LSx into a '99 BMW 540 E39
Thread Starter
On The Tree
Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 135
Likes: 2
From: Burlington, Wisconsin
LSx into a '99 BMW 540 E39 Hi all,
I am in the dreaming stages of this one, but thought I would ask and see if anyone had an opinion on this. I picked up a '99 BMW 540 6 speed car for dirt cheap ($2500) a year or so ago, fixed the engine(bent all 32 valves after the timing chain guide broke)and have been loving the car since......... but the motor is starting to show some mileage problems. At 176K on it, it goes through some oil(alot), getting some rod knock on cold start, etc and I hate to get rid of the car. Problem is to replace the engine that is in it is stupid expensive for even a used one. I would like to put an aluminum block LS engine into it, but I am not sure if it is even possible, or at least reasonably possible. After looking over the car well, it would fit, no problem, but the E39 cars use ALOT of integrated electronics that all speak to one another in german I am sure! The car has a 2.94:1 axle ratio. so using the T56 may be out of the question (can anyone say land speed record in 6th), but I am sure that the BMW 6 speed is not adaptable to the LS engine.
SO to cut the rambling, has anyone seen, heard, or helped with such a similar swap?????? I googled it and came up with a whole lot of nothing, so here I am asking you all, what do you think??????
Looking forwards to opinions!
Mike
I am in the dreaming stages of this one, but thought I would ask and see if anyone had an opinion on this. I picked up a '99 BMW 540 6 speed car for dirt cheap ($2500) a year or so ago, fixed the engine(bent all 32 valves after the timing chain guide broke)and have been loving the car since......... but the motor is starting to show some mileage problems. At 176K on it, it goes through some oil(alot), getting some rod knock on cold start, etc and I hate to get rid of the car. Problem is to replace the engine that is in it is stupid expensive for even a used one. I would like to put an aluminum block LS engine into it, but I am not sure if it is even possible, or at least reasonably possible. After looking over the car well, it would fit, no problem, but the E39 cars use ALOT of integrated electronics that all speak to one another in german I am sure! The car has a 2.94:1 axle ratio. so using the T56 may be out of the question (can anyone say land speed record in 6th), but I am sure that the BMW 6 speed is not adaptable to the LS engine.
SO to cut the rambling, has anyone seen, heard, or helped with such a similar swap?????? I googled it and came up with a whole lot of nothing, so here I am asking you all, what do you think??????
Looking forwards to opinions!
Mike
I know of one person that has done somethine similar. A twin turbo in a 98 528. Great guy. There is also another guy working on a LS2 into a 540. Look here. http://ls2bmw.com/
Maybe you can email him and hear what he has to say.
Putting the LS1/T56 into a 540 should be a breeze mechanically. Custom motor mounts and trans mount and you are good. The stock clutch hydraulics should work. Im not sure what pan would work with the 540 but the BMW engine in there has a front sump pan.
Then comes the electronics. E39 cars rely alot on CAN especially cars made after 9/97 The DME,ABS/ASR module,IKE(instrument cluster) are linked via the CAN system. for example instead of having a wire sending a tach signal to the cluster, the signal is sent via CAN. the LS1 ECU does not have this ability.
You can still get the engine to run but i doubt you will be able to use the cluster, ABS/ASR. Im sure you can get the a/c to work but Im not sure the BMW climate control will work.
Maybe you can email him and hear what he has to say.
Putting the LS1/T56 into a 540 should be a breeze mechanically. Custom motor mounts and trans mount and you are good. The stock clutch hydraulics should work. Im not sure what pan would work with the 540 but the BMW engine in there has a front sump pan.
Then comes the electronics. E39 cars rely alot on CAN especially cars made after 9/97 The DME,ABS/ASR module,IKE(instrument cluster) are linked via the CAN system. for example instead of having a wire sending a tach signal to the cluster, the signal is sent via CAN. the LS1 ECU does not have this ability.
You can still get the engine to run but i doubt you will be able to use the cluster, ABS/ASR. Im sure you can get the a/c to work but Im not sure the BMW climate control will work.
Teching In
Joined: Feb 2007
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TECH Regular
Joined: Jul 2004
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awesome idea as that is one hell of a nice car and with a reliable and inexpensive LS1 in there it would be even nicer for a DD for years and years.
I think the GTO T56 uses shorter gearing, and paired with your tall rear end it might work out to a possible solution for you without having to swap rear ends or rear gears at all.
I bet with a little creativity you may be able to use a lot of the Fbody or GTO systems in place of the oem bmw stuff to get the entire car working like it should for a comfy cruiser of a bruiser.
best of luck.
I think the GTO T56 uses shorter gearing, and paired with your tall rear end it might work out to a possible solution for you without having to swap rear ends or rear gears at all.
I bet with a little creativity you may be able to use a lot of the Fbody or GTO systems in place of the oem bmw stuff to get the entire car working like it should for a comfy cruiser of a bruiser.
best of luck.
Thread Starter
On The Tree
Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 135
Likes: 2
From: Burlington, Wisconsin
I kind of figured that the electronics were going to be an issue with this thing. I remember a while back someone swapped an engine into something (for the life of me I cannot remember what the heck it was) and they left the whole factory system in the car to run the gauges, heater, etc and ran the engine on a seperate stand alone factory system. I remember reading that they still had all the function of the factory systems, but the swapped engine ran on it's own system. Maybe something to think about!!!
Like I said, I love the car, I wish the american manufacurers could take a cue from it. I was approached at a Chevrolet dealer the other week, when I was getting parts for a customers car, by a salesman. He asked if I was their for their big sale?! I told him if he could sell me a new V8, RWD, 6 speed 4 door car made by GM I would consider looking. I was informed that the only thing remotely close was the Vette, but it lacked the 4 doors I am looking for. Oh well, maybe the Pontiac G8 will get a 6 speed in the future!!!
THanks for the help!
Mike
Like I said, I love the car, I wish the american manufacurers could take a cue from it. I was approached at a Chevrolet dealer the other week, when I was getting parts for a customers car, by a salesman. He asked if I was their for their big sale?! I told him if he could sell me a new V8, RWD, 6 speed 4 door car made by GM I would consider looking. I was informed that the only thing remotely close was the Vette, but it lacked the 4 doors I am looking for. Oh well, maybe the Pontiac G8 will get a 6 speed in the future!!!
THanks for the help!
Mike
