Few Q's about motor swap...

babydevilj · 03-14-2011, 02:12 PM

After owning a turbo-charged e36 M and a supercharged e46 M, my 3.0 Z4 (dont ask lol) seems kinda ehhh sluggish. I was just looking at a few supercharger options that i had available. well since ive decided to waste 7-8k on a supercharger why not just do an e39 M motor? which is where i am now in my thoughts. i have been probing ebay and found a couple of e39 M motors. my main questions are (because i have no clue)

1. will i need to have motormounts fabricated? (im guessing yes)

2. will i be able to use the existing transmission from my Z4 (obviously using a sturdier clutch and flywheel) or will i have to use the e39 tranny?

3. if i use the e39 tranny will it be roughly the same size and mounts as the e85 Z tranny?

thanks in advanced. i typed this out kind of quick so please excuse my grammar/spelling/rant.

Rated M · 03-14-2011, 02:28 PM

Step 1: Sell your Car
Step 2: Buy Z4M
Step 3: Profit

You will spend far far more money trying to accomplish that, let alone mating the ECU to have it ever be a worthwhile investmnet.

babydevilj · 03-14-2011, 02:29 PM

money is not the issue. i dont see cars or mods as an investment. ecu comes with the motor

its just a little project to keep my mind fresh.

-c- · 03-14-2011, 03:04 PM

lol yea i also love the projects, people see it as a wast of time and even told me to do the same, "just buy an M" the problem is then theirs no interest or story in how you got their or "wow i had no idea you could do that!"

its kind of rewarding making something uniqe if you have the time. hey my time to me is free and the exsperience of getting one on one time with the car is pricless.

go for it and have something different and speacial!

shoot you could probably shoe horn in an N54 twin turbo in their if you want! as their the irion blocked bro of the N52.
Chip it and your in the 400HP range
or even go GT style and go fit the V10 engine in their

then their would be a show peice!

babydevilj · 03-14-2011, 03:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by -c-

lol yea i also love the projects, people see it as a wast of time and even told me to do the same, "just buy an M" the problem is then theirs no interest or story in how you got their or "wow i had no idea you could do that!"

its kind of rewarding making something uniqe if you have the time. hey my time to me is free and the exsperience of getting one on one time with the car is pricless.

go for it and have something different and speacial!

shoot you could probably shoe horn in an N54 twin turbo in their if you want! as their the irion blocked bro of the N52.
Chip it and your in the 400HP range
or even go GT style and go fit the V10 engine in their

then their would be a show peice!

thats a really good idea.... i wasnt thinking about that option. probably wouldnt have to worry about the motor mounts or tranny either! thanks. im going to look into it.

-c- · 03-14-2011, 03:30 PM

hey these guys did it i figure it got to be possable! shoot if your really good and can swap the trasmission you could retrofit the dual clutch transmission in their that be suuuuuuuuuuuuuuper hot!!!!!!

http://www.autoblog.com/2006/12/05/t...e-biturbo-z30/

45ACP · 03-14-2011, 03:44 PM

A used N54 swap would be cool, but cost and availability won't be the same as trying to get an old E39 engine. Would likely have to replace the HPFP as well.

BlackMoupe · 03-14-2011, 04:06 PM

Instead of E39 M V8, why not the V8 used In the old X5?

3002 tii · 03-14-2011, 04:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 45ACP

A used N54 swap would be cool, but cost and availability won't be the same as trying to get an old E39 engine. Would likely have to replace the HPFP as well.

+1 on the HPFP

-c- · 03-14-2011, 04:43 PM

By the way just did a search on car-part.com and found a few low mileage n54 for sale all under 20k for 1500, to 2500 dollers ...

