Bigger engine

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Victor Lampart

New Member
Posts
22
Location
Bury St Edmunds Suffolk
Hi there,
I am a new member to this forum,but have had some experience working on my P38a 2.5 dt.Put new Arnott Gen2 air suspension bags on it and new cylinder and piston seal in the EAS pump.Obtained the EAS unlock program plus connector from internet(simplistic). The whole job took 3hrs.In fact it took longer to remove the inner wings and refit them than to actually change the bags.Latest update is the PSI kit,goes quite well but will have to test over a longer period plus towing etc.If i may ask a question of any member,Is it possible to fit the 3.0litre bmw engine into this vehicle? the increase in bhp and torque would make this incredible vehicle something to behold.
Regards Vic
 
The 2.5 tds as used in p38 is the BMW M51. The 3.0 variable incidence turbo, called the M57, has been in production only since the late `90s. I`m willing to be corrected, but think these are two totally different beasts. Of course if you try hard enough anything is possible... almost. But new mating plates, sump, mounts, integrating the different managament systems.... Still if you got a spare 5 mins and few grand doing nowt in your bank... And if you do go for it let us know.
 
There' a guy who posts here a bit doing it. I can't remember his name but you might find something with the search.
The worst part will not be the physical matchup, Its very likely that there are off the shelf bell housing etc available from BMW, its getting the engine to talk to the Becm that will be the difficult part. The guys in america and Australia have been down this road putting corvette LS1 V8's into their motors but its often at the expense of many of the features (alarm, cruise control, aircon etc) that make P38 ownership worthwhile. I haven't seen anybody produce a kit yet.
I think someone in the right industry should be able to do it, It should be just a matter of getting the signal list from the two engine ECMs and using some sort of PLC to turn the 3.0 signals into what the Becm is expecting from the 2.5. But who is the person in what industry? is that electronics or mech engineering, I don't know.
 
SpudH said:
There' a guy who posts here a bit doing it. I can't remember his name but you might find something with the search.
The worst part will not be the physical matchup, Its very likely that there are off the shelf bell housing etc available from BMW, its getting the engine to talk to the Becm that will be the difficult part. The guys in america and Australia have been down this road putting corvette LS1 V8's into their motors but its often at the expense of many of the features (alarm, cruise control, aircon etc) that make P38 ownership worthwhile. I haven't seen anybody produce a kit yet.
I think someone in the right industry should be able to do it, It should be just a matter of getting the signal list from the two engine ECMs and using some sort of PLC to turn the 3.0 signals into what the Becm is expecting from the 2.5. But who is the person in what industry? is that electronics or mech engineering, I don't know.
Click to expand...

M H M,this is your eggsputease innit.
 
hello just to let you no yes it can be done i have just had it done and the car comes home on thursday.
there is quite a lot to do engine mounts,a new exaust manifold had to be made the sump had to be modified. the new and existing ecu's used extra fuel pump etc etc.
 
like i said get the 2.5 remapped they go like stink... why the hassle and expense of a new lump when you already have one?
 
Hi There,
would be very grateful if you could let me know which engine you had fitted and any major probs ie:bellhousing and if the new ecu was really difficult to patch in.Wiyhout being nosey how did the job lot cost?
Regards Vic
 
well in my oppinion with all due respect etc etc............
the re mapping of the standard engine is ok but there are no real great power gains. i have had a lot of cars tuned including a 944 turbo porsche tuned to 417 bhp,proven on a rolling road.....
my audi rs6 540 bhp and 550 ft lbs tq....... proven on rolling road.
my point is the tuning world is full of bull s..t unles backed up by a dyno run print out.
you have to remember the engine in the 2.5d is as old as the hills and one of the bigest problems is the fuel pump going pop if mapped @ £2000 from a dealer !!!
the bmw 3.0 is a modern engine combining power and economy.

my engine came from a 2004 x5 with 13000 on the clock@ a cost of £2000. the gear box bolted on with no mods.new engine mount were made and a new manifold made as the turbo needed to be moved. the sump also needed moding to avoid the front diff.
both ecu's were used and the crank scensor fron the original engine used.
i had an agreed price with my garage. in reality the total cost is in thr region of £9000.
i did the conversion because i love my old p38 and cost was not an issue,as long as i had a car iwas happy with at the end of it all....................
 
bigger turbo = more lag intercooler is a good mod.
mapped and a bigger intercooled may make 200 bhp on a good (cold day). did you dyno the car before and after ?
 
nickp38 said:
well in my oppinion with all due respect etc etc............
the re mapping of the standard engine is ok but there are no real great power gains. i have had a lot of cars tuned including a 944 turbo porsche tuned to 417 bhp,proven on a rolling road.....
my audi rs6 540 bhp and 550 ft lbs tq....... proven on rolling road.
my point is the tuning world is full of bull s..t unles backed up by a dyno run print out.
you have to remember the engine in the 2.5d is as old as the hills and one of the bigest problems is the fuel pump going pop if mapped @ £2000 from a dealer !!!
the bmw 3.0 is a modern engine combining power and economy.

my engine came from a 2004 x5 with 13000 on the clock@ a cost of £2000. the gear box bolted on with no mods.new engine mount were made and a new manifold made as the turbo needed to be moved. the sump also needed moding to avoid the front diff.
both ecu's were used and the crank scensor fron the original engine used.
i had an agreed price with my garage. in reality the total cost is in thr region of £9000.
i did the conversion because i love my old p38 and cost was not an issue,as long as i had a car iwas happy with at the end of it all....................
Click to expand...
too teknikal for me, all i can say is my dse was remapped and it was like **** off a shovel compared to the standard dse i almost bort :), i understand remapping can be done for a couple of hundred quid? id rather spend that than the £££'s howeva much it wud cost for 3.0l lump but thats my opinion... obviously if i were loaded id have the sexiest fastest supadoopaest r/r on the road :D, btw i think ur wrong about 'no real power gains' thats silly
 
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