Upgrade of E53 2004 4.4 to 4.8IS project

[X5SND]

Take the euro headlights. If the 4.4 doesn't have them...rear sunshades (if applicable.

[TerminatorX5]

you have an non-sport 4.4 and sport (!) 4.8... for the tire pressure monitor to work, you will need to pull the ABS module from the 4.8 and the center console module, the A169 module, from the 4.8, and install them into the 4.4 - the pressure is measured in the ABS module...

for the adaptive lights to work, you might want to pull BOTH, the instrument cluster and the LCM - theoretically, since both of them will come from the 4.8, they will NOT set off the tamper dot for the mileage but you still will have a WRONG VIN programmed into both modules, which will match to each other but not to the rest of the car...

with instrument cluster from the 4.8, you have a slightly different unit that reports more than just fuel economy and RPMs, it reports oil temperature (thus LCM from the 4.8 is needed) and variable redline, which is controlled by the engine computer... you can not swap the engine electronics, as the 4.8 is tuned far more aggressive than the 4.4 non-sport, and new "brain" can damage the engine/tranny of the car...

the 4.4 does not have headlight washers, they are usually standard in europe for xenon lights, so you might not have the xenons, on the 4.4, more reasons to pull the headlights from the 4.8, the front bumper, along with the power washers for the headlights, the windshield washer tank with the third pump for the headlights and hosing - the to activate the headlights washers, you will need to go into NCS coding, but in your case, you have to do the coding anyways...

things that you can not transfer over is the 4 corner air suspension...

to legalize the car in Egypt, do you have to pay taxes based on engine displacement? is the car registered to a diplomat? maybe you can do a waiver, if you have some connections - I would hate to see such a nice specimen of a 4.8iS being cannibalized due to some legal issues...

[eyeiieye]

Originally Posted by TerminatorX5

you have an non-sport 4.4 and sport (!) 4.8... for the tire pressure monitor to work, you will need to pull the ABS module from the 4.8 and the center console module, the A169 module, from the 4.8, and install them into the 4.4 - the pressure is measured in the ABS module...

for the adaptive lights to work, you might want to pull BOTH, the instrument cluster and the LCM - theoretically, since both of them will come from the 4.8, they will NOT set off the tamper dot for the mileage but you still will have a WRONG VIN programmed into both modules, which will match to each other but not to the rest of the car...

with instrument cluster from the 4.8, you have a slightly different unit that reports more than just fuel economy and RPMs, it reports oil temperature (thus LCM from the 4.8 is needed) and variable redline, which is controlled by the engine computer... you can not swap the engine electronics, as the 4.8 is tuned far more aggressive than the 4.4 non-sport, and new "brain" can damage the engine/tranny of the car...

the 4.4 does not have headlight washers, they are usually standard in europe for xenon lights, so you might not have the xenons, on the 4.4, more reasons to pull the headlights from the 4.8, the front bumper, along with the power washers for the headlights, the windshield washer tank with the third pump for the headlights and hosing - the to activate the headlights washers, you will need to go into NCS coding, but in your case, you have to do the coding anyways...

things that you can not transfer over is the 4 corner air suspension...

to legalize the car in Egypt, do you have to pay taxes based on engine displacement? is the car registered to a diplomat? maybe you can do a waiver, if you have some connections - I would hate to see such a nice specimen of a 4.8iS being cannibalized due to some legal issues...

the 4.4 has xenons, so i think to be more practical i will move the pumper with all attachments (washers etc) and forget about adaptive headlight
seems swapping the instrument cluster is night mare for the time being
what do you think?

as for legalization part, no legal way to register the car permanently in Egypt, either ship it back or using it for this project

[eyeiieye]

Originally Posted by pezho405

Ps is that building behind the X your house? Looks beautiful

thanks )

[TerminatorX5]

changing the cluster and the LCM are simple - both are plug-n-play... you pull the cluster out (there are many threads on how to remove the cluster) it unplugs, then bring a replacement cluster, and plug it back into the same plugs, and BEFORE reconnecting the power to the car, change the LCM (and heck, while at this, change the GM module too), which will control the adaptive lights, the headlight washer system, the GM will control other functions that the 4.8 has as standard, such as electrochromatic mirrors (standard on 4.8, optional on 4.4)... you are still running into issue with the mismatched VINs and if the mileage of the 4.8 is greater than your 4.4, you lose on that...

swapping modules is much easier than painting those bumpers... lol...

[eyeiieye]

One thing I've noticed, the glass type of windows seems double layers in 4.8IS.
I there different glass arrangements?

Sent from my BN NookHD+ using Tapatalk

[TerminatorX5]

there is an optional "double glazing" for the E53 - never saw it first hand, usually not an available option on US-spec'd cars... The 4.8 seems to be a euro spec car, so double glazing is a possibility... if you have the last 7 digits of the VIN, i can look up the "as-built" sheet for the 4.8 (and the 4.4, if you wish)

[tmv]

Originally Posted by eyeiieye

as for legalization part, no legal way to register the car permanently in Egypt, either ship it back or using it for this project

Screw it! Paint the iS the same color as the 4.4i and swap the VIN. Done

[TerminatorX5]

Originally Posted by tmv

Screw it! Paint the iS the same color as the 4.4i and swap the VIN. Done

[eyeiieye]

Originally Posted by TerminatorX5

i wish i know how