Z4-VILLA · 03-14-2011, 05:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by -c-

hey these guys did it i figure it got to be possable! shoot if your really good and can swap the trasmission you could retrofit the dual clutch transmission in their that be suuuuuuuuuuuuuuper hot!!!!!!

http://www.autoblog.com/2006/12/05/t...e-biturbo-z30/

editor had an epic brain failure....that article called a z4 a z3...wow.

pokeybritches · 03-14-2011, 05:57 PM

I think someone has already done an E39 V8 swap (Hartge maybe?). So, it is possible and information is out there on google if you want to attempt it. I wouldn't go with the (aluminum block) N54 because of the cooling and HPFP problems.

I think the 5.0 V8 from the E39 M5 would be the coolest route, but I think it will cost you a lot more than the ESS supercharger. Even if you were able to pull it off for the same initial cost (and that's a big IF), the maintenance would be killer. Expect many hours spent trying to reverse engineer a car that would be tough- if not impossible- to resell, and a whole lot of down time for your Z. You'll have to find a buyer that is able to do most of his own work with a good understanding of BMWs. If you went with ESS, you could part out the kit when you sell and only be out a few thousand dollars.

I'm not trying to crush any dreams here, but everyone is excited and optimistic on the first day. When you're the hole 8 or 10 grand on a car that's in pieces and no tech support to help you overcome an unexpected problem after 6 months of labor... that's the day you'll have to prepare yourself for. To see what it cost to turn a 323i into an M3, check out http://e46.mit.edu/

My advice is to go with ESS.

babydevilj · 03-14-2011, 07:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SSKE92

Instead of E39 M V8, why not the V8 used In the old X5?

what kind of numbers does the v8 from the x5 put out? are you talking about a 4.8?

guys again i'm not concerned about price, down-time, maintenance. this is solely i project that i think will be fun for me. its not my primary or secondary car. i bought it by mistake (impulse lol) and decided to have fun with it. i just want to do my research before i go and just buy any motor and not be satisfied with the output.

BlackMoupe · 03-14-2011, 07:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by babydevilj

what kind of numbers does the v8 from the x5 put out? are you talking about a 4.8?

guys again i'm not concerned about price, down-time, maintenance. this is solely i project that i think will be fun for me. its not my primary or secondary car. i bought it by mistake (impulse lol) and decided to have fun with it. i just want to do my research before i go and just buy any motor and not be satisfied with the output.

Yes. I THINK the X5 and Z4 computer systems would be more similar than the Z4 and older E39, Which would make the swap easier. Also has a flatter torque band. Think Alpina Z8 vs BMW Z8. Alpina took OUT the E39 V8 and swapped in the X5 unit.

