Any idea where to buy BMW motors from?

[EightySix Four]

I'm looking for a one of those nice V10's from the previous gen M5/M6. I'd like one used with an ECU.

Anyone know a good place to find one?

 

[Zenmervolt]

Try your luck with wrecking yards. Honestly, it's not likely given the rarity of those cars and the fact that they were probably parted out quickly.

ZV

 

[thomsbrain]

The previous gen M5 had a V8. The previous gen M6 was introduced in 1983 and had a V6.



Do you mean current-gen?

 

[Cobalt]

Originally posted by: thomsbrain
The previous gen M5 had a V8. The previous gen M6 was introduced in 1983 and had a I6.



Do you mean current-gen?

 

[EightySix Four]

Yeah, my bad. Current gen M5 V10.

Anyone know how hard they are to drop into other cars? Their ECU a PITA to deal with?

 

[Apex]

Originally posted by: crazySOB297
Yeah, my bad. Current gen M5 V10.

Anyone know how hard they are to drop into other cars? Their ECU a PITA to deal with?

Junkyard would be the best. RealOEM shows a remanufactured short block for $24k + core exchange, and they tend to be one of the less expensive places around.

http://www.realoem.com/bmw/sho...nr=11_3681&hg=11&fg=05

It's also a big, heavy engine. A LS7 is smaller, lighter (458 lbs vs 529 lbs), and probably about 1/3 the cost at $12k. Heck, a LS2 for $4-5k with a few mods should give you the power of the BMW S85 engine.

 

[DivideBYZero]

Originally posted by: Apex

Originally posted by: crazySOB297
Yeah, my bad. Current gen M5 V10.

Anyone know how hard they are to drop into other cars? Their ECU a PITA to deal with?

Junkyard would be the best. RealOEM shows a remanufactured short block for $24k + core exchange, and they tend to be one of the less expensive places around.

http://www.realoem.com/bmw/sho...nr=11_3681&hg=11&fg=05

It's also a big, heavy engine. A LS7 is smaller, lighter (458 lbs vs 529 lbs), and probably about 1/3 the cost at $12k. Heck, a LS2 for $4-5k with a few mods should give you the power of the BMW S85 engine.

I've got to agree. Even used or from a yard the M V10 is not going to be given away for pennies.

 

[bruceb]

I tend to agree. Any late model GM LS1 will give over 350HP and any GM LS2 over 400HP stock.
If you want more find a Vette LS7 which would be around 450HP stock, but which would cost more
than the LS1 / LS2 engines. And any of them are very reliable and not hard to put into an older car.
Be sure you get the engine computer & wiring harness with it.

 

[bmwme]

No chance you'll get that motor running in another car. Current BMW engines have a wiring harness and ECU system that rivals NASA. There are so many sensors that need to be in sync at ignition that you will never get to work.

For example, last generation M5 V8 (E39 for those in the know) needs to see seat belt sensors, fuel pump/level sensor, yaw sensor, oil level sensors (it has two oil pumps), etc before it even looks at the key fob for the correct code to crank and fire the motor.

The current generation M5/6 V10 is FAR more advanced. This in addition to the fact that the motor likely would cost you 20 grand to buy from a "junk yard".

But hey if you are really excited for the project and RICH check out http://www.bmrparts.com/ You may need to call them but they can probably get you any BMW motor you want if you have enough money and are willing to wait (hey M5/6's aren't exactly common!).

By the way, what are you hoping to put this monster in? E36? E30??

 

[JulesMaximus]

Originally posted by: Apex

Originally posted by: crazySOB297
Yeah, my bad. Current gen M5 V10.

Anyone know how hard they are to drop into other cars? Their ECU a PITA to deal with?

Junkyard would be the best. RealOEM shows a remanufactured short block for $24k + core exchange, and they tend to be one of the less expensive places around.

http://www.realoem.com/bmw/sho...nr=11_3681&hg=11&fg=05

It's also a big, heavy engine. A LS7 is smaller, lighter (458 lbs vs 529 lbs), and probably about 1/3 the cost at $12k. Heck, a LS2 for $4-5k with a few mods should give you the power of the BMW S85 engine.

Stuffing it into a BMW chassis on the other hand might pose some interesting problems...

 

[Demon-Xanth]

Originally posted by: JulesMaximus

Originally posted by: Apex

Originally posted by: crazySOB297
Yeah, my bad. Current gen M5 V10.

Anyone know how hard they are to drop into other cars? Their ECU a PITA to deal with?

Junkyard would be the best. RealOEM shows a remanufactured short block for $24k + core exchange, and they tend to be one of the less expensive places around.

http://www.realoem.com/bmw/sho...nr=11_3681&hg=11&fg=05

It's also a big, heavy engine. A LS7 is smaller, lighter (458 lbs vs 529 lbs), and probably about 1/3 the cost at $12k. Heck, a LS2 for $4-5k with a few mods should give you the power of the BMW S85 engine.

