S50/S52 swap... is it worth it?

[Suspence]

I just had an offer from a buddy at a shop that would do a full swap for me at around 2,500 bucks. I would need to supply the motor, tranny and a few other small things. This a good deal?

My current M20 is on it's last legs, not sure what I'll do but I plan on saving up for awhile.

Is the swap worth it? Is it that much more fun?

[Farbin Kaiber]

Do it yourself, and use ~$1000 of that labor cost for good quality new wear parts.

For the record, I've read that TNG has done 24v swaps for about $1300 in labor.

[Joe G]

so worth it. I love my S50'd car. But now i have the mod bug like never before.

[Luis325]

Man im doing it right now and its not that expensive or difficult to do...

[Suspence]

Do it yourself, and use ~$1000 of that labor cost for good quality new wear parts.

For the record, I've read that TNG has done 24v swaps for about $1300 in labor.

I don't have a garage, I work full time at a car dealership, and I just don't have the skill. I'm trying to just get my car to feel a lot more reliable and more power. I have my new wheels, ( I could use suspension ), paint is ok, so now it's the engine.

so worth it. I love my S50'd car. But now i have the mod bug like never before.

Haha I hear ya, S50 is a lot more powerful than an m20 huh? I want to do intake and software and get about 300hp out of my e30... that's my big goal.

[Bimmerman325i]

I don't have a garage, I work full time at a car dealership, and I just don't have the skill. I'm trying to just get my car to feel a lot more reliable and more power. I have my new wheels, ( I could use suspension ), paint is ok, so now it's the engine.



Haha I hear ya, S50 is a lot more powerful than an m20 huh? I want to do intake and software and get about 300hp out of my e30... that's my big goal.

For an S50 to get 300hp, you need to do full 3.5" MAF, Intake/intake boot, 24lb injectors, cams, headers and full exhaust, and a tune for all that.

Or swap in (and obd1 convert) an S52, do M50 manifold, headers/exhaust, a CAI, and pullies and make the same power.

What is your budget? Do you have friends with garages where you can work/do the swap?

[5ickride]

Do it! You will be amazed!!! I miss mine so bad :(

[mohamadr89]

i heard the swap is well worth it, so i just purchased a wrecked 95' m3 with a good motor and almost all the parts i need. i didnt start the swap yet but its going to get started soon. all i need to do is the swap and suspension then i'll be a happy camper lol. goodluck with whatever you decide. btw, the m3 only cost me $2250

[Suspence]

Do it! You will be amazed!!! I miss mine so bad :(

I'm so tempted ahh!!

For an S50 to get 300hp, you need to do full 3.5" MAF, Intake/intake boot, 24lb injectors, cams, headers and full exhaust, and a tune for all that.

Or swap in (and obd1 convert) an S52, do M50 manifold, headers/exhaust, a CAI, and pullies and make the same power.

What is your budget? Do you have friends with garages where you can work/do the swap?

Maybe I should just do the S50 swap first and then do all the intake/headers afterwards? Or should I do it all at once.

I do have some friends that have a garage that I could do it in, but I really still don't have the skill and it would kind of be hard with not having any time.

I looked at what I can do, I can have 6k by the end of September. If I wanted to I could do it for my birthday which is in December and I could probably have about 10k, but I wouldn't want to spend 10k on an engine swap, I'd prob just do a down payment on a new M3 or something. I'm just in love with my e30 haha.

[dinanm3atl]

Shoot... M52 is a worth it. And saves you money and put in S52 cams.... with cash in your pocket. My opinion.

Definitely worth it 24V swap. If nothing else you turn the key and it immediately starts. It runs smoother. You can string it out more. It is just a better motor with newer technology. I LOVED my 24V E30 :)

For an S50 to get 300hp, you need to do full 3.5" MAF, Intake/intake boot, 24lb injectors, cams, headers and full exhaust, and a tune for all that.

Or swap in (and obd1 convert) an S52, do M50 manifold, headers/exhaust, a CAI, and pullies and make the same power.

What is your budget? Do you have friends with garages where you can work/do the swap?

300hp out of the M50 manifold, headers, exhaust, CAI and pullies on an S52? Yah right... Both motors make 240/240 stock basically. To get to 300 you MUST have cams, full intake and a full exhaust. Then you MUST have quality tuning and now you are working it pretty hard. Since 300hp is your goal it would be MUCH cheaper to get an M52, OBD1 convert and buy a used supercharger kit for an E36. This will actually make 270-300hp.

