[E91 Hoarder]

Is it possible to ship an engine from Europe? Let's put the shipping and installation costs aside. I am more curious about regulations that may prohibit importing an engine that is not available in the U.S. market at all. Has it been done before?

Thoughts?

[Cromartie84]

Also interested.

[techwhiz]

It's not a full car.
Plenty of e36 Euro engines around.
AFAIK you don't have to post a bond or anything.

[roundle]

http://www.breakeryard.com/bmw-engines

Call and ask?

It's about $900 to ship a car accross the pond. Probably $250 for an engine.

[Fortyb]

There are guys shipping old GTR engines for there Nissan 240 from Japan to here with no issues. You will have to search with Customs if you need to know more info.. What are you trying to get??

[gunsekun]

Just check mark off street racing...

[E91 Hoarder]

Alright, done some digging. It seems like indeed it is possible to import an engine.

source: http://www.epa.gov/otaq/imports/forms-resources.htm

3.2 Engines Not in a Vehicle or Chassis
EPA regulates the entire vehicle, not individual parts, for cars, light trucks, medium duty
passenger vehicles (MDPVs), chassis-certified HDVs, and motorcycles. If an engine is not
installed, and is to be used in a car, motorcycle, or light truck, it may be imported as an
automotive part. Anyone may import a non-chassis-mounted light-duty engine for use in a
motor vehicle which is currently covered by an EPA certificate or will be covered by an EPA
certificate prior to introduction into commerce. No approval or Customs bond is required by
EPA. However, importers should be aware that several engine uses are violations of the Clean
Air Act:
● Mounting an engine to a chassis to "manufacture" a vehicle without proper certification
of conformity from EPA;
● Mounting a non-identical engine to a certified vehicle; and
● Importing an engine for use in an engine-certified heavy-duty vehicle or heavy-duty truck
without a proper label indicating that it is covered under a certificate of conformity, or
was built prior to 1970, or is otherwise excluded or exempted.
To import an engine for use in a car, light truck, MDPV, chassis-certified HDV, or
motorcycle, the importer must file with Customs, upon entry, an EPA Form 3520-1 and declare
code "W" on the form.

[E91 Hoarder]

Off to the next part. What do you guys think about bringing one of those smaller super efficient diesel engines and putting it in instead of N51/N52/N54? ... I guess, you'd need to bring the tranny as well... Reprogram the ecu, etc... But theoretically speaking, do you think this is possible?

[mccannable]

It would only cost 250 to ship an engine? I have never shipped one but it cost me almost 200 to send wheels and tires domestically.

[smallseafishie]

Originally Posted by iSerge

Off to the next part. What do you guys think about bringing one of those smaller super efficient diesel engines and putting it in instead of N51/N52/N54? ... I guess, you'd need to bring the tranny as well... Reprogram the ecu, etc... But theoretically speaking, do you think this is possible?

I've thought about it too but it's pretty hard to do with respect to emissions if you wanted to put it in a modern chassis (e9x). Here in GA, you'd have to do a smog test. Pretty hard to do considering it'd be a diesel engine without the urea system (2007 newer requirement).

The slight possibility for GA would be to find the chassis of a 335d to do the swap as the 335d vin would be exempt from emissions testting.

You'd have to keep the ECU type matched to the engine type. Maybe there's a way to change the VIN of the 320d ECU to match the rest of the car?

I've thought about doing the e90 320d's engine into my e30 chassis. Since the e30 is past 25yrs (officially an antique, smog testing is exempt).

Just keep in mind that if you're doing the diesel swap, you'd need the whole engine, tranny, ECU, harness and fuel tank / pump.

[Speedwagon]

[DSB335d]

Pretty sure the urea injection systems are required on vehicles manufactured from 1-01-2010+ not 2007+.