Well, i maybe getting my parents 00' 528i. And i was talking with my friends and the idea seemed like a great one being the engine has 98,000 miles. I am finding out all the info and i may do the project of changing it to a m5. Dropping a m5 engine in it from a 02'. Changing the speedometer displays, putting m5 suspension, and the gear frame box and the cosmetics ouside. I want to research this because it sounds great but its also kind of a frankenstien project, my only worry is the transmission. I am not sure it will handle a 400hp engine, which would shoot the project back to the swamp where it came from.

My entire idea for the projects cost is about 12,000$. Most from the engine, the rest would be bodykits.

What do you guys think about it? I would plan on putting a general m5 engine in as the powerplant, and i may see if DINAN will do it. Idea's, opinions, ect. All of them are welcome.

Save your money, IMO this will be a major undertaking. Sell the 5er and take that $12k + the value of the 5 and buy an E36 M3 and mod it as the budget allows.

Save your money, IMO this will be a major undertaking. Sell the 5er and take that $12k + the value of the 5 and buy an E36 M3 and mod it as the budget allows.


idk, i kinda wanted to avoid that whole m3 issue, being theirs thousands of different options. The idea seems logical being i can get ahold of a engine for about 6-7k. I know a few people... but i just wanna kno if the idea is logical. M3 i kno would be better but insurance would kill me, and alot of ppl have m3's around here, im going for being different

im going for being different

If you want to be different source a new M5 V10 and drop that in and forget a body kit and other cosmetic things.

If you go through with the m5 conversion idea don't get just m5 suspension and OE m5 things. try and get things like bilstein coil-overs and things like that, it will be worlds better for the same or less cost.

12k? Ha! Try double that. As things are, it is much cheaper to buy a M5 than try to build one.

12k? Ha! Try double that. As things are, it is much cheaper to buy a M5 than try to build one.


you have no idea man haha... the engine costs 20k tops. A entire m5 costs 60k.. yeah buy a entire new one.. its cheaper... god i hate dumb people.

No offense, but you aren't sounding like the most intelligent individual yourself. 12k for this is absolutely ridiculous, unless you are doing ALL of your own work which is doubtful, because if you were you would not be asking. I dont care who you know. Motor+trans+exterior parts+paint+suspension = EASILY 20k. Whats the question anyways?

EDIT: How old are you? Don't lie please. And have DINAN do it??? Your budget is a little optimistic man.

you have no idea man haha... the engine costs 20k tops. A entire m5 costs 60k.. yeah buy a entire new one.. its cheaper... god i hate dumb people.

Oh yeah, that's it, dismiss a person who has looked into this extensively, rebuilt an E9 from parts, and has been watching S62 prices for the last few years. :rolleyes Plus, you obviously are such a student of E39 M5's if you think they are still 60k.

First, you will have to get a new trans. There is no way around this, unless you make some kind of adapter plate, which would make the engine or trans not sit correctly, causing you to have to make custom motor mounting arms or a completely new trans crossmember and shift linkage, to say nothing of a cut driveshaft.

So, your parts list would look something like:
Engine -10k to be nice, probably more like 15k.
Trans -1-6k You can go cheap and use a standard M62 6 speed, but the internals are different between the normal and M units.
Wiring harness+ DME+ EWS+ Cluster -2-3k and they all have to come from the same car, or get coded by the dealer for a hefty fee.
Driveshaft - 1k New trans, new driveshaft, and it is different from the normal 540 one.
Diff- 3k+ M5 was the only E39 to get a LSD, so unless you want to do all this and be a fool with an open diff, gotta get a used M5 one, which also requires new halfshafts.
Suspension- 2k M5 suspension sucks compared to aftermarket. It would be the height of foolishness to swap it in when a better aftermarket system would cost less.

So going with the minimum price of all listed, we are at a whopping 19k, which is a few thousand less than buying a complete used E39 M5.

This isn't even including bodywork, labor, and other parts, like a flywheel, clutch, headers, exhaust, subframes, random bits.

You seriously need to do a bit more research about the project and those you decide to foolishly insult. Or, to quote you: ...god i hate dumb people.

I'm sure Dinan will do the swap. $12,000 probably won't cover the labor.

This isn't a plug and play swap like an an E36. I'll make it simple, it will cost more to convert your car to an M5 than it will cost to take your car, sell it, and apply that money towards the purchase of an M5.

i can if i want to do it myself, my family have mechanics in their blood. And it wouldnt be the first time we completely took apart a bimmer. And 20k would be a acceptable budget, i mean finding a engine is all i need, and that isnt all that hard around here being i found one scrapped in great condition.

i dont mind doing bits of work here and there, if its going to cost 20,000$.. i will wait a extra year or 2. Thiers no problem in that or harm in it, the worst thing to do is jump into a project and not finishing it.

