Noob here. Best engine swaps to do on e34 540i/525i

I am a complete noob to engine swaps. But I hope to learn. I will probably go to a shop to get it done.

I haven't bought an e34 yet. I would rather get an l6 model than a v8 because of cheaper insurance.

From what I read the s50 swap in the e34 l6's is fairly simple. I was wondering if there were any other simple more powerful swaps I could do? From what I read, the s62 will only fit the in the v8 e34's?

So yeah basically I would appreciate it if someone could tell me some possible easy-moderate engines to swap in the e34 l6's and the e34 v8's.

I will also end up getting a turbo or supercharger. Would a twin turbo s50 e34 be the way to go? I wan't a considerable amount of power.

I read the s62 is somewhat simple in the e34 540 as well, but like I said.. I would much rather get an e34 l6 for cheaper insurance.

Thanks

Also it's important to say that I am willing to spend anything from 4k-7k on the engine swap alone. no more

Depends on what E34 you start with.

if you start with a 525 or 535, it is easier to swap in another 6 cylinder motor (M52, S50, S52, etc). If you get a 540, a great swap is a M62. An LS1 swap would be absolutely sick, but that'll run you more than 7k.

How about purchasing a 535 E34. With your budget, you could easily afford to through in a turbo system. That would be sweet. And it would still be a six cylinder so the insurance should not be as bad on your walet as a540 and there would be no need to do an engine swap. You would have very nice power to rival most anything out there (on the street that is LOL...) depending on what type of turbo system you go with.

Talk to these folks to get some ideas on turboing an e34. They deal in USA and Canada. Do not worry about their pricing, the parts need not come from them but they can surly guide you.

http://www.turbochargingdynamics.com/

hello Gravik, thanks for your reply on my other thread. Are you saying the ls1 would only be doable in the 540's? Also more than 7k!? Correct me if I'm wrong but isin't it like 2-3k to find a decent ls1? Or is the labour and fitting the engine that's gonna be a total hassle?

Also back to my m5 body style question.. So for let me get this straight.. any e34 I get, as long as I get the m5 front and rear bumper, it's gonna look exactly like an m5?

Originally Posted by CarDriver

How about purchasing a 535 E34. With your budget, you could easily afford to through in a turbo system. That would be sweet. And it would still be a six cylinder so the insurance should not be as bad on your walet as a540 and there would be no need to do an engine swap. You would have very nice power to rival most anything out there (on the street that is LOL...) depending on what type of turbo system you go with.

Talk to these folks to get some ideas on turboing an e34. They deal in USA and Canada. Do not worry about their pricing, the parts need not come from them but they can surly guide you.

http://www.turbochargingdynamics.com/

Hmm.. Sorry but I really do not want to stick with the stock engine. idk.. I just would really want an engine with a higher redline. I really, REALLY want a v8. But from Im reading, its not really possible to do a v8 swap into a 535i

Thanks for the site, I read but the highest power they have to offer is 335 rwhp, not enough

Originally Posted by nero11

Hmm.. Sorry but I really do not want to stick with the stock engine. idk.. I just would really want an engine with a higher redline. I really, REALLY want a v8. But from Im reading, its not really possible to do a v8 swap into a 535i

Thanks for the site, I read but the highest power they have to offer is 335 rwhp, not enough

Get a 540i, build the engine, forge all the internals, and turbocharge it. You could easily get over 400rwhp.

Originally Posted by nero11

Hmm.. Sorry but I really do not want to stick with the stock engine. idk.. I just would really want an engine with a higher redline. I really, REALLY want a v8. But from Im reading, its not really possible to do a v8 swap into a 535i

Thanks for the site, I read but the highest power they have to offer is 335 rwhp, not enough

Oh ye of little faith LOL... That is the most HP 'They' have to offer. There is a 525 out there with an inter-cooled turbo set up that is pushing over 420 hp with the dynos to prove it. Like I stated before, you do not need to get their kit but you can speak to them as a guide. But they are by far not the only resource on turbos.

If 420 HP can be gotten from a 525, imagine what can be gotten from a 535.

If you are interested in finding out more, I will find you the link to the 525 with 420+ HP

EDIT

This is definitely not the car I was speaking of, I found this while looking for the car I mentioned above but you guys gotta see this. This guy just went nuts with his M50

http://www.new-sweden.com/forum/show...p?t=924&page=3

here is the M20 I was speaking of426 HP

http://www.cardomain.com/ride/668362...-series/page-3

There's a guy on Bimmerforums with a turbo 525 making something like 600rwhp.

Originally Posted by nero11

Hmm.. Sorry but I really do not want to stick with the stock engine. idk.. I just would really want an engine with a higher redline. I really, REALLY want a v8. But from Im reading, its not really possible to do a v8 swap into a 535i

Thanks for the site, I read but the highest power they have to offer is 335 rwhp, not enough

anything is possible to do

This is troll thread part deux huh?

If you have $15k to spend on a $2500 car, and you think you can pay somebody to build it for you up to 400+ hp, I want some of the drugs you are on.

Back in the day, when I had a big toy budget, I paid a shop to build my Buick GS. This was done on a car that needed no cosmetics. I spent $30k real quick like. Labor, at least quality labor, is very expensive. Quality engine swaps take time and therefore money.

