euros50b32 or s54

[wodcutr]

My brother in law lives in the UK and tells me he can get me a 2001 s50b32 with tranny and harness and computers the whole shebang for about 2 grand + shipping to america. I have been doing a little research and am finding out that this motor is really hard to tune and I am worried about being able to buy parts for it now that you need a euro VIN to get euro parts.

My question is should I just get the s54 that is available here and not go the euro motor route? Is the s54 a more reliable motor too (other than the recalled bearings)?

[e30polak]

S54 is a better motor overall, with more potential. However, at the price you can get that s50b32 for, I'd say it would be a much better deal. Just do some research, it's not THAT hard to find a tuner here. There are quite a few e30s and e36s that are swapped with those motors in the US.

[ColdAccord]

the two motors are very similar.
euro s50 has been pretty reliable in my car for 8 years

[wodcutr]

the two motors are very similar.
euro s50 has been pretty reliable in my car for 8 years

Are you having a harder time sourcing parts now?

[gobuffs]

parts are easy...give the parts guy the part number, wait a few days then pick up part

S54 is a better motor. 01 s50b32 is from a Z3 so it takes a bit different wiring.

[erik325i]

I am worried about being able to buy parts for it now that you need a euro VIN to get euro parts.

Buying parts is no problem. There is no need for any euro VIN. Just look up the part number on realoem.com and then take the part number to wherever you normally order your parts from.

I've never had trouble getting parts for my s50b32 from BMA Parts, or the local dealership.

Erik

[MaloventEvil]

jesus, for that price, keep sourcing b32's and reselling them for like 5+k in the USA lol. If i was you though, i'd save my money and get the b32 -- for the price difference you can always go F/I with the b32.

[Be30mer]

Isnt the s54 a more difficult swap due to electrical issues? thats what I have heard anyways. If not, im gonna buy one for my e30! 330hp NA I6 is beastly. Thats more than what my n54 makes, and it has 2 turbos.

[Danny]

Be30mer, you're starting to get on my nerves.

Use the search function, kay?

[Bimmerman325i]

I thought all 01 Z3Ms and M3s were S54 worldwide......something seems wrong to me.

S54 and B32 are similarly priced swaps nowadays. Because S54s are cheaper locally, the cost of a motor plus the electronics wizardry (BimmerWorld or Alex L) is the same cost as a sorted B32 kit. As far as US tuning support goes, S54 for sure. For leaving them stock? S50B32 is a far better looking and exotic motor on these shores.

[e30polak]

S50B32 sounds 1,000,000,0000 x better than any s54 however! :p

[M3 euro ltw]

complex question..........

The engines are quite comparable from a mechanical aspect and hp/liter etc... but clearly the S54 is a evolution, and thus significant improvement over the S5032.

But your context is transplanting into an older chassis. This complicates things dramatically.

For drop in, do some minor wire stuff, the S50B32 (or even the B30) is far, far easier to manage for the shade-tree mechanic, or the professsional quite honestly.

The S54 will (for all practical purposes) either require extensive revision of the engine and car's wire harness, or working with BW's software re-flash and converson. JC has started a thread on BFC describing his current transplant, and there are people using the system on the street, but not a lot of buzz on the details quite yet. JC has been forthcoming in the thread, and I think we're all watching that with bated breath.

I'm hoping to release a kit for just this purpose soon. A VERY major portion of making it P&P is about to be cracked with some help from an acknowledged whiz kid with a EE...... (diode solution) I'm inching along, and just need to find time between baby diapers, delivering new ones, and my wife to play in the garage. I'm actually torn because I want to show the pj off in a stock car to show how well it integrates visually to an E36 or an E30...and my race car...the easy candidate...well, far from stock looking. Have come up with some fancy part numbers to package this for E36, and I'm super excited.

A second customer will hit the dyno in the very near future with exactly my kit's set up..... (ya-all know him too!)

Long term, I think the S54 will be the way to go... lots on the ground in the US, and more powerful, responds well to tuning etc...

For looks... well, my heart belongs to the S50B30.... elegant sophisticated, and if stroked and cammed, pretty darn close to a B32...its equal on the track....

Alex.

[Wh33lhop]

S50B32 sounds 1,000,000,0000 x better than any s54 however! :p

Eh, that's just the E46 M3 exhaust that you dislike (I know, sounds like shit). The S54, once ridden of the bees-in-a-can OEM exhaust, can sound awesome.