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

[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]

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.

[ck_taft325is]

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

Carry on.

[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.

[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.

[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.

[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.

[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.

[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]

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]

The biggest concern with an S54 in comparison to say, an S50/S52 is Price. One carries a far more considerable price tag over the others.

If cost is not a factor, definately do an S54. From what I've read, and granted, it's by no means massive amounts of research, the S54 is fairly expensive to install with the DME or even Stand-Alone. If you're not competent with SA engine management, you're looking at a fairly hefty premium to have it installed/tuned/ect... so, this should be the first question before advice is given: What's your budget?

[hi its me alec]

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

[markseven]

What on earth would make an S50B32 or an S54 a poor choice as a DD.

It does everything that a "S52" does and more.

More revs, more torque, more hp.

Are you suggesting that the extra weight might somehow make it less of a DD?

Somehow thousands of E36 powered S50B32 cars and E46 S54 cars make do with the engines for DD duty....why less so in a lighter chassis?

Straight off I admit I am a n00b and obviously don't know as much as most.

Does anyone sell a chip that works with the E30's DME? A stand-alone is not for the faint of heart or typical DIYer; has anyone matched the driveabilty of a proven chip? Turner and TRM, amongst others, sell chips that render the S52 absolutly practical for DD use. Can the same be said for the Euro and S54? Serious question :)

With all do respect, comparing a swapped car with one that came from the factory with S50B32 or S54 power is an "apples and oranges" comparison. Kind of like saying that because the S85 is drivable in the E6X M5 that it will be a great powerplant for a DD E30 ;)

[M3 euro ltw]

Huh?

From what I've heard from local shops is that they aren't as good for DD as the S52.

What on earth would make an S50B32 or an S54 a poor choice as a DD.

It does everything that a "S52" does and more.

More revs, more torque, more hp.

Are you suggesting that the extra weight might somehow make it less of a DD?

Somehow thousands of E36 powered S50B32 cars and E46 S54 cars make do with the engines for DD duty....why less so in a lighter chassis?

[markseven]

It doesn't compare. The parts list is almost completely different for good reason- the feel of that engine is much different. The power delivery is something else...

I have never driven a true an S50B32 or S54 powered E30, but I believe you that it is a different animal all together. From what I've heard from local shops is that they aren't as good for DD as the S52. I'm gonna post in the CA forum to see if anyone local has a S54 car that I can get a ride in ;)