325xit manual Sport Wagon with ZHP engine

[18rabbit]

sold

[Simmsled]

This is freaking cool!
GLWS!

[slater]

awesome!! it makes me look forward to my 330iT project. :)

[18rabbit]

I'll try to post some more pics tonight. I have an oxford green RWD sport wagon with a non-zhp 330 engine and 6 speed trans waiting to replace this one as my fun car.

[slater]

I'll try to post some more pics tonight. I have an oxford green RWD sport wagon with a non-zhp 330 engine and 6 speed trans waiting to replace this one as my fun car.

oxford green - oh yeah!! :) can't wait to see pics of that one!

my japanrot 325iT (same as your oxford green one - RWD, 5-speed, sport Touring) is also getting a non-ZHP 330i engine with 6-speed trans! i'm putting a full M3 rear end in it too. :) should be pretty awesome.

i love wagons.

so, did the 5-speed trans mate up to the M54B30 fine? i thought i remember hearing that they weren't compatible.

[Vas]

Oxford Green you say?

Good luck with the sale

[az3579]

so, did the 5-speed trans mate up to the M54B30 fine? i thought i remember hearing that they weren't compatible.

Where'd you hear that? They made 330's with 5-speeds... 2001-2002's have 5-speeds as the only manual option.
I think CarbonZHP also did a 5-speed manual conversion on his ZHP vert.

[slater]

Where'd you hear that? They made 330's with 5-speeds... 2001-2002's have 5-speeds as the only manual option.
I think CarbonZHP also did a 5-speed manual conversion on his ZHP vert.

can't remember, but you're right about the 330i w/ 5-speed. duh...

[az3579]

can't remember, but you're right about the 330i w/ 5-speed. duh...

Sometimes I forget the 01's and 02's exist - you're not alone lol

[18rabbit]

so, did the 5-speed trans mate up to the M54B30 fine? i thought i remember hearing that they weren't compatible.

Yeah no problems there. There are differences besides the transmission that you need to be aware of. LOTS of differences when swapping from rwd to xi on the engine. You need to swap oil pans, motor mount arms, oil pick up tubes, some coolant lines, dipstick...

[slater]

Yeah no problems there. There are differences besides the transmission that you need to be aware of. LOTS of differences when swapping from rwd to xi on the engine. You need to swap oil pans, motor mount arms, oil pick up tubes, some coolant lines, dipstick...

yep, and 01/02 have different coil packs and SAP system too.

[330i ZHP]

You'll love it, but I would suggest different rear axle ratio. Mine begs for a 7th gear w 3.62

[az3579]

You'll love it, but I would suggest different rear axle ratio. Mine begs for a 7th gear w 3.62

Yeah that revs too much with a 3.62. With boost, a lower ratio is ideal!

[slater]

You'll love it, but I would suggest different rear axle ratio. Mine begs for a 7th gear w 3.62

looks like 75MPH is about 3100rpm with the 3.62 and the 6-speed - not terrible. the stock 5-speed at 75MPH is at 3500rpm! (remember the 325iT has a 3.46 rear end.)



Yeah that revs too much with a 3.62. With boost, a lower ratio is ideal!

i'm contemplating a S/C for the stock M54B25... mated to a 6-speed... mmmm 290hp/230tq!

[330i ZHP]

looks like 75MPH is about 3100rpm with the 3.62 and the 6-speed - not terrible. the stock 5-speed at 75MPH is at 3500rpm! (remember the 325iT has a 3.46 rear end.)




i'm contemplating a S/C for the stock M54B25... mated to a 6-speed... mmmm 290hp/230tq!

If you are used to revving high on hwy you'll be fine. I definitely noticed a very audible difference. I should have had the ratio changed when I upgraded the M diff to a better LSD setup. 30/90 ramped

[330i ZHP]

Six speed and boost, the 3.15 and 3.38 were sweet.

With 3.62 1st gear can be damn near useless. Unless on hill, I often pull from stop in 2nd. The TS and 3.0 has plenty O torque... 500ish hp (431hp at wheels) and around 430tqs (376 at wheels). Still good enough for 12.0....-12.5 1/4 mile and around 112mph

[330i ZHP]

I look forward to hearing more about your project. I love my wagon

[ELCID86]

Great work. I'm considering trying to talk this lady at work into selling me her ox green 325? Xi with 5MT. It has oil consumption issues but I hear there is a fix for that ;-) (yes I told her there was but her mechanic says the engine needs rebuilding).

