ls1 bmw 5 series conversion
On The Tree
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 186
Likes: 0
From: Hong Kong
The cool thing about the E39 6 cyl cars is that they come with a rack & pinion and an aluminum front subframe as appossed to the steering box and stamped steel front subframe of the v8 cars including the M5's. The v8 rear subframe with the strong diff bolts right in. The 6 cyl cars are also much cheaper as apposed to the v8 cars. The E39 has a far supperior suspension and handle amazingly well with the usual springs, dampers, sway bars and alignment compared to the E34 but the E39 electronics is much more complicated. In short, it would be really cool to build a serious M5 killer for a fraction of the cost not to mention cheaper insurance.
Last edited by E36LUVA; Dec 24, 2006 at 10:16 PM.
Teching In
Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 7
Likes: 0
From: California
Sorry about digging up an old thread, but all this E46/E39 talk has got me thinking.
For those of us who live in Kalifornia, would we run into the same steering rack/CARB legal header issues as on the E36? Or is the engine bay more accommodating or more important is the rack moved enough out of the way that it is not a problem?
None of the E34s had rack & pinion did they? How's their handling? Do the boxes need rebuilding or replacing over time?
Originally Posted by E36LUVA
The cool thing about the E39 6 cyl cars is that they come with a rack & pinion and an aluminum front subframe as appossed to the steering box and stamped steel front subframe of the v8 cars including the M5's. The v8 rear subframe with the strong diff bolts right in.
None of the E34s had rack & pinion did they? How's their handling? Do the boxes need rebuilding or replacing over time?
TECH Fanatic
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 1,084
Likes: 1
From: Keller, Texas
Originally Posted by Skele4door
A guy named Bill Hagen (I think) build a TT LSX powered 5 series a while back. Here's the link to a webpage about it, but the page has never been completed. Either way it might give you some ideas.
http://www.members.aol.com/hagancue/
http://www.members.aol.com/hagancue/
but that will be a bad Bimmer for sure!
On The Tree
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 186
Likes: 0
From: Hong Kong
Well I know the header for the 6 cyl E39 and the E36 is the same. I'm assuming oil pan mods for the LS1 are in order just as the E36 cars are. I cant even begin to imagine how you would make a swap like this legal in Cali.
Wouldnt it be CARB legal as long as you keep all the emissions equipment and the cats? You would be limited to the stock exhaust manifolds or carb approved shorty headers. So I guess the question is will any particular version of the stock manifolds fit. This would be a cool daily driver/sleeper with a small cam and some bolt ons.
Teching In
Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 43
Likes: 0
Originally Posted by E36LUVA
Well I know the header for the 6 cyl E39 and the E36 is the same. I'm assuming oil pan mods for the LS1 are in order just as the E36 cars are. I cant even begin to imagine how you would make a swap like this legal in Cali.
I didn't modify my Ls1 oil pan for my e36
Staging Lane
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 65
Likes: 0
Originally Posted by pugads650
yup thats exactly what im looking for
im planing on purchasing a 98-2000 540i with a blown or no motor so i can replace it with a ls6 or ls1 and a 6 speed.
i would really appreciate some help finding information on the guy with the ls1 5 series thanks.
jonathan
im planing on purchasing a 98-2000 540i with a blown or no motor so i can replace it with a ls6 or ls1 and a 6 speed.
i would really appreciate some help finding information on the guy with the ls1 5 series thanks.
jonathan
Staging Lane
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 65
Likes: 0
http://www.members.aol.com/hagancue/
man thats sick! it would be even better with a nice m5 grey paint job.
man thats sick! it would be even better with a nice m5 grey paint job.
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On The Tree
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 114
Likes: 0
From: Orlando
e34 LS1 i know everybody is doing the ls1 swaps with the older 3 series bmw but i wanted to know if it is possible to stuff a ls1 m6 into a 5 series bmw beacuse my brother use to have one of these bmw and these cars handled like they were on rails but lacked alot of ***** it was a 525i but had a 2.5 liter inline 6 motor wich felt like it had 50 horsepower.
so my question is this possible to do the swap and keep all the electronics inside of the car working like a stock bmw.
i just want ot build the ultimate daily driver
so my question is this possible to do the swap and keep all the electronics inside of the car working like a stock bmw.
i just want ot build the ultimate daily driver
Just ask!
