There's a section of the forum called Engine Swaps. You might want to check it out.

 

Thread moved to Engine Swaps forum.

 

I provided estimates in the other thread you had on this topic.

If you pay someone to do it, I would add $1,000 to $1500+ in labor to the cost of engine and refresh

Therefore, for an engine replacement $1,000 - $1,500 labor + $1600 - $1900 in engine and engine refresh costs.

So, $2,600 - $3400

And while it is not rocket science, I would only hire somebody who has replaced an M54 before..preferably a few times.

 

That's pretty steep labor cost for something you can do yourself on Saturday with just $200 crane.
I've done that 3 times. The easiest way is to remove entire engine with intake manifold and gearbox on. Just unplug cables from ECU box, battery line, fuel line, unbolt the AC compressor and power steering pump from below so you don't have to refill these.

Bonus question reply: You can buy the engine from another car, like E39, E60, E53 as long as it is M54 engine. You will have to use cable loom, engine mounts and maybe oil pan from your old engine. Trying to adapt entirely different engine, like N52, in E46 would be major headache even for skilled guy.

 

Ok, thanks a ton. I don't know that I'm skilled enough to manage something like that myself and even afterwards. I'm sure there is a lot that needs to be addressed or buttoned up. What do you do with the old engine once you take it out?

 

As a matter of fact, I did my first engine swap after a friend of mine told me he just bought an engine crane - to lift some rocks in his back yard.....I haven't looked back since.

what to do with old engine? You can sell it to someone who wants a project. You can scrap it. You can sell parts off it on Ebay or FB Marketplace.

B30's are more valuable than B25's. I usually keep B30's and rebuild them, I usually scrap B25's. BUT, B25's and B30's use the same block and head, so you can readily install B30 internals into a B25 block.

 

LS Swap it!

Kidding...it's been done though. Some has also wedged a V10 into an e46 chassis. You got the money and time you can swap whatever you want into anything you want.

Advice from @Effduration @Bali and @M.Blacktree is solid.

 

I'd love to stuff a V12 into an E46. Maybe someday... 😎

 

I'd love to stuff a V12 into an E46. It's on my bucket list. 😎

Machine two m54b30s into a v12.....

 

I'd rather just grab a V12 from another car. For example, the Mercedes M120 is an excellent engine.