When an RB26DETT just isn't going to cut it, it's time to go big.
Think of Nissan engine swaps and the legendary RB26DETT comes to mind, right? With huge amounts of power and reliability packed into a tiny 2.6-litre engine, the little straight-six is the donk of choice for lunatics the world over.
But what if that isn’t enough? Here cometh its big brother.
Anchored down by a colossal 4.6-litre straight-six from a goddamn Nissan Patrol, this 1998 BMW E39 528i in Melbourne is such an example.
Normally putting out 185kW and 420Nm, Nissan's petrol-powered TB48DE is a stump pulling monster. It's designed to work under huge amounts of load day in, day out. Whether it's crawling over rocks or towing a horse float up a mountain, it takes it in all in its stride. So freeing it up by 1000kg and shoehorning it in a tissuebox sedan is going to make a difference.
However, as you'd expect, this particular engine's had some changes. Obviously.
Forged pistons, H-beam conrods, 2200cc injectors, and a giant turbo are just some of the not-so-humble mods done to this beastie.
There’s a bunch of other miscellaneous stuff to help with reliability too, but nothing that’ll catch your eye quite as much as a freaking dry sump lubrication system; the same type of equipment reserved for race cars.
Power is collected by a ZF 6R80 six-speed auto from your dad's Falcon before being charged through a R230 diff from Nissan. That'll do it.
While the Bimmerforums post hasn’t said anything about any power figures being put down, we’re still going to give it a wide berth at a set of traffic lights.
What do you think of the BMW TB48DE engine swap? Are there any other mental mods the E39 does (or doesn’t) deserve?
