[DRIVING] BMW e39 IS300h inverter GS450h Transmission

[Zechy]

1998 BMW 528i (pre CAN bus)
IS300h Inverter
GS450h Transmission
Outlander onboard charger
Outlander aircon compressor
Bespoke 20 kWh battery

[andybpowell]

Nice looking car

[Zechy]

Registered and daily driver since February 2024

This 1998 e39 doesn't have CAN bus to the instrument cluster (like the pre 1997 models)
I had to program the car to think it's manual. Then wired the reverse signal from the Zombieverter to the instrument panel reverse signal.
RPM on instrument cluster is also analog. Used an Arduino create a tone signal from the Zombie VCU CAN messages.

[andybpowell]

The Z3 cluster is a mix of analog and can just to be awkward

[Zechy]

When I started building the car I couldn't find any BMW HV battery modules in Perth Australia
I decided to make my own battery pack.
I ended up with 85 x 65Ah NMC cells from Alibaba
For BMS I used DIYBMS the open source project by Stuart Pittaway.
This was by far the most difficult part of the process.
I still need to implement cooling. But for now, in town driving it's not problem.

[Zechy]

The Outlander charger lives where the left fuel tank used to be.
On the right is the motorbike radiator and pump for cooling the charger.

The radiator now has a polycarbonate shield

[andybpowell]

When I started building the car I couldn't find any BMW HV battery modules in Perth Australia
I decided to make my own battery pack.
I ended up with 85 x 65Ah NMC cells from Alibaba
For BMS I used DIYBMS the open source project by Stuart Pittaway.
This was by far the most difficult part of the process.
I still need to implement cooling. But for now, in town driving it's not problem.

Battery Pack.jpg

My wife grew up in Perth, too hot for me

[Zechy]

Wireless Android Auto and CarPlay. Eonon head unit with reversing camera. The radio controls on the steering wheel even works.

[Zechy]

My wife grew up in Perth, too hot for me

I'm originally from Pretoria South Africa. Yes - Perth is hot! Winters are great though

[Zechy]

1998 BMW 528i (pre CAN bus)
IS300h Inverter
GS450h Transmission
Outlander onboard charger
Outlander aircon compressor
Bespoke 20 kWh battery
Converted.jpeg

This is what it used to look like before the 6 series wheels and clear turn signal lenses

[andybpowell]

Is the white 370Z behind it yours?

[Zechy]

Is the white 370Z behind it yours?

Unfortunately not
Someone in the office block at work

[andybpowell]

Unfortunately not
Someone in the office block at work

great cars the 350Z is more engaging to drive though I had the pair together so easy to compare

sadly I couldn't keep all my toys and retire