I'm just not sure I want an Xi and wish it had an M54 and 6 gears.

[330i ZHP]

Great work. I'm considering trying to talk this lady at work into selling me her ox green 325? Xi with 5MT. It has oil consumption issues but I hear there is a fix for that ;-) (yes I told her there was but her mechanic says the engine needs rebuilding).

I'm just not sure I want an Xi and wish it had an M54 and 6 gears.

Shawn - what year is the 325 wagon - I thought all 325/330 are M54 - the 323/328 are m52

6 speed swap in a manual car is really easy - just potentially $$

If 325 it should be m54 and ms43 dme

[ELCID86]

Hmm. Good point. I need to ask her again (and it may be a 323).


---
"ZHP is a garbage option anyway- just some cosmetic upgrades with a different cam and diff to claw back some of the performance lost fitting those hideous and heavy wheels. Any 330 with a 3.46 diff will smoke a ZHP every time. The whole Mafia thing reeks of childish behavior." - anonymous E46 fanatic

[az3579]

If it's an xi then it's a 325. They didn't sell the 323 with AWD.

[ELCID86]

If it's an xi then it's a 325. They didn't sell the 323 with AWD.

Dingdingding! We have a winner. You sir are correct. It's a 2003 325Xi

//end thread jack. GLWS

[slater]

Dingdingding! We have a winner. You sir are correct. It's a 2003 325Xi

//end thread jack. GLWS

yes, indeed! sorry to the OP, we crapped on your FS thread...

GLWS! :cheers

[18rabbit]

Jesus, what the hell is happening in here! J/K Hey more free bumps for me!

[ELCID86]

Jesus, what the hell is happening in here! J/K Hey more free bumps for me!

Happy to assist ;-0

[18rabbit]

Found a pic from two summers ago when I put in the zhp engine:

[18rabbit]

A little update. Pulled the K&N intake to sell separately as it was causing some abnormal MAF readings. Bought OEM wiper inserts for the front and rear. Pulling the rear carpet and taking a look at the drain plug holes. I will be coating the rust with POR-15 and sealing the hole top and bottom with sound deadening material. I will then coat the underside with some undercoating spray. Car is turn key ready!

[18rabbit]

Listing is live! http://bringatrailer.com/listing/2002-bmw-325xit/

[danewilson77]

Gahhhhhh!

Sent from my Pixel XL using Tapatalk

[jorbon]

I grew up (middle and HS in Kennett (a long time ago). Wish I was visiting to pop over and take a look. Good luck with sale!

[slater]

good bidding action already! awesome. i told my dad to bid on it - he's looking for an AWD 3er or 5er, this would be perfect!

[UdubBadger]

I mean not bad but can't you make that a lot easier without engine swap and just getting the zhp cams in the regular m54 motor?


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[BCS_ZHP]

A ZHP cam swap is varsity level work, not beginner DIY stuff. Plus unknown the condition of his engine's bottom end. A short block, long block, or complete engine swap here was likely a piece of mind decision to not have to redo some labor twice if something didn't work out.

[UdubBadger]

I mean true but I guess my level of thinking is a little different. Cam swap = x hrs labor at iND.

I was more commenting on the rarity of a zhp motor in a wagon rather than the actual reasoning behind it is all.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[18rabbit]

ZHP engine compared to the original M54B25 has different MAF, cams, intake manifold, crank to be sure. Engine swap is pretty easy if you have the time and tools. Change the engine from RWD to XI was the real pain!

[ELCID86]

ZHP engine compared to the original M54B25 has different MAF, cams, intake manifold, crank to be sure. Engine swap is pretty easy if you have the time and tools. Change the engine from RWD to XI was the real pain!

How bad do you think it would be going from Xi to RWD?

[18rabbit]

How bad do you think it would be going from Xi to RWD?

To make a XI car into RWD or just an engine? The car I wouldn't bother, too many parts to source and swap. The engine is the same amount of work either direction. I had to swap oil pans, oil pick up tube, motor mount arms, and some coolant hose brackets.

[ELCID86]

I have my eye on and Xi and the maintenance on the front end worries me a bit. I was thinking of the RWD project. Perhaps it's not worth the squeeze...