Engine swaps for e28's.

[JasonB]

Didn't read a FAQ or anything, I found a video online of an e28 with a 540i v8 in it. Got me thinking. Where can I get some balls for an e28, that will directly or somewhat directly bolt in? Are the other BMW v8's that share mounting points that would make a swap semi painless? I can do this work, just no welding skills to create my own mounts with.

Anyone? Looking to keep of BMW here if possible, but I can make things work. Need a reliable daily with more torque than the 6 cylinder the 535i has. I found a mint 528e with a cracked head and it got my thinking

[Mark 88/M5 Houston]

Call Todd at TCD for a turbocharging dynamics (http://www.turbochargingdynamics.com/) setup for your E28.

Just remember HP = cubic dollars.

[alijonny]

keep thinking about it. Then use the search function.

If you need more power, get something else. It will be much easier.

[Jeremy]

directly or somewhat directly bolt in? Are the other BMW v8's that share mounting points that would make a swap semi painless? I can do this work, just no welding skills to create my own mounts with.

That'll be a problem. The bulk of the "problem" in fitting a V8 in an e28 is motor mounts and exhaust headers. Both require either fabrication skills or the money to pay someone who has fabrication skills. AFAIK, there's nothing that "just drops in" using off the shelf parts.

Jeremy

[JasonB]

I am done with forced induction for right now, I was Hoping I could cram an NA v8 into an E28. Will def research this more, I just made the thread to get some initial thoughts on my options. Thanks a lot guys!


Side note:::::::::

For the nay Sayers: would you rather an e28 be left to rust in someones drive way with unfulfilled plans or find new life with a non standard motor? Purists.

[TSMacNeil]

keep thinking about it. Then use the search function.

[davintosh]

I am done with forced induction for right now, I was Hoping I could cram an NA v8 into an E28. Will def research this more, I just made the thread to get some initial thoughts on my options. Thanks a lot guys!


Side note:::::::::

For the nay Sayers: would you rather an e28 be left to rust in someones drive way with unfulfilled plans or find new life with a non standard motor? Purists.

Nay sayers? Purists? I don't see anyone who's commented in this thread that would fit that description. Just guys with experience who know that what you want to do can't be done without mad fabrication/welding skilz and/or buckets of money. Use the search function; what you're thinking of has been done and discussed here, but it's far from a plug n play upgrade.

[Jeremy]

For the nay Sayers: would you rather an e28 be left to rust in someones drive way with unfulfilled plans or find new life with a non standard motor? Purists.

Not purists. Realists. With your stated skill limitations it either won't be easy (you'll have to learn on the fly) or cheap (you'll have to pay someone to do the parts you can't).

There are other swaps that are much more doable. M50 for example is a nice upgrade.

[Cactus]

Drop in an F20c from a Honda S2000. There's plenty of room in the engine bay for two of these.

[Alfonso Bedoya]

I prefer the M72 swap and dual turbo'd if I had the skills, time and clams. Hooo Rah!

[LSD3.73]

[quote="JasonB"]I am done with forced induction for right now, I was Hoping I could cram an NA v8 into an E28. Will def research this more, I just made the thread to get some initial thoughts on my options. Thanks a lot guys!


Side note:::::::::

For the nay Sayers: would you rather an e28 be left to rust in someones drive way with unfulfilled plans or find new life with a non standard motor? Purists." Dude I have a greatshell I always thought needed an ls1...

[rlomba8204]

Didn't read a FAQ or anything, I found a video online of an e28 with a 540i v8 in it. Got me thinking. Where can I get some balls for an e28, that will directly or somewhat directly bolt in? Are the other BMW v8's that share mounting points that would make a swap semi painless? I can do this work, just no welding skills to create my own mounts with.

Anyone? Looking to keep of BMW here if possible, but I can make things work. Need a reliable daily with more torque than the 6 cylinder the 535i has. I found a mint 528e with a cracked head and it got my thinking

If you are after power, the cheapest thing to do with a 528e is to sell it and buy a 535i. If you want to keep the 528e, the best and most reliable conversion is changing the head to the later "i" version. That will get you 168hp versus the 121 stock.

As far as the M30 world, the most straightfoward swap is an M30b35. 208 hp versus 182 and an even nicer torque curve than a b34.

Turbocharging is fine, but there are problems with turbocharging an engine that has not otherwise been at the very least resealed and had the head cleaned up. Everyone argues with me on this point, but I've yet to hear from someone who has added a turbocharger to a car with a 100k miles on it and had "close the hood" reliability for another 50k or 100k miles. Plus there's a lot more stress on everything and this is an issue given that these are now old cars and it doesn't sound like the one you are looking at is in great shape either. So this is a viable route, but it gets spendy quickly if you want to do it right.

