Good day all!!

Well, I haven't gotten any requests for the list of parts... I hope I'm not boring ya'll with my projects...

I can't post any pictures yet since photobucket isn't working well with others... I'll try again in the morning... I got the motor rebuilt and I did a few things differently than what I did with the 2004...

I didn't need to replace the main bearings in 4... But 6 needed them... There are a few places you can look to see what bearings you need... BMW uses colors to determine the correct bearing. All mine were "G"... That was pretty straight forward... There is a top and a bottom to those... Pictures will show the difference for the curious ones...

Ummmmmm... Differences with the two years... I had to update the timing guides... Look at the 2004 rebuild and you will see the huge difference between the old and new... The 2006 already had the new ones... SO, I didn't have to buy the new timing guide bolts that delayed me in 4's rebuild... I'll just have them in the event I get another 2004 with the old style... I'm not sure if it is an update or just luck, but the oil valve was still in my oil pump... I pulled it apart to get a picture and see if it was still in place... It was... and it didn't seem likely it was coming out any time soon... Solid!

Things I did differently this time... I did not rebuild the cylinder heads completely prior to installing them on the motor. I put the valves, springs, and new stem seals in on the bench (as most would like to do on the bench)... That is it though... I installed almost a bare head on the block, with the assistance of my better half... I had the intake cam assembly positioned so it wasn't putting pressure on any rockers... An added note is that the intake doesn't move any valves if the variable lift drive motor isn't installed... The minimum lift is virtually zero with no oil pressure and no motor... I put the pistons even in the cylinders just prior to TDC for #1... Once I had the heads completed, I locked the cams in place and rotated the motor to TDC... Never moved anything quickly... Pretty much the same thing I did on the bench, but I had the ability to move the motor under my new bright garage light... I apologize for the blurry pictures... Maybe too much light? Oh, I also primed the oil system on the engine stand... I had to close off the oil cooling ports, but that was easier than I had figured it was going to be... After that, I just put about five quarts of some good Mobil 1 in the pan and spun the motor with my breaker bar on the crank... It did take a good couple minutes to get the pump primed... After that, oil flowed everywhere rather quickly...

Another thing I did differently was installed the motor with the exhaust manifolds on... And both motor mounts, but pulling the pass motor mount ended up being the best idea... It was still a close fit with the front diff and the steering rack on the drivers side, and the exhaust rubbing the firewall on the pass side... Rotating a little helped... Going slow was the best way to do all this! I did it alone, but a second knowledgeable person would be even better...

I found it is best to leave the motor level or even tipped down in the front to get the oil pan past the steering rack... Lifting the front caused more issues than it was worth...

This is where you have to trust your equipment... I rebuilt the ram for my engine hoist... It was leaking down slowly with a motor on it... That didn't sit well with me... It is rock solid now... I needed it to be too! I had to install the pass motor mount hanging in place by the hoist... You could put a jack stand under the manifold for security, but it would get in the way...

Alas, I am not finished with it... I broke the "Y" connector under the intake and the intake manifold gaskets do not come in either kit... I missed them when I ordered everything... They are on the way... I didn't like the way the water pump bearings sounded either... That will be replaced soon too!!

So, it is about an hour away from initial start-up... Once 6 is out of the garage, my new project is going under the wrench for some much needed upgrades... Like a manual 6-speed transmission!! I can't wait... But three more days is a drop in the bucket compared to how long it's been already...

Well, I'll try to get some pictures posted up quickly...

Cheers for now!!!

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2001 E53 X5 4.4i (03-07-2001 build date) White exterior / hellbeige interior (6MT swap vehicle - Manny)
2002 E53 X5 4.6is (12-20-2001 build date) Imola Red exterior / M-texture interior (Red)
2003 E53 X5 4.4i (06-26-2003 build date) Silver exterior / Black interior (Silvester II)
2008 Mini Cooper S ragtop (04-17-2008 build date) Dark Silver exterior / Gray interior ( Topless)
BMWCCA member (#4745)