E39 BMW 540 LS Swap Completed
01-19-2011, 05:12 AM
#43
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I know that myself and MANY others would appreciate a write up of your amazing piece of work. I'm picking up my 540 this weekend I'm so excited. I looked long and hard for this one...
I have had a 96 T/A (blown, cammed etc) and a 04 CTS-V. Being able to swap an LSx in it would be my dream, the best of both worlds - LS motor and rock solid realiability in a good BMW chassis with a classy (before they got bengal butt and idrive) BMW interior and in my opinion one of the cleanest, most timeless exterior designs ever made.
Please, grace us with a writeup on the details, it would be GREATLY appreciated and would inspire confidence into me to do this myself. I have access to mandel bender, TIG welder, CNC mill, etc.
I have had a 96 T/A (blown, cammed etc) and a 04 CTS-V. Being able to swap an LSx in it would be my dream, the best of both worlds - LS motor and rock solid realiability in a good BMW chassis with a classy (before they got bengal butt and idrive) BMW interior and in my opinion one of the cleanest, most timeless exterior designs ever made.
Please, grace us with a writeup on the details, it would be GREATLY appreciated and would inspire confidence into me to do this myself. I have access to mandel bender, TIG welder, CNC mill, etc.
01-19-2011, 01:01 PM
#44
Sorry folks, the exterior is staying as is 
I rally don't have a write up or a list of parts; its all just basic hot rodding. It is not easy, but it is also not hard, but it can be time consuming. I made the engine mounts and trans mounts out of 3/8" steel and they are much stronger than necessary. from there, you have to figure out the plumbing, wiring, etc.
If you have a mandrel bender, TIG, CNC mill, etc and know how to use them then you have a lot more than I used to do the job.
I'd be happy to answer any questions.
Send me a PM or e-mail and if what you need is more than I can write, we can get on the phone.
I know that myself and MANY others would appreciate a write up of your amazing piece of work. I'm picking up my 540 this weekend I'm so excited. I looked long and hard for this one...
I have had a 96 T/A (blown, cammed etc) and a 04 CTS-V. Being able to swap an LSx in it would be my dream, the best of both worlds - LS motor and rock solid realiability in a good BMW chassis with a classy (before they got bengal butt and idrive) BMW interior and in my opinion one of the cleanest, most timeless exterior designs ever made.
Please, grace us with a writeup on the details, it would be GREATLY appreciated and would inspire confidence into me to do this myself. I have access to mandel bender, TIG welder, CNC mill, etc.
I have had a 96 T/A (blown, cammed etc) and a 04 CTS-V. Being able to swap an LSx in it would be my dream, the best of both worlds - LS motor and rock solid realiability in a good BMW chassis with a classy (before they got bengal butt and idrive) BMW interior and in my opinion one of the cleanest, most timeless exterior designs ever made.
Please, grace us with a writeup on the details, it would be GREATLY appreciated and would inspire confidence into me to do this myself. I have access to mandel bender, TIG welder, CNC mill, etc.
If you have a mandrel bender, TIG, CNC mill, etc and know how to use them then you have a lot more than I used to do the job.
I'd be happy to answer any questions.
Send me a PM or e-mail and if what you need is more than I can write, we can get on the phone.
01-19-2011, 02:11 PM
#45
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Seeing this swap makes me miss my '97 540i/6 speed.
Can you elaborate on what has to be done with the CAN Bus in order to get the cluster and A/C and ABS to work? Or maybe point me in the right direction on the interwebby?
I probably missed it, but does your cruise work with the buttons on the steering wheel?
I want to do a '97-'03 wagon with an lsx in it.
Can you elaborate on what has to be done with the CAN Bus in order to get the cluster and A/C and ABS to work? Or maybe point me in the right direction on the interwebby?
I probably missed it, but does your cruise work with the buttons on the steering wheel?
I want to do a '97-'03 wagon with an lsx in it.