This notion that you need 400 hp is absurd. How long do you expect the trans and rear end to last when you double the power through them? You see, you aren't just talking about power, to make this work you have to put it to the ground, and you may want to consider upgraded stoppers as well. As I see it, on your budget, with no skills other than rudimentary typing, you simply can't afford what you propose, not for a BMW quality job anyway.

The best suggestions so far have been turbo kits on one of the sixes. Of course I really think this whole discussion revolves around a kid daydreaming on the internet

Ouch...l Unnecessary roughness

Originally Posted by Gravik

Get a 540i, build the engine, forge all the internals, and turbocharge it. You could easily get over 400rwhp.

you can get 400rwhp from M60B40 with S/C on a stock motor...

S52 obd1 swap with turbo.
Or just fab an S54 in it. You can get a motor/trans for 6-7k. Ecus are standalone so just wire the harness into the Ecu.

Just got to ask the dumbest question, how fast can you really go on the roads we drive on today?? Unless your racing the car here in pa the roads suck. I would love to have an autobahn here in pa to go 150 plus mph but cannot because pot holes, cracks, and stupid drivers going 55 in the passing lane. Wow would I love to cruise at 120 mph with my 540i. In any event good luck on the build but a stock 540i is plenty power for the road for me thx

Sent from my SCH-I500 using Bimmer App

Originally Posted by pcc8ball

Just got to ask the dumbest question, how fast can you really go on the roads we drive on today?? Unless your racing the car here in pa the roads suck. I would love to have an autobahn here in pa to go 150 plus mph but cannot because pot holes, cracks, and stupid drivers going 55 in the passing lane. Wow would I love to cruise at 120 mph with my 540i. In any event good luck on the build but a stock 540i is plenty power for the road for me thx

Sent from my SCH-I500 using Bimmer App

Move west...

My car sees triple digits almost daily

Guess a road trip is in order. Hate pa roads absolutely absurd, can't imagine a smooth pot hole free road. What is even worst you pay a toll on some roads. What a racket. Hey enjoy those smooth roads.

Sent from my SCH-I500 using Bimmer App

Originally Posted by pcc8ball

Guess a road trip is in order. Hate pa roads absolutely absurd, can't imagine a smooth pot hole free road. What is even worst you pay a toll on some roads. What a racket. Hey enjoy those smooth roads.

Sent from my SCH-I500 using Bimmer App

Well..... not saying they are all perfectly smooth. Winter is awful hard on our roads but that generally means fresh tar every couple of years. What it is, is the wide open west. Between here and Moab I can easily cruise triple digits for 10-15 minutes at a stretch and never see another car.

Everyone here should read the advice he was given on the E39 thread:
http://www.bimmerfest.com/forums/sho...d.php?t=616989

Particularly, these:
http://www.bimmerfest.com/forums/sho...d.php?t=616989
http://www.bimmerfest.com/forums/sho...6&postcount=12
http://www.bimmerfest.com/forums/sho...8&postcount=52

Originally Posted by EconoBox

Everyone here should read the advice he was given on the E39 thread:
http://www.bimmerfest.com/forums/sho...d.php?t=616989

Particularly, these:
http://www.bimmerfest.com/forums/sho...d.php?t=616989
http://www.bimmerfest.com/forums/sho...6&postcount=12
http://www.bimmerfest.com/forums/sho...8&postcount=52

Haha. Fail. Why would you buy a $2,000 just to swap out the engine? This isnt JDM!


OP, your in Canada. Have you any idea where your going to get this S52/S62 engine from? Maybe you need to think about that. Their is a guy in Calgary with an E30 M3 with an S54 swap. He litterally called every junk yard from A-M in North America until he found a junkyard with one. Now, do you have $3,500 for the engine? What about tranny and driveshaft and differential? What about the engine harness and DME? That all costs money. The guy i mentioned was able to do it for cheap because his father runs a reputable BMW indy shop.

OK guys, Time to cut him some slack. He is only 19 years old. He will live and learn. At that age we all thought similar :o)) And we were determined to do what we wanted regardless of what old folks said. Our first clue usually came with our first failure, but then.. It was only a clue, not the answer.

Young man, if it is an E34 you want, consider this. Get yourself a 525i with a manual 5 speed for starters. You will fall in love with it and as you learn more about it and put some blood sweat and tears into it, you will love it even more.

Take your time and gradually modify the car. After buying an E34 you will soon find that there will be so much that will need to be done first before you through money into an engine. Things like... Suspension, steering, braking system, cooling system, electrical system/ignition system and so on. Through this forum and others, you will be able to do all of the above yourself. If a mechanic does it for you, you will see just how fast that 15K is gone :o))

Over time you can gradually get the car up to 250 HP or better, but do it over time. Save that 400+ hp for when you have learned how to handle it and can afford to insure it. Learn what you are doing first and wait until you can do most of the work yourself. What ever you decide to do, I wish the best and the greatest amount of joy from it. Just be honest with yourself and most of all with your insurance company :o))

Excellent words and a path that layed out clean steps to successful modification of a solid fast car. Well said

Sent from my SCH-I500 using Bimmer App