BMW Straight 6

[huntert]

I was just wondering..will any bmw straight 6 slot into Z3? for example would a M3 engine go straight into a 2.8? And what was the largest cc straight 6 that BMW made?

[Phil]

Later M5s have V8 engines. You have to go back to the E34 for 6 cylinder engines

Some info here
http://www.unixnerd.demon.co.uk/enumber.html

[Dave L2]

I'm not sure about engines from an M3 or M5 but a M54 BMW Straight Six goes in like this...

[OldskoolRS]

Someone did make a one off V12 as shown in this link:

http://www.topgear.com/uk/photos/bmw-z3-v12-2012-08-08

[BladeRunner919]

Isn't the 3.2 6-cyl that was in the ///M cars (including the Zed) the biggest anyway?

[Southernboy]

The M3 straight six from the same year as your Z3 will fit straight in... I've seen a couple of Z3's fitted with M3 motors from 1998 and 2003 and the mountings don't appear to have been modified.
But, in reality, you can make any motor fit...but modifications to the engine, gearbox, and propshaft are likely. Also, the correct ecu etc will be required as well as the complete engine / electronics harnesses. If things like the accelerator is an electronic vs cable control, you will need to change that too...so not as simple as it seems. Ideally you need to buy a complete M3 and transplant the entire M3 into the Z body...and then transplant the z3 stuff into the m3 body and flog it for a few bob to counter the expenses. An intact M3 would be best.