"New" Engine for My 3.0 X

[Fifty150hs]

Its been a bit of a saga since I decided to do a swap for newer used engine for my X. It has almost 300,000 miles on it and has been running rough. Compression testing and leak down test revealed a blown head gasket between number 1 and 2 cylinders. It hasn't broken through to the water jacket, so no white smoke and it actually still runs pretty good. Just rough idle.

So I ordered a used engine with 60,000 +/- miles from a 2006 X5. It was warranted and supposedly tested. When I got I did a leak down test on it (no bell housing, no starter, no compression test possible). It wouldn't hold pressure in cylinders 2 and 3. Sent it back. It took them about a month to find another candidate of around 60,000 miles. I got it Friday.

I put it on the stand and did a leak down test and it passed on all cylinders this time. So, I started taking it apart as I want to replace most gaskets and seals since it is a 20 year old engine.

Surprisingly enough the pan gasket was still flexible and not leaking. Same with the OFHG and front and rear seals. No leaks! That said when I dropped the pan I found lots of black crud. It looks as though this was a car that wasn't driven much for very long trips. I suspect the rings are clogged as the plugs were black. Inside of the intake manifold was pretty darn clean, very little oil. I'll do a ring soak on it.

The outside of the engine looks like it was submerged in water for some time. I saw it was shipped from New York where they salt their roads and that explained the bad corrosion.

I've begun the cleaning process and then will be changing the oil pan gasket, OGHG, front and rear main seals, the Vanos seals, axle carrier seal at the pan, front diff seal to pan, oil pick up tube O-ring, possibly the OFH check valve, valve cover gasket, changing valve cover to aluminum, new intake manifold gasket, new plugs, and installing a safety wire on the oil pump nut. Once I get the front timing cover off I'll see what shape the chain guides are in, may change those if I need to.

This engine has never been taken apart as best I can tell. Every bolt and nut I took off made that never been loosened "crack" sound. Original BMW water pump is in good shape, I'll change the O ring and reinstall the pump. Same with the thermostat. I pulled the two coolant pipes they both broke off in the head and front cover. Not unexpected, but a little surprising given the condition of other parts on this engine.

I'll be getting this engine all cleaned up, painted and prepped for the swap over the next month or two. Since its my daily I will be doing the swap between Christmas and New Years when I take my usual time off. I'll be photographing and documenting the work as well as the swap. Wondering if anyone would be interested in my posting the process and pictures?

[andrewwynn]

Absolutely! O did similar with my e70 at 200 kmi. I replaced all 13 coolant hoses and all 6 or so PS lines. One thing i didn't do and a little upset about: didn't change the rod bearings.


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[X5chemist]

Sweet! I can't wait to see pictures!

[80stech]

Are you taking it out the front or from the bottom ??

[Fifty150hs]

Originally Posted by 80stech

Are you taking it out the front or from the bottom ??

Given the space I don't have to lift the car, I'll be lifting the engine up, then rolling the car out from under it. I'm setting up sort of a gantry over the engine bay. I don't have room for a regular engine hoist. I'll use a chain hoist. I may have to pull the front bumper if I can't lift it high enough.

[80stech]

I would pull the bumper and what ever else to take it out the front, roll the car back. I think it's going to be a big frustrating fight trying to get it out the top.

I imagine there must be a youtube video but the clips that attach the bumper cover to the fender can be a little tricky if you go that route.

[Fifty150hs]

Originally Posted by 80stech

I would pull the bumper and what ever else to take it out the front, roll the car back. I think it's going to be a big frustrating fight trying to get it out the top.

I imagine there must be a youtube video but the clips that attach the bumper cover to the fender can be a little tricky if you go that route.

That is my sense as well. I want to see how far I can lift the engine to see if I can even get it high enough to not remove the bumper. I'm going to disconnect it from the transmission and leave it in to reduce what I'm trying to drag out through the engine bay. I've had the bumper off several times and it can be tricky. I've also replaced those clips on the fender because I broke them.

[andrewwynn]

When we did mine we got most of the front out of the way.


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[andrewwynn]

M5 we took out the front/bottom.

We used a hydraulic lift table to ser it on from below and rolled it out. I don't think the e53 can open up at the bottom like this but you can leave the wheels on and as planned roll it out once you chainfall hoist up the motor.

I'm planning to do a 1999 v70 motor swap at my friend's house and am planning to do exactly like you: lift motor, roll car out.


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[Effduration]

You do you, but some red loctite on the oil pump nut will be ample protection against it loosening.

I would feel differently about a race car or another B30 running at very high revs for an extended period of time.