time to get the m/s50

[Graham325]

I have been quietly taking in all of the info I can on the m50/s50 swap since I became a member, and I made the decision to go for it, I am now looking for an engine, but have hit a bit of a road block, I have the funds to do a m50 swap as soon as I can locate an engine, but the power of the s50 is so tempting, it would be atleast next summer until I had the funds saved to get a decent s50, is it worth the wait? If I go with the m50, which of these would you recomend

1)... i have a 180k m50 pulled from a 1995 325. engine was running when pulled for a m52 swap and we used the harness/dme/sensors/etc off it.

engine is complete with accessories, valve cover to oil pan. no sensors, no intake manifold, fuel rail, etc. but i do have stock 17lb injectors, coil packs, and the matching transmission for the engine.

asking $700 picked up for all of it. located in raleigh, approx 2.5 hours from charlotte.

2) I've got a complete '93 M50- needs oil pan (it was Sold), but was running great when pulled (car was wrecked). Located near Raleigh, NC- price $800 obo. I might have an E34/M50 oil pan available soon too....

Also, if any of you have a hookup to one in the south east, let me know. Thanks for the help- Graham

[Brew]

Have you already upgraded your suspension?
How about brakes?

If you are still mostly stock, I would go for the M50 unless you have the cash to do S50/ suspension/ brakes at the same time.

[Addissimo]

something to think about would be to turbocharge instead of going for an s50... if you research it you can piece a kit together for around $1500 excluding fuel management. With a stock compression ratio, you're looking at about 290-300whp... much more than you'd get out of an s50 for about the same price. Truthfully, unless your engine is dead (even if it is, a little rebuild would make for more power), you might want to consider just going for a turbo m20... if I had it to do over again, I'd probably go that route.

-Addis

[grapedrink]

Get the 93 without the oil pan. You need a new oil pan anyway and its lower miles. Buy the M50 for 500 and build it to S50 specs.

[Ryan Stewart]

Funds?

Wait to get the S engine, if you dont you will regret it. You can get the M50 over 200hp just by swapping heads but that is more money and labor down the road on an engine that weighs the same and still has less power.

And like they said, make sure the rest of the car is in great shape before doing something like an S50. Brakes that do fine from 105mph will scare you when you find yourself going 140 at the end of the same straightaway..

[Graham325]

Thanks for the replies, as for the suspension and brakes, brakes have been done (the complete set from bma with the slotted powerslots, and with the ss lines. The suspension is sitting in my garage waiting, it is the usual bilstein/ hr sports setup.
my car is an 86 325e sedan (are there any swapped 4 doors out there?), with right at 400k on it, and that engine is pretty well shot.

I was thinking for the price of a new or rebuliding my m20, I could get that m50 and turbo that? Anyone have any info on that? also, I know it isant all about speed, but any idea what the 0-60 and 1/4 mile are for the m50 and the s50 swapped cars?
Thanks- Graham

[Graham325]

bump

[Jon325i]

....brakes have been done (the complete set from bma with the slotted powerslots, and with the ss lines.

That's fine if you stuff an M50 into your E30. Like Ryan said, if you hold out for the S50 you will be rewarded with substantial performance gains. The downside is those brakes you just did will barely be adequate for the job. Ryan makes a good point how the stock brakes will have you wishing for more when you push and S50'd E30 to its limits.

So there's your dilema. Stick with the underpinnings you have on your car now and plug in the M50 and call it a day. Or hold out for the S50 but think about doing more in the braking department.....at the very least a big brake kit for the front like something from Ireland Engineering or RPI.

Jon