Sleeper par excellence: BMW 316i (E36) with E31-CSi-V12!

BMW is not exactly a brand that can be described as stuffy or boring. If anything, in our opinion this only applies to the current 1 Series and those of the time Compact vehicles the generation E36 and E46 too. But of course it's all a matter of opinion and in view of the 323ti Compact with 170 HP (M52B25-R6) and the 325ti Compact with 192 HP (M54B25-R6) everything is pretty much relatively. After all, the visually questionable stub tail three-pointers made life difficult for the established Golf GTi. Definitely anything but boring or boring is this inconspicuous BMW 316i Compact (E36) from the tuner "Engine swap depot“In titanium silver. Because he has swapped his tired M43B16 four-cylinder with 102 hp for an engine that the three times the number of cylinders in the small engine compartment.

CSi-V12 with a displacement of 5,6 liters

We don't know a lot about the crazy project, but we do know that they wanted to cram the largest BMW engine that can be found into the smallest BMW that can be found. And the result is called V12 in the E36 Compact. Especially it is even the rare one 5,6 liter V12 of the type S70B56. That comes from the E31 8 series BMW. From the top model at the time, the CSi with 380 PS & 550 NM torque.

We hope, of course, that the donor vehicle (the renovation took place 16 years ago (!!!)) was irreparably defective and was not dismantled specifically for this project. After all, the stock of the formerly only 1.510 copies built (1.125 of which are left-hand drive vehicles) has long since shrunk to less than a tenth. Anyway ... back to the E36. Of course, it took countless hours of work to squeeze the huge V12 into the small engine compartment of the E36. Still, you have it in combination with something M3 / M Roadster technology and an Performance increase to about 400 PS made. And you can't really tell from the look of the classic.

There were a few changes like new ones Headlights with lens optics, black kidneys or M-Tech sports package all around, but that certainly does not suggest a V12. And the Sleeper image also applies to the elegant three-part Hartge replica alloy wheels in star-spoke optics, thanks to the subtle Lowering mittels sports suspension to the millimeter in the widened wheel arches sit.

Visually only very subtle changes

Further optical details are M-Series rearview mirror, Clear glass turn signals front and sides, black kidneys, a Roof and rear spoiler lip and a Stainless-steel sport exhaust system with two tailpipes installed on the left. And the understatement also applies to the interior with the specially built-in one Manual transmission. Here, too, there is hardly any difference to the series. Sure there was M3 equipment, something Carbon , and a M3 dashboard, but that's not really unusual in an E36. But the engine does! If we get more information about the changes, there is of course an update for this report. You will be informed of this if you simply do ours Feed subscribe to. Have fun watching the pictures and stay true to us!

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BMW 316i (E36) with E31-V12 from the Engine Swap Depot
Photo credit: finn.no

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