E46 M3 Engine Compatibility with Z4M?

[RGlenn]

Hi All -

Just joined up from a suggestion on another forum. Long story short I recently picked up a 2007 Z4M with a blown motor.

Looks like the exhaust hub for the VANOS snapped & did some damage to the engine. Plan on rebuilding the current engine I have rather than sourcing a another engine ready to have similar problems.


One rather expensive part of the build is fixing the head I have. I was considering sourcing one from an E46 M3, but was hoping someone could confirm if they are the same? Anyone know what years to look for & which to stay away from? Any information on part compatibility would be great between the two engines.

[StickMon]

If it damaged the engine, my guess is that the 6 bolts snapped that hold the splined sleeve in the camshaft.
If this happens the camshaft will stop, and ouch.
When I bought my car it had 3 snapped and 3 close to going.
If it was just the tabs on the exhaust hub that drive the Vanos oil pump, I wouldn't expect serious damage.

Wait for some better experts to chime in, but I think the head and just about everything else is interchangeable across all S54s.
Headers are slightly different, I think.

[racerbruce]

I heard the oil pan is not interchangable?

[dc_wright]

Looks like the head is useable across the E46 and E85/86 series.

http://bmwfans.info/parts-catalog/11127837851/

Oil pan is unique for the Z's

http://bmwfans.info/parts-catalog/11137838132/

[Michael9218]

The S54 is the same in the E46 and the Z4. There may be minor differences in the ancilliaries, but those can be swapped over. Though the oil pan is listed as a unique part, visually they appear identical. But again, just swap it over if there is a hook up difference. You'll want to remove the pan anyway to replace those rod bearings...and rebuild the vanos.

[RGlenn]

Thanks everyone for the help.

Ended up being able to find a great set of cams & followers off of a an '06 Z4M and waiting on their arrival. Taking the head to the machine shop this week to check cleaned, checked & machined (if needed).

Need to have my VANOS rebuilt & find some rod bearings. If anyone has suggestions on rod bearings please feel free to share

[XMetal]

Most people go with WPC treated rod bearings. M3dragon was kind enough to do group buys over on M3Forum a while back (not sure if he still does). I believed ECS (and some other vendors) are selling them now. WPC bearings is what I may go with when I do mine, unless Lang Racing have other recommendation at that time.

[StickMon]

Turner sent me an email recently advertising them.

[XMetal]

Originally Posted by StickMon

Turner sent me an email recently advertising them.

ECS owns Turner

[mattfwalters]

Originally Posted by RGlenn

Thanks everyone for the help.

Ended up being able to find a great set of cams & followers off of a an '06 Z4M and waiting on their arrival. Taking the head to the machine shop this week to check cleaned, checked & machined (if needed).

Need to have my VANOS rebuilt & find some rod bearings. If anyone has suggestions on rod bearings please feel free to share

Oh hey, those are from my car - hi! I was trying to figure out if this was the right forum for my build thread, and based on the contents of the Tech Talk section had just decided it probably was. So now you have an answer to the question you PMed me on eBay.