Im not going to get annoyed much of this, i know i originally asked for opinions, i figured the tranny and shaft were going to be a problem under the almost 250hp increase. Im going to my local shop later to get a detailed list just for kicks of what i need. I have no problem doing salvage and doing that, i can prolly get a sweet deal. but im going to surely look into this more now

Sounds like your mind was made up before you posted. As others have stated, you sound VERY young and equally as naive. I speak from experience when I say that this is a project that will surely destroy a perfectly acceptable car and leave expensive parts in it's wake. I have 25 years of experience building custom hot rods and as well as performing engine swaps on many different vehicles. I had a 540i (a MUCH more suitable 5'er for something like this) a few years ago and contemplated doing an M5 clone. The conclusion I came to was, it would cost MUCH more than if I just bought an M5 and, in the end, I would have a car worth significantly less money than a real M5. After I worked it all out, it was a no-brainer.
My suggestion, even though you're not listening, would be to take that 12k and invest it into your 528. You could have a kick ass car.

Oh, I almost forgot, I was going to list all of he things you would need if you Truly wanted to duplicate an M5.
S62 engine
Endine mounts, throttle cables, clutch cables, cooling system, tranny mount (crossmember) speedo cable(?),
Getrag 6 speed tranny
Drive shaft
Rear subframe assembly with LSD diff
Complete exhaust including headers.
Engine computer and wiring harness
Front and rear brake assembly
brake master cylinder and brake lines.
Front and rear suspension. (strut/spring shock spring assem.)
Alum. front suspension components (does 528i have that? not sure myself)
Front and rear sway bars.
M5 wheels and tires
new rear trunk pan to re-locate battery in the middle and remove the spare tire well. must be welded in.
M5 fender liners front and rear
Full M5 body kit, front bumper, mirrors, side molding, rear bumper, trunk spoiler.
Wouldn't you want to update the headlights and taillights too? Angel eye Zenons, LED tails.
Complete M5 interior, ultra suede headliner, pillars, extended leather for lower dash, NAV system, extended leather doors with custom leather inserts, Sport M5 accent trim, M shift knob, M5 sport front and rear seats with custom leather inserts, extended leather center console, who could forgt the oval rear view mirror!, M5 instrument cluster, wouldn't you want to get rid of that HUGE steering wheel? get the 01+ three spoke with blue and red stitching.
This is all off he top of my head, so I KNOW I am missing a lot of small stuff. I am not as familiar with the 6 cylinder 5 series as the v8, so I am sure I am missing things.

Good Luck!

Boober

yeah, im hearing you out man. I knew their were many other things too it. Im not worried so much for the body kits and crap. I would just like to get to a stable point where the engine is mounted and the tranny is ok. I heard that a 540i tranny was suitable? But tell me, what happened with your project? im curiouse to know the outcome.

and im not into all the seats and stuff, I really just want the nessasary requirements for the engine and tranny. I will understand that the project maybe over my head, but i dont have the money to purchase a M5. Can you give me possible outcomes if it went through, and what would i need to complete this project just strictly to the bone with tranny and en gine and suspnession. Most these parts i can salvage but what i really want to know is, Why wouldnt it be such a good idea? I dont intend to do dumb crap like donuts, just a nice sleeper. So just give me the lowdown... I maybe young but i listen to people, and with your title, im all ears.

and im not into all the seats and stuff, I really just want the nessasary requirements for the engine and tranny. I will understand that the project maybe over my head, but i dont have the money to purchase a M5. Can you give me possible outcomes if it went through, and what would i need to complete this project just strictly to the bone with tranny and en gine and suspnession. Most these parts i can salvage but what i really want to know is, Why wouldnt it be such a good idea? I dont intend to do dumb crap like donuts, just a nice sleeper. So just give me the lowdown... I maybe young but i listen to people, and with your title, im all ears.

If that is the case, then my list is what you need, from a purely functional car perspective. To make it easier, you would need to buy a M5 parts car, which are few and far between, especially ones that contain useful drivetrain components. I have seen a few that cost around 10k, but those were usually missing something big, like the diff.

Also bear in mind that if you did this swap, you would have a very difficult time of selling the modified car after.

You can find used E39 M5s with high miles for the low 20s. They will have some problems, but it is possible. If you take the 12k you wanted to invest and sell the 528, that should just about get you to 20k. Considering the costs of the salvage parts, or of a M5 parts car, you are looking at about the same total cost either way.

I don't claim to know much about e39's, but if you want something different, why not just turbo/SC the straight 6?

don't forget that when you do the exhaust you need to remove the spare tire well...much more to an M5 than just the motor...

get a 540i6 and supercharge it...

this will end up being more expensive than buying a well-used M5

this will end up being more expensive than buying a well-used M5

+1

If you're concerned about insurance rates drastically increasing, then it appears you may be living beyond your means.

insurance isnt a problem. And i think im going to forget the plan, Its possible but i just dont wanna blow that much cash knows i cant beat on the car as much. So i think ill hold my pennys for when a nice 328i or a 540 shows up. Always wanted to throw a hamann bodykit on a 328. Oh well, im going to wait awhile.