03-14-2011, 02:12 PM	#1
babydevilj Private First Class 5 Rep 143 Posts Drives: e46 M3. Z4 3.0i Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: NY iTrader: (2)	Few Q's about motor swap... After owning a turbo-charged e36 M and a supercharged e46 M, my 3.0 Z4 (dont ask lol) seems kinda ehhh sluggish. I was just looking at a few supercharger options that i had available. well since ive decided to waste 7-8k on a supercharger why not just do an e39 M motor? which is where i am now in my thoughts. i have been probing ebay and found a couple of e39 M motors. my main questions are (because i have no clue) 1. will i need to have motormounts fabricated? (im guessing yes) 2. will i be able to use the existing transmission from my Z4 (obviously using a sturdier clutch and flywheel) or will i have to use the e39 tranny? 3. if i use the e39 tranny will it be roughly the same size and mounts as the e85 Z tranny? thanks in advanced. i typed this out kind of quick so please excuse my grammar/spelling/rant.
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03-14-2011, 02:28 PM	#2
Rated M Second Lieutenant 54 Rep 255 Posts Drives: 2007 IB Z4MC Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: Minnesota iTrader: (2)	Step 1: Sell your Car Step 2: Buy Z4M Step 3: Profit You will spend far far more money trying to accomplish that, let alone mating the ECU to have it ever be a worthwhile investmnet. __________________
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03-14-2011, 02:29 PM	#3
babydevilj Private First Class 5 Rep 143 Posts Drives: e46 M3. Z4 3.0i Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: NY iTrader: (2)	money is not the issue. i dont see cars or mods as an investment. ecu comes with the motor its just a little project to keep my mind fresh.
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03-14-2011, 03:04 PM	#4
-c- Colonel 886 Rep 2,736 Posts Drives: bmw Join Date: May 2010 Location: Chicago iTrader: (5)	lol yea i also love the projects, people see it as a wast of time and even told me to do the same, "just buy an M" the problem is then theirs no interest or story in how you got their or "wow i had no idea you could do that!" its kind of rewarding making something uniqe if you have the time. hey my time to me is free and the exsperience of getting one on one time with the car is pricless. go for it and have something different and speacial! shoot you could probably shoe horn in an N54 twin turbo in their if you want! as their the irion blocked bro of the N52. Chip it and your in the 400HP range or even go GT style and go fit the V10 engine in their then their would be a show peice!
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03-14-2011, 03:30 PM	#6
-c- Colonel 886 Rep 2,736 Posts Drives: bmw Join Date: May 2010 Location: Chicago iTrader: (5)	hey these guys did it i figure it got to be possable! shoot if your really good and can swap the trasmission you could retrofit the dual clutch transmission in their that be suuuuuuuuuuuuuuper hot!!!!!! http://www.autoblog.com/2006/12/05/t...e-biturbo-z30/
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03-14-2011, 03:44 PM	#7
45ACP Long Live the 1911 46 Rep 643 Posts Drives: Hooptie Join Date: May 2007 Location: USA iTrader: (4) Garage List 2011 550i [0.00] 2008 M Coupe (retired) [0.00] 2007 335i (retired) [0.00]	A used N54 swap would be cool, but cost and availability won't be the same as trying to get an old E39 engine. Would likely have to replace the HPFP as well.
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03-14-2011, 04:06 PM	#8
BlackMoupe Mouper 113 Rep 1,064 Posts Drives: _____ Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: _____ iTrader: (1)	Instead of E39 M V8, why not the V8 used In the old X5?
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03-14-2011, 04:43 PM	#10
-c- Colonel 886 Rep 2,736 Posts Drives: bmw Join Date: May 2010 Location: Chicago iTrader: (5)	By the way just did a search on car-part.com and found a few low mileage n54 for sale all under 20k for 1500, to 2500 dollers ...
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03-14-2011, 05:57 PM	#12
pokeybritches Colonel 479 Rep 2,782 Posts Drives: ESS/G-Power Z4M, VF Z4, 996tt Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Los Angeles iTrader: (12) Garage List 2006 BMW Z4M [10.00] 2006 BMW Z4M [8.50] 2003 BMW Z4 3.0i [9.00]	I think someone has already done an E39 V8 swap (Hartge maybe?). So, it is possible and information is out there on google if you want to attempt it. I wouldn't go with the (aluminum block) N54 because of the cooling and HPFP problems. I think the 5.0 V8 from the E39 M5 would be the coolest route, but I think it will cost you a lot more than the ESS supercharger. Even if you were able to pull it off for the same initial cost (and that's a big IF), the maintenance would be killer. Expect many hours spent trying to reverse engineer a car that would be tough- if not impossible- to resell, and a whole lot of down time for your Z. You'll have to find a buyer that is able to do most of his own work with a good understanding of BMWs. If you went with ESS, you could part out the kit when you sell and only be out a few thousand dollars. I'm not trying to crush any dreams here, but everyone is excited and optimistic on the first day. When you're the hole 8 or 10 grand on a car that's in pieces and no tech support to help you overcome an unexpected problem after 6 months of labor... that's the day you'll have to prepare yourself for. To see what it cost to turn a 323i into an M3, check out http://e46.mit.edu/ My advice is to go with ESS. __________________ VF Engineering Z4 3.0i, ESS Z4M, G-Power Z4M, 996 Turbo
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