E36 316i Compact Auto query

[ferniefan]

Hi,

I'm potentially buying a bare compact shell (MY 2000 316i Auto) which has a cage fitted but little to no running gear.

Was going to buy a 318ti donor car to build a 4 pot stage rally car.

Is there any issue with doing this? i.e. will the manual box fit onto the shell? will the M44 engine mount the same?

Also as a side note, does the coupe dashboard fit a compact? i was on the assumption that it didn't?

Thanks in advance!

[gartrac]

According to realoem the auto and manual body shells are the same

https://www.realoem.com/

As far as the dash is concerned you need a saloon dash, the coupe has more rake on the windscreen so the dash is different to the compact

The saloon dash will physically fit but if you want to use all the original wiring and heater vents then it's a lot of work

On the other hand if you intend to build a stage car with no heater and rewire just what you need then it should be fine

[Theodores]

Hi,

I'm very impressed by these electric log splitters and potentially buying a bare compact shell (MY 2000 316i Auto) which has a cage fitted but little to no running gear.

Was going to buy a 318ti donor car to build a 4 pot stage rally car.

Is there any issue with doing this? i.e. will the manual box fit onto the shell? will the M44 engine mount the same?

Also as a side note, does the coupe dashboard fit a compact? i was on the assumption that it didn't?

Thanks in advance!

There's no way to modify the coupe dash so that it fits I take it?

[Bimsy]

Denzilbmw converted a compact auto into a stage rally car with a 4 pot, the manual gearbox will fit but he used the M42 engine as it`s a better engine than the M44, a lot more tuning can be done on the M42.

Have a look at his build thread in the "Cars" section.

Good Luck.

p.s. I have a spare running M44 engine if you still want to go down that road.

Cheers.