This S54 M3 Swapped 325xi Is A Bucket Of Poisonous Snakes

"DailyTurismo" (thedailyturismo) 11/15/2013 at 14:45 • Filed to: None

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BMW never released an M3 sedan in the E46 generation (2001-2006), which is a shame because the high revving S54 inline-6 was a supreme treat that comfortable back seat passengers were never given the opportunity to enjoy. But it's nothing a few 6-packs, wire crimpers and a weekend won't fix...

Today's feature tries to remedy Bavaria's oversight with an S54 swapped into a standard E46 325 sedan body, except that its got more issues than a crack smoking Toronto mayor. Find this !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! currently bidding on ebay for $1,025 with 3 days to go in Brooklyn, NY.

First up is the fact that the car looks to be at a dealer/auction/salvage lot based on the yellow grease pencil letters on the windows, zip tie attached keys and big serialized sticker. The seller (who also has a recently side-swiped M3 vert for sale) claims it was his personal car but he is selling it because it thought it was all-wheel-drive when he bought it but found out later that its stock 2.5 liter all-wheel-drivetrain has been tossed in favor of the S54 i-6 and 6-speed manual.

The S54 is a 3.2 liter DOHC inline-6 rated at 333 horsepower and 262 ft-lbs of torque. The S54 revvs to 7900 rpm and sounds like a crate of empty pie tins being thrown down a flight of marble stairs. Unfortunately all is not well with this engine swap.

The M3 gauge cluster has been swapped into this basic 325 - and the above pic shows more idiot lights than a power outage at a security guard conference. There are all sorts of electronics error codes displayed on the computer which could be related to wiring disturbed during the engine swap, or just common E46 issues, but it should keep the non-serious bidders at bay.

See a better bucket of snakes for less? email us here: !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!!

Originally posted as !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! on !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! .

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Party-vi > DailyTurismo 11/15/2013 at 14:47

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What's up with that ride height? Also, at least it looks like it has the sport package.

offroadkarter > DailyTurismo 11/15/2013 at 14:49

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wellp, time to part it out

gavinski91 > DailyTurismo 11/15/2013 at 14:49

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That's actually a decent price for just the S54... part out the body and you could come out ahead.

MonkeePuzzle > DailyTurismo 11/15/2013 at 14:54

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ALLL the lights on the dash? sure this isn't just the initial startup sequence?

Arch Duke Maxyenko, Shit Talk Extraordinaire > DailyTurismo 11/15/2013 at 14:55

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REALY

Baskingshark > gavinski91 11/15/2013 at 15:03

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and throw that S54 in an E30 and you have my current dream car

Straightsix9904 > Baskingshark 11/15/2013 at 15:20

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I didn't see the "dream" part. I instantly perked up when I read "current car." I'm like holy shit, MY DREAM, must have pics.

BiTurbo228 - Dr Frankenstein of Spitfires > DailyTurismo 11/15/2013 at 15:27

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I'm sure I can find an AC Cobra kit to put that S54 and 6-speed into.

I will make an AC Ace kit at some point. It's on the (admittedly very long) list of builds.

Evan, Pope Of Jalopnik by Self-Appointment > DailyTurismo 11/15/2013 at 15:29

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Um...can I have? I'll fix it, I don't care. Also....that pic of the cluster looks like the startup sequence...not that all the lights are on. With some coil overs and nice wheels, that thing could be a monster. A sexy monster. I'm going to look into this...

Edit: After looking at the ad, looks like some of those lights might be from sensors not getting the right readings. But still....if this doesn't go any higher, its simply too good to pass up. That engine/transmission combo is worth several times that.

Baskingshark > Straightsix9904 11/15/2013 at 15:31

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Ha ha sorry to let you down. An E30 is probably going to be my next car however I doubt the budget will allow for an S54. Maybe an S52. I probably go on r3vlimited.com a couple times a day drooling over the member's rides there. Here is an S54 E30 to make up for it ha ha

(I know the orange one is not an S54, but it was too bad ass not to post, also shout out to Castro Motorsport in Hollywood. Those guys do some amazing work.

DailyTurismo > MonkeePuzzle 11/15/2013 at 15:51

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But why is the engine at idle speed?

MonkeePuzzle > DailyTurismo 11/15/2013 at 15:58

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hmm, ok, good point

RickyD > DailyTurismo 11/15/2013 at 16:22

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BMW commonly have idle problems anyways, idling while off might be considered a plus.

d1ck > DailyTurismo 11/15/2013 at 16:26

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It's an auto cluster. Also, I recently picked up a 03 330xi for a winter car and I would enjoy having the S54 very much. Also, that's not the startup sequence, the engine is running.

Jay Lauer > BiTurbo228 - Dr Frankenstein of Spitfires 11/19/2013 at 18:46

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That would be one of the greatest M3's ever.

Joeydrama > DailyTurismo 01/11/2017 at 22:56

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Anyone have any idea what ever happened to this car? currently searching for an S54 E46 sedan.