New project: 2002 X5 4.6is
 

Hello, today I purchased a 2002 X5 4.6is project. Always loved these trucks. It’s Silver/Black with new tires all around. It was partially taken apart to fix the chains but never finished. It’s sat for a few years and we know things like bushings and fuel pumps don’t like to be idle. What’s unknown is if the valve train made contact. It currently partially disassembled with the the timing chain removed and the guides toasted. At the price point and with the condition of the body, it’s too nice to part out. Should be fun..(famous last words)

The immediate plan is to pull the heads and see what I’ve got. Fingers crossed yet little hope. :) Fortunately I’m no stranger to BMW’s as I have a 2001 740i Sport and just coming off a completed motor swap on a 1994 840ci.

Greetings...

New project: 2002 X5 4.6is
 

Good looking truck! Nice find, I’m super jealous [emoji106]



I’ve been dying to snag myself a 4.8is project truck but with three kids, one driving and the other two driving in May (twins)... I’ve got enough of a project (for the moment) with my current X.

I love the things, been toying with the idea of selling my 05 and looking for a good low miles 5.0i to drive but I think I’d be further ahead with the project 4.8is...based on all the issues the 5.0i have...


2005 X5 4.4i (04/05 build date)
Titanium Silver w/Black Interior

Goodluck! I love TiSi color on these E53 iS' vehicles

Glad you are bringing it back to life. Keep us posted with the progress.

I looked at the motor and I got some decisions to make.

-do I put a chain on it and try to time it to do a compression check? This would delay my need to pull the heads immediately?

-just pull the motor and rebuild it from the crank bearings up? If I do this I’ll know what I have as I have other vehicles to DD.

-source a replacement 4.6is running used engine? I like this option yet pricing on these is high for the examples listed on eBay and since the are already removed, I could be exactly in the same boat I am now.

Thoughts?

I think you should keep the current engine and rebuild it. Who knows with the way old M cars and old SUVs in general becoming collectable the 4.6is with a rebuilt original engine may be worth something someday. Plus you will know everything about the engine and what has been done. Good luck!

What engine did you swap into the "4 short" e31?

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4 short, classic! I found a very low mileage M60 out of a 95 540, direct replacement. My 840 blew the aux water pump and dumped the coolant. By the time I could pull over, it overheated and wrapped the block. Fun times.

Do a quick set of timing and compression test on the cylinders. If they hold air, continue where left off on the chain guides


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Just ordered a new lower chain, timing cover and tensioner to follow that exact advice. I’ll set it up and run a compression test. One question I have is that the drivers side Vanos timing disc is loose. For the purpose of compression test, do I need to set that? Hopefully not at this point as I’ll have to order Vanos specific tools.

New project: 2002 X5 4.6is
 

You don't need the timing disc set for compression test you'll only be turning the crank by hand. You do need to have the cam shafts all roughly timed so you don't have valve/piston interference. You probably want the vanos set to baseline (full counter clockwise as viewed from front if memory serves). You can turn with a pointy enough needle nose, or a couple 3mm drill bits into the pin holes and a lever between them.

Finally pulled the heads and found number 3 cylinder deeply scored. The motor does spin freely and smoothly but has 0 compression in that cylinder. Given the state of the block, its not usable as is. I was planning on having the heads redone yet now the question now is, what to do?

So a few thoughts for discussion;

-anyone have a running 4.6is engine for sale? The ones on eBay at $2-$3k plus and that’s a non starter for a 150k motor that I can’t start up front and that I’m going to redo chains and refreshen throughout.
-how different is the block from a 4.4? I could use a good 4.4 block and swap the other parts like the crank, pistons and heads.
-any idea the cost of sleeving the cylinder block and is that even possible?
-anything else to try?

I know I could part it out for more and purchase another yet where’s the fun in that. Something about building it with your own hands....

Hey Greg, sorry to hear about the scoring in 3, with regard to using a 4.4 I believe it is a totally different animal, but to your question of sleeving, that is totally possible, as one option VAC Motorsports comes to mind. I have no idea of the cost but they’ve always been good to me when I talked with them in the past:

http://www.vacmotorsports.com/news/a...483338393.html

Try the guys at AMS Performance at Padmore street WorcesterWR1 2PA. They might be able to help you out.


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There are a couple of 4.6is for sale on copart.com - maybe you can get an engine there. One has only 86000 miles on it.