What Diesel Engine Swap - Merc 3.0 V6, BMW 3.0 Other ?

[200bhp]

I'm building a 2005 Ford Ranger - the 2.5 engine is removed as is the 4WD system leaving me with RWD running gear

I was intending to fit a 1UZ but looking at fuel prices I'm wondering about a diesel swap - although I still want a powerful one

Never messed with diesel but I'm aware both of the above engines are 200bhp as std and are relatively available and cheap

Are there any others I should consider / decent forums / groups to read up ?

Thanks

[slipngripross]

M57 BMW Diesel is the best car diesel engine on the planet. It pulls like a train and revs like a petrol. I have a 530D with a single turbo but have recently sold a mates Defender with a twin turbo swap and 400bhp.

[biturbo228]

I can second the M57. Early ones from an E39 or pre mid 03 E46s are good for about 240hp with a turbo upgrade and decent intercooler. Bit easier electronically.

The M57n is the big power one. Mine's at 325hp, but will go to 400 once I get some of the teething problems sorted. Did cost though. Both the big hybrid and de-immobilising the ecu.

Oh, and early engines come with a 5-speed that has a 1:1 5th. Not sure what the Ranger gearing is like but that might end up a bit short. The 6-speeds have an overdrive 6th. First on all of them is stupidly short, but that might help get off the line with a heavy load in a pickup.

Personally with a Ranger I'd go for an X5 engine and try to keep the 4wd. Not sure if the front driveshaft is on the correct aide though. That's what I was hoping to do for mine at some point...

[Dez]

M57 is the one as said, or maybe om606 but they’re more expensive.

Neither will fit in a ranger engine bay though as the ranger engine is already mounted very far forward as is the firewall. the firewall will have to go back considerably to fit a 6 I’d say 4-6” meaning you’ll loose all the heater setup and some dash too I’d expect.

For comparison when I put the 46 Ford body on my stock ranger chassis with stock engine location, I’ve got a 9” gap between the firewall and the back of the head. Handy as it gave me somewhere to put the battery but with you going the opposite way it will cause you problems.

I’d also question using the 4wd front chassis clip. The geometry of it is heavily comprised to fit in the driveshafts and diff and it has a lot of extra metalwork that’ll get it the way. You’d be far better off swapping to a 2wd chassis before you start as they’re actually quite a good front end with decent geometry and no crossmembers to get in the way at all.

[Dez]

Gearing wise you have a huge range. Depending on which year you have and wether you use a 2wd or 4wd diff.

4.7, 4.4, 4.1, 3.9, 3.7 and 3.4 are all available.

[carat 3.6]

If you just want off the shelf 200hp go with the BMW M57, if you want more than that look into Merc OM648 cdi engine.

The Merc v6 is curse word, don't bother with it.

[dodgerover]

Keep the Lexus lump and run LPG instead?

[ejenner]

I'd say the Merc V6 isn't bad actually. I've had 3 cars with that engine and they've all been fine with high mileages.

They have one problem which is the o-rings failing on the oil cooler in the middle of the V

But if you have the engine out and you're prepping it for use in another vehicle it would be no trouble to change the o-rings at that point. The replacement o-rings are better quality and don't fail. Later versions from the factory had the better o-rings.