Ethan Parker

This is a different BMW than normal, it’s my brother’s 2005 545i. It’s faster and cooler than the 325i but alas, this car had taken some abuse before we got it so it has issues. Last week Ammon had just started a trip up to Provo so we could hike Mt. Timp before our family gathering and his car threw a rod on the way up. Bummer deal. Right now we’re both in Hurricane, UT at my grandma’s house installing a new motor. The new engine arrived today.

I just got back from playing some guitar hero with Ammon and his friend Terrin and I’m exhausted! Ammon and I worked on that car all day. It’s tricky business because he bought a motor out of a 745i and we’re putting it in a 545i. It’s the same 4.4L DOHC V8 but because it’s out of a different car and used to be attached to an automatic transmission there are some subtle differences that have made the swap more colorful. We managed to get the engine and tranny mated and hanging from an engine hoist. We’ll see what tomorrow brings! Never worked on a German car before, kinda weird. They love to use torx head bolts.

Here’s Ammon working away while it was just an engine.

(bandaged) thumbs up! Motor and transmission together!

Now It’s heading toward the car

Ammon and the car, preparing for installation of the engine

This is tougher than it looks. Very easy to smash something important, and quite the balancing act getting 300lbs of pure power into a BMW 5-series.

We did it! Got the thing in the car. Now we have to install the A/C compressor with no belt tensioner. Not fun for those who have ever done a fan belt and had the luxury of a spring you compress to install the belt. We had to losen the bolts to the compressor and manually turn the engine with a ratchet to ease the belt into place.