Comparing S50/S52 and M52TU

[CO318is]

So, I am in the process of deciding what to do with a clean shell. It is a 318is with a blown m42 but otherwise complete. I was wondering if anyone had back to back experience with a S50 swap and an Alloy block swap. I know that it is easier to get reliable power out of the S52, but I really enjoyed the balance of the m42 and I am afraid that I am going to lose that by swapping to the 6 cylinder. Does anyone have first hand experience with both swaps?

Forgot to mention, I have been reading a ton of threads but still am unclear.

[lennon]

if you think the weight will bother you, find an m52 single vanos alloy block. why do you want dual vanos m52tu? what is your budget?

[Adrian_Visser]

N54 ftw all aluminium and magnesium block supa light!

Can't you bolt on a single vanos head on the m52 tu block?

Also alloy blocks are kind of rare so good luck finding one. That said one is FS for $600 on CL portland right now or at least it was yesterday it might be gone by now.

[2002maniac]

M52TU is a dual vanos motor. You can't use the single vanos head.

[lennon]

yes the m52tu will not match up with a single vanos head. there are single vanos m52 alloy motors though.

[hoveringuy]

M54...

Everyone wants an alloy block with an S50 crank. Hello! M54 has that and it's 3.0 litres with DISA.

It will run on OBD1, relatively easy.

[daniel]

It will run on OBD1, relatively easy.

speak for yourself!

[hoveringuy]

speak for yourself!

I'm sure the first M50 swap wasn't easy, either!

[CO318is]

I guess I was thinking that the M52TU was the single Vanos engine. The Single Vanos only came in the z3? M52TU came in 528's and Z3's?

[Wh33lhop]

You will actually take weight off the front axle of the car (about 20kg or ~45lbs) by changing your M20 out with an alloy M52. That's probably ~90lbs off the front of the car--the hardest to shave weight off of--compared to the iron blocked S50/52.

At $600 it isn't cheap, but if you like a darty, responsive car, I'd say it's worth it.

[Uber E30]

did you miss the fact that he has a m42?

[Wh33lhop]

did you miss the fact that he has a m42?

I meant "your" in more of a hypothetical sense. The point of the post stands no matter what motor he's currently got in there; he's debating between an iron blocked S5x and an alloy M52.

[Uber E30]

He is asking for a comparison to an m42, talking about an m20 is pointless.

[madjurgen]

People who have actually owned/tracked both 4cyl and 6cyl swapped cars..

http://www.s14.net/forums/showthread.php?t=41827