Converting an E46 325 automatic wagon to stick with S54 and LSD in 2020
 

Just daydreaming, have done zero homework. I still have a 325iT driveway ornament (yeah I'm good at that too) and would love a fast fun-to-drive three-pedaled wagon for hauling gear to and from gigs.

Do you think a conversion like the old Rogue conversion would be more or less expensive today versus then, and/or more or less advisable? :lol:

:devpop:

:lol:

Keep in mind a requirement is probably me not lifting a finger except to hand over a card or venmo someone :lol:

Obviously Nick is the one who should weigh in, but you see these conversions all the time these days, so it certainly seems like people have figured out how to do it.

A 3 liter M54 might be a better choice, though—it won’t have the sizzle of the S54 but it will be more livable day to day, and likely be a lot cheaper to source.

Fair enough, but then quite honestly tending to the current engine isn't really that much of a sacrifice in comparison.

I don't like the choices of either ending up paying to fix this thing and being disappointed, or junking it getting something else and being disappointed. :lol:

I meant a 3 liter with a six speed. That would wake that car up a lot.

True. And just go with the stock open diff that came with the automatic, I think it's shorter. I'd be back in my 330 which could be fun. And a much more manageable target. Hmm.

Are there bolt on supercharger options that would be a
Easy/cheap/fun solution?

That idea scares me because at the end of the day I'll need this thing to actually be reliable. :lol:

So, the answer today is that S54 swaps are very easy.

The Rogue wagon, IiRC, involved an M3 body kit, which is a much bigger issue.

The absolute easiest direct drop in answer is an M54B30, which is straight plug and play. Doesn’t even require any reflashing.

Ain the past, the issue with S54 swaps was that people had not cracked the ECU, so they were doing crazy shit like retrofitting E46 M3 chassis harnesses and modules. Now, you can just turn all that crap off and you can still get it to scan for OBDII inspection.