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

[sticksdaman]

This is probably a dumb question but the zf tranny is out of the e36 m3 correct?

yes the zf 310/320 tranny is what was behind the later model US e36 m/s5X motors.

[F34R]

This is probably a dumb question but the zf tranny is out of the e36 m3 correct?

Nope, ZF is the brand that started making them instead of Getrag in 94 I believe.

[mohamadr89]

Boost ;)

To the OP, the S50 and ZF would be PERFECT for a daily/weekend tracker. Rode in my friends 325is with a rebuilt M50 W/M52 crank, S50 cams and full exhaust. It was a dream to ride in after owning a m20 all this time. He is making 205 dyno results. 240hp...DO IT!!!

P.S. 2,500 is a joke and a rip off. That is no "friend"

This is probably a dumb question but the zf tranny is out of the e36 m3 correct?

[F34R]

300hp N/A cost a LOT...

Boost ;)

To the OP, the S50 and ZF would be PERFECT for a daily/weekend tracker. Rode in my friends 325is with a rebuilt M50 W/M52 crank, S50 cams and full exhaust. It was a dream to ride in after owning a m20 all this time. He is making 205 dyno results. 240hp...DO IT!!!

P.S. 2,500 is a joke and a rip off. That is no "friend"

[mohamadr89]

one of my dream swaps is a s62 e30. the motor out of a 2003 m5. i can imagine this swap will dust every car out there

[mohamadr89]

If you ever come to Sacramento, you are more than welcome to drive all the 24v swaps you can think of. I've managed to partake it every 24v swap from the e36 chassis.

My personal favorite is s50/zf.
Drop it in from one chassis to another. No potential bs, just plug n play.

If you don't have good resources, finding all the proper obd1 swap parts will be fairly expensive and time consuming. Not that this is a bad thing as you will learn more about your motor but if you want cheap, good power, go s50.

Hell, I have an s50/zf in perfect running condition and I'd sell it for $2200.

Hey! I'm in sac and I didn't start my s50 swap yet but I would like to see how it will be. Maybe we can meet up one day so I can try it out. Pm me thanks
-moe

[Suspence]

If you ever come to Sacramento, you are more than welcome to drive all the 24v swaps you can think of. I've managed to partake it every 24v swap from the e36 chassis.

My personal favorite is s50/zf.
Drop it in from one chassis to another. No potential bs, just plug n play.

If you don't have good resources, finding all the proper obd1 swap parts will be fairly expensive and time consuming. Not that this is a bad thing as you will learn more about your motor but if you want cheap, good power, go s50.

Hell, I have an s50/zf in perfect running condition and I'd sell it for $2200.

How many miles?

[phreshkid]

If you ever come to Sacramento, you are more than welcome to drive all the 24v swaps you can think of. I've managed to partake it every 24v swap from the e36 chassis.

My personal favorite is s50/zf.
Drop it in from one chassis to another. No potential bs, just plug n play.

If you don't have good resources, finding all the proper obd1 swap parts will be fairly expensive and time consuming. Not that this is a bad thing as you will learn more about your motor but if you want cheap, good power, go s50.

Hell, I have an s50/zf in perfect running condition and I'd sell it for $2200.

[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.

[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.

[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.

[jasonsnoddy]

m50+tarbo

[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.

[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]

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.