Hotrod style build on a modern BMW 5 series?

So say I found a 2005 545i with no motor that I thought I might be able to get for just over scrap money and I thought instead of repairing to OE spec I might hot rod it. IE, strip to the bare minimum and run everyone's favorite swap motor. This would probably make things like air bags and abs useless but for the money it could be fun. Thoughts? Does this chassis have enough good without the electronic nannies to make this worthwhile?

545i with an f2t would be a first

I have an 2004 545i with a 6 speed. It's a fun, comfortable car.

Stripped down and lightened it could be even more fun, but I don't know about it as a DD in that state.

For just over scrap value?? I'd say go for it! It would be an interesting Challenge build....

We will see if I can get it for that. It is a bank auction but it seems poorly advertised with very little information on it.

You know better than that MR2peak. F2t are at least 4th on the swap list.

GM 5.3L

New hemi?

Cummins?

Ls

F2t.

That would be my list.

B6294T?

LS, wow that was third on your list? Someone must be a mopar guy...

I happen to have a B6294T but man that LS is the easy button.

Hemi first? I am dissapoint.

Get ready for lots of electrical fun, and CAN bus wiring.

But they sound so much better than an ls.

And yes, generally speaking I'm a mopar guy.

Pull all the CAN bus out, and run a carb! You may lose all the body wiring functionality, but light bulbs still work if they get 12V, they don't care from where!

Live in a state without emissions testing?

In reply to unevolved:

This is the idea. If I can get the windows to go up and down that is a plus. Hacking the HVAC controls is really the only thing that I would really be interested in overall.

In reply to DaveEstey:

Yep, Missouri is strictly a visual and safety State (some counties have it but not around me). Basically, if I have a Cat and the wipers and turn signals work, I am golden.

An LS sure would be cool. This guy did it into an e39 Touring.

http://www.bimmerforums.com/forum/showthread.php?1904279-E39-touring-LS-swap-project&highlight=swap

I don't know why, but 2JZ popped into my head. Don't listen to me.

singleslammer wrote: Basically, if I have a Cat and the wipers and turn signals work, I am golden.

if you "know a guy" its more like 2 minutes, a pen, and some paperwork.

and the cat its strictly visual too, if it looks like a cat it will pass

I would look at a:

GM 5.3/6.0/ LS1

4.6L Ford V8 from 5th gen Mustang

Mercedes OM606 3.0L diesel engine

BMW N57D30 3.0L diesel engine

I'm not sure how much you would prefer a diesel, plus, I'm not entirely sure about what manual trans could bolt up to one.

If you don't like the sound of an LS, a pair of "rotary mufflers" might help...I've heard that the plentiful 4.8 and 5.3 iron block truck engines also take quite well to them.

In reply to Driven5:

Can you give us an example? When I searched I got a lot of Mazda mufflers and some stuff for lawn mowers.

DaveEstey wrote: Live in a state without emissions testing?

That would be my problem. While a "hot rod" BMW would be fun, there's no way I could get inspection stickers on it where I live.

In reply to singleslammer:

I think Driven5 means turbochargers.

In reply to bigdaddylee82:

That makes a lot of sense. I wasn't thinking this through and now feel like an idiot.