Convert 528e to 533i?

[AngryPopTart]

So we have an '86 528e and an '84 533i. The 533i was wrecked in the front and we haven't gotten around to fixing it. Suddenly, we get a bill in the mail for around $300 in back fee's, plus they attached a portion of my brothers income tax to paying a portion of something. ANYWAY, at this point we'll just part the car out.

However, I thought I'd ask you guys if you know how tough it would be to just switch the engine over from the 533i to the 528e since the 528e is an automagical and slow. The 533i however, is a manual and quick. How hard is this?

[Ross]

All nuts and bolts job to the best of my knowledge.
The guys here http://www.mye28.com/index.php could help I'm sure.

[AngryPopTart]

Kewl! Thanks for the linkage.

Edit: Wait... if I recall correctly, in a car which must be smog-legal, you can stick a newer or same-year engine from another car into a said vehicle, but you cannot put an older engine into a newer vehicle. GRR, California and their laws.

[filmy540i/6]

I seriously doubt any inspection tech would know the difference between the two engines, unless there's a change in any of the EGR, DME or emissions stuff that would be missing (and obvious) from what the car's supposed to have.

And yeah, myE28.com rocks.

[nirvana19]

could say its an M30 from a later model car.. don't see how anyone would ever be able to tell the difference without running the block serial number.. and whos going to do that.