good forum for 24V engine builds?

[funcrew]

Is there a (E36?) forum that has a lot of M50/2 build threads, both NA and FI? R3V seems mostly geared toward used-engine swaps. I'd like to see what combinations people are putting together when doing full rebuilds.

[325issguy]

ALOT OF $$$....

There are a few threads on here about some high strung rebuilds, mike had one not too long ago.

[e30polak]

Bimmerforums is your friend. What are you looking for?

Performance or stock?

Performance wise depends on your budget. But here's what I gathered from my research over the years for NA:

Pistons - Stay stock unless you're boosting it. Even high strung/compression s50/2s don't benefit enough from the added money spent on pistons, unless you're going all out NA.

Cams -

1. Schrick 264/256: are a great all around set of cams. You lose no low end, and can gain between 15-20 whp up top depending on what else is done to the motor. Avg. power with a good tune is 245-260 depending on your set-up.

2. Sunbelt 280/272: move the power band a little further to the right, so you will lose some low end. The mid-range and top end gains are pretty nice; between 20-30whp! Avg. power with a good tune 255-270 whp. Since these are more aggressive cams, you can make even more power with some complimentary head work, a nice set of headers (euro s50b32, TMS shorties, or Raceland Euro Supersprint replicas), a proper exhaust, and a custom tune. Bimmerworld made 278whp/254wtq on 93 octane, with a stock bottom end and stock compression! Sunbelts require you to use a VANOS limiter, and you should get upgraded valve springs as well.

Head - The M/S heads flow really well from the factory. If you get cams, you may want a performance valve job done, but it's not necessary. Stay stock on valve-size unless you want to go all out NA. Also if this is a street driven car, then I'd stay away from anything Titanium in the valve train.

Headers - Best choice for all around power are the Euro s50b32 headers. They can be pricey, so I'd say go with TMS shorties or the Raceland Euro Supersprint replicas. The Ebay US Supersprint reps suck compared to other options IMO; tubular s52 ones are just as good, if not better.

Vanos - Dr. Vanos is a good option for a rebuilt Vanos unit, or you can just get new seals and do it yourself.

For boost/FI, BFC's Forced induction section is the best place for info and builds:

http://forums.bimmerforums.com/forum/forumdisplay.php?f=150

[brokenbimmer533]

Im doing a full rebuild on my M50
Bored to 84.5mm
8.5 cr wiseco pistons
135mm Integrated Engineering rods
S52 Crank
Oringing the block
All new cooling system wish Mishimoto radiator
new timing components
All new gaskets
New clutch
Running Megasquirt
Hopefully ZF tranny
I have been doing all my research on Bimmerforums forced induction thread for my setup. Some on r3v too but there are definitely more Turbo M50 builds on BFc
Good luck.

[e30polak]

Im doing a full rebuild on my M50
Bored to 84.5mm
8.5 cr wiseco pistons
135mm Integrated Engineering rods
S52 Crank
Oringing the block
All new cooling system wish Mishimoto radiator
new timing components
All new gaskets
New clutch
Running Megasquirt
Hopefully ZF tranny
I have been doing all my research on Bimmerforums forced induction thread for my setup. Some on r3v too but there are definitely more Turbo M50 builds on BFc
Good luck.

Keeping Vanos?

What turbo will you be using?

[brokenbimmer533]

Oops sorry, forgot to add that.
Engine is a M50B25NV so don't have to worry about vanos. Turbo will most likely be a gt35r and when the time comes I will be getting one of GoodnTights manifolds. The increased bore and stroke will increase the displacement to about 3.0L

[matt]

Headers - Best choice for all around power are the Euro s50b32 headers. They can be pricey, so I'd say go with TMS shorties or the Raceland Euro Supersprint replicas. The Ebay US Supersprint reps suck compared to other options IMO; tubular s52 ones are just as good, if not better.

I disagree. All the cheap ebay headers are better than the stock ones. The euro S50B32 headers are great too, but I've seen them come apart under hard track use. I would go for the raceland supersprint reps if I were choosing.

The rest of the exhaust is just as important. You can merge and use one pipe or find a way to connect the two secondaries to your stock midpipes. I would suggest using an OBD2 midpipe if you are staying with stock headers, it flows much better than the OBD1 version.

Also, when you're building a motor... the most important aspect of the process is not the parts you use, but the care and knowledge that go into the assembly process. The difference between a 150whp stock M50TU and a 200whp stock M50TU is _not_ the parts.

The tune is very important too, of course. I can always help with that.

[e30s50dan]

nice plug Matt !

[gobuffs]

Raceland says the headers for the E36 are the same as for an S54 which isn't right. Any good leads on S54 headers (not stock)?

[Pudmunkie]

My current plans (due to the parts I currently have....):

92 M50 block
98 S52 Crank
98 S52 head/cams
03 330 pistons / rods

Should be around 2.9 liters? maybe almost 3, I'm not sure. I'm hoping it has some decent torque but will still like to rev out. Unfortunately I'm not sure of many that have this combination, I have only read 1 first hand account on dropping the M54 stuff into an M50 (sans cams, but with a blower).

[matt]

It will be exactly 3 liters. You're putting a 330 rotating assembly in an iron M50 block so you get the same displacement as the 330 would have been.

[Pudmunkie]

It will be exactly 3 liters. You're putting a 330 rotating assembly in an iron M50 block so you get the same displacement as the 330 would have been.

Thanks! Any guesstimates on power with the S52 cams?

[matt]

Stock S50 power... 200-220whp depending on a million factors.

[funcrew]

OK - Thanks to all for the great info. Looking at a very simple low-end build for a daily driver, possibly M52B28 iron short block with non-vanos head. Mostly I just want to peruse a large number of builds and see what combos work and which do not. For my car, definitely not looking at big cam, big displacement, big $$$.

[lifeiskaos]

Thanks! Any guesstimates on power with the S52 cams?

Stock S50 power... 200-220whp depending on a million factors.

Yep. Also, FWIW, with m54 pistons, your compression ratio will be 9.4-9.5:1. That's due to the m54 headgasket being much thinner than the m50 headgasket. Just something to keep in mind. I'm sure you could get a thin custom MLS gasket, or boost it ;)