V8s can be done, but it is, in my opinion, beyond your skill level based on what you've written here. Paying a shop, at least in the DC area, to do the conversion would likely cost about $4k to $5k plus the parts you would need to source. And it would be almost impossible to get all the details right. Getting the car to run isn't that hard. Getting it to run with functioning gauges, working AC, etc. is where the money comes in.

The M50 is a nice coversion too, but not sure why, if you were starting with a 535i, you'd go to all the trouble to gain 7 horsepower (182 in the b34 versus 189 in the M50b25). And if you have an M20, an "i" head and a chip gets you pretty much where you are with an M50 for considerably less time and coin. S50 is a better conversion but it is more expensive (the engine itself), and it is not easy to get all the last details right in either because the M50 /S50 motor uses the later generation of engine controls, harnesses, etc. It can be done, but it is harder. For this reason, S50 is a much more viable conversion in the E34, in my view.

My best advice? Take the car you have and make it sound first. Go through all the wear items -- there are more than you think. It needs a head so do the "i" head, then add a chip and go from there. Many times people complaining about the lack of power in a 535i or even in a 528e are driving cars that need a great deal of work for starters. Not that the cars are at all fast, but both are torquey and satisfying if in the right condition (if they are 5 speeds -- autotragics are a little less so).

HTH.

[mooseheadm5]

I agree with what Ray said, except $4-5k is pretty optomoistic as a labor quote for an M60 V8 swap. If you don't do the work yourself, expect the total bill with parts to easily exceed 5 figures. You have to redo the brake boost system completely, make new motor mounts, make headers, do electrical wiring, etc. It will not be easy or cheap.

[bbaxter]

Jason, I have done just what you are talking about. I used the s50 motor (3 ltr 6 cyl) in stead of the v8. I wanted to keep the weight out of the front end. The last time on the dino. I pulled 340 WHP and 280 lb. torque. It is a modern bullet proof engine that doesn't need the valves adjusted. The car weighs 2900 lb. If you have any questions about what I have done to the car you are welcome to ask. bbaxter

[Jeremy]

I pulled 340 WHP and 280 lb. torque.

That's either a typo or utter BS.

[rlomba8204]

I pulled 340 WHP and 280 lb. torque.

That's either a typo or utter BS.

Jeremy,
He used the same dyno K&N uses when reporting on power gains from their reusable air filter.

[bbaxter]

Jeremy why would you say that? It's not a typo. or BS.

[bbaxter]

Sorry Jeremy I miss-read the post. I realize the remark came from Rlomba8204. What ever that is. I posted info to help someone that is looking for information. Why do you respond about something you know nothing about in the way you did? If you have questions about my s50 that is in my e28 ask me. I have put a lot of time into developing my car. I have had it on the dino 5 different times at different stages of development so I can track in horsepower what each improvement actually did to the engine. bbaxter

[Slow_Ballin']

The last time on the dino. I pulled 340 WHP and 280 lb. torque. bbaxter

I have had it on the dino 5 different times bbaxter

Do you mean "dino" like Dinosaur? Or "Dino" the character from the Flinstones?

Or do you mean "Dyno" like Dynamometer?

[Jeremy]

Nevermind, my math doesn't work because I can't read.

Plus, there's a supercharger involved that a certain somebody never mentioned. That's not exactly in the "drop in" category.

[turbodan]

A turbo M20 or M30 will pee all over a NA V8 swap unless you're talking about a modified LS V8. It'd be easier and likely cheaper too.

[Xenocide]

I'd listen to Dan on this one, he knows a lot about peeing all over NA V8s

[turbodan]

Pee'd on some turbo ones too. Wish I had video, I know.

[slammin_e28]

I'd listen to Dan on this one, he knows a lot about peeing all over NA V8s

No peeing on M60 plz!

[mooseheadm5]

What b baxter did not expressly mention is that his s50 has a supercharger hung on it.

[Alfonso Bedoya]

Oh so it takes this long to find out SC nfo?

[euro635gas]

I just had the pleasure of driving a 96 M3 with a chevy vortec V8 with a 6 speed.
Ran great and everything worked speedo, tach.
100 mph at about 2000 rpm. I took some pictures but left my camera at the yard. A real sleeper custom headers and all plummed into the stock rear muffler.
Now don't be all purist the M3 was a 4 door and had a hard life before the swap.