s50b32- how reliable? How expensive to maintain? Practical for DD street

[clydesdale]

Please help me a little more with this and set me straight where I am wrong. I thought the s50b32 set up would run me about 6-7k for the motor and 6psd tranny. I thought from there that there is plenty of people who have done it before that will make the DIY possible for a shade tree mechanic like myself. I figured this would give me the most HP in a reliable build right off the bat. If I recall, I would have 316 crank HP. Whereas with the S52, I thought I would have to really build up the motor and throw enough money at it, that I might as well spring for the up front cost of the euro motor. I thought that these two motors required about the same amount of electronic work. Which to clarify, do they need to be run on a stand alone electonic system or are we talking about a chip?
I figured the s54 would require a lot more electronics and I didn't even think it would be electronicly feasible for your average DIY guy.
Please set me straight. I don't want to hunt down the wrong motor.

[ck_taft325is]

S54 requires more Eletronic Guru'ness to get running well and will run you in the $10,000 finished up IF you get some pretty damn good deals. Fantastic fucking horsepower/torque and great drivability. More money for maintenance, but you can find any and everything. Wait a few years is my recommendation on an S54 swap until a few more people have done it, the engines are cheaper, ect.

S52 requires OBDII -> OBDI conversion and an adapter from Gregslow318i (Greg) here on the boards. Run you around the $5,000-$8,000 for everything you need to source. Not a bad option by any means, you wont be disappointed in my opinion and definately nothing to scoff at.

S50b32 requires an adapter for the electronics side of things and sourcing the parts. I've no idea how high this can/will run you honestly. But, it's not going to be cheap more than likely.

S50b30 requires an adapter and a few weeks if you're not super fluent in engine swaps, have a lift, ect. But, it'll run you considerably less. Do the maintenance before it goes in (small head freshen, address the VANOS, ect), toss some ARP headstuds in, a metal head gasket and supercharge or turbo it for the cost of pretty much every option mentioned above.

[clydesdale]

hmmm, so what are the pros and cons of the US s52 vs. euro s50b32? I do not think I am in the s54 camp, unless they make some pretty DIY plug and play progress in the near future.

[M3 euro ltw]

quick thoughts.....

S50b32 requires an adapter for the electronics side of things and sourcing the parts. I've no idea how high this can/will run you honestly. But, it's not going to be cheap more than likely.

Biggest headaches are brake booster, subframe clearance, footwell clearance. In reality, the electronic part is hardly any different than any US spec M50 swap, and well documented everywhere.

[gobuffs]

you coulda bought my motor and some misc parts (figure high side another 2k) and you could have had a running 30k mile Euro 3.2 in an E30 for about $6500. The S54 is at least a few grand more. Good luck finding another sub-50k mile Euro 3.2.

[Holland]

hmmm, so what are the pros and cons of the US s52 vs. euro s50b32? I do not think I am in the s54 camp, unless they make some pretty DIY plug and play progress in the near future.

About 80 hp.

[Adrian_Visser]

IMO the ITBs of the euro motor are the only thing that really make it worthwhile over a US S52. With a couple bolt-ons, it makes the same power. The engine will be much cheaper, initially and in the long run.

The best part about the S50B32 is that it's exclusive and sexy. If you want something truly cool, buy that one. If you want the car to be a daily driver, get a US S52 for about 1200 bucks, get an M50 manifold + chip + injectors + headers, and you'll be insanely happy. Hell I'm very happy with my M50 Vanos

If money is no object, get an S54 over the S50B32

Sorry but the only bolts ons that will get an s52 into s50b32 territory are a supercharger or a turbocharger.

[ck_taft325is]

Speaking of which, I wish I had the scratch for a supercharger...

Carry on.

[clydesdale]

Adrian, that is what I thought. I originally set my sites on the euro motor because it would take a lot to make the US motor compete and I kind of just wanted a stock motor, rather than dicking around with aftermarket parts. I was hoping for a drop in motor, rather than modify the hell out of the motor then drop it in. I imagine once you start adding in the cost of high performance parts, the cost of the S52 will go way up.
Gobuffs, didn't know you were selling a motor. I am not worried, when the time comes, I will find one.

[markseven]

Adrian, that is what I thought. I originally set my sites on the euro motor because it would take a lot to make the US motor compete and I kind of just wanted a stock motor, rather than dicking around with aftermarket parts. I was hoping for a drop in motor, rather than modify the hell out of the motor then drop it in. I imagine once you start adding in the cost of high performance parts, the cost of the S52 will go way up.
Gobuffs, didn't know you were selling a motor. I am not worried, when the time comes, I will find one.

IMO, you should persu the S54. M3 euro ltw is confident it will serve well as a DD. If I had to do it again, I would have gone all out with the S54. That said, I got my engine, trans and diff for $2500 (under 40K on them).

[clydesdale]

Anybody have any further thoughts on the s50b32 vs ????? I thought I was sold on the euro motor. Put it this way, I am looking for a fairly simple, straight forward, easier to own, fairly powerful motor. I love the simplicity of the m20. But, obviously the power is simply not enough. Please throw me your suggestions.

[evandael]

Euro motor is sexy. Sexy things cost a lot.

An OBDI US S52 will cost about half as much, and be really damn fast. Not as sexy..

[sharky]

I can sell you a S52 w/ zf tranny and 140K for 2700 if interested. Obd2 swaps are fairly documented also. I run a S52 obd1 w/ a AA stg 1 in my car, super reliable and way more power than you need for a dd e30

[M3 euro ltw]

Qft

Good luck finding another sub-50k mile Euro 3.2.

I just got a list from one of my large volume breakers. He's got several that are over 100K miles, ONLY one of the 8 has miles under 60K, and one has 80K.

You KNOW he's not going to sell me the two sweet ones without my buying 2 of the higher mileage ones too...... Makes it tough as I'm not very excited about buying 3.2 euro's with 100+ miles on them....

I have one "ready to go" in the warehouse (with 71K miles)... so, its time to replenish stock, but I don't like the prospects of what is being offered......

Just sold off a 53K mile S50B30, and a 65K S50B32 ex-smg......so I'm re-loaded, but nothing to shoot at!

Alex.

[clydesdale]

OK, I still need more help with choosing.
I was thinking euro motor with 6spd. But, there is still the idea of a US s52 with a tranny. But, I forget, would that tranny then be a 5 speed again? What would the prices be like for these two swaps? Thanks guys. I thought I was sold on the euro motor. The 316hp seems like a lot more power than the 240hp. But, I would love to hear more thoughts on the two. Thanks.