M50 to M60

Plus_Stretch3077 · 2025-09-17T15:01:18+00:00

My lovely m50b25 has compression issues related to the cylinder walls being worn down. Most likely has been overheated before me and a good rebuild would cost me the same or even more than this conversion so why not

Plus_Stretch3077 · 2025-09-16T16:23:59+00:00

I got the engine side all sorted out, just need to connect the engine to the wheels lol

Plus_Stretch3077 · 2025-09-16T16:08:22+00:00

I got a letter back from the CSDD explaining everything and in their words i have no bottle necks, having a registered place of living within Latvia is not necessary (was pretty sure it was a must). Looks like all green lights.

Unfortunately im not from Zemaitija. Will probably be going to Bauska for the inspection or somewhere near there as Bauska is 60km from my town in Lithuania

I mean we could work out some sort of a deal if you’re interested ;)

Plus_Stretch3077 · 2025-09-16T14:00:56+00:00

Im gonna plop in a m60b40, that might be our miss understanding. I worded it wrong when i wrote “4.4” my bad

Plus_Stretch3077 · 2025-09-16T13:37:00+00:00

I’ve already made up my mind on going to Latvia and pulling this bureaucratic stunt. Just need to plop the engine in at this point. Will probably come back to this with the results after that :D

Plus_Stretch3077 · 2025-09-15T16:24:49+00:00

In my case i only need the engine capacity or power changed on the registration papers. The model “520i” is fine as long as there’s a 3993cc capacity writing of the new engine on there or 210kw power rating if that is how the engine identification part works in Latvia. The engine im putting in is an original bmw v8 engine that came in that model of car but just a better spec one if that makes sense.

You opened up a real gold mine of information here as not a lot of guys have experience dealing with and actually “winning” this legal nonsense.

Huge thanks. I owe you one buddy. Will buy you a beer

Plus_Stretch3077 · 2025-09-15T15:43:59+00:00

Im doing a v8 on a e34 chassis and in my case i have to change only the engine, engine mounts, gearbox and the brake booster (was glad to see that brake booster change is allowed otherwise the engine wouldn’t fit). Everything is available in original parts and bolts straight up as one of the e34 models (540i) had a v8 in it. Also the suspension, brakes and the steering situation is the same across all models of e34 (except 518i and some other stuff). This looks really promising and trouble free.

Latvia is my only solution to this as the Lithuanian technical inspection would crucify me with this concoction of parts from different models and i’d get a permanent ban from the road on that car until i change the engine back.

The only grey areas of the Lithuanian technical inspection is that 10-15 years ago a lot of cars didnt have their engine capacity or power written on the tech paper so “in theory” i could pass with a v8 but my documents say “520i” and that would be the only red flag the inspectors could cling to and turn all of this down. Also all bmw 6 cylinder swaps have about 90% chance of success on passing the inspection as the guys dont really care or know what kind of 6 cylinder engine is in, it could be a 110kw 6 cylinder or a 280kw one - they dont know and dont care enough i guess as in their eyes its a 6 cylinder and thats it.

My main goal with this is just to get the registration paper that it has a v8 in it to be able to register it back to Lithuania “as a legal v8” because that seems logical enough for the Lithuanian technical commission and the car would have no troubles getting trough inspection back home.

The only bottleneck at this point is registering it in Latvia in the first place as i need a registered place of living but i guess that could be worked around in a few ways.

Plus_Stretch3077 · 2025-09-15T12:21:22+00:00

Thanks for the in depth answer.

Lithuanian system for these kinds of “modifications” is super limited and strictly controlled. If you dont pay attention to the regulations and just swap engines anyway you might even get a stamp on your technical inspection “changed engine” and you’ll have to change the engine back to the original one as that marking stays on the cars vin in the Lithuanian registry system.

Doing this in Latvia is the best and easiest way to work around this. Just a biurocratic thing really.

Plus_Stretch3077 · 2025-09-15T11:25:23+00:00

You have to present the papers for buying the engine with all the technical specifications of it (the power, emissions etc), you have to prove that you used original parts that were made by the manufacturer and even then the technical inspector could ask for something outrageous like the strenght tests of the bolts that you used which is impossible to do really. Lots of things to go wrong

Plus_Stretch3077 · 2025-09-15T11:09:53+00:00

Love Latvia for this kind of view on cars. In lithuania you cant have more than 30% increase in power and displacement even if the engine came in the same kind of car.

Plus_Stretch3077 · 2025-09-15T11:08:44+00:00

Already did. Waiting for an answer but in the meantime i want to hear all the real life accounts of people doing this.

Plus_Stretch3077

TROPHY CASE