v8 in a e36

[dannybmw]

is it possable to fit a v8 in a e36 bmw coupe . hope so and would rather have a rover one because its more raw than a bmw one many thanx dan .

[Supercharged]

How ironic would that be, a Rover V8 in a BMW

Its actually possible to fit the V12 from the 850, but how bigger job it would be I wouldn't like to guess...

www.racdyn.com/LocalizedContent/USA/US_ClassicCars/K55Hurricane.asp

As for the V8 have a look at:-

www.m3supercar.com/v8.html

[Chris_N]

Most things will fit in most things if you try hard enough!

Do a search for posts by Domster who has recently got a BMW V8 engined E36. I've also saw in C&CC mag a feature on an E30 M3 owner who I think had blown up his engine on his car so had fitted a highly tuned Rover V8 and used if for track days.

I have no doubt the Rover would go in an E36 if you wanted it to, but I would think keeping it an all BMW based conversion would seem the way to go if you want to be able to re-sell the thing.

[v8guinness]

Alpina used to offer an E36 with a BMW V8, tuned of course... awesome car.

[MOnk]

it's possible, but v8 will be too heavy for e36, there will be problems with handling.

[Boosted LS1]

Are you sure? The rovers all alloy, maybe 350kgs max. A chevy alloy Ls1 is 380-400 kgs. Does the beemer have an iron or alloy block. If iron then the weight difference would be marginal. .

[Justin S]

there was one in Car and car conversions a couple of years back all fitted and running with downdraught carbs and big power.

[350matt]

The Rover V8 actually weighs around 160Kg mark , fully dressed, the Ls1 lump is about 180Kg again fully dressed.

Matt

[domster]

MOnk said: it's possible, but v8 will be too heavy for e36, there will be problems with handling.

Go all alloy and the weight increase isn't too bad. Especially compared with those tricksy vanos straigh sixes.

My car has had some sound proofing/insulation gubbins and other crap (AC pump etc.) removed from the front, so it doesn't feel too front heavy at all. Once running on full RS Schnitzer suspension (rather than the slightly noncey road Schnitzer upgrade it has at the moment) it should handle better.

Sounds superb tho' - would recommend all E36s come with an 8 out front!

Oh, and best thing is, although it's a tight fit widthways I reckon it's short enough to fit a supercharger to the front of the block

[Boosted LS1]

350matt said: The Rover V8 actually weighs around 160Kg mark , fully dressed, the Ls1 lump is about 180Kg again fully dressed.

Matt

Yea, quite right! It's me trying to get to grips with metric and imperial. I was thinking in pounds.

[Mark B]

I remember reading about a guy who put a tweaked Rover lump in a BMW E30 M3 Evo. Apparently it was a fantastic car, with shed loads of power and torque. The fitment was really nice.

The article was in CCC (Car and Car Conversions) about 18 months ago.