Finally!!! I have joined the S50 side...

[SwiftE30]

this is pure inspiration for me.

before I purchased my cabrio I always thought a s5x swap would be fun as hell. My friends e46 sounds like sex and pulls amazingly...My other buddy has a boosted m50...So I knew I'd love the power...

After having my cabby for a bit now I kinda hate the thought of tearing it apart since it runs so nice....

would I be able to get the s50 running like a top and being just as nice?

can't wait to see your results

You've gotta go with an s5x swap man. You wont regret it. It kind of is a shame to tear apart such an awesome car but the process and final result will have you never looking back with the biggest grin on your face.

[MIKe30]

didn't read this whole thread but chassis you're working with OP!

Is 270hp at the wheels attainable with 3.5 MAF, Pink tops, Raceland headers and a TRM tune? That's beastly for an S52.

He would need an aggressive cam for that, among other things.. I hit 261whp with sunbelt cams, 11:1 forged pistons, and it still needed a final tune so who knows how much higher it would have been. Another member, CMT, hit some impressive numbers with his sunbelts, 270ish IIRC.

[White325is]

I thought you made more than that mike?
I made 260 rwhp and 244 with chip, intake, headers and 2.5 exhaust out of a s50.

[e30rapidic]

got a little bit more done today. Picked up my stock lightened flywheel yesterday, weighed in at 11 pounds. Not too aggressive but should help. I had a bear of a time getting the trans back on, probably made worse by having a sore back. My raceland headers were also delivered. I'm quite pleased with them, good value for the money. Modified and installed the 944 booster as well, bolted right up and all back together. Hopefully the engine will go in tomorrow, fingers crossed. If not, it will be Monday.

[Court M3]

Damn can't wait to see it installed.

[gianluca1505]

hi mister,

i'M Italian and my name is Gianluca. In this moment I making the same work in my country , but with another car : BMW z3 .

hystory : i have my bmw z3 with m52b20 engine . i buyed a bmw z3 M coupe crash with 65000 km , same to 40.000 miles . for me , put the engine s50b32 in my car is not the problem, because i buyed all car , not only engine . the problem is only that :

the electric cable are different . and that is a very problem, because i would like to find the electric link for m52b20 and s50b32 .

so . i would like to make that question :

how you resolve that problem in your car ?

i hope that you can help me and i'm sorry for my bad english. Gianluca

[jeffmn8]

What's with the different passenger side motor mount arm?

[hammslice]

What's with the different passenger side motor mount arm?

Looks like its just mounted upside down.

[e30rapidic]

good eye. its resting on the jack stand.....guess I was just so excited to get a pic

[e30rapidic]

got the engine/trans/headers in tonight. What a pain in the a$$ that was!! I ended up having to remove the PS pump and AC compressor to get it in. Could have used a few shoehorns!! The headers clear the subframe and my e30M3 control arm bushings. However the headers are hitting the swaybar though. I've read that this only happens when the car is in the air but I will have to unbolt the swaybar to lock the engine down. I suppose I could shim the engine mount but hopefully the header will clear once on the ground.

[giantkeeper]

Let me know what you end up doing to clear the sway bar.

[xekret]

Can't wait to have an S5x E30 of my own. Next year hopefully.

[Adrian_Visser]

So yours cleared M3 CABs? I needed the Treehouse CABs with my Racelands, however I also had to drill out the header flanges two sizes larger to make them fit the studs, makes me think that the ones I got were version one or something and they have improved the design since.

[e30rapidic]

screwed up my back pretty good.....was a week of MRI, x-rays and spinal cortisone shots. OUCH

after not being able to spend much time on the swap due to the above, I got to spend a few hours working on it. Thankfully the hard stuff was done so today was easy, time consuming stuff....running vacuum lines, new fuel lines and fitting coolant lines. And guess what cranked up this afternoon???? = D

I had my wife hold the harness power to the positive terminal and it fired right up on the first go. Scared the mess out of her!

I still have some issues to work out but will have to take time with it since I can't work on it like I want to;

the e34 throttle cable I have will not work, the linkage is too short between the bracket and end of the cable
the header is hitting the swaybar, looks like I need about 3mm clearance
vacuum lines from the valve cover to the intake boot is rigged because I don't have the proper size...also need the ribbed connector under the intake boot
I want to clean up and hide as much of the wiring as possible
fix the spring in the trans so the lever will sit in the centre
source a diff once I decide on the ratio
wire in an electric fan
and of course sort out the exhaust

I took some better picture with my wifes camera so I will upload them soon.

S50 with open header is super freaking obnoxiously loud!! But this bad boy revs up and down instantly. Can't wait!!!!! I feel like this might be quick...

[e30rapidic]

So yours cleared M3 CABs? I needed the Treehouse CABs with my Racelands, however I also had to drill out the header flanges two sizes larger to make them fit the studs, makes me think that the ones I got were version one or something and they have improved the design since.

yes!! from what I have read on here, Raceland has made some improvements on the fit and finish since we've been using them with our swaps. Took some pics so will share once they are off the camera.