M52 vs S50

[ogbimmer]

If your going to leave it NA I would go with s50 or obdi s52!! I talked to a guy just last week selling his wrecked 97 m3 with 130k (for 2k) that ran like a champ with just about everything needed for a swap. he also had bilstien full coilovers, fully ajustable camber plates wheels and a good interior. basically you could have made atleast 1k or more off the parts you dont need and gotten a s52 with ecu trans diff and everything for 1k or under! but if your boosting m50 /m52 power son

[HakenTT]

I am working on my swap now and will document poor man's S51 on a budget. You spend less than $1000 and you get 3.1L M50 and better than S50. I hope to get it done within two months.

[Adrian_Visser]

I am working on my swap now and will document poor man's S51 on a budget. You spend less than $1000 and you get 3.1L M50 and better than S50. I hope to get it done within two months.

Yeah good luck with that. How are you planning on spending less than $1000 for a full top and bottom rebuild exactly? Plus m52 crank plus s50 cams, plus tune?

Mark my words you will end up paying more for it than if you bought a decent mileage s50.

[HakenTT]

Yeah good luck with that. How are you planning on spending less than $1000 for a full top and bottom rebuild exactly? Plus m52 crank plus s50 cams, plus tune?

Mark my words you will end up paying more for it than if you bought a decent mileage s50.

I already have done it, and I am already documenting it all, all for under $1K and I am doing it all alone with basic tools and in my backyard.

[rThor432]

I ignored every other post in this thread to say this: Get an S52.

You will thank yourself later. No monkeying around with other engines and trying to make them perform up to or near the standard that an S52 will provide bone stock.

[87e30]

Not sure if this was said or not...

But adding cams to your m52 when all said and done will cost you almost as much as just going with an s50 to begin with.

M52 is a ton of fun, but I'd look for a deal on an s50

[e30polak]

Keep your eyes glues to Bimmerforums' Engine & Performance classified section. I've seen a few complete m52s sell for $500 or less on there lately. An s50 will still fetch $1200 - 2200, and s52s are anywhere from $1700 - 3500.

[JGood]

I already have done it, and I am already documenting it all, all for under $1K and I am doing it all alone with basic tools and in my backyard.

Cams: $300
Software: $350

You're already up to $650. How are you going to properly install and time the cams without the alignment tools?

That's just the cams, that's not even touching a rebuild - gaskets, bearings, hardware, water pump, plugs, hoses, etc...

[HakenTT]

Cams: $300
Software: $350

You're already up to $650. How are you going to properly install and time the cams without the alignment tools?

That's just the cams, that's not even touching a rebuild - gaskets, bearings, hardware, water pump, plugs, hoses, etc...

You don't think out of the box. Thats the reason why you have to wait to see my project post, I got to back up my claim with facts and proof.

[Adrian_Visser]

I look forward to seeing how it was done.

[87e30]

I look forward to seeing how it was done.

Yeah me too, I find this really hard to believe....

[JGood]

Lol, I don't think out if the box? More like, I'm giving reasonable prices for people. I did my m50 swap for -$200. Yes, I made $200 doing my swap. Does that mean anyone can do it? No. In that same way, you may find a way to luckily put together a motor, but it's not like that for everyone.

Realistically, you will not PROPERLY build a 3.1 for under $1k. Not even under $2k.

[JGood]

And I like how you can't share your "secrets", we just have to wait and see. You should hook up with the guy who's inventing the new turbo.

[HakenTT]

And I like how you can't share your "secrets", we just have to wait and see. You should hook up with the guy who's inventing the new turbo. Realistically, you will not PROPERLY build a 3.1 for under $1k. Not even under $2k.

Why are you getting agitated? Reality is that I can built one under 1k (PROPERLY) and can do it again, and if I can do it with basic tools on my backyard porch anybody can do it. I am working on the write up as I am going along, engine is done, I am moving to other things now. You are giving out reasonable prices to people because you are not looking out of the box, you are looking at the current market and you are not looking at other options thus not looking out of the box.

[87e30]

Why are you getting agitated? Reality is that I can built one under 1k (PROPERLY) and can do it again, and if I can do it with basic tools on my backyard porch anybody can do it. I am working on the write up as I am going along, engine is done, I am moving to other things now. You are giving out reasonable prices to people because you are not looking out of the box, you are looking at the current market and you are not looking at other options thus not looking out of the box.

Everyone knows that when you are valuing projects you don't look at the current market, I mean... I'm not operating in the current market... oh wait... shit!