Performance BMW
May 18
This month is all about engine swaps. The draw of taking an unsuspecting car and endowing it with something far more powerful under the bonnet is irresistible and has resulted in some truly spectacular builds over the years. Take our cover car this month, for example; building this S85 V10-swapped E30 M3 was no easy task and a lot of blood, sweat and tears have been poured into this project but the end result, with 500whp courtesy of a raft of engine upgrades, is truly something special. Of course, not everyone has the sort of budget to create a car like that but that doesn't mean youcan't enjoy an engine swap if you've got less cash to blow. The super-clean air-ride E28 in this issue started out life as a humble 518i but now enjoys 2.8-litres of straight-six M30 power, while the red E30 Cab from the UK you can also read about this month is powered by a mighty-fine M52B28. There are also plenty of amazing non-BM engines just ripefor swapping and while doing that might get you some hate from the purists, you'll be having too much fun to care. Just look at the wild, 600hp, 2JZ-GTE-swapped E46 we've also squeezed into this issue. Of course, with so many BM and non-BM engines out there to choose from, it can all get a bit overwhelming, which is why we've put together a rather large guide for you in this issue. It's not an ultimate hands-on, how-to guide, rather a look at some of the best and most popular engines out there and we've also looked at some of the challenges involved with these swaps, the engines' modding potential and how much it'll actually cost you to buy your chosen motor. Hopefully it'll inspire you to get swapping!
Features:
Risk & Reward
500whp, 5.8 V10-swapped E30 M3
Going The Distance
360hp E91 330d
The Beast From The East
600hp 2JZ-swapped E46
Plan M
550hp F80 M3
Hidden Depths
M30-swapped air-ride E28
Push:
Our engine swap special, featuring a 500whp V10-powered E30 M3, M52-swapped E30
Cab, 600hp 2JZ-swapped E46 and our guide to some of the best engine swaps for your BM.