Christoph,
I like your idea. I'd love to build an E36 320D (like the one that won the 1998 24 Hours of Nurburgring, powered by the M47) to satisfy my own personal eccentricities. Bimmerworld has already informed me that they can source and import a M47TUD20 for me. Hmmmm...
Oh yes... My preciousssssssssssssss


I took this image in 2003 when I visited Nurburgring for the first time. This is the 1998 24H race winner. Ordinary Supertouring race shell mated with preproduction M47 diesel.
E36 + M47 would be a hugely fun project. That way you can "legally" use turbocharged engine (why, engine was made that way from the factory!) that has big power potential from stock and you can marry it to a bodyshell where it was actually used to win very prestigious race

Here's what I found from a company that chip programs E46 320d's:
163 hp /335 Nm
179 hp /390 Nm
199 hp / 410 Nm
There were number of M47 iterations and their chipped output varies, hence number of possible outputs. If you change turbo, improve intercooling etc the sky is the limit.
Imagine lightened 1100 kg bodyshell with 200 hp / 400 Nm engine on track! :eek: