Currently OBD1 M52, Worth swapping to S50?

[phreshkid]

I have a strong strong running m52, all the maintenance has been done by me, runs awesome and feels awesome and sounds awesome. Not a single hiccup and really no need to swap but here is the situation:

I recently purchased a fairly lower mileage s50 (137k) with zf tranny and was just curious if it's worth swapping over from a strong m52 to a solid s50 as well?

Who has driven both and what is your opinion on each?

I don't need to do the swap, hell, I can just sell the s50 and move on but do you think it's worth doing the swap?

I would be selling my obd1 swapped m52/zf if I do indeed decide on swapping in the s50.

Opinions!? I value your opinions guys. Be realistic with your answers and not just blatantly look at hp/tq numbers.

Thanks.

[e30s50dan]

Hell yes...sell the m52 while it's in the car.easy sell!

[phreshkid]

Yeah I'll take a video here soon and go over what's been done to this motor (m52).
It's pretty much about as plug and play as you can get. Still debating though so I don't know.

Any other suggestions?

[jrdeamicis]

I don't know. For what you could pay in the swap you could have a better diff, aggressive cams, and a tune. But it all depends on what you want your power band to do.


S50 - Nice Broad Power band. Paired with an awesome diff. Its a great combo. Also ready for OBD1 harness
S52 - More money, good power band. More Money - Already have the harness from M52 OBD1
m52 w/ cams,tune, and diff - Depending on the cam setup you can have the power really any where you want. And its already in the car. But once you do all that work not much room for going any higher. But M52's can get in the S50/S52 range. Proven.

[phreshkid]

Well I'm running m coupe 3.15 lsd paired with a stock m52 with a whole ton of preventative maintenance done to it: (graft waterpump, aluminum thermostat housing, lower temp thermostat, all new belts and hoses and vacuum hoses, new seals and gaskets everywhere, brand new knock sensors, new vanos solenoid, obd1 valve cover/coil packs, and some other things I'm forgetting). I have receipts for everything too. Low mileage engine too. I'm talking 60k when I first put the motor in low (now at 61k). Don't drive the car very much at all.

I can always sell either setup since it really doesn't matter to me anyways. I don't do these things for the money, I simply do them because it's fun and I enjoy the outcome.

Oh and by the way, I have already paid for the s50/zf, just need to pull it out this upcoming friday or so.

[jrdeamicis]

If you have two engines, do a leak down test on the S50. See whats going on with it. Any engine that i have out of a car. I usually pull the head and check everything out. Do a new headgasket and get the valves spun and checked out. New timing cover gaskets. Well pretty much a full gasket set. Top and bottom. But I just fucking hate leaks and problems.

3.15 is an ok gear. 3.46 is better. Even some S50/52 cams will wake that motor up a lot. FFT. If you have your engine in your car, working great, and fully maintained. Thats a serious deal.

I have driven every engine setup for the most part. My favorite is still an S50, 3.46, ZF. Awesome power band, still rips up top, and started all OBD1

AT 137k miles lifters are starting to not be as efficient. Possibly even have some dead if the oil was shit. Probably not the case with the 60k mile M52.


The M52 and the S50 get about the same gas mileage.

M52 has cheaper parts for internal rebuild

S50 internals are harder to find.

[phreshkid]

Well I went with a 3.15 thinking that it would save me a little on gas (which I think it does) but then again, I think I'm forgetting why I did the swap in the first place.

jr, you have a pm.