24V AWD Swap Knowledge Base

[Chrisbike]

Turns out it isn’t ok with him for me to post the info on this swap yet, wants to make sure it works first. Sorry

[nando]

I’m sure this has been covered but just Incase. I have a local buddy building a 325iX s54 with some cool drivetrain setup. I’ll post pics soon. He’s just starting to build the pan.

E83 3:64 diff
E83 diff lower pan
S54 pan
E83 inner stub,e60 center shaft/ outer stubs
E46 rear hub
4 month production G260 from 520i with iX rear cover. Matches the angle of the S54

Got any measurements on that E83 pan? Is he going to use E30 ix hubs?

edit: NVM - axle centerline looks pretty much the same as all the other late model BMWs (much too far forward). Not an S54/M54, but the N52 X3 pan is a different part number but looks pretty much identical to the E60/E90 version. Bummer.

[Nisse Järnet]

Interesting :)

[The Dark Side of Will]

Because the S62 should have the torque to pull top gear in a light car and get great mileage.

LS1 Camarobirds have a 0.50 sixth and 3.42 final, so even a little taller overall ratio with taller tires in a heavier car with an engine that probably doesn't make as much low end torque and they cruise fine on the highway in 6th.

Also, I've been told the E39 M5 is geared stupid low with a 3.15 rear. A friend of the guy I bought my engine from said he went to a 2.65 and was very pleased with how much calmer the car was on the highway. He regained lost acceleration with headers, ported throttles and bolt on mods.

In the available front diffs, it's either 2.35, 2.47, 2.93 or 3.07. I think 2.93 would still be shorter than I'd like.

And the GS6-53BZ still has a 4:1 first, so I'll have plenty of punch off the line.

I have the 3.07 E53 unit... it looks like it actually uses the same case as the 3.64 domestic unit. I'll compare the 2.47 E46 front with the 3.23 domestic unit I have so see if they use the same case, then I'll look at installing the 2.47 in the E53 case. If that works, I'll snag a Quaife for it and have a stupidly expensive front diff.

The M20 has an incipient rod knock.
200k miles on it... BMW small sixes seem to be unkind to their rod bearings.

[flyboyx]

2.47 is awfully high. why not something around 3.00?

[The Dark Side of Will]

2.47 front diff from E46 330xd purchased. Just asked the seller if he has the 2.47 rear as well.

I'll compare to see if these gears will go into the E53 case. If so, that will work out great. I'll throw a Quaife in while I'm at it and have an immensely expensive front diff!

[The Dark Side of Will]

Actually the E34 pan hits the rack before the diff, but notching the pan won't help since inner CV and the diff then will interfere with the rack instead.

Right... the diff is the thing that can't be fixed ;)

[Nisse Järnet]

Oy...

No, it's the diff, not the oil pan that runs into the steering rack

Actually the E34 pan hits the rack before the diff, but notching the pan won't help since inner CV and the diff then will interfere with the rack instead.

[The Dark Side of Will]

Oy...

so the needed bits would be:
24v motor mounts like an e28 m5 mounts, or something like revshifts with
e36 brackets (maybe e34?).

No, custom mount arms

e34 oil pan (to be notched to clear the steering rack)

No, it's the diff, not the oil pan that runs into the steering rack.

use a z3 gears in the e34 dif to match the original rears

Unless you've seen someone do it, we don't think that will work either

euro 260g transmission case pn: 23111228301 to go on the front end of the stock transmission

BMW ran out, so you'll need to get one from a junkyard transmission in Europe.

am i missing anything? it seems like a few people have done this but have done quite a bit more than what is needed for just an m50 swap.

The few people who've done it have either built a franken pan using the stock iX pan to run the 24V engine at M20 angle or carved up the firewall in order to fit the E34 pan between the iX rack and the firewall.

or i suppose if you wanted to modify the e30 ix oil pan for the 10 degree change,

That would be ridiculously complicated fabrication.

[onlyindef]

question

Alright i have some questions on this for going with a 24v swap.

If I am able to get the euro 260g case i can use the stock driveline minus the e30 ix front dif. it will have the proper angle to clear the break booster. The oil pan will even be at the right angle for the half shaft, minus interfering with the steering rack.

The e34 front diff, is a different ratio then the rear so it would have to be swapped, but not a big deal. From my understanding they have the same spline count, and the e34 dif mounts in the same position so it would let me reuse the e30 ix half shafts.

This would maintain the stock brake booster location, angle for the half shafts, and retain most of the original drive line.

so the needed bits would be:
24v motor mounts like an e28 m5 mounts, or something like revshifts with e36 brackets (maybe e34?).
m50 engine.
e34 oil pan (to be notched to clear the steering rack)
e34 front diff
matching rear diff gearing or use a z3 gears in the e34 dif to match the original rears
euro 260g transmission case pn: 23111228301 to go on the front end of the stock transmission

am i missing anything? it seems like a few people have done this but have done quite a bit more than what is needed for just an m50 swap.

or i suppose if you wanted to modify the e30 ix oil pan for the 10 degree change, that would allow someone to keep the origional e30 ix front differential. it would have to clear the steering rack and have to allow for the changed angel of the half shaft. As long as the mounting compensated for the 10 degree change, and cleared the needed part, it would mount in the stock location. That would work as well..I think.

[Nisse Järnet]

Does it do anything but fully open and fully locked?
I want mine to be automatic based on differential driveshaft speed, and maybe lateral/longitudinal g's with a "launch" button that gives 100% lock until the vehicle exceeds whatever speed threshold I set.

No it doesn't, so you got to have a after market ECU or something too.

[The Dark Side of Will]

Thought i would share this:

X-drive controller:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K7ma-0SNxKE

Its a Swedish guy, so if you have any questions i can ask.

Does it do anything but fully open and fully locked?
I want mine to be automatic based on differential driveshaft speed, and maybe lateral/longitudinal g's with a "launch" button that gives 100% lock until the vehicle exceeds whatever speed threshold I set.

[The Dark Side of Will]

Sweeeet! Thanks!

[Nisse Järnet]

Thought i would share this:

X-drive controller:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K7ma-0SNxKE

Its a Swedish guy, so if you have any questions i can ask.

[The Dark Side of Will]

This looks cool:

http://www.pesch.cz/en/product/fiberglass-wide-fenders-for-bmw-e30

Looks like an option for square wheel/tire fitment on an iX with max effort rear wheels/tires.