I'm looking at putting a N54 into a 04 E60, yes I know it would be easier to buy a 535i but they aren't available in New Zealand.

I like the balanced feel of the 6cyl E60 so don't want a V8 for the additional power and weight, so after seeing that the US had the N54 in their LCI E60 I thought what would it take to fit the N54 into my 04 E60.

My E60 is a 530i with the M54, I know the electrical architecture changed in the E60, but the CIC and combox can be retrofit to the early E60 so what would it take to fit the N54 into the early E60?

Can it be done with the existing body control modules?

Coding isn't too much of a problem and I'm not adverse to doing some wiring, I've already retrofitted Logic 7 and HUD which required quite a bit of wiring and Most bus work.

Thanks

 

mid 05 they changed the can-bus system so 90% of the modules would have to be changed if you are going to run the N54 MSD80 ecu. You'll need the car harness with all modules and almost anything electrical that plugs into it. plus the drivetrain parts that are upgraded with it. the N54 was only available in north america (LHD) and you are RHD so that could also cause a ton of headaches(plus needing to extend or cut the wiring harness)

You could go the standalone route but you'd want a BMW specialist who knows N54 swaps; that being said it wont be cheap.

Something like this id say is financially unfeasible; An e90 335 or F10 535 would be cheaper(I bet you could buy both for the cost of the N54 swap).

 

Thanks for the info, that basically answers my question,

I am thinking that E60's with the push button start would have the required architecture, is that correct? or is it the LCI that has the required architecture?

An E90 doesn't fit what I want, and the F10 gained weight and size, plus I know I can do the swap for less than the current cost of a F10 535i here in NZ.

 

N54s were only available on 08-10 E60 cars so yes they were push button but any 06+ electronics should be compatable. The N54 engine harness will be different from any other model (thought N53 cars would be the closest).

Beyond that you will need the proper transmission, differential, axles and driveshaft plus mounting. Brakes and suspension(spring rates) are ideal but aftermarket or V8 parts can be the same. Exhaust can also be fabricated. Fuel system will also need to be from an N53/N54 car as well (direct injection). The harness you will need to source from an E60 N54 car and convert it to RHD.

Interesting that an F10 would cost that much there( I do agree that all F chassis cars went down hill). Over here I could buy an E90 335, F10 535 and 2 E60 535s all in half decent shape for less than it would cost to pay a shop to do it; doing it yourself would save an absolute ton.

Edit: Have you thought about starting off with an 06+ N53 car? It would save you a bunch of work/time/labour as its electrically compatible and is direct injection as well

 

Thanks for the information, Yes I have thought of getting a LCI E60 and starting with that, but can't seem to find one in a colour I want with the options I want at a reasonable price.

Stripping out the E60 to fit a LCI wiring harness and getting a RHD LCI harness would be cheaper than buying another car.
Getting a damaged E60 535i from the US would cost about NZ$5k landed here in NZ, which would give me all the modules along with all the running gear.

Doing the wiring harness swap and buying a damaged 535i from the USA would still work out cheaper than buying another E60 and fitting the N54 to it.

 

Quite old thread now but hopping you ended up swapping your car?? In the same boat have a 06 530i e61 with a blown n52 that I wanna swap to n54 and am in NZ aswell would love to know any info you have regarding this

 

No still have the '04 with the M54 in it.
There is a lot of work to fit the N54 into the E60/61 I was looking at importing a wrecked E60 with the N54 but freight just ruled that out.
Missed a E60 with the N53 which would've been an easier swap as it is a direct injection engine also.
It maybe easier to transplant a N63 in than the N54

I'm looking at adding a 8hp at the moment

 

Did you look into using an e90/91 335i as a donner car. Seen a couple on yt where e91 is swapped from n52 to n54 using an e90 in states where e91 doesn't come as a 335i.

 

I wouldn't guarantee the 3 series dme will converse with the rest of the vehicle electronics, that is where the problems can start