M20 2.0 litre replacement

[MMMPower]

Im 16 and i've just bought my first BMW, a 1990 520i. The first thing i noticed when driving it was it has no guts! Its great for highway cruising but the acceleration just plain SUCKS! I've looked at several minor engine upgrades but i dont think i want to spend too much on an engine thats done 140,000 miles. Now i'm thinking about replacing the engine. I know heaps about cars but i dont know what engine my transmission could handle. I suspect any engine with a higher capacity will require better running gear. Engine replacement is a big job so if anyone knows minor engine upgrades that will aid in higher performance yet keep the ageing motor healthy then let me know please! Or if you think a complete engine will be the better option then which one is best?

Anyones help would be great,
MMMPower

[ghost528i]

ive never hear of an m20 2.0 litter, ive heard of the m20 2.7 and the m20 2.5. anyway according to my pbmw magazine you can fit, m60 v8 (286 hp) out of a 540i(my dad had one of those a few year ago with a six speed). or the m30 i6 (188 hp year 88-90) or the bigger (m30 211 hp88-93), or the m50 i6 (152 hp).
i would look for an m30 witch would be easier to put in. damn who ever thought of putting an i4 in a 5 series? its say in pbmw the your car has a top speed 116, 0 to 62 in 11.5, and 129 hp . they probley try to make it so it save gas but with all the wait of a 5 series it cant possibley save any gas at all

[MMMPower]

its a 6 cyl, but its the 2 litre. Im pretty sure its a M20, thats what it said on this site. cuz its an early 1990 build and its mega gutless so i thought itd hav to be the 129hp M20. maybe im wrong. do u think itd tell me in the engine bay on one of the plates or sumthin?

[ghost528i]

ya it should, i thought it was an i4 cus you said 2.0, i just looked again in my pbmw mag, it is an i6

do u have any pics of it?

[MMMPower]

ive got a couple of crappy pics but im about to go out driven now so ill take sum better ones and u can hav a look at em

[Bades2001]

m20's did come in a 2lt, and was also found in the e30 320i. pod filters and exhausts can only do so much in terms of preformance gain and if there is any gin it will be very minor. if you want larger power gains maybe a F.I. route is the way to go, but this would be an expensive process and being a P-plater ur insurance company wouldent be your best friends....

[MMMPower]

lol yeah true to that! damn insurance

[mtechnik]

yup Ghost528, euro 5's even had 1.8 engines

[ghost528i]

ya, they most be slow hell. thats alot of weight for a 2.0 or 1.8. and i thought my sisters 318is didnt have power