Stuffing it into a BMW chassis on the other hand might pose some interesting problems...

orly? Seems like something that's doable.

 

[JulesMaximus]

Originally posted by: Demon-Xanth

Originally posted by: JulesMaximus

Originally posted by: Apex

Originally posted by: crazySOB297
Yeah, my bad. Current gen M5 V10.

Anyone know how hard they are to drop into other cars? Their ECU a PITA to deal with?

Junkyard would be the best. RealOEM shows a remanufactured short block for $24k + core exchange, and they tend to be one of the less expensive places around.

http://www.realoem.com/bmw/sho...nr=11_3681&hg=11&fg=05

It's also a big, heavy engine. A LS7 is smaller, lighter (458 lbs vs 529 lbs), and probably about 1/3 the cost at $12k. Heck, a LS2 for $4-5k with a few mods should give you the power of the BMW S85 engine.

Stuffing it into a BMW chassis on the other hand might pose some interesting problems...

orly? Seems like something that's doable.

So, $6800 for the kit, plus the cost of an engine and a transmission. Figure at least another $6-7k minimum for that...double that if you go with brand new parts and then you've got the labor.

I remember reading about a couple guys who were doing this and they ran into some problems with the transmission/driveshaft and stopped updating their progress after months of work went into it. Don't know if they ever finished the project or not. It was a white 318i E36 engine swap and they put a Trans-Am motor in it IIRC.

 

[Demon-Xanth]

Originally posted by: JulesMaximus
So, $6800 for the kit, plus the cost of an engine and a transmission. Figure at least another $6-7k minimum for that...double that if you go with brand new parts and then you've got the labor.

I remember reading about a couple guys who were doing this and they ran into some problems with the transmission/driveshaft and stopped updating their progress after months of work went into it. Don't know if they ever finished the project or not. It was a white 318i E36 engine swap and they put a Trans-Am motor in it IIRC.

They did finish it.

 

[JulesMaximus]

Originally posted by: Demon-Xanth

Originally posted by: JulesMaximus
So, $6800 for the kit, plus the cost of an engine and a transmission. Figure at least another $6-7k minimum for that...double that if you go with brand new parts and then you've got the labor.

I remember reading about a couple guys who were doing this and they ran into some problems with the transmission/driveshaft and stopped updating their progress after months of work went into it. Don't know if they ever finished the project or not. It was a white 318i E36 engine swap and they put a Trans-Am motor in it IIRC.

They did finish it.

Regardless, it's not going to be cheap...or easy. Then again, neither would an M5 V10 swap. The LS1 would probably be the better option.

 

[Demon-Xanth]

Originally posted by: JulesMaximus
Regardless, it's not going to be cheap...or easy. Then again, neither would an M5 V10 swap. The LS1 would probably be the better option.

Exactly.

When you're mixing electronics, things are rarely easy. Car systems are very integrated these days, though GM sells crate engines and transmissions with standalone computers, something few manufacturers do.

 

[EightySix Four]

Originally posted by: Demon-Xanth

Originally posted by: JulesMaximus
Regardless, it's not going to be cheap...or easy. Then again, neither would an M5 V10 swap. The LS1 would probably be the better option.

Exactly.

When you're mixing electronics, things are rarely easy. Car systems are very integrated these days, though GM sells crate engines and transmissions with standalone computers, something few manufacturers do.

Yeah, that's kind of what I was hoping for. I'm looking for something a bit more exotic than the standard LS crate, but I'm not willing to pay that much for it.

Oh well, I guess 180* headers it is.

 

[JulesMaximus]

Originally posted by: Demon-Xanth

Originally posted by: JulesMaximus
Regardless, it's not going to be cheap...or easy. Then again, neither would an M5 V10 swap. The LS1 would probably be the better option.

Exactly.

When you're mixing electronics, things are rarely easy. Car systems are very integrated these days, though GM sells crate engines and transmissions with standalone computers, something few manufacturers do.

Depending on what state the OP is in he might run into nightmares smog too. I know California would not be friendly for this type of mod if planning on street use.

 

[GoatMonkey]

Originally posted by: Demon-Xanth

Originally posted by: JulesMaximus
So, $6800 for the kit, plus the cost of an engine and a transmission. Figure at least another $6-7k minimum for that...double that if you go with brand new parts and then you've got the labor.

I remember reading about a couple guys who were doing this and they ran into some problems with the transmission/driveshaft and stopped updating their progress after months of work went into it. Don't know if they ever finished the project or not. It was a white 318i E36 engine swap and they put a Trans-Am motor in it IIRC.

They did finish it.

