Think again. . . (archive)

I had actually contemplated this at one point for many reasons. First is that you get bolt-on ~300hp from the Euro M5 engine. Second is that that 300hp gives you a LOT of room for improvement (rebuild for a turbo or rebuild for naturally aspirated 400 - 450+ hp) if you want to go racing (or drive a wicked-fast car that idles like crap and guzzles gas like your mother-in-law on the egg nog at Christmas).

I discussed this through e-mail, earlier in December, with someone on this board, but, for the life of me, I can't remember who. Anyway, he helped me shed some light on the subject.

There's just one teensy weensy little problem with dropping a Euro e34 M5 engine in your e28. THE DAMN ENGINE WILL COST YOU MORE THAN YOUR CAR IS WORTH!! Think in the neighbor hood of $5,000+. Yikes! Think you can just buy an e34 M5 and part it out or something? First, that would be a STUPID thing to do to such an amazing car, and second, it'll run you about $15k - $20k+ just to buy the car.

So, what would a power-hungry animal's other option be? How 'bout grabbing a 745i and stealing ITS engine? It'll cost you about $3k, give or take, to get the car, and you can even use a few of the parts. The rest, just sell 'em.

I see on the e23 board that 300+ hp from that engine is just a modified wastegate away. Then, you can go up from there with other mods (lower compression, higher boost, etc).

I believe Bob from RA BMW -- who posts here regularly -- is in the process of the conversion, as are others

This might have been covered before, but I couldn't find the answer in the archives.

I'm under the impression that putting an E28 M5 engine into an E28 535i is (more or less) plug-n-play, and also that putting the E34 M30 3.5L engine into an E28 535i is pretty no-sweat too (provided you have the right year so that the mounting bolts line up). So my question is, has anyone done an E34 M5 motor into an E28 535i - or has anyone looked into it and can give some info as to viability? Would it meet up to an E28 535i 5-speed tranny ok, or are there other issues?

Thanks much,

Azure
'86 US 535i,
'77 Euro 520i former owner.

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