M52 = 500-800 bucks
S/C = 1000-1500 bucks

S50/S52 on the open market is still bringing in 1500-2500 depending on mileage, documentation and such. Of course there is your friend that got a S50 for 900 dollars and the deals are out there. Local M52 was had for 200 bucks so sure you can wait for deals. 300hp N/A cost a LOT...

[Suspence]

Shoot... M52 is a worth it. And saves you money and put in S52 cams.... with cash in your pocket. My opinion.

Definitely worth it 24V swap. If nothing else you turn the key and it immediately starts. It runs smoother. You can string it out more. It is just a better motor with newer technology. I LOVED my 24V E30 :)





300hp out of the M50 manifold, headers, exhaust, CAI and pullies on an S52? Yah right... Both motors make 240/240 stock basically. To get to 300 you MUST have cams, full intake and a full exhaust. Then you MUST have quality tuning and now you are working it pretty hard. Since 300hp is your goal it would be MUCH cheaper to get an M52, OBD1 convert and buy a used supercharger kit for an E36. This will actually make 270-300hp.

M52 = 500-800 bucks
S/C = 1000-1500 bucks

S50/S52 on the open market is still bringing in 1500-2500 depending on mileage, documentation and such. Of course there is your friend that got a S50 for 900 dollars and the deals are out there. Local M52 was had for 200 bucks so sure you can wait for deals. 300hp N/A cost a LOT...

I mean, if it comes down to it I will really try and get 300hp... but for now my goal is to just get a different engine. My m20 is so crappy I hate it, I just want something sick as hell that will make me happier and happier every day. I want to spank on other cars, and not get beat by a civic with just an intake and exhaust.

[jasonsnoddy]

m50+tarbo

[Suspence]

I was thinking of doing S52 for now, just stock S52 and swap the tranny as well.

Over time, get more and more done such as intake, cams, heads, exhaust blah blah blah.

My budget is kind of low right now but I can't really do anything too crazy.

[Bimmerman325i]

300hp out of the M50 manifold, headers, exhaust, CAI and pullies on an S52? Yah right... Both motors make 240/240 stock basically. To get to 300 you MUST have cams, full intake and a full exhaust. Then you MUST have quality tuning and now you are working it pretty hard. Since 300hp is your goal it would be MUCH cheaper to get an M52, OBD1 convert and buy a used supercharger kit for an E36. This will actually make 270-300hp.

M52 = 500-800 bucks
S/C = 1000-1500 bucks

S50/S52 on the open market is still bringing in 1500-2500 depending on mileage, documentation and such. Of course there is your friend that got a S50 for 900 dollars and the deals are out there. Local M52 was had for 200 bucks so sure you can wait for deals. 300hp N/A cost a LOT...

Well, my buddy's OBD2 S52 that only has M50, underdrive pullies, CAI, AA Race headers and AA race exhaust, and a conforti tune for a bone stock motor puts out 245whp (*1.18 = 290bhp). So I'm going to go ahead and call bullshit on your numbers. An OBD1 S52 would be another 10hp or so higher, as would his if he had a tune for the mods. Or a 3.5" maf/CAI. Or cams.


For an S50, yes, you need all that stuff. For an S52, no, you really don't.

[dinanm3atl]

I was thinking of doing S52 for now, just stock S52 and swap the tranny as well.

Over time, get more and more done such as intake, cams, heads, exhaust blah blah blah.

My budget is kind of low right now but I can't really do anything too crazy.

A 24V E30 isn't THAT fast. Driven many of them. An OBD1 M52 is about E36 M3 fast. S52 faster than that. You will still get eaten up by faster cars on the regular if 'street racing' is your thing. The fun comes in having more grunt in the low end to enjoy slinging it around and having some real fun. And the reliability stand point.

It honestly sounds like an M52 would be better for you. Replace gaskets, sensors, plugs and do maintenance on it. Then drop it in. This would be better than buying an S52 and doing it 'as cheap as possible' IMO.

Also if you have a 325i and do this swap and want to use the ZF Box you will also need a driveshaft and diff. These add cost to the swap that many do not expect. ZF trans + 3.73 is not fun to drive around on the street. Well it is but 3.25 is much better.