Thread: 2.8 bmw engine swap for my defender

South African Defenders came out with a BMW diesel during the Nazi Occupation (oops!) I mean German aquisition of Land Rover. For further detail on these it might be worth visiting the South African Land Rover Owners Online club. I'm not sure of its web address, but it should be easy enough to find with Google.
.za is the web abbrev. for South Africa (just like .au is for Australia).

From the little that I read, they were smooth on road, but developed peak torque at higher revs, which meant the engine had to be revved harder off road, which in turn could create increased wheel speed = wheel spin = loss of traction.

From my own experience of putting a 3 litre Nissan diesel in a SIII, I'd say stay with original equip. The motor might not give you any trouble, but components of the conversion probably will.

Michael2<span style="font-size:12pt;line-height:100%">[/size][size=24]</span>

IIRC the 2.8 BMW engine fitted to South African Landrovers was a straight six petrol engine known in BMW speak as M52. It is a 24valve DOHC engine producing 142kw & 280nm and was fitted first to the1996 E36 328i and then to the 1997 E39 528i. Although it was reported to be a bit peaky, it still produced more power down low than any Landrover petrol 4 cyl ever did, and has a bucket load more mid range and top end and is apparently more economical to boot. As well as being quiet, smooth and leak free, it just doesn't belong in a Landrover. [img]style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/biggrin.gif[/img] It will probably go do in history as the best engine ever fitted to a Landrover. 8O I'll just duck for a while for my own safety!!

Your engine is of an older design and I don't have any specific info on it. But, being a BMW straight six it's sure to be reasonably powerful, very smooth and very reliable. If you can get an adapter for it, then why not? The only problem might be the strength of the LT77 gearbox, if that is what you have. (Reverse is up to the left next to 1st gear) The M52 was fitted to the R380 gearboxes which are a bit stronger. Then again, as long as you don't flog it, the old box might last for a while.

Oh, and if you do go ahead with it, make sure you take lots of photos and post them here so we can all watch your progress. It should be fun. [img]style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/biggrin.gif[/img] [img]style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/biggrin.gif[/img] [img]style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/biggrin.gif[/img]

Paul

I have the 5 speed LT77 trainy. You said R380 is that the trainy that was fitted with the V8 LR and is it the same as the one fitted in the 1980’s Rangerovers….. cause there is a lot of those around. As you can tell I’m trying to do as less modifications as possible. So it is means replacing the transmission and engine together for better fit so be it. The reason I am looking at BMW engines is cause it’s the same price as a 3.5lr rover motor. I’ll keep you guys posted to when I start the project if I ever get to it

How about a ZF auto???

ZF autos similar to those in the RR/Disco were used in 5 and 7 Series BMW's.

So of the motor and gearbox is coming from a BMW then the box could and mated upto the transfer box? - possible?

LRH

Did you ever go through with this swap?
looking at doing some thing similar?
Any helpfull hints?

Awesome Engine. I had a BMW 525 with the same engine only 2.5 L.

Its was a great engine. I flogged the crap out of it for 3 years. It would still pull hard at 6,500 RPM. They will go forever too.

I reckon this engine with a torque cam in it would be great. It's most definately the best 6 cyclinder Engine on the planet.

I only wish BMW would make a serious 4 wheel drive!
If they did it would leave Rover for Dead......

I've got mixed feelings about this engine in a Defender...

Pros:

• It sounds great...
• Pulls better than the diesel.
• Bomb proof.

Cons:

• It's thirsty! (about as thirsty as the V8)
• Not as much pull as the V8.

I drove one of the SA Defenders for a day and although it sounded nice, if I was going to drive a thirsty petrol lump, I'd prefer the V8.

My 2c.

M

I think you might be wrong about the power & torque from the BMW engines. I have a 3.4L (badged 3.5) M30 and it develops about 155kw and somewhere in the order of 300-320Nm torque. This is from an 1988 vintage engine. From what I recall the Rover V8 of that era developed around 120-130kw & similar torque?

In terms of thirst, it uses about 9l/100 country, 16 in heavy city traffic in a 1500kg car, and the engine apparently weighs a ton cos it's about as old (design-wise) as the Rover V8.