trying to decide which motor to install in my E34, looking for 400 RWHP

[RVAE34]

I am selling my house and with some of the profits, I would like to drop in a new engine. I want 400 hp at the wheels and I want reliability. I have been thinking if Euro M3 motor w. ind. throttle bodies, but since I will have a budget of around $15k, I was also thinking of the V8 M5 motor. That would be my 1st choice, but I am worried about electronics, mounts and the gauges and what not. Any advice? Has anyone done this conversion before into an E34. mine is currently a 92 525i 5 spd in immaculate shape with very tasteful and subtle mods. I was also thinking if I do the Euro M3 motor, I would do the carbon fiber intake plenum and possibly a supercharger.

Have been doing a little reading up on the Euro E34 M5 motor 3.8L w. 375 hp. That sounds good as well, but have heard of some maintenance issues. Any advice or direction to some people who have already done the swap would be much appreciated. I am a turbo fanatic having built a nissan silvia as well, but have heard it is not fun turbocharging the ind. throttle body motors.

Cheers

[Vossen10]

The S62 motor in the e39 M5 is awesome, but you will fall short of 400 at the wheels. To put 400 at the wheels you would need to do some expensive mods like Dinan's S2 package, or some stuff from discovery automotive. The S62 responds well to headers and you'd get some good gains there. However Im doubtful you could mod an S62 to deliver 400 at the wheels on your budget. Mind you the 400 at the crank is more than enough for a ton of fun in that car, so if you're willing to budge a bit on your power target at the wheels you might have a good option. I think an S52 motor out of the e36 M3 with a turbo from AA tuning would also get you there quicker and cheaper, plus the setup weighs less. I have no idea about fittment, but it sounds like a fun project! Another good resource might be m5board.com. Some of those guys might have some helpful insight. Good luck!

[bmwsparkle]

I personally think a s62 swap with a few N/A mods, aftermarket computer, headers exhaust etc would be a damn cool swap, you'd be fairly close to your output, but would be a lot more reliable than a turbo'd m3 motor, different too, not a hell of a lot of S62 swaps round.

[RVAE34]

I am going to use the Euro M3 motor too, so I will have more power w. ind. throttle bodies and double vanos. Those motors are gorgeous, reliable, and 330 hp w. 6 spd

[Janissarie]

the 3.8L motor fro the E34 M5 should be a shoe in to the E34 of yours

and there is plenty of guys pushing big turbos on those motors

maybe you can take a look in to that

[Mini4x]

Not for nothing, but why not just sell your e34 and get an e39 M5.. You'll have an all around better car.

Or even an e34 M5, then you'll have all the other M5 bits, brakes, suspension etc..

Heck a e39 540 will run circles around an e34 M5 even.

[SaLto]

+1 FOR MINI!!!

Sell it and buy E39!!!
IFF not then S38b38+
http://www.importpowerhouse.com/forced_induction.htm

[Bimmer RaVer]

Originally Posted by Mini4x

Heck a e39 540 will run circles around an e34 M5 even.

im sorry but that is rather inaccurate.

[Mini4x]

Originally Posted by Bimmer RaVer

im sorry but that is rather inaccurate.

Look it up bro..

e39 540i IS..

..faster..

..brakes better..

..handles better..

..rides better..

..than a e34 M5..


I'm not knocking the e34 M5 but progress IS progress..

[IanBMW]

Ever drive a 540i. They don't handle better. V8 5's handle crappy IMO. Also why even do a engine swap, you can put down that HP with you're current engine. TurbochargedDynamics has a turbo kit for you. I think there's a guy lurking boostjunky.com that has some 400hp on his.

[IanBMW]

Originally Posted by Mini4x

Look it up bro..

e39 540i IS..

..faster..

..brakes better..

..handles better..

..rides better..

..than a e34 M5..


I'm not knocking the e34 M5 but progress IS progress..

1995 BMW M5 E34
Engine Configuration I
Cylinders 6
Aspiration/Induction Normal
Displacement 3795.00 cc | 231.6 cu in. | 3.8 L.
Valves 32 valves.
5 valves per cylinder.
Valvetrain DOHC
Horsepower 340.00 BHP (250.2 KW) @ 6900.00 RPM
Torque 295.00 Ft-Lbs (400 NM) @ 4750.00 RPM
HP to Weight Ratio 11.1 LB / HP (Vehicles with similar ratio)
HP / Liter 89.5 BHP / Liter
Bore 3.50 in | 88.9 mm.
Stroke 3.15 in | 80 mm.

Now I know that is a rare M5 to get ahold of, but since someone mentioned 3.8 swap I thought this was ok to include. Here is 540 specs.

Engine Configuration V
Cylinders 8
Aspiration/Induction Normal
Displacement 4398.00 cc | 268.4 cu in. | 4.4 L.
Valves 32 valves.
4 valves per cylinder.
Valvetrain DOHC
Horsepower 286.00 BHP (210.5 KW) @ 5700.00 RPM
Torque 309.00 Ft-Lbs (419 NM) @ 3900.00 RPM
HP to Weight Ratio 13.1 LB / HP (Vehicles with similar ratio)
HP / Liter 65.0 BHP / Liter
Bore 3.62 in | 91.9 mm.
Stroke 3.26 in | 82.8 mm.
Compression Ratio 10.00:1


Now it is to be noted that a 3.8L M5 is just a hair heavier than a 4.0L 540i.

[IanBMW]

540i does have it's plus's. The engines are fairly cheap to replace, $3-5k, while a M5 is some $8-13k. But you can't really compare the vehicles, as one is a M5, uh need I say more. And the other one is what every doctor buys for pimp status.

[James]

Having raced against an e34 M5 on the highway I can tell you that my car was not faster. If anything the M5 was pulling away from me. His car seemed to have the regular bolt-on modifications, as does mine. While I love the growl of a BMW v8 - that E34 M5 sounded pretty damn good too.

[M5James]

Previously owning a 91 E34 M5, it IS slighty faster than a 540.

As for a REAL world engine swap, not all this blah blah that everyone spouts of the S62 that no one ever does cause it would just be rediculous is just dumb. DO a swap with the 2.8 motor, and then throw some boost at it for next to nothing. Read the www.bimmerforums.com FI section on what that motor is capable of.....it's BMW's version of the 2JZ-GTE in the Supra....capable of just insane boost on the stock block. That is a real option.

[James]

Originally Posted by M5James

Previously owning a 91 E34 M5, it IS slighty faster than a 540.

As for a REAL world engine swap, not all this blah blah that everyone spouts of the S62 that no one ever does cause it would just be rediculous is just dumb. DO a swap with the 2.8 motor, and then throw some boost at it for next to nothing. Read the www.bimmerforums.com FI section on what that motor is capable of.....it's BMW's version of the 2JZ-GTE in the Supra....capable of just insane boost on the stock block. That is a real option.

Minus the recommendation for the other forum lol - I agree - that is a real option for 400 whp.