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

[bad_azz_bmr]

http://www.r3vlimited.com/board/showthread.php?t=190056

Buy that and have the ultimate e30 swap c/w e30 5 lug and a bunch of other goodies :)

[Andrew325is]

IMO go S54. The swap is gaining momentum at becoming mainstream. The engines are in a sweet spot right now considering age/cost/miles. There's one from a 2006 Z4 M with 10k miles in RI for $5800. Search car-part.com. The swap is nearly identical to a S50b32 swap.

[clydesdale]

I need there to be enough info on it so that I can just follow directions. Which one is cheaper to operate, s54 or s50b32?

[e30polak]

Bolt-on US s50/2 + Schrick cams & or FI , or s54. The Euro motor is nice, but you can find an s54 for cheaper, and its a better motor hands down.

Electronics aren't necessarily an issue with the s54 any more. Talk to UweM3 on s14.net, his guy in Germany will be re-programing an the s54 DME for me to run like factory for my swap this summer. He's done it for numerous cars, along with s62s.

Factory DME reliability, with wiring instructions, for 900 Euros CAN'T be beat!

Here's a link to the thread where Uwe talks about the re-programing. The guy that does it is from 300mm.de.

http://www.s14.net/forums/showpost.php?p=437757&postcount=17

[Wh33lhop]

The euro motor is a nice looking piece, but as stated many times you can find an S54 for a few grand less, and it's the better motor through-and-through (in addition to parts availability and BAR certification possibilities if you're careful). You'll spend more sorting out engine management, but it'll still work out to be cheaper than the euro motor in the end if you play your cards right.

Do it once, do it right. You'll be happier with the S54 in the end--remember, 8 > 7.5. ;)

[stormspike]

Ive had my S50B32 up and going for 6 months now and it is great. Upgraded from the US S52. Power is great. Its like going from the original M20 to the S52. I have not been in a S54 powered E30, but I can say that the euro motor has not had any issues since install. Dealer can get all parts. Some do take a little while longer. If you make sure motor is freshened before install, it will run like a champ.

Go with the 6 speed when you install.. The extra gear is great!

[ChaseN]

Do it once, do it right. You'll be happier with the S54 in the end--remember, 8 > 7.5. ;)

Many euro motors (including mine) spin to 8100 everyday with no problems, bone stock. :p

[clydesdale]

The redline is 7500 on the euro motor?

[gobuffs]

3.2 is 7600 stock.

[Chistakoff]

Buy a m50 stroke it to a 3.0 throw on a .140 headgasket along with arp studs...throw on a gt30 at 10 psi which should put you close to 400 at the wheel..all this can be done for under 5k