic based engine to the same level? Might need to be bored/stroked out at bit but I think you would be into it for half the cost. Wouldn't be as sexy or as clean but probably better bottom end.

Which gets back to the question is $5800 reasonable?



Opinions?
 
Interesting, these don't come up for sale that often. A few points:

1. Hard to say what the right price should be. I paid a similar amount for a motor with known provenance, a Getrag 280 and an M5 diff. But that was sourced locally from people I knew. Open market price might be higher.
2. Given the large number of items required to do this swap, I don't think it's something I would do unless I were doing a full tear-down and rebuild.
3. You're probably right that the S38 family is not the cheapest route to go for the same amount of power. (But it is the coolest. :))
 
I did, It was not that difficult. Everything lined up properly using 5spd from E12.

Actually, back in 1997 I bought 2 totaled 91 M5. I used the engine and seats from
one in my coupe and stored the other engine and drive train. A restoration shop bought
the rest of both cars from me. I still have the spare engine, transmission and diff which
I would consider selling for $4500.00. (engine only).

My other coupe has a modified 3.6 M20 engine from an 89 635csi and a 5spd.
It will out run the s38 coupe from 0 to 60 but after that the s38 coupe will pull away
very fast.
 
My other coupe has a modified 3.6 M20 engine from an 89 635csi and a 5spd.
It will out run the s38 coupe from 0 to 60 but after that the s38 coupe will pull away
very fast.[/QUOTE]

I’m just curious :confused: why S38 car lacks the low speed performance of your other coupe ? I would suspect the gearing but would be interested in hearing your opinion. ~ John Buchtenkirch
 
2800csm5 said:
My other coupe has a modified 3.6 M20 engine from an 89 635csi and a 5spd.
It will out run the s38 coupe from 0 to 60 but after that the s38 coupe will pull away
very fast.
Click to expand...

I'm guessing that you meant a modified 3.6 M30 from an 89 635CSi - correct? That's where I'm heading.

Acceleration difference might have a lot to do with the final drive ratio and 0-60 times. I have a 3.45 and think Shannon (aka the Pumpkin) is using a 4.11 so even if I had the same power I would be seeing his tail lights - not his headlights.

Doug
 
i think this is the engine that has been for sale for a while. if its the same one, its in Lithonia, GA ... not a hotbed of BMW ownership out there, but maybe a good location for "hot" BMW's.

my guess is that if its a good engine, David Harrison would know about it - Harrison motorsports - he's one of the local M experts in town. he's over at o'fest right now at the track ...
 
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