Announcement

Collapse
No announcement yet.

How concerend should I be, Vanos vs Non Vanos

Collapse
X
 
  • Filter
  • Time
  • Show
Clear All
new posts

    How concerend should I be, Vanos vs Non Vanos

    Hello,

    Before you think this is a "what's the difference" thread, it's not. I have been reading a lot about the differences between the two engines for a while now and understand them (different block sizes, torque curves, sizes in connecting rods, etc.)

    Anyway I'm planning on taking a few road trips in my car (2000km+), plus driving back from university to my home a few times a year (1300km round trip) but the majority will be city driving. I like to rev high a few times a week but I will never track this car.

    As I read about the differences there seem to be heated battles between fanboys and my questions is when buying an M50 how concerned should I be as to what kind it is? Are these disputes the same as how low a car should go or should I be fine with either one given my driving habits?

    Cheers,
    Aaron
    r3vlimited Lanyard Group Buy!!!

    #2
    Honestly who cares if it has VANOS or not? Find a good low mileage 24v and go from there. Statistically there are way more production years of the VANOS engines so you are more likely to find one, and since the NV m50's are so old the chances of finding a low mileage one are lower.

    Are you building for boost or high revs? The NV m50's thicker valve stems can handle high revs better as can it's beefier con rods, are you going to care? Probably not it would seem by your stated use of the car.

    VANOS m50's or M50TUs have better low end torque so they would tend to be better for DD duty but the difference isn't exactly night and day.

    I would be more worried about OBDI vs. OBDII engine management if you are going to worry about anything.

    '89 Alpine S52 with goodies

    Comment


      #3
      Originally posted by Adrian_Visser View Post
      Honestly who cares if it has VANOS or not? Find a good low mileage 24v and go from there. Statistically there are way more production years of the VANOS engines so you are more likely to find one, and since the NV m50's are so old the chances of finding a low mileage one are lower.

      Are you building for boost or high revs? The NV m50's thicker valve stems can handle high revs better as can it's beefier con rods, are you going to care? Probably not it would seem by your stated use of the car.

      VANOS m50's or M50TUs have better low end torque so they would tend to be better for DD duty but the difference isn't exactly night and day.

      I would be more worried about OBDI vs. OBDII engine management if you are going to worry about anything.
      This is pretty well said.
      84 318I Delphin RIP
      87 325IS delphin 24v Sold
      89 325 Alpineweiss

      Comment


        #4
        NV rods and valvetrain are beefier but unnecessarily so. I went with an NV because I didn't want to deal with a rattly vanos unit and because I like the high-end power feel, but the vanos is the better motor overall.

        Honestly I still like the NV feel but it gets annoying needing to rev to 4k before you feel it start to take off.

        So obviously I'd say go vanos if you can--you also get the option of swapping to m3 cams if you want a little more top-end. Plus, they are slightly higher compression and use less aggressive cams for a bit better mileage. Plus, what visser said above.
        Last edited by Wh33lhop; 03-31-2011, 04:36 PM.
        paint sucks

        Comment


          #5
          "beefier" = heavier

          lighter valvetrains and rotating assemblies are better for reving, not the other way around..
          Build thread

          Bimmerlabs

          Comment


            #6
            Thanks for the post Visser and everyone. I just wanted to make sure there wasn't some bit golden key I was over looking between the two engines.

            I have in my sights an M50 Vanos OBDI.

            Cheers
            r3vlimited Lanyard Group Buy!!!

            Comment


              #7
              Newer is always better.

              Comment


                #8
                S50. Ha
                NASA
                BMWCCA member
                PCA member 25yrs




                1991 318IS slick top
                1997 M3 sedan
                2001 325CI DD

                “whoever turns the wheel the least, wins"

                Comment


                  #9
                  Originally posted by matt View Post
                  Newer is always better.
                  Then why do we drive E30s

                  Comment


                    #10
                    because we are poor?

                    Comment

                    Working...
                    X