How tough to swap a 525i with a 2.4 Tdiesel ?

V

Valv

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I might get my hands on a 1985 2.4l turbodiesel from a wrecked car.
I currently have a 1994 525i, how tough it's going to be to swap engines ?

It's just an idea, nothing serious, but I wanted to speculate on the subject a little.

Or maybe I just buy the diesel and install motor on somethjing else..... [driving]
 
Wadula

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i double that. first, the engine is not even close to being as performing, luxury and sporty as the engine you currently have
second, diesel in the has lots of sulfur. as far as i know that is a problem for german diesel engines. german diesel fuel is w/o sulfur and engines are not used to it. there is something you can do to make an engine accept us diesel as well, but it is most certainly to in favor of power and feeling.

i´d drop that idea, i would. but if you do, have fun. stunts like this make you a mechanic [;)]
 
V

Valv

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Wadula said:
i double that. first, the engine is not even close to being as performing, luxury and sporty as the engine you currently have
second, diesel in the has lots of sulfur. as far as i know that is a problem for german diesel engines. german diesel fuel is w/o sulfur and engines are not used to it. there is something you can do to make an engine accept us diesel as well, but it is most certainly to in favor of power and feeling.

i´d drop that idea, i would. but if you do, have fun. stunts like this make you a mechanic [;)]
Click to expand...

What are we talking about here ? If the motor is sold in this country it is made for this fuel.
If it looses "luxury" that's fine but since BMW sells 524TD in your country and all over Europe I don't see what's the problem.

I am trying to get feedback on how tough it could be, or if it will work at all, I don't need lectured if it's "cool" or not, I am 44y.o. I'm beyond being "cool", I'll let my kids worry about it....
 
adrean8j

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Whoa 44y.o. no need to get upset. Tim is never the sarcastic type and i think you misunderstood his post....(Geez what is up with the new posters lately???) Maybe he didnt know that they actually sold the TD in the states??? He never said anything about it being "cool". Feeling the need to tell your age says A LOT about the maturity level of your previos statement...that being said.....BMW SOLD(past tense) the 524TD in Europe in the E28, I dont think they sold it in the E34.... Anyway i think it would be a difficult job....two engines 10yrs apart? Computer, exhaust(how would it route under the car?) just to mention a couple of things....
 
E

epj3

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Honestly you'll be going from one of the best and smoothest most reliable highest-revving inline 6 engines in BMW history, to an average dirty old diesel engine with half the power and probably the same fuel economy?! Why? I don't understand it. Not remotely worth the change in fuel system, exhaust, etc. Diesel costs more than premium gasoline anyways, and you will probably not gain gas mileage.
 
Wadula

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Valv said:
What are we talking about here ? If the motor is sold in this country it is made for this fuel.
If it looses "luxury" that's fine but since BMW sells 524TD in your country and all over Europe I don't see what's the problem.

I am trying to get feedback on how tough it could be, or if it will work at all, I don't need lectured if it's "cool" or not, I am 44y.o. I'm beyond being "cool", I'll let my kids worry about it....
Click to expand...
[80?] holy cow!!! man, what exactly did i do to make you scream at me? [80?]

i never ever made any comment towards your age and state of being cool or not, nor did i give any advice in that direction. you got that totally wrong.

all i was saying was:
1) that european diesel engines don´t deal with us diesel fuel that perfect. i did not say they did not exist, nor did i say it won´t work. and yes, i did never drive a european diesel engine in the US so I am indeed open to stand corrected if need be

2) that in terms of power, smoothness of the engine and luxury (in terms of sound and feeling) the diesel will be a down grade.

Now, where did I give you a reason to behave like that? i don´t think there is. let´s keep it clean and friendly here, alright? have fun on the board. BTW, I also made a positive remark... [wiggle] [thumb]
 
D

Dutch

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Wadula,

you made a good point about the sulfur. BUT, I took my german-made (diplomatic sales, I'm in the Dutch airforce) 330diesel (204 hp, the newer engine) to the U.S. and had no big problems. I drove 15000 km over there. The only thing the manual says is to change the fuel filter more often (done that when i came back to europe). Since i was stationed in the south, the weather was always pretty nice. Only with relatively cold starts, there was some blue smoke (sulfur....) coming out of the exhaust. I've driven it in the Netherlands now for 2 years (70000 kms) and i cannot feel the difference in performance. The car is fine.

Just my 2 cents
 
5

535iracer

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wow, how did you get the car into the US? Im a big fan of the newer BMW diesel engines. I was trying at one point to import a 320d or 330d and everyone i talked to: epa, private importers said not a possibility... I really wish we got the diesel engines over here, I hear the new ones are super smooth, no smoke, and haul ass... not to mention the 330d gets like 40mpg or something like that... If I were going to swap a diesel into my e34, I would use an engine that is from the same generation or newer. Everyone is right, you will be disappointed with the lack of refinement and power of the e28 engine. A while ago there was a 3.0 diesel engine for sale on Ebay UK from a 530d (e39) that ended for like 900 pounds (www.ebay.co.uk) that would be a really good deal. Getting it to actually run in your car would be a whole other story, but good luck :)
 
jjporter

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adrean8j said:
... I dont think they sold it in the E34...
Click to expand...

Actually yes. They did sell the E34 524td but it only lasted 2 years (09.1989 to 09.1991) before being replaced by the 525td. One year later the 525tds (same engine but with a bunch of extra HPs thanks to an intercooler) was added to the E34 line-up.

This latter engine was then ported to the early E39 525tds. The direct injection E39 530d hit European markets in 1997 and marked the end of the old generation, pre-chamber injection diesels.
 
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