I feel like this is a good time to bring this up.
Why?
Selected Chronology of S54 Swapped Cars
kavkazia The earliest recollection of swapped cars running a stock EMS is this car. This was an S54 powered 95 M3 that ran a 12.9 in the quarter mile. What is not clear, however, is how the engine was wired up and what exactly is functioning and what isn't functioning on the swap. I know that the drive-by-wire acclerator was transplanted into the E36.
MITE46 One of the earliest E30s that successfully ran an S54 with all of the body electronics swapped over. He documented a lot of the swap process, but as with many things I think the energy and motivation to button the writeup waned. Also, the writeup on E46Fanatics had at least 500% more postwhoring in comparison to a "repost" thread on r3vlimited. You know that's got to be a lot, then.
SpasticDwarf / Mike Burroughs Mike started his S54 into E36 swap over three years ago, and buttoned it up earlier this year. It uses the stock MSS54 with a reflash to operate in alpha-N, I believe.
Rob @ UUC / Rob Levinson Rob started his S54 into E36 M3 swap almost three years ago to the day. He finished it last year. It uses the stock MSS54 and the electrical guts from an S54 Z3M Roadster.
lulu This S54 into E30 M3 swap was done at Munich Motors in the UK, using the MSS54. There isn't much information as to how things were done.
Stock Engine Management
The stock DME is designated as MSS54. By far the biggest reason why people do not do the swap is because the MSS54 is very closely intertwined with the DSC unit. I believe the DSC communicates with the DME through a specific com protocol; a signal that I gather can't be readily faked with an analog circuit.
1. Bimmerworld has an unnamed tuner who reflashes the DME and they supply a custom wiring harness to adapt to nearly any vehicle (read: E36/E30). It is $3000 for harness and flash.
Aftermarket EMS
There exist several ways to run the S54 with a standalone EMS, with or without drive-by-wire. If you decide to modify the S54, this will definitely be your best bet for running the engine optimally. The dyno graphs that are floating around for these standalones show that there are even gains to be had on a stock engine, never mind one that has been modified.
1. DTA FAST S100 Alex Lipowich in IL offers a nearly PnP solution to managing the S54 with dual VANOS control. I am uncertain of the price.
2. Vipec V88 Neel at Apex Speed Technologies offers a nearly PnP solution to managing the S54 with dual VANOS control, and retains DBW. It is $3400.
I am not going to discuss the following, because they are pro-grade hardware that cost as much as 10-15 E30s.
1. Pectel SQ6 (Apex Speed sells this I think for $4000)
2. Motec M800
3. Bosch Motorsport ECUs
Why?
- S50B32s are not getting any cheaper, and the European / British exchange rate is balls for the time being. A medium mileage engine runs $6500+ with DME, oil cooler, etc. That is more money than a complete S54 dropout with usually with less mileage
- S54s are becoming more and more available, with the M Z4 carrying the S54 well into 2008.
- Domestic parts availability. If I need to rebuild in the future, I won't have to overnight parts from Japan. Err, Germany.
- The intake system and head flow even better than the S50B32s.
- Not that much knowledge on the subject, though as of 2010, things are improving.
- Total cost is much higher if you use an aftermarket EMS.
Selected Chronology of S54 Swapped Cars
kavkazia The earliest recollection of swapped cars running a stock EMS is this car. This was an S54 powered 95 M3 that ran a 12.9 in the quarter mile. What is not clear, however, is how the engine was wired up and what exactly is functioning and what isn't functioning on the swap. I know that the drive-by-wire acclerator was transplanted into the E36.
MITE46 One of the earliest E30s that successfully ran an S54 with all of the body electronics swapped over. He documented a lot of the swap process, but as with many things I think the energy and motivation to button the writeup waned. Also, the writeup on E46Fanatics had at least 500% more postwhoring in comparison to a "repost" thread on r3vlimited. You know that's got to be a lot, then.
SpasticDwarf / Mike Burroughs Mike started his S54 into E36 swap over three years ago, and buttoned it up earlier this year. It uses the stock MSS54 with a reflash to operate in alpha-N, I believe.
Rob @ UUC / Rob Levinson Rob started his S54 into E36 M3 swap almost three years ago to the day. He finished it last year. It uses the stock MSS54 and the electrical guts from an S54 Z3M Roadster.
lulu This S54 into E30 M3 swap was done at Munich Motors in the UK, using the MSS54. There isn't much information as to how things were done.
Stock Engine Management
The stock DME is designated as MSS54. By far the biggest reason why people do not do the swap is because the MSS54 is very closely intertwined with the DSC unit. I believe the DSC communicates with the DME through a specific com protocol; a signal that I gather can't be readily faked with an analog circuit.
1. Bimmerworld has an unnamed tuner who reflashes the DME and they supply a custom wiring harness to adapt to nearly any vehicle (read: E36/E30). It is $3000 for harness and flash.
Aftermarket EMS
There exist several ways to run the S54 with a standalone EMS, with or without drive-by-wire. If you decide to modify the S54, this will definitely be your best bet for running the engine optimally. The dyno graphs that are floating around for these standalones show that there are even gains to be had on a stock engine, never mind one that has been modified.
1. DTA FAST S100 Alex Lipowich in IL offers a nearly PnP solution to managing the S54 with dual VANOS control. I am uncertain of the price.
2. Vipec V88 Neel at Apex Speed Technologies offers a nearly PnP solution to managing the S54 with dual VANOS control, and retains DBW. It is $3400.
I am not going to discuss the following, because they are pro-grade hardware that cost as much as 10-15 E30s.
1. Pectel SQ6 (Apex Speed sells this I think for $4000)
2. Motec M800
3. Bosch Motorsport ECUs
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