01-19-2011, 02:53 PM
#46
Seeing this swap makes me miss my '97 540i/6 speed.
Can you elaborate on what has to be done with the CAN Bus in order to get the cluster and A/C and ABS to work? Or maybe point me in the right direction on the interwebby?
I probably missed it, but does your cruise work with the buttons on the steering wheel?
I want to do a '97-'03 wagon with an lsx in it.
Can you elaborate on what has to be done with the CAN Bus in order to get the cluster and A/C and ABS to work? Or maybe point me in the right direction on the interwebby?
I probably missed it, but does your cruise work with the buttons on the steering wheel?
I want to do a '97-'03 wagon with an lsx in it.
2. A/C - this one is a little trickier, the AC switch on the BMW HVAC controls is purely networked - there i s n o analog "on" signal anywhere in the system (there are on certain model years and trim levels, but not mine) so for now I have a separate switch to activate the compressor. This is on llmy list of things to sort out down the raod.
3. Cruise - it depends on if your e39 has DBW or not. On a cable throttle car you can use the BMW controller, but it has to be recoded from an auto to a manual (in my case, which I did not do, since I had no interest in cruise).
01-21-2011, 11:46 PM
#51
Fantastic project.
I'm a huge E39 M5 buff, but one of mine (black/black 2001 M5) has a blown motor.
It has a ton of great aftermarket parts on it, and is a former Car and Driver feature car....if anyone is looking for an LS swap candidate E39, please contact me!
Doctorv8 at gmail
I'm a huge E39 M5 buff, but one of mine (black/black 2001 M5) has a blown motor.
It has a ton of great aftermarket parts on it, and is a former Car and Driver feature car....if anyone is looking for an LS swap candidate E39, please contact me!
Doctorv8 at gmail
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Robbie1968 (07-11-2024)
01-22-2011, 08:56 PM
#52
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rao, m5board.com won't let me post for whatever reason so i'm posting here.
can you elaborate more on this? from the little amount of research i've done, it seems that the 6cyl models use an aluminum front subframe with rack/pinion steering while the 8cyl models use a steel stamped front subframe with a steering box. how do these differences affect oil pan clearance, steering column clearance, and exhaust manifold/header clearance? also, do you think triangulating/strengthening the diff mounts on a 6cyl model would be sufficient for handling the ls1?
also, you mentioned that you removed the BMW OBC. so is everything (lights, interior electronics, a/c, etc.) running off of the GM ECU?
thank you.
3 - the front subframes of the 6 cylinder cars are totally different. They make for a slightly easier swap, but really wanted the 8 cylinder rear end and the stronger 8 cylinder front subframe. People have done LS1 swaps into 6 cylinder cars with success.
also, you mentioned that you removed the BMW OBC. so is everything (lights, interior electronics, a/c, etc.) running off of the GM ECU?
thank you.
01-22-2011, 09:02 PM
#53
can you elaborate more on this? from the little amount of research i've done, it seems that the 6cyl models use an aluminum front subframe with rack/pinion steering while the 8cyl models use a steel stamped front subframe with a steering box. how do these differences affect oil pan clearance, steering column clearance, and exhaust manifold/header clearance? also, do you think triangulating/strengthening the diff mounts on a 6cyl model would be sufficient for handling the ls1?
also, you mentioned that you removed the BMW OBC. so is everything (lights, interior electronics, a/c, etc.) running off of the GM ECU?
thank you.
also, you mentioned that you removed the BMW OBC. so is everything (lights, interior electronics, a/c, etc.) running off of the GM ECU?
thank you.
V8 - http://tis.spaghetticoder.org/s/view.pl?1/02/31/38 and http://tis.spaghetticoder.org/s/view.pl?1/02/25/99
I6 - http://tis.spaghetticoder.org/s/view.pl?1/01/04/66 and http://tis.spaghetticoder.org/s/view.pl?1/01/54/69
Pics -
V8
I6 -
The differences affect do oil pan clearance, steering column clearance and exhaust clearance
I don't have measurements, but the 8 cylinder subframe requires the use of a front sump oil pan - I used the GTO oil pan and notched it as shown in the pics on the first pate. People have done the LS swap with the 6 cylinder subframe and the 8 cylinder subframe - I preferred the 8.The BMW DME is gone - it is no longer in the car, all of the other BMW computers are in the car and are working.
01-25-2011, 08:08 AM
#55
People on bimmerforums seem to rave about the handling of the 6 cylinder version and it seems the LS would be roughly equal the weight of the 6 and comes in under the 8. It seems to me some of the other systems would be a better fit (cooling, etc). Rob, did your preference for the 8cyl platform have more to do with the subframe or suspension? Would you mind elaborating a tiny bit?
01-25-2011, 08:35 AM
#56
People on Bimmerforums (and just about anywhere else online) will rave about almost anything and almost any side of any issue
I know from direct experience that the 6 cylinder BMW engine weighs MORE than the LS engine and the 8 cylinder BMW engine also weighs more than the LS engine. I posted the before and after weights for this car and for the 3 series swaps that I did.
For me, the weight difference is immaterial, meaning you cannot sense a difference in weight, especially not one that cannot be over come with double (or more) the horsepower and torque. Besides, people seem to think the e39 M5 handles pretty well, and it has the same architecture as the other 8 cylinder e39s.
My preference for the 8 cylinder front subframe came from my preference to its construction and the fact that I found a cheap donor car that was a V8 car. If I was looking to build another one, I would prefer the 8 cylinder car for the front subframe, larger rear diff and generally higher content of the interior.
As I said a couple of times, people have done the swap with the 6 cylinder cars ad achieved good results.
If you want to do this swap I wouldn't get hung up on this particular issue, it can work either way.
I know from direct experience that the 6 cylinder BMW engine weighs MORE than the LS engine and the 8 cylinder BMW engine also weighs more than the LS engine. I posted the before and after weights for this car and for the 3 series swaps that I did.
For me, the weight difference is immaterial, meaning you cannot sense a difference in weight, especially not one that cannot be over come with double (or more) the horsepower and torque. Besides, people seem to think the e39 M5 handles pretty well, and it has the same architecture as the other 8 cylinder e39s.
My preference for the 8 cylinder front subframe came from my preference to its construction and the fact that I found a cheap donor car that was a V8 car. If I was looking to build another one, I would prefer the 8 cylinder car for the front subframe, larger rear diff and generally higher content of the interior.
As I said a couple of times, people have done the swap with the 6 cylinder cars ad achieved good results.
If you want to do this swap I wouldn't get hung up on this particular issue, it can work either way.
02-16-2011, 01:48 PM
#60
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Hello rao. I have some questions about LS swap, and don't wanna open a new topic. I guess you may answer
I have a e34 525i, Auto.
I plan to swap that boring engine and gearbox. Actually I was thinking about M62+6speed. But yesterday I was surprised with video on youtube named e36 ls2. I guess its your one)
The problem is I live in Middle Asia, Azerbaijan. Budget plays a great role. I can get a salvage camaro z28 from copart with clean front, i mean engine, gearbox, etc. What should I do besides custom mounting? Can I use everything from z28? harness/wiring, ECU, cooling system, gearbox shifter, etc. What should I get separately from that donor? If you have some time, please.
How much time it takes if i got ready everything for swap?
I have a e34 525i, Auto.
I plan to swap that boring engine and gearbox. Actually I was thinking about M62+6speed. But yesterday I was surprised with video on youtube named e36 ls2. I guess its your one)
The problem is I live in Middle Asia, Azerbaijan. Budget plays a great role. I can get a salvage camaro z28 from copart with clean front, i mean engine, gearbox, etc. What should I do besides custom mounting? Can I use everything from z28? harness/wiring, ECU, cooling system, gearbox shifter, etc. What should I get separately from that donor? If you have some time, please.
How much time it takes if i got ready everything for swap?