I love that they show the video on a road course. You know the first comment about a video of it on a drag strip would be, "yeah, it's fast in a straight line, but it must suck around a track, blah, blah, blah."

 

[jemcam]

car-part.com FTW

That being said, you can find what you're looking for on that site, but it's going to be a long and expensive project.

 

[Demon-Xanth]

Originally posted by: GoatMonkey
I love that they show the video on a road course. You know the first comment about a video of it on a drag strip would be, "yeah, it's fast in a straight line, but it must suck around a track, blah, blah, blah."

Considering that BMW's M52 "Big Six" is 50LBs more than an LS1, and the S14 that was in the 318 was only 100LBs less, weight doesn't seem like an issue

 

[bmwme]

Originally posted by: Demon-Xanth

Originally posted by: GoatMonkey
I love that they show the video on a road course. You know the first comment about a video of it on a drag strip would be, "yeah, it's fast in a straight line, but it must suck around a track, blah, blah, blah."

Considering that BMW's M52 "Big Six" is 50LBs more than an LS1, and the S14 that was in the 318 was only 100LBs less, weight doesn't seem like an issue

Who put an S14 into a 318? E30 318 or E36 318ti?

 

[Don Vito Corleone]

Originally posted by: bmwme
No chance you'll get that motor running in another car. Current BMW engines have a wiring harness and ECU system that rivals NASA. There are so many sensors that need to be in sync at ignition that you will never get to work.

For example, last generation M5 V8 (E39 for those in the know) needs to see seat belt sensors, fuel pump/level sensor, yaw sensor, oil level sensors (it has two oil pumps), etc before it even looks at the key fob for the correct code to crank and fire the motor.

The current generation M5/6 V10 is FAR more advanced. This in addition to the fact that the motor likely would cost you 20 grand to buy from a "junk yard".

But hey if you are really excited for the project and RICH check out http://www.bmrparts.com/ You may need to call them but they can probably get you any BMW motor you want if you have enough money and are willing to wait (hey M5/6's aren't exactly common!).

By the way, what are you hoping to put this monster in? E36? E30??

Yeah, I believe the current BMW V10 has the MOST sophisticated engine management computer in any car ever built. I don't think there is a streetable engine in the world that would be more difficult to transplant into a different car than this.

 

[EightySix Four]

I'm considering building a Factory Five GTM. I was interested in the V10 because I felt it's characteristics (high revving, sound, power, torque curve, "exoticness") fit the GTM much better than the LS series of motors. That said I'm not willing to do THAT much work to get it.

I'm not planning on starting this project immediately so I'll continue to look around for something. Any other suggestions for a motor? I'm looking for something rev happy that will mate okay with a Porsche Trans-axle (I found a company will to make me an adapter for just about any motor).

 

[iamwiz82]

Originally posted by: crazySOB297
I'm considering building a Factory Five GTM. I was interested in the V10 because I felt it's characteristics (high revving, sound, power, torque curve, "exoticness") fit the GTM much better than the LS series of motors. That said I'm not willing to do THAT much work to get it.

I'm not planning on starting this project immediately so I'll continue to look around for something. Any other suggestions for a motor? I'm looking for something rev happy that will mate okay with a Porsche Trans-axle (I found a company will to make me an adapter for just about any motor).

The GTM is a really cool car and is a steal for the performance you get out of it.

That being said, BMW engines are insanely complicated. There are sensors for everything. The only thing I have found that is mechanical in nature is the hood release. Everything else is controlled by the ECU.

EDIT: Now that I think of it, what about an S54 with a full supercharger? These guys. That's a nice looking kit if you can find a cheap enough engine. I've seen them go for sale used with transmission for $6,000.

 

[GoatMonkey]

Originally posted by: Don Vito Corleone

Originally posted by: bmwme
No chance you'll get that motor running in another car. Current BMW engines have a wiring harness and ECU system that rivals NASA. There are so many sensors that need to be in sync at ignition that you will never get to work.

For example, last generation M5 V8 (E39 for those in the know) needs to see seat belt sensors, fuel pump/level sensor, yaw sensor, oil level sensors (it has two oil pumps), etc before it even looks at the key fob for the correct code to crank and fire the motor.

The current generation M5/6 V10 is FAR more advanced. This in addition to the fact that the motor likely would cost you 20 grand to buy from a "junk yard".

But hey if you are really excited for the project and RICH check out http://www.bmrparts.com/ You may need to call them but they can probably get you any BMW motor you want if you have enough money and are willing to wait (hey M5/6's aren't exactly common!).

By the way, what are you hoping to put this monster in? E36? E30??

Yeah, I believe the current BMW V10 has the MOST sophisticated engine management computer in any car ever built. I don't think there is a streetable engine in the world that would be more difficult to transplant into a different car than this.

I bet the Nissan GTR engine would be close. They've got a computer for everything in that car.