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Thread: 1988 e34 530d m57 swap

  1. #1
    Join Date
    Jan 2014
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    Slovakia
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    ´88 BMW e34

    1988 e34 530d m57 swap

    Hello everybody, finally moved my project - swaping an m57 3.0 diesel engine into my former 524td e34 to be published a little. It was my first swap ever done, so many things have to be changed and upgraded during the time, but I have learned a lot on this project and completely fell in love with this car, so far I am driving it for 4 years daily and we have completed over 30 000km.

    It all started by the death of my former m21 2.4 litre diesel engine with automatic transmission. After few month of trying to bring it back a gave up, and after one ride in e39 530d it was clear, what has to be done. Got an m57 3.0d 135kw/400Nm engine with 5q manual transmission from e46 and the works have began.

    During the works I was strugling with many problems, both mechanical and electrical. So far I got to the finish line and happily riding the car, while doing some small upgrades all the time, we all know, what I am talking about.

    Some info of the current state of the car:
    Silver e34 with 135kw 3.0 litre m57 diesel engine, 5q manual, 2.65 LSD, M5 3,6 brakes, M tech, whole body electronic from 525i, so I have HIGH cluster and CC and so on...

    Here are som pics of my progress and works on my car, hope you would like it at least a little bit, though it is not a petrolhead but with an GT2260V from e60 we can easily get 150kw and 500Nm
    http://sklenus.rajce.idnes.cz/e34_Resto

    planning lots of thing to do, but still in school so I have limited time and resources
    061220152045.jpg
    Last edited by sklenus; 02-28-2016 at 12:17 PM.

  2. #2
    Join Date
    Feb 2013
    Location
    Kalamazoo, MI
    Posts
    1,731
    My Cars
    E34 540i6, E46 323i, E36
    Wow, amazing project! I wish we got more of the diesel engine options in the States

  3. #3
    Join Date
    Jun 2007
    Location
    Great White North
    Posts
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    various
    Very nice.

    Ya the only diesels we get are movie actors......

  4. #4
    Join Date
    Aug 2013
    Location
    Central Florida
    Posts
    204
    My Cars
    1989 BMW 535i
    I had a chance to pick up a 524td a few years ago for like $700 . At the time i was an avid dieselhead (still am ,actually). But all they imported here unfortunately were automatics.
    92' 535i stick/'89 535i / '85 380SL / '80 300SD / / '77 240D / '91 Jetta IDI / '82 Caddy IDI / '81 Cabriolet IDI / '66 TR4a IRS / '70 Spitfire MkIII / '67 F-100

  5. #5
    Join Date
    Jun 2007
    Location
    Washington, D.C.
    Posts
    309
    My Cars
    1995 BMW 525i/5spd, 1999 Mercedes-Benz CL500
    Quote Originally Posted by sklenus View Post
    Hello everybody, finally moved my project - swaping an m57 3.0 diesel engine into my former 524td e34 to be published a little. It was my first swap ever done, so many things have to be changed and upgraded during the time, but I have learned a lot on this project and completely fell in love with this car, so far I am driving it for 4 years daily and we have completed over 30 000km.

    It all started by the death of my former m21 2.4 litre diesel engine with automatic transmission. After few month of trying to bring it back a gave up, and after one ride in e39 530d it was clear, what has to be done. Got an m57 3.0d 135kw/400Nm engine with 5q manual transmission from e46 and the works have began.

    During the works I was strugling with many problems, both mechanical and electrical. So far I got to the finish line and happily riding the car, while doing some small upgrades all the time, we all know, what I am talking about.

    Some info of the current state of the car:
    Silver e34 with 135kw 3.0 litre m57 diesel engine, 5q manual, 2.65 LSD, M5 3,6 brakes, M tech, whole body electronic from 525i, so I have HIGH cluster and CC and so on...

    Here are som pics of my progress and works on my car, hope you would like it at least a little bit, though it is not a petrolhead but with an GT2260V from e60 we can easily get 150kw and 500Nm
    http://sklenus.rajce.idnes.cz/e34_Resto

    planning lots of thing to do, but still in school so I have limited time and resources
    061220152045.jpg
    Well. This engine looks pretty awesome in that car. Granted it's not a 4.4 liter/6spd swap, but still very cool. Impressive amount of work, too. How is the body holding up after almost 28 years of driving on Easter European roads?

