BMW M52 Defender 110
Discussion
This is excellent. That's a shame the M52 didn't work out but I did wonder if it would have the torque, but now it's going M57 that's going to be amazing, looking forward to more progress! I've had a 90 County 300tdi which is still running well at 165K but I do keep thinking M57 / OM606...
First big milestone hit, managed to fire the motor up. Just buttoning up all the loose ends but pretty happy that it fired up after a bit of a mental break down with the starter.
Slightly struggling with the 8HP, and the CANTCU controller, at the moment it doesn't seem to be connecting to the canbus between engine and gearbox.
The CAN loads should show a value %, I'm sure its something simple that I've done wrong but once its sorted and up and running hopefully its 'just' a case of putting all the bits of the car back together..
Slightly struggling with the 8HP, and the CANTCU controller, at the moment it doesn't seem to be connecting to the canbus between engine and gearbox.
The CAN loads should show a value %, I'm sure its something simple that I've done wrong but once its sorted and up and running hopefully its 'just' a case of putting all the bits of the car back together..
Progress made, CANTCU & gearbox seem to be sorted.
It was simply a wrong setting in the software, and now the gearbox has been flashed as should be ready to use.
Front end back together, and starting to look like a defender again.
Exhaust appears to be sorted, with the end of the original X5 downpipe slipped onto an 'S' bend to drop onto the TD5 mid box.
Was expecting that to be a catostrophic ball bag of a job, but was pretty much sorted in a few hours!
Need to fill coolant, and then can run the engine up to temp and get the gearbox upto temp and fill the 8HP properly.
Biggest gripe is that I made my own rad brackets, which appear to sit slightly too high and the viscous fan shroud sits just above the 'natural' bonnet line.
Obviously I could go electric fan, but I love the simplicity, reliablity and power of a viscous unit.
The bonnet catch (in the front grill) clashed with the intercooler anyway, so would have need a new bonnet fixing solution anyway.
Wiring to tidy, inteior to sort and hopefully sorted a vacuum acutuator to active the diff lock linkage..
It was simply a wrong setting in the software, and now the gearbox has been flashed as should be ready to use.
Front end back together, and starting to look like a defender again.
Exhaust appears to be sorted, with the end of the original X5 downpipe slipped onto an 'S' bend to drop onto the TD5 mid box.
Was expecting that to be a catostrophic ball bag of a job, but was pretty much sorted in a few hours!
Need to fill coolant, and then can run the engine up to temp and get the gearbox upto temp and fill the 8HP properly.
Biggest gripe is that I made my own rad brackets, which appear to sit slightly too high and the viscous fan shroud sits just above the 'natural' bonnet line.
Obviously I could go electric fan, but I love the simplicity, reliablity and power of a viscous unit.
The bonnet catch (in the front grill) clashed with the intercooler anyway, so would have need a new bonnet fixing solution anyway.
Wiring to tidy, inteior to sort and hopefully sorted a vacuum acutuator to active the diff lock linkage..
dukeofbork said:
I’ve been trying to not just do the m57 as i was thinking of the m52 but this is twisting my arm
The M52 was lovely to be honest, if I hadn't have broken (again) I would have certainly still have it.Tbh, in a soft top 90 that setup would have been an absolute riot!!!
Hopefully though the M57 and autobox will be completely different in a postive way!
Thats sort of the plan. I want to build the most simple 90 I can even if its an M52 with a DT Engines hydraulic ZF 4hp24 box so my wife can drive it. We don't need a mega tow rig any more but I'd probably opt for a Touareg or similar now for our horsebox after having the Range Rover.
So it's all together, moving and MOT booked for Monday morning.
I've done a few miles round locally to give it a bit of a gentle run in...
Obviously got caught out by loose hoses and popping intercooler hoses but no fundamental disasters.
It's supposedly a remap upto around 290hp and 600nm... With the 8hp constantly jumping around it actually felt quite weak as it was always flapping around. However, put in manual mode and in 5th... Geeeeeee wizz.. definitely feels the power and much much more muscular than the old M52.
Problem, I always loved the brakes with the M52, they seemed to have lots of bite and plenty of power and best of all...the pedal feel was gorgeous..
It's judder central and definitely felt overwhelmed!
Hopefully they clear up a touch, I was looking to replace the drums on the rear in the future with discs, but may have to prioritize that!
Few photos.. still plenty little bits to sort..
I've done a few miles round locally to give it a bit of a gentle run in...
Obviously got caught out by loose hoses and popping intercooler hoses but no fundamental disasters.
It's supposedly a remap upto around 290hp and 600nm... With the 8hp constantly jumping around it actually felt quite weak as it was always flapping around. However, put in manual mode and in 5th... Geeeeeee wizz.. definitely feels the power and much much more muscular than the old M52.
Problem, I always loved the brakes with the M52, they seemed to have lots of bite and plenty of power and best of all...the pedal feel was gorgeous..
It's judder central and definitely felt overwhelmed!
Hopefully they clear up a touch, I was looking to replace the drums on the rear in the future with discs, but may have to prioritize that!
Few photos.. still plenty little bits to sort..
If you have a Salisbury rear axle I wouldn’t get too excited about discs. I’ve a drum back axle and ultimate stopping power with the drums is more than enough. Aslong as they are in good condition you will run out of grip far before running out of brakes.
That’s a really nice conversion, I didn’t realise anyone had done the 8hp yet, dropping the revs right down when at a cruise would be a really nice bonus on a cruise.
Dave!
That’s a really nice conversion, I didn’t realise anyone had done the 8hp yet, dropping the revs right down when at a cruise would be a really nice bonus on a cruise.
Dave!
Howitzer said:
That’s a really nice conversion, I didn’t realise anyone had done the 8hp yet, dropping the revs right down when at a cruise would be a really nice bonus on a cruise.
