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Thread: *E53 2002 BMW X5 4.6is Silver/Imola RWD LSX Project*

  1. #1
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    *E53 2002 BMW X5 4.6is Silver/Imola RWD LSX Project*

    Well I've been documenting my slow progress over on xoutpost.com and neglected to make a thread over here till I got further along. I purchased this X5 back in January 2016 with hopes to get to the project sooner vs later but we are finally getting the ball rolling. I purchased the car online as a repo with mechanical damage. I figured the timing chain guides finally crapped the bed and the person didn't want to continue to pay on the loan. When the car arrived it only had a broken rear driveshaft!!! I considered fixing it for $100 and driving the car but I knew the whole purpose of my buying the SUV was to swap it and also create mounts to help other shade tree mechanics such as myself build their own LSX5's. When I created the swap kit for the E39 540 I quickly found out the price of building the e39 can get expensive by the time you buy the custom exhaust manifolds, car intake manifolds, front dress, M5 diff and of course the overpriced T-56 thanks to other restomodders.

    On the contrary the X5 engine bay is enormous and can swallow anything you throw at it. My goal was to be able to buy a complete 6.0/4L80e pullout from a Silverado/Sierra 2wd or Express Van and be able to literally drop it right into the E53 chassis with no modifications. Stock Front Dress, Stock Intake Manifold, Stock Oilpan, Stock Headers etc. I removed the engine from the 4.6is and sold it for $3000 on eBay meaning I had literally $0 into the chassis with the Transmission and Transfer case still left for profit towards the build.

    Once we finally dropped the engine in we are able to clear the front subframe and even the front sway bar with no modification at all! My specific build will be a RWD Cammed LQ4 317 Heads 4L80e, Transgo HD Kit, Circle D Budget Converter and a S475/S480 Turbo setup. I will continue to update the thread and look forward to breaking necks in this thing next spring!




















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    Last edited by Bmwman528e; 11-12-2018 at 10:45 PM.

    E53 LSX Swap Coming Soon!

  2. #2
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    That would be fun!

  3. #3
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    Awesome!

  4. #4
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    I love this!

  5. #5
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    So cool! I've thought many times about building a mild X5 (4.8L) for my wife. Very interested in how this goes together for you.

    S.F.

  6. #6
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    Quote Originally Posted by StolenFox View Post
    So cool! I've thought many times about building a mild X5 (4.8L) for my wife. Very interested in how this goes together for you.

    S.F.

    E53's are great. I've owned 5 stick shift 3.0 x5's that I have doctored up with 4.6/4.8is body kits but always wanted to build a fast one. I would love to get my hands on a cheap 4.8is with problems and put a LS3/TR6060 combo in it for a Daily Driver!

    E53 LSX Swap Coming Soon!

  7. #7
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    What's the skinniest dimension between the frame rails? What are you thinking with respect to gauges and CANbus?

    I'm wondering in particular if a dropout L92/6L80-90 combo (with stock mani's) would be feasible or a 3.5 ecobooost swap. This chassis is on my radar for a swap for my wife.
    Last edited by OKsweetrides; 10-29-2018 at 06:19 PM.
    1998 M3 Sedan - LS3 M12T56 - A bad addiction.

  8. #8
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    Quote Originally Posted by OKsweetrides View Post
    What's the skinniest dimension between the frame rails? What are you thinking with respect to gauges and CANbus?

    I'm wondering in particular if a dropout L92/6L80-90 combo (with stock mani's) would be feasible or a 3.5 ecobooost swap. This chassis is on my radar for a swap for my wife.

    I can get you the measurements on the frame rails this weekend. As far as the gauges and Can-bus its basically the exact same wiring setup as an E39. The L92/6L80 would definitely work but you would have to find a 2wd 6l80e.

    E53 LSX Swap Coming Soon!

  9. #9
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    Latest update.


    The transmission crossmember has been made for the 4l80e. Also found a nice set of factory headers from GM that will be a direct bolt in to work for NA Builds if anyone decides to tackle this project once I'm done with mine. Hot side on the turbo is next then intercooler plumbing.

















    Last edited by Bmwman528e; 11-12-2018 at 10:45 PM.

    E53 LSX Swap Coming Soon!

  10. #10
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  11. #11
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    Quote Originally Posted by Bluebimma View Post
    How much space do you think there is between the radiator and the waterpump? I have my 6.0 on the stand next to the 4l80e for my e53, debating putting a turbo in front of the engine or if it needs to be bolted offset of the head, or underneath.
    Offset to the head is what I'm doing. If you are running no intercooler and running E85 I would say you could pull off a front of the engine setup but I'm running an intercooler in front of my radiator and it eliminates a lot of space.

    E53 LSX Swap Coming Soon!

  12. #12
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    Nice!
    '99 BMW 540i6 L33 5.3, PRC Heads, E-force supercharged
    http://forums.bimmerforums.com/forum....php?t=1674320

  13. #13
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    Turbo is on and downpipe has been started. We were able to squeeze a 3.5" downpipe in which was great news. With the 76mmPrecision Turbo and the 6.0 it should light pretty quick and not have awful boost lag. Any input on exhaust tip setup in the back? I was thinking about putting 2 tips in the middle like Fluid Motor Union's Offroad X5. Or I could run stock 4.6is tips for a sleeper look.





    E53 LSX Swap Coming Soon!

  14. #14
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    Updated Downpipe pictures.





    E53 LSX Swap Coming Soon!

  15. #15
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    Hotside is done. On to the intercooler and charge pipes. Picked up a low mileage rear differential out of a 2008 BMW M5 with a 3.62 LSD and the factory M5 rear axles. The cases seem very similar outside of the car and we will be finding a way to get that to work in the back of the SAV as well beefing up any weak structural parts of the rear subframe so we don't have any tears. If the M5 diff is a direct bolt it would make the perfect gearing upgrade for any future DIY LSX X5 swappers.































    Also in reference to the exhaust we thought about using ECS Tunings 3" Vacuum Exhaust Cut-Outs right before the 4.6is mufflers with custom piping to the cutouts and make it so that once the X5 gets into boost it opens the valve to cause no power restriction but around town out of boost it will have to go through the mufflers. We aren't dead set on this but we are considering it as an option at this point.














    E53 LSX Swap Coming Soon!

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  17. #17
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    Awesome! If you get to it before me let me know if you have any advice.

    E53 LSX Swap Coming Soon!

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  19. #19
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    Never gave much thought to an X5...but with a turbo LS...that would be a ride. Impressive fabrication skills...I'm limited to a dremel...

  20. #20
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    The test fit for the E60 M5 diff went well. Direct Bolt-In which is great news for future E53 swappers as it is a super cheap way to upgrade to a 3.62 LSD for less than $400. Intercooler is getting the finishing touches on it and then the exhaust from the downpipe back will be done.









    E53 LSX Swap Coming Soon!

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  22. #22
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    Quote Originally Posted by Bluebimma View Post
    Did you use the m5 axles or skip them? One off radiator or is that what an aluminum e53 unit looks like?


    Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Pro
    Using the stock e53 axles at the moment. Will look into getting the m5's in there or try to get custom axles made if I keep breaking them. Radiator is a universal performance radiator that came with slim mount electric fans off of Ebay for less than $400.

    E53 LSX Swap Coming Soon!

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  24. #24
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  25. #25
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    No new updates over here other than I scored a used M5 driveshaft to cut up and make a custom 1 piece to the M5 differential. Was able to get it for $150!

    E53 LSX Swap Coming Soon!

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