Couldn't agree more. Also that the E53 is a big E39. I enjoy both vehicles, probably for much the same reasons. I'd keep my 4.8is 4WD, but I'd love to pick up a 4.4i and RWD/6spd the sh*t out of that.

Since I already have AWD with the 5mt m54 x5, I think I will do this when the AT goes out on the 4.6is. Hopefully I can get it done for about 5k max in the future. 340hp is not much for this heavy thing.

Good day all!!

I hope I can get this done way below the $2000 mark!!! Fingers are crossed... I did some measuring today... As it just so happens, I have a 2001 540i 6 speed manual and a 2006 4.4L ZF 6 speed auto in my garage... I'm just odd!!

So, the manual measures 25.2 inches from the bell housing to the output driveshaft mounting flange... My better half helped me measure with the straight edge...

I wasn't sure where to measure the auto, so I went all the way out to the end of the output shaft... That extends about six inches past the end of the trans... The total length I got from bell housing to output shaft end was 29.75......

So, I have a feeling I will be about 10 inches or so too far forward on the manual trans mounting points...

I think I need the project vehicle in order to determine if I can use a stock 540i cross member and literally make mounting holes in the frame where the originals are, just the 10 or so inches forward... I think that might be my best bet in mounting the cross member without welding up some contraption to the existing cross member...

I'll take pictures tomorrow of both transmissions, the underside of the 2004 X5, and the underside of the 2001 540i... Maybe we can figure this little issue out together...

Still working on that project vehicle...

Cheers for now!!!

Go for it. I have a 02 4.6is im doing this to. Have most of my parts already just waiting for my clutch an light flywheel to get here from england. From looks of it wont need to make a whole new crossmember just add onto the existing and have driveshaft lengthened. Local machine shop is taking care of that for me.

Because they get like 7mpg and seem to suffer from dreadful bore scuffing issues :(

People who bought them tended to follow Porsche's original service schedule too... forget what the interval was, but they suffer from sludging on the second/third hand market.

It's time!!
 

Good day all!!!

Well, I pulled the trigger on the purchase of the project vehicle... I technically don't own it yet... I pick it up tomorrow... I have to do some digging into what is wrong with it... I'll worry about that later... Here is the initial pictures sitting in from of the PO house... And bonus is that it has the original trailer hitch... I was thinking about pulling it and duplicating it to exact standards with very tight tolerances, if possible... For those that wouldn't mind having one... I'll work on that after the swap if there are some interested... Anyway...

So, I was going to go with the run of the mill version 4.4L... I figured it would be the easiest to match up with the E39 set-up... BUT, I found an Imola Red 4.6is that needed trans work (I think)... Perfect... I'll take more pictures when I get it home tomorrow...

http://imagizer.imageshack.us/v2/xq90/922/1jTpV4.jpg

http://imagizer.imageshack.us/v2/xq90/923/aCQtZR.jpg

http://imagizer.imageshack.us/v2/xq90/924/1YjZoX.jpg

http://imagizer.imageshack.us/v2/xq90/922/oTUebw.jpg

The GOOD stuff!!!

http://imagizer.imageshack.us/v2/xq90/922/4xasPE.jpg

The BAD stuff... I will take this off after I get it home to see the extent of the damage...

http://imagizer.imageshack.us/v2/xq90/924/8r1RJT.jpg

That is all for now!! MORE TO COME!!

Cheers!! And Happy New Year everyone!!!

Nice... bet you got it for a song too. Happy New Year.

Nice!! Can't wait to see how the 6MT/RWD conversion works out.

Happy Newe Year. Great find, however, I don't think that's an original trailer hitch. The original trailer hitch has the electrical connector on the right side of the hitch, not the left side.