Building the best non-vanos M50

[Bimmerfanatik]

I know one or two of you are running non-vanos, and I've now got my non vanos M50 almost completely torn down. It had 285K on it, so I don't want to use too much of the original parts if I can avoid it, but if there are things that are still safe to use, let me know.

This is going to be a street only car. To be completely honest, the eta motor chipped is pretty much acceptable to me for street use. So I'm not looking for 300 whp or anything. But in my rebuild, I'd like to maximize the potential before stuffing it back into my finished project.

Note: I don't want vanos, so please don't suggest adding/switching to it.

From what I understand, I need to take the intake cam and swap it to the exhaust side, and then buy a custom cam for the intake side. I'll most likely get a custom chip for it...I feel it'd be worth the money once I get everything together.

What other parts can I add to the non-vanos M50 to make it the best non-vanos M50 possible?

[Stu]

I'd do a stroker bottomend using 3.0 or 3.2 crank, and leave the head alone. Do a rebuild of the head and a valve job, but keep costs down and have a hell of a street motor.

[Brew]

I'd do a stroker bottomend using 3.0 or 3.2 crank, and leave the head alone. Do a rebuild of the head and a valve job, but keep costs down and have a hell of a street motor.

Exactly what I'm in the process of doing right now. :)

I'll be doing some sort of cam setup to take advantage of a higher redline (7400-ish), bigger injectors, euro HFM, and a AA chip. Similar setups have put down 240+ at the wheels.

[Bimmerfanatik]

I'd do a stroker bottomend using 3.0 or 3.2 crank, and leave the head alone. Do a rebuild of the head and a valve job, but keep costs down and have a hell of a street motor.

Exactly what I'm in the process of doing right now. :)

I'll be doing some sort of cam setup to take advantage of a higher redline (7400-ish), bigger injectors, euro HFM, and a AA chip. Similar setups have put down 240+ at the wheels.

whew. That's what I'm talkin about ;)

[screamingbmwe30]

good luck. pete built stu's engine and it put down 235 whp or whatever. it has vanos and headwork as well :idea:

[Bimmerfanatik]

good luck. pete built stu's engine and it put down 235 whp or whatever. it has vanos and headwork as well :idea:

Honestly, I'll be happy with 200 or so whp. Not trying to win any races, this is going to be strictly a dd.

[Mystikal]

I'd do a stroker bottomend using 3.0 or 3.2 crank, and leave the head alone. Do a rebuild of the head and a valve job, but keep costs down and have a hell of a street motor.

Exactly what I'm in the process of doing right now. :)

I'll be doing some sort of cam setup to take advantage of a higher redline (7400-ish), bigger injectors, euro HFM, and a AA chip. Similar setups have put down 240+ at the wheels.

Damn. Fuck an M20. :P

[Bimmerfanatik]

Damn. Fuck an M20. :P

duuuh :)

[Graham325]

Any updates on this, or a write up on the building of a similar motor?

[Bimmerfanatik]

Any updates on this, or a write up on the building of a similar motor?

All eyes will be on Brew, as far as I'm concerned. Although the McHenrys do seem to have some familiarity with these motors ;)

[Brew]

Any updates on this, or a write up on the building of a similar motor?

All eyes will be on Brew, as far as I'm concerned. Although the McHenrys do seem to have some familiarity with these motors ;)

Oh jeez, the pressure's on. I'm still gathering parts for the motor, but I've been talking to Karl from AA, who's put together a few 2.9, one of which made 245whp on a Mustang dyno. I'll most likely be getting my software from them.

[Bimmerfanatik]

Any updates on this, or a write up on the building of a similar motor?

All eyes will be on Brew, as far as I'm concerned. Although the McHenrys do seem to have some familiarity with these motors ;)

Oh jeez, the pressure's on. I'm still gathering parts for the motor, but I've been talking to Karl from AA, who's put together a few 2.9, one of which made 245whp on a Mustang dyno. I'll most likely be getting my software from them.

Hurry the FUCK up Brew.

:)

Stop partying so much. It's that Danny Gillany, he's a bad influence.

[Graham325]

Bump, any updates on this, I have my 92 m50 all apart, currently hunting for a 3.0 crank, any info on that AA one putting down 245? bored cyl. and new pistons or just stroked?

[FredK]

http://forums.bimmerforums.com/forum/showthread.php?t=457468&highlight=2.9+stroker

AA's super expensive kit comes with custom 85mm pistons, but this is only a concern if you're running the M50TU block, which cannot be bored out as much.

[Brew]

I've gotta say, the prices quoted in that bimmerforums thread are pretty far off from what Karl Hugh of AA quoted me.
Here's his email:

Brew,
I did a few with non vanos from 1992 . I used M50 or M52 pistons, S50
rods, S50 crank,M50 cams, AA software.stk M50/M50TU fuel injectors,
stk. HFM. Very nice power.
Others were done with same pistons, but vanos cams from 328i reground,
as well as S50 cams, 21.5# fuel injectors, stk HFM from M50 TU or S50,
also S50 cams and custom welded up cams with 24# injectors. Very strong, up to 245 rwhp on AA Mustang Md250 dyno. As a comparison a stk. E46 m3 makes 265 rwhp on the same Mustang dyno.

Current parts available from me in used condition but perfect for
building
these motors:

1) Cranks S50 $450-$500
2) ROD SETS $300
3) 328i reground cams $500 outright
4) software from $399 to $499

Karl Hugh

A little update on my build:

I decided to ditch the 2.9 non-vanos idea as information was pretty sparse and what was available was pretty vague. I could never get any real answers on what needed to be done with pistons.

I got a great deal on a complete S50 short block from John at Bavarian Performance Group. I'll be using that with my non-vanos head with modified S50 cams. I have a 540i HFM and 21.5# injectors. Still need to get a lightweight flywheel and a heavy duty clutch kit. I'll most likely use the tubular m52 headers with a custom center section and universal cat, exiting through my Stromung cat-back.
Software is really the only grey area- I'm going to try running it on my Dinan non-vanos software at first, but most likely I'll have it dyno-tuned at Turner.

As for the chassis, I picked up a brilliantrot '91 318is a few months ago. Rust free. Faded paint, but it should come back with a good detail. Interior is gutted- I'm going to use Wurth chip guard on the floors instead of carpet.
Total weight should be around 2500 lbs.
I also picked up some MHW tails, and hopefully Dan will sell me his HID'd smoked ellipsoids. I've got a Reiger lip and splitter that I'll throw on in the spring.
I'm swapping over my GC/Koni suspension for now, but eventually I'd like to run a setup similar to Jordan's, with 17x9 CCW Classics and 255/40 rubber.