That's the plan, haven't got it upto 60/70 yet but would hope it's very refreshing and calm at that sort of speed.Plus, with the premade loom available the 8hp was actually an easier option for me than a 6hp..
CornedBeef said:
Great thread OP, very interesting to see. Has it got the modern 8HP shifter in the cabin? Must look funny in between the old defender interior.
Yup, it has an F series shifter internally, I'm building up a big centre console unit, to get the shifter to a nice ergnomic position (as positioned) which also does the sequenquial shifting in manual mode etc.. Its all very much WIP, but will wrap / cover in leatherette or something similar. Other benifit of chunky centre console is it allows space for lots of insulation around centre console which is where most of the noise comes in, in my experience![](https://thumbsnap.com/sc/7xj4qmaf.jpg[/img]|https://thumbsnap.com/7xj4qmaf[/url] <a href="https://thumbsnap.com/yeUr7K3E" Target="_blank" rel="nofollow">[img]https://thumbsnap.com/sc/yeUr7K3E.jpg)
Theres also a little display unit I've got which shows gear, trans temp, drive mode which tbh, is very handy with the 8 gears jumping around. Again, display WIP
Problem time:
Its decided to bork itself the evening before MOT, seem to have lost communication with gearbox, and my little display thing has gone down. Either their both fried somehow, or there is some weirdness going on that I can't understand as all the wiring appears correct so I have no idea at the moment. The CANtcu wont connect to laptop either which is worrying as its always jumped straight onto it.
Anyway, I'm sure its something simple, and minor but better to find this niggle on the drive than miles from home![url]
Ok, well it wasn't something simple.
Not entirely sure what had happened, but the CANTCU unit died, as did my littel display, there was a notable burning smell from the display, and when opened up it had alot of melting solder etc (not good obviously).
Either way, replacements fitted and back in the game.
MOT passed this morning so can finally start getting some miles on this.
Couple of issues - No1, the glass fuses which remain in the centre are causing carange, and will need to be repalced for a modern blade fuse arangmewnt. This has been on my list for ages, but never got round to it.
Cooling. Its 'just' on a basic TD5 rad, but it seems to be borderline on cooling. It could be the viscous as dead (came with M57 engine) but even when travelling the air atleast isnt enough to cool. I'll investiage if this is actually locking up (i've never heard it lock) as this could be an easy win.
There doesn't seem to be any medium ground on aftermarket rads for defenders, its either cheap, or £££. TBH, the defender rad is considerably smaller than the old X5 Rad, but I would have thought the 3 or 5 series rad can't be equally as massive..
Not entirely sure what had happened, but the CANTCU unit died, as did my littel display, there was a notable burning smell from the display, and when opened up it had alot of melting solder etc (not good obviously).
Either way, replacements fitted and back in the game.
MOT passed this morning so can finally start getting some miles on this.
Couple of issues - No1, the glass fuses which remain in the centre are causing carange, and will need to be repalced for a modern blade fuse arangmewnt. This has been on my list for ages, but never got round to it.
Cooling. Its 'just' on a basic TD5 rad, but it seems to be borderline on cooling. It could be the viscous as dead (came with M57 engine) but even when travelling the air atleast isnt enough to cool. I'll investiage if this is actually locking up (i've never heard it lock) as this could be an easy win.
There doesn't seem to be any medium ground on aftermarket rads for defenders, its either cheap, or £££. TBH, the defender rad is considerably smaller than the old X5 Rad, but I would have thought the 3 or 5 series rad can't be equally as massive..
Great work!
What made you go for the 8 speed rather than the 6? I have been doing some reading to put an M57 and 6HP from my old X5 into my 200tdi 90 and the 6HP seems to be almost off the shelf now?
How did you manage the positioning of the mounts for everything?
Thanks and good luck with it!
What made you go for the 8 speed rather than the 6? I have been doing some reading to put an M57 and 6HP from my old X5 into my 200tdi 90 and the 6HP seems to be almost off the shelf now?
How did you manage the positioning of the mounts for everything?
Thanks and good luck with it!
AnduHowman said:
Great work!
What made you go for the 8 speed rather than the 6? I have been doing some reading to put an M57 and 6HP from my old X5 into my 200tdi 90 and the 6HP seems to be almost off the shelf now?
How did you manage the positioning of the mounts for everything?
Thanks and good luck with it!
Age, and complexity. As in the 8 speed was simpler to be put in than the 6 speed at the time (it now looks like off the shelf looms are available), plus the 6 speed that came with the engine is also circa 20years old.What made you go for the 8 speed rather than the 6? I have been doing some reading to put an M57 and 6HP from my old X5 into my 200tdi 90 and the 6HP seems to be almost off the shelf now?
How did you manage the positioning of the mounts for everything?
Thanks and good luck with it!
I'm focusing on temps at the moment when driving, so haven't really battered it flat out but as noted before, it is changing quite alot but I guess its trying to keep in the peak RPM efficiency point... But it is very, very smooth to be fair to it!
Putting a few miles on it, 1 thing is for certain it needs a lower geared transfer box. It's got a 1.2 that I wanted to start with and hope it was acceptable, it's ok... But a 1.0 would be a lot better and would really make the most of the 8 speed box
Cooling... Put a new viscous unit on, and it's still warmer than I'd like going up small hills. Supposedly 100c is running temp in this era diesel, but seems to me a small window of everythings ok, to crap, stop.. id guess 115c would be too much?
Cooling... Put a new viscous unit on, and it's still warmer than I'd like going up small hills. Supposedly 100c is running temp in this era diesel, but seems to me a small window of everythings ok, to crap, stop.. id guess 115c would be too much?
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