1995 BMW M3 LSX swap

I’m typically more of an OEM+ swap fan rather than getting near the fiery debate of what constitutes blasphemy. Carter’s documented some great V8 to M3 swaps and noted that it’s a pretty outstanding dollar-to-horsepower option. Even after the seller here spent $60k on parts, a lot of that was on tertiary bits – it’d take more money and a lot more effort than that to get an S52 pushing these nutso numbers. What really draws me to this car is how clean and serious it looks, with subtle modifications on the exterior that create one of the best looking E36s out there. The E46 fender flares look absolutely perfect, and the massive Apex knock-off BBS RCs look great in black and complement the space gray perfectly. And no wing! I want every E36 to look like this, and a sedan would be even better, but who really cares? Unless it’s parked, no one’s going to see this thing for more than a second as it rips by leaving scared children, heated women, and confused Bimmer fans in its wake.

Click for details: 1995 BMW M3 LSX on eBay

Year: 1995
Model: M3
Engine: 7.2 liter LSX V8
Transmission: T56 6-speed manual
Mileage: 117,120 on chassis, 1k on engine rebuild
Price: Reserve auction

One of the nicest e36 v8 conversions around , well developed, essentially no expense spared!
This was built as a driver in mind. Being able to take it work, car shows, track days, autox, road race, drag race and good streetability and comfort being the main focus. The car is not a track rat like many of the other v8 swapped Bmw’s for sale on here; however can mop up most of the field at any racing event. It is an all around well sorted car that drives well.

Built in 2010 with around 95K miles on the chassis….then updated in 2011 with better suspension/fender flares/brake and intake upgrades
The car has done some track days at Thunderhill and Sears Point before the engine rebuild. Has run high 11.0’s@130mph on Nitto 255/35/17 NT01 tire before the front facing intake upgrade
11.0@130mph: LSX M3 e36 11.0@130mph – YouTube
186mph at the Mojave Mile Mojave Mile LSX powered M3 186 MPH – YouTube
video showing old intake and previous wheel/tire/fenders M3 – YouTube
As stated approx 1K miles on a new engine rebuild (totally new bottom end), 117K total chassis miles
engine:
New 440ci resleeved by ERL alum 5.3 block to 4.125″ bore in 2014. Compstar 4.1″ crank/rods, wiseco pistons 11:1 compression
All machine work/assembly by Joe’s Engine Shop in Concord, CA
TFS 235cc heads further ported by Vengeance Racing, FAST90 intake/90mm cable TB
medium sized hydraulic roller cam, very driveable and good mid/top end power
Moroso road race style oil pan, Powerbond balancer, Holley valve covers, 42lb LS7 injectors
Made 550rwhp/513rwtq at Newtech dyno on medium timing/91. On e85 and more timing close to 600rwhp is possible.
This engine with a larger cam made 600rwhp on 91 octane but driveability went down!
Accessories include Fbody p/s, alternator, a/c, GZ Motorsports vacuum pump (better ring seal)
Runs Holley HP EFi fuel management. You can add on traction control later if you wish.
Transmission/Diff:
T56 rebuilt to Stage2 specs (650rwhp+ rating)
Monster stage IV single disc clutch
custom built M3 differential with 3.45 gears and LSD
Driveshaft Shop aluminum HD driveshaft
mounting/cooling/intake setup
Samberg Fabrication engine Kmember/trans mount
Samberg custom long tube s/s headers, dual 2.5″ exhaust into single 3.5″ muffler
*the exhaust is relatively quiet and flows well
Samberg dual thickness core short stack radiator with SPAL HD tractor fans (no cooling issues)
4″ straight shot intake over the radiator into K&N LS7 air filter (gained 40rwhp over the 90* setup where initial testing results came from)
exterior paint/mods/suspension/brakes/rims
complete engine/door jam/exterior respray in 2011 Bmw space gray paint code $10K by Noguera’s
e46 fenders welded on to allow 285/30/18 tires at all corners done in 2011
$4K in suspension: AST 4200 coilovers, Vorschlag camber plates, Rogue upper shock mounts
Turner Motorsports front/rear sway bars, rear bushings, lower rear control arms
Apex 18×10 aluminum powercoated rims with 285/30/18 Summitomo tires
Brand new Bridgestone Potenza RE-11 rear tires on 4/13/2015
Stoptech 14″ 4 piston front brakes $2800, M3 rear brakes….. stops awesome now!
Corner weighted and performance alignment
Samberg Fab custom front removable splitter (lower portion and stabilizer links not shown) $2K
Stereo/Interior
Kenwood BlueTooth, Sat radio, AM/FM/CD player and 12″ sub in the trunk
Optima yellow top battery with battery tender and billet tie down
Recaro seats from an Evo IV on custom sliders. Nice interior swapped in at same time
Everything is functional including sunroof/windows, heater, defrost, a/c, turn signals, odometer/tach etc (an airbag light is on as the Recaro seats don’t jive with the factory plug) The a/c blows very cold and has a brand new 318i compressor as of April 2015.
It also features a Holley display that can show all data inputs, show data logs, etc.

The car drives very docile until you mash the accelerator. Cruising on the highway you can get 22mpg+.
Engine has gobs of torque everywhere. Makes 300rwhp @3500rpm, 425rwhp @4500rpm, 525rwhp @5500rpm
425rwtq at 3000rpm, 510rwtq at 5000rpm. The intake manifold runs out of steam around 6800rpm.
This is a very unique engine swapped car that not only looks fantastic…. has the mods to back it up
Overall the exterior is about a 9/10 as it does have a couple minor scratches/imperfections here and there
The interior is about as clean as it gets 10/10 and everything functional.
I have many many more pictures I can email over AFTER speaking on the phone

A quick rundown on the parts list cost:
$15K motor
$10K paint/body work: e46 fender lips, complete color change everywhere
$2K rims
$3K brakes
$4K suspension
$5K Samberg mounting kit, headers, exhaust fab dual s/s with Hpipe
$2.5K Samberg custom cooling system, intake setup, fuel system
$3K Holley efi and tuning
$5K Stage2 T56, Monster clutch, dshaft, rebuilt Active Autowerk diff
$3K Recaro seats, complete black interior swap
$2K Samberg custom front splitter/undertray
$1.5K stereo, 12″ sub/amp, billet battery tray/Optima yellow top
$1K recent a/c repair/compressor/recharge/test
$3K car purchase clean CA rust free car
$60K total parts
***plus probably 200-250hrs in labor/sorting

This is an engine swapped car and doesn’t drive/sound like a Camry. It doesn’t have a stock ride, the throttle requires some self control to not get you into trouble, it makes some noises that a 100% stock car won’t have, driving it in the rain you should exercise caution. In city driving it achieves fuel economy in the teens. If you baby it on the highway it can get low 20’s. It doesn’t have an OBD2 port nor will it pass emissions in some states. No implied warranty comes with the car and it is being sold as is!

As soon as I see someone list their total parts cost, I assume they’re going to be asking too much to try to recoup some of that. There’s no way he’s getting $60k for this, but something like half to two-thirds of that would make this a pretty ridiculous performance machine for the money. American-powered BMWs may be some sort of sin, but there are a lot of sins that are a hell of a lot of fun, too. 550rwhp in a perfect E36 seems like a great way to piss some people off.

-NR