  6. #6
    Join Date
    May 2007
    Location
    Bellevue, WA
    Posts
    243
    My Cars
    540i/6, 740i, m3, alfas
    Wouldn't mind having a 2.65:1 lsd for the 540. Love long gears

  7. #7
    Join Date
    Jan 2014
    Location
    Slovakia
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    My Cars
    ´88 BMW e34
    few months ago I made my dream come true and bought an e34 540iA saloon, it is hell a differrent driving experience, while the max torque of 400Nm is available at totaly different revs, but the 530d driven each weekend for 400km with a load of 4 people traveling to school with backage for 6l/100km of diesel is quite good, yet it is not a sports car, I set the suspesnsion for comfortable ride, while driving with people, there is no need to invest a lots of money, but now I can see, that the suspension is getting behing the power of the car, will need some upgrade, still want to keep it in more comfortable way, rather than Bilstein B8 on 540, so in future months will change the suspension for sachs or something like that, to stay firm on the road, but also comfortable riding on bumps
    IMG_3852m.jpg

  8. #8
    moroza's Avatar
    moroza is offline MORΩN ΛABIA BMW CCA Member
    Join Date
    Sep 2006
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    BFE
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    11,090
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    E34T
    Hell yeah!

    I'm very interested in any details of the swap, especially what electronics you're using to run the engine and work with the chassis. Or did you convert it to a mechanical injection pump?

    My personal fantasy is an OM606 in my E34, but this is a close second. How much custom work was required to phyisically fit the engine and transmission?

    Quote Originally Posted by Martinator View Post
    Wouldn't mind having a 2.65:1 lsd for the 540. Love long gears
    I have this and I like it.

  9. #9
    Join Date
    Mar 2013
    Location
    Ireland
    Posts
    13
    My Cars
    89/95 BMW E34 520i
    Hi i am about to to the same swap did you have to change engine mounts or did engine fit without any mods.

  10. #10
    Join Date
    Jan 2014
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    Slovakia
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    ´88 BMW e34
    to Silverdream:
    there were only few mods to be done - as I used an e46 330d 5speed trany, I put it on the e46 trany mount, it fits the e46 chasis with no mods required, right engine mount is OEM e34 m21 or m51 diesel mount, petrol won't fit while different engine angle in the bay, so far I made only left custom mount

    In nearest future I am willing to put an 6speed trany from e46 and will use an e38 730d left engine mount, it will need a little customization to rubber engine mount, it has to be higher, so will put some subframe between rubber and front axle bar

  11. #11
    Join Date
    Mar 2013
    Location
    Ireland
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    13
    My Cars
    89/95 BMW E34 520i
    Thanks for that so its a no go for me as my engine mounts wont match up would it be a big job to cut engine mounts from doner car to fit in my car as i have agreed to buy a clean 2002 e39 530D . How did you manage with the diff did your diff work with the engine change & joining the interior loom up to the new ecu wiring loom. I was going to switch everything over to my e34 once i had it back to a rolling shell.

  12. #12
    Join Date
    Jan 2014
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    Slovakia
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    ´88 BMW e34
    to Sliverdream:
    you probably won't be able to cut and weld e39er as they are aluminium and welding is much likely impossible, the easiest way is to get e34 diesel mounts, if you won't have luck getting one, I can arrange some package from Europe, still driver side will be custom work for some welder
    -electric swap is not the way, trust me, I have put a complete wiring from e46 to an e34, most things customized to work properly like all the lights with LCM from e46 and so on, but afterwards I swaped e34 HIGH wiring to get check control cluster, rpm signal from m57 engine is working, so far I have not manage to fuel consumption gauge and oil level sensor switch to work, all other systems are working properly
    - driveshaft is custom made to fit e46 tranny and tds 2,65 diff

  13. #13
    Join Date
    May 2019
    Location
    Bulgaria
    Posts
    1
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    E34
    Hello man, you did a great job. I am trying now to put M57d30 from e39 into my e34 tds. There is no space for the oil sump!!!!
    What kind of oil sump you use? Thanks in advance

