SWAGON

Hello everyone.

I am new to this forum so please bare with me as I am not very familiar with all of the GM terminology. I recently sold my 1992 BMW 525 turbo that I had been working on for close to 7 years. I knew I needed more power and a good friend of mine had built an LS1 powered BMW that hooked me. I imagine he is probably a member on this forum as well. Clay(357i).

Anyhow, I had always wanted a newer 5 series and I am a sucker for wagons. My daily driver is an 04 Volvo V70R. My goal for the BMW is to build the ultimate touring/wagon.

I started with a 1999 BMW 528it that was custom ordered from the factory in Mojave metallic brown. I tinted the windows, removed the chrome window trim and painted it along with the pillars, piano black with PPG base/clear. Lowered the car with Fortune auto coilovers, built a set of facelift lights with Nissan Murano bi-xenon projectors and added Varrstoen 19x9.5/10.5 wheels with 245/35 & 275/30/19's.

The drivetrain has been ordered. LSX 427 with LS7 heads and intake manifold and a CTSV accessory kit as well as a TR6060 with 2.66 1st. For the install, a member on bimmeforums who I imagine is also a member here Josh (Jesus Freak) built me a set of engine and trans mounts as well as a set of headers. I also bought the same Autokraft oil pan and Shroeder sway bar as he is using.

I am new to the GM world although I did own a 53 Chevy pickup and a 69 long bed C10. I hope to learn a lot from this forum.

For a background, Here are a few of my past cars I put together.

Turbo E34 that sold in 2 days on BAT.com

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72 Datsun 510 with Rebello L20 (bored and stroked to 2.3)

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Built this from the ground up for wife last year in 6 months. Still not 100% complete but close. Twas her Xmas gift

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And lastly, my DD which is a work in progress

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Here is one of my ole man's Datsun 240z's that we restored. Took 2nd at the Nationals in Atlanta this year.

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SWAGON

On to the current project. Here are a few before shots with some of my install parts. And lastly, the car as it sits now.

zdiesel

Nothing but beautiful cars, looks like you do real good work. The BMW wagon looks really clean, I look forward to this build...mostly because I want to do the same thing haha

357i

iTrader: (4)

My bad. Lol

SWAGON

You ruined everything for me!! I was doing just fine with a turbo I6 and 375 RWHP...

Vness

I love that carbon table! Any pics of that?

SWAGON

It's not pretty enough for pix now. It's just plywood with CF on it and then glass on top. I used to build custom furniture for a living but then I ruptured my L4 and never got around to making trim strips for the edges. I need to do that as my wife was just giving me a hard time about it the other day

Jesus Freak

That LSx is gonna be so badass in this thing! Can't wait to see it all finished and some crazy dyno numbers.

My1stFBody

I've been randomly watching your thread on BF.c

Have to admit I thought the swap was done already, oops! Car looks amazing though, can't wait to see it with its new heart transplant.

turbotalon1g

That E34 looks amazing, I want one of those to put an lsx in.

edrex

nice build

A.R. Shale Targa

iTrader: (2)

You SIR are my new hero......
Everyone loves sleepers and this build will blow peoples minds.......love it
Just a few years ago a pal of mine had a full size 74 caprice wagon complete
with luggage rack. So we put a CNC dart headed 555 in it, THM400 and 9" w/
4.56 gears. Unfortunately the trans said F...You after some mid elevens
@ 5500 lbs.....2 bad we never got to spray it...

SWAGON

Thanks!!! That was my main reason for going with the TR6060 over the T56. Dropping the car off with a friend this eve who will scan all the canbus data so he can convert all the signals etc when the GM motor goes in.

My1stFBody

Interesting. Isn't there a whole thread on BF.c for the E46 guys looking to convert the canbus data? Be curious to see what all is involved in this as I haven't read too much about it on other E39 builds. If you can convert all the signals, does that mean you can remove the BMW DME?

SWAGON

I am really not sure. I am good at a lot of things but electrical is not one of them. Electrical and welding are skills I really want to learn. My friend is a GM distributor and he owns a BMW so he has all the stuff he needs to get the canbus info. He was the one who said he could do the signal conversion so I will leave that to him. Clay is also doing the swap and seems to have gathered some good info so I hope he will be lending me a hand with that as well I haven't even gotten to the wiring stage yet as I am still waiting for the motor and trans to arrive.. The pic I posted above of the 427 was sent to me via text from my friend who is sourcing all my GM stuff for me.

gnx7

iTrader: (28)

This is going to be one sick wagon! Love the previous builds also.

Why did you go with an iron LSx block instead of an aluminum block? They are something like 140lbs heavier.

SWAGON

90-100 lbs from what I have been told. I was planning on an LS3 but I got a great deal on it. Plus, I am building a wagon so not terribly concerned with weight. That's what the extra HP/TQ is for

Gorgeous FD btw! I was considering one for my project but I love wagons so...

Jesus Freak

Since the early model E39s used "conventional" signals for the water temp, tach, ext. In 98-99 is when they started introducing canbus into the chassis. You can code the cluster to accept the same conventional signals the early model, 97-98s used.

The BMW DME is no longer in my car and has been running great. Tach and speedo work... Didn't bother hooking up the water temp as its pretty much useless, I run a PLX for temps

bp m1009

iTrader: (2)

I love E39's!! Ive wanted an euro e39 540T 6 speed, but this is even better! this build is gonna be awesome, the body work on all your other projects is flawless too

el_73_camino

This is awesome stuff, love the restorations, cant wait to see how this build turns out! I've always wanted a badass wagon, sweet vehicle you have there.