Verify M52/S52

[Sharino]

Hi Guys,

I bought a used 92 E36, the previous owner claims the engine was swapped with a S52 from a 98 M3. I bought this car to swap the engine into a E30. Is there a way to verify for sure the engine/block is in fact a S52, not a M52 or M50? It does have the aluminum oil filter housing, 'M' valve cover and the late model intake manifold as well as the dash cluster has been swapped with a 'M' unit. Besides for that, the car is not running so I was hoping to find casting numbers to verify.

Thanks!

[xwill112x]

should be an "s" stamped somewhere on the head/block

[JGood]

VIN? Should be on the head and block I think?

[Adrian_Visser]

Yeah the second? letter in the VIN should be an S on the head IIRC

[Sharino]

I thought the US 'M' engines did not have the S as they are not true 'M' engines?

[xwill112x]

they are true m engines, just purpose built for the us. the s5x will have a s in the vin

[Adrian_Visser]

They are "true" in that they were made for the U.S. M3, in every other aspect they are not M engines.

[Uber E30]

I would check out the ECU. It wont confirm anything but its fast and each to check and may point you in the right direction.

[Sharino]

stupid question, but where is the VIN on these engines?

[xwill112x]

back of the head. like the side closest to the firewall

[samiam3356]

Should be 3.2 right here

[Sharino]

Thanks guys!

[matt]

Just post the numbers off that plate, I can decode them.

[justin_l_]

http://www.r3vlimited.com/board/showthread.php?t=176638

Bottom of this thread.

[STAGGERED M3]

Just post the numbers off that plate, I can decode them.

What can you gather by decoding them?