M50 hybrid

[Fendego]

I am swapping an m50 into my e30. The m50 is currently in an e36 that i purchased a little while back. The car is a 93 and the previous owner told me that the owner before him put a NV head on the TU block.

I haven't really driven it much buy yesterday I decided to take it for a trip. My last m50 powered car (granted was an e34) had a much different power band. The e34 started making good power at 3.5k rpm and it kind of died off by 5500 Rpm.

I haven't really driven the e36 much buy yesterday I decided to take it for a drive. This engine doesn't make power until 4k and revs and pulls up until redline. There is no point between 4k and redline that it runs out of breath. Is this normal for m50s? Or did the head swap have a beneficial (or detrimental) effect. I know that the TU block has a little bump in compression and the NV cams have a little bit different lift but that's about all I can find.

Also as far as software goes, if indeed I do have 10.5 :1 compression vs. the 10 :1 of the NV block, what can I do to take advantage of it?

If anythings unclear let me know

[Uber E30]

If you want a more solid power band, put the vanos+head back on there. I see no reason besides being broke that the PO would have done that.

[Mde36]

I have a vanos m50 from a 95 325is and it makes power from 3g's to redline. Do as Uber e30 said and put the vanos back on

[Wh33lhop]

The TU has a broader and lower powerband, but runs off of narrower duration cams (228 degrees IIRC) so it runs out of breath a bit more up top. Slightly higher compression ratio at 10.5:1 helps as well. Non-VANOS rods are different (beefier) so I'd guess your VANOS bottom end gives you the higher compression ratio, but that's just a shot in the dark. The heads could CC out differently as well.

Non-VANOS cams are 240/240 degrees with 9.7/9.2mm lift, so they can pull a little better up top than the VANOS motors, but ultimately the VANOS motors are the quicker of the two, plus you can find S5x cams for pretty cheap, which are more aggressive than NV cams (252/244 degrees with 10.3/9.7mm lift) and don't swap into the NV head.

[Uber E30]

full s5x head, chip from TRM, call it a day

[balooshinakus]

full s5x, chip from TRM, call it a day

fixed

[lennon]

Vanos motors feel torquier in the low and mid-range rpms, top end doesnt feel different to me. Since the guy already has the non vanos head on there (for some reason), just leave it. I cant say what the compression ratio on that combo is without doing the math, you should. Whether or not its higher by .5/1, the best you can do is 2 intake cams or whatever NV guys do, and a chip for higher octane.

[MajorLaser]

My M50 vanos was like that until I put in S50 cams they were only about $300 for both from a salvage. Try it definitely worth the invest, increases the power band and adds more torque

[Fendego]

Just found out that the whole engine was replaced with a NV engine lol

[blackbmw416]

i have a 1986 bmw 325es blew up the motor had high miles and me beating on it didnt help. i just picked up a 1992 bmw 325i for free. i wanna swap everything into the e30 and build it for turbo.. HELP PLEASEEEEEEEE

[MIKe30]

i have a 1986 bmw 325es blew up the motor had high miles and me beating on it didnt help. i just picked up a 1992 bmw 325i for free. i wanna swap everything into the e30 and build it for turbo.. HELP PLEASEEEEEEEE

nobody is going to help you here if you don't first help yourself. Spend a few hours (yes, hours. And by few I mean A LOT) using the search funtion in this sub-forum. You'll have LOTS of questions answered, and then when you still have more questions that are unanswered start a new thread specific to your situation.

We're very friendly and helpful around here, (well, sometimes more helpful than friendly :razz:) but not a lot of people will be willing to share their knowledge they've spent so much time acquiring if you don't use an ounce of energy searching for it on your own.

[B3M2W5]

Agree with above, we may seem like a-holes but every body asks in a thread i just bought this how do i do this whole thing.
You must seach to find answers that are already out there.