Keep going you just about got it.

Put a couple more hrs in tonight.

http://i305.photobucket.com/albums/n...psmryanjt4.jpg

http://i305.photobucket.com/albums/n...psnyf6a4nv.jpg

Just have the trans bolts and cv shafts left. The trans bolts are surprisingly easy to get to.
Anyone know if I can pull the motor with the transfer case still attached? Looks like clearance will be close.

She's out

http://i305.photobucket.com/albums/n...psmqef7nfn.jpg


Here's the x5 specific parts that need to be swapped over.

http://i305.photobucket.com/albums/n...psfcalbt9q.jpg

There were a few other things too. The e38 has an internal osv and a tube that runs through the drivers side head. So I had to order a new freeze plug to plug the hole.
And one of the mounts for a guide rail was a little different. So I swapped that too. Drivers side valve cover was different. Luckily the powder coater hadn't done them yet. So I'll get the x5 one to him ASAP.

Put the motor mount brackets and headers on.

http://i305.photobucket.com/albums/n...ps2fbvm1q3.jpg

Sorry for the upside down motor.

http://i305.photobucket.com/albums/n...psqrrdx7k6.jpg

The x5 pump installed. It's quite different, but bolts up the same way. The chain is different though. Had to take the x5 chain and swap it onto the 7 motor. That was a pain. I haven't loosened the Jesus bolt on the x's motor. Not easy to loosen it when the motor is just sitting on the floor.

http://i305.photobucket.com/albums/n...psky7rzqgl.jpg

Now I just need to wait for some more parts to finish up.
It was interesting, the previous mechanic installed this motor with the dowel pins in the block. But he neglected to notice that one of the old motors dowels had stayed in the trans. I was wondering why one of the trans bolts was missing (only had 11 of the 12). It had a dowel crammed up in the hole. Could fit a bolt in it. Luckily he didn't crack the block.

She's out

http://i305.photobucket.com/albums/n...psmqef7nfn.jpg


Here's the x5 specific parts that need to be swapped over.

http://i305.photobucket.com/albums/n...psfcalbt9q.jpg

There were a few other things too. The e38 has an internal osv and a tube that runs through the drivers side head. So I had to order a new freeze plug to plug the hole.
And one of the mounts for a guide rail was a little different. So I swapped that too. Drivers side valve cover was different. Luckily the powder coater hadn't done them yet. So I'll get the x5 one to him ASAP.

Put the motor mount brackets and headers on.

http://i305.photobucket.com/albums/n...ps2fbvm1q3.jpg

Sorry for the upside down motor.

http://i305.photobucket.com/albums/n...psqrrdx7k6.jpg

The x5 pump installed. It's quite different, but bolts up the same way. The chain is different though. Had to take the x5 chain and swap it onto the 7 motor. That was a pain. I haven't loosened the Jesus bolt on the x's motor. Not easy to loosen it when the motor is just sitting on the floor.

http://i305.photobucket.com/albums/n...psky7rzqgl.jpg

Now I just need to wait for some more parts to finish up.
It was interesting, the previous mechanic installed this motor with the dowel pins in the block. But he neglected to notice that one of the old motors dowels had stayed in the trans. I was wondering why one of the trans bolts was missing (only had 11 of the 12). It had a dowel crammed up in the hole. Could fit a bolt in it. Luckily he didn't crack the block.

So, im just about done. Had to wait a while for some parts. This weekend I got pretty much everything I needed. I reinstalled the motor, bolted up the trans, reinstalled the front diff, both cv shafts, new thrust arms and ball joints (holy crap those suck). Only snag was when I went to bolt up the flex disk to the torque converter, you need to rotate the motor. Unfortunately the timing chain tensioner hadnt expanded (it was new), so there wasnt enough tension on the chain and we heard a metallic click. So I was worried that the timing might have skipped. So I put the flywheel pin back in and I pulled the passenger side valve cover. Sure enough, the cams were upside down. So I tore it all down to the lower cover again and re timed it. Only question I have now is the positive battery cable. From my fuzzy memory the cable starts at the starter, routes along the font of the motor, tees off to the alternator, and goes up to the terminal on the firewall. Assuming im right, where does it tie into the the actual battery?

This is awesome. Thanks for posting pics.

If I had my way, I would swap a 4.4 from a manual trans early 2000s 5 series and make a manual 4.4 X5. I am sure there is a reason it doesn't exist and it is probably a terrible idea. But I like to see when people defy OEM reason and make things happen.

How much hoist did you need to pop that out? Did you need to lower the front end to snatch it out?

As for a manual swap, I bet its possible. But you would loose AWD. Since there would be no way to mount the transfer case. But if you could live with a 2WD X then im sure its possible. All the manual parts exisit. Lines, shifter trims, and misc parts from a 3.0. Trans and tuning from a e39. As for hoisting the motor out, It needed to get really high. Hood needed to go into service position and my hoist was at it fully extended position to reach the motor. It would have made for more room if I lowered the nose, but I didnt feel like lowering it just to raise it back up again. So I just left it. Here is the motor just prior to putting it in http://i305.photobucket.com/albums/n...psxtazib4d.jpg I had to install without the covers since they were not back from the powder coating shop yet. And heres how it sits now. oembimmerparts sent the wrong thermostat. So I wait again. Probably wont get it till Wednesday now. And I dont really want to install anymore parts till its in. Anything I install now will just be in the way when it comes time to install it. http://i305.photobucket.com/albums/n...psczcjl9dw.jpg

Nice project. Don't have any answers to your questions, but for others attempting this, I'd have replaced the motor mounts and done the valley pan work on the motor while it was on the stand. If money was tight, I wouldn't have powder coated the VCs (though they look lovely!) and done the other bits.

I agree. Valley pan is new. Every seal, gasket, or wearable part on the motor was replaced.
Motor mounts are also new. Although they are pretty easy to change with the motor still in.
The timing components were already new, so some money was saved there. But I'd guess the owner has spent around 1-1500 in parts. That includes new front end parts, a lot of cooling hoses, water pump and thermostat and radiator.

Cool project, thanks for taking the time to share your work.