And why would you really want to do any of this anyway if you do truly drive an 850?

wow...in one ear and out the other

Sorry, I was at work all day. I echo what someone else said. The most logical path would be to pick up a wrecked M5 for cheap. Though it sounds like you are abandoning the plan. Wise choice. As far as the cosmetic stuff, I just added it beacuse you said you were looking to make an M5 "Clone". People often forget that the M5 came with more than the engine, body kit, and LSD. Go sit in a FULL Napa leather M5 and you will lust for it imediately! My 540 could not have held a candle next to my M5's interior.

Just a question, what is so wrong with the 528i that you would consider selling it for a 328i? Is the car trashed or something?
If all you wanted was the motor and tranny for the sleeper effect, you could turbo that 6 and more than hang with an M5. since your car weighs about 300-400 pounds less than an M5, thats about 360-370 flywhel HP to get the same power to weight ratio. Doesn't seem too far out of the possibility of a turbo 6. You might be pushing 15psi to get it though (I know nothing about the turbo kits available for the 528i).

Boober

the 850 is my fathers, and the 528i, theirs nothing wrong with it.. I just wanted alot of hp. Oh well, its fine just the way it is for now, and i hear it does 6.8seconds so its modest time. And i wouldnt sell the 5 series for a 328. I would keeep both and parents would take the 5 series. And as far a turbos, I heard it wasnt a great idea being theirs alot of costly secondary works that goes into it. Its not just dropping a turbo in and it being so.

Yea, but putting a good turbo on that car, and then getting it tuned by a good tuner, it would cost drastically less than the M5 conversion, and like boober said, youll have a comparable power to weight ratio. The hardest part of the turbo i could see for the 528 would be the exhaust manifold, beings if you had to fabricate it and there wasnt a kit for it. But i dont know anything about the 528 or its motor or E39's, i just found that i should read the rest of this thread after you called xatlas dumb....

-Jeff

If you think that turboing an I-6 is harder than doing a complete functionally correct M5 swap into 528i :lol3 , well then there's not more to be said on this thread. Good luck on your future plans

Dude, VF engineering has a supercharger kit for your 528i. It'll get you to about 300 hp. And it's only 5 grand.

BTW, pics of the 850 or ban.

I'm thinking these are becoming a deal (flip through the pics, drool):

http://www.autotrader.com/fyc/vdp.jsp?car_id=211860641&dealer_id=58808087&car_year=2000&search_type=both&num_records=25&make=BMW&keywordsfyc=&transmission=&distance=300&model=M5&address=76621&make2=&advanced=&default_sort=priceDESC&certified=&max_mileage=&max_price=&sort_type=priceASC&min_price=&body_code=0&end_year=2005&color=&keywordsrep=&start_year=2000&drive=&engine=&doors=&style_flag=1&fuel=&cardist=68

Take what you could get for the 528, coupled with two thirds of the conversion budget and be set.......

Yea, but putting a good turbo on that car, and then getting it tuned by a good tuner, it would cost drastically less than the M5 conversion, and like boober said, youll have a comparable power to weight ratio. The hardest part of the turbo i could see for the 528 would be the exhaust manifold, beings if you had to fabricate it and there wasnt a kit for it. But i dont know anything about the 528 or its motor or E39's, i just found that i should read the rest of this thread after you called xatlas dumb....

-Jeff

nice ride (e24), don't ever sell it, i did and hate myself for it...

anyway, this original poster is a jackass...

nice ride (e24), don't ever sell it, i did and hate myself for it...

anyway, this original poster is a jackass...

Thanks man, and i dont plan on ever selling, but perhaps on buying at least one more, and itll be a euro 83 635. Damn cars are addicting.

-Jeff

i will be looking for another one in the next couple years...this pic is on my dresser...

http://i80.photobucket.com/albums/j190/e39ner/635.jpg

:lol at this thread.

It'd be cheaper to leave the drive train and suspension as is, then cut it in half and remove the back doors to turn it into a 328i.:stickoutt

Why would you ever even come up with this idea that would be like me saying that i want to put the E60 M5 engine on my e34. Suggestion find a salvage e39 m5 and fix it

i will be looking for another one in the next couple years...this pic is on my dresser...

http://i80.photobucket.com/albums/j190/e39ner/635.jpg


NICE, shadowline grill only works when all the trim in the front is done, some people just do the kidneys and it makes it look like plastic. Nice wheel choice too btw, was that an 86? cant tell if the front bumper covers are painted or just the rubber has been shined up, either way, good looking car. Black on tan is a great color combo, pretty rare if im remembering correctly, most go with black on black. dont worry, id be mad if i sold that car too :(

-Jeff

my plan was to do all the trim (shadowline), the front grills were oxidizing so i did those first, the corner pieces were new...next was a Korman twin turbo but i moved to NYC and got married before that happened, we needed a more practical car so i sold it and got the e39...it was an 86 5-speed, rims were M3 reps from Bav Autosport...