  14. #14
    Join Date
    Jul 2019
    Location
    Estonia
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    1
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    Bmw e34 525tds
    I've heard that you can use e38 oil pan with slight modifications and left engine mount should also fit from e38

  15. #15
    Join Date
    Dec 2020
    Location
    Portugal
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    1995 Bmw e34 525tds

    Help with a e34 swap

    Quote Originally Posted by sklenus View Post
    Hello everybody, finally moved my project - swaping an m57 3.0 diesel engine into my former 524td e34 to be published a little. It was my first swap ever done, so many things have to be changed and upgraded during the time, but I have learned a lot on this project and completely fell in love with this car, so far I am driving it for 4 years daily and we have completed over 30 000km.

    It all started by the death of my former m21 2.4 litre diesel engine with automatic transmission. After few month of trying to bring it back a gave up, and after one ride in e39 530d it was clear, what has to be done. Got an m57 3.0d 135kw/400Nm engine with 5q manual transmission from e46 and the works have began.

    During the works I was strugling with many problems, both mechanical and electrical. So far I got to the finish line and happily riding the car, while doing some small upgrades all the time, we all know, what I am talking about.

    Some info of the current state of the car:
    Silver e34 with 135kw 3.0 litre m57 diesel engine, 5q manual, 2.65 LSD, M5 3,6 brakes, M tech, whole body electronic from 525i, so I have HIGH cluster and CC and so on...

    Here are som pics of my progress and works on my car, hope you would like it at least a little bit, though it is not a petrolhead but with an GT2260V from e60 we can easily get 150kw and 500Nm
    http://sklenus.rajce.idnes.cz/e34_Resto

    planning lots of thing to do, but still in school so I have limited time and resources
    061220152045.jpg
    Hi sklenus!
    Can you shot me a pm on instagram i need some help with a m57 swap.
    Instagram acc: @dmcabreira12

  16. #16
    Join Date
    Jan 2015
    Location
    Belgium
    Posts
    72
    My Cars
    e32 730i
    a little late to the party, but I have a question. I am planning a similar swap, but my question is: how do you get it all to work? Is it simply connect the M57 Wiring harness to the M57 DME and be done with it, or do you need to make some adjustments to the wiring?

  17. #17
    Join Date
    Nov 2012
    Location
    Sheffield UK
    Posts
    68
    My Cars
    2001 BMW 530d + others
    I came across these guys here in the UK when I was looking up options for running the M62b46 engine I plan to install in my E34 touring. https://www.scs-delta.co.uk/common-rail-diesel

    They have many deisel options, including the M57. Having run a couple of E39 530d's and my dad still running one, I can tell you it's an awesome engine. Decat downpipe, swirl flap removal, and a remap and they pull REALLY well! 300lb/ft stock, 400lb/ft with these mods. With bigger injectors, uprated turbo, and a better intercooler, they can make some real HP.

  18. #18
    Join Date
    Mar 2021
    Location
    dallas TX
    Posts
    1
    My Cars
    e34 524TDI M21
    Hey - I have a question, I have a 1984 Land Rover Defender and the owner before me had put in a e34 524tdi M21 right hand drive, manual transmission into it. Its not doing so well and want to replace it and all signs seem that the m57 like the one you added is the way to go. My question is - size wise, are they similar? I ask since there was a lot of custom work already done to get the bmw engine in and so my mechanic will only help out if they are similar..
    any suggestions welcomed!

  19. #19
    Join Date
    Jul 2018
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    Portugal
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    2
    Quote Originally Posted by sklenus View Post
    to Sliverdream:
    you probably won't be able to cut and weld e39er as they are aluminium and welding is much likely impossible, the easiest way is to get e34 diesel mounts, if you won't have luck getting one, I can arrange some package from Europe, still driver side will be custom work for some welder
    -electric swap is not the way, trust me, I have put a complete wiring from e46 to an e34, most things customized to work properly like all the lights with LCM from e46 and so on, but afterwards I swaped e34 HIGH wiring to get check control cluster, rpm signal from m57 engine is working, so far I have not manage to fuel consumption gauge and oil level sensor switch to work, all other systems are working properly
    - driveshaft is custom made to fit e46 tranny and tds 2,65 diff
    Have you discovered how to manage to have the fuel consumption gauge working?

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