I want to buy a BMW Diesel engine from Europe, however the only english speaking countries in europe are also right hand drive countries so some of the parts I would need would not work to convert my '96 3 series to the diesel engine and transmission from Europe.

Could someone please help me with some salvage yard websites on the mainland. I could wade my way through a German site, or possibly a French site, however I don't know enough German or French to find them on my own, of course a Google search in English only turns up sites in the states which do not help me at all.

Has anyone had any experience converting a US spec. gasoline BMW to a Diesel one? I know I will need the engine, probably the transmission (because of the gearing) and also the fuel tank and lines. I've also toyed with the idea of importing a whole car, but the conversion company would want $6,000 or so to convert to EPA standards and I'm not sure they would be able to meet EPA standards at all.

Thanks
Damian

Is there a special reason for doing this?

Yea, of course, I want a Diesel BMW and BMW refuses to sell them in the US. I've worked for VW for over 2 years and know the Diesel engines can be EPA certified, so that isn't holding them back. BMW just simply says they don't fit the "image" for BMW in America.
Have you seen the specs on the current 330D in Europe? It is ridiculously powerful and still gets almost 40 MPG. Why wouldn't someone buy this over a 330 Gasoline engine if they had the choice?


Is there a special reason for doing this?

Can't you buy one in Canada ?

No Diesels in Canada either. It seems that they use the same standards we do as far as EPA and NHTSA, maybe for simplicity of moving cars back and forth across the border.


Yea, of course, I want a Diesel BMW and BMW refuses to sell them in the US. I've worked for VW for over 2 years and know the Diesel engines can be EPA certified, so that isn't holding them back. BMW just simply says they don't fit the "image" for BMW in America.
Have you seen the specs on the current 330D in Europe? It is ridiculously powerful and still gets almost 40 MPG. Why wouldn't someone buy this over a 330 Gasoline engine if they had the choice?