S38 or S52 motor swap delima

[Wanganstyle]

s54.. best of both worlds

Correct answer!!!

S54 costs less than a S38 to do up and keep running; budget about 10k for S54 all done.

S38 costs the same as s54 if you want to drive it often :)

S52 is yawn :)

m88/S38 is a lump that can be ran as-is, tweaked slightly.
S52 is a mill that needs a entire other engine attached to it to be interesting (turbine engine)

S54 gets you s52 engine placement and S38 power with not much more weight than s52.

also, nobody I know has a street S38 that can do 8300rpm + :)

[e30polak]

Correct answer!!!

S54 costs less than a S38 to do up and keep running; budget about 10k for S54 all done.

S38 costs the same as s54 if you want to drive it often :)

S52 is yawn :)

m88/S38 is a lump that can be ran as-is, tweaked slightly.
S52 is a mill that needs a entire other engine attached to it to be interesting (turbine engine)

S54 gets you s52 engine placement and S38 power with not much more weight than s52.

also, nobody I know has a street S38 that can do 8300rpm + :)

This.

Only S38 worth putting in that invalidates the above claims is the S38B38, but those are uber expensive and hard to find.

However, any S38 is pretty pricey to maintain, as it's an S14 with 2 extra cylinders. The S38 is also heavier than any of the m/s5X variants.

Bang for your buck order:

1. M50/M52 + boost
2. S54
3. S50/52 + boost
4. S38

[Wanganstyle]

This.

Only S38 worth putting in that invalidates the above claims is the S38B38, but those are uber expensive and hard to find.

However, any S38 is pretty pricey to maintain, as it's an S14 with 2 extra cylinders. The S38 is also heavier than any of the m/s5X variants.

Bang for your buck order:

1. M50/M52 + boost
2. S54
3. S50/52 + boost
4. S38

I think I'd re List in order of driving excitement of engines.

1. S54 - just own everyone. Engine speed like something exotic

2. s38- even a 1988 3500cc will happily pound 170 OVER. Vintage beast power

2. s50b30 or b32- still good stuff, just puzzle to get parts.

3.2800-3200cc boosted m50 of some kind

[ck_taft325is]

This.

Only S38 worth putting in that invalidates the above claims is the S38B38, but those are uber expensive and hard to find.

However, any S38 is pretty pricey to maintain, as it's an S14 with 2 extra cylinders. The S38 is also heavier than any of the m/s5X variants.

Bang for your buck order:

1. M50/M52 + boost
2. S54
3. S50/52 + boost
4. S38

I think the bolded are reversed? Maybe I'm wrong but the S54 swap regardless of what people have been saying is still very hard to pin down below $12,000 in raw parts.

[eandrade]

I would disagree with the S38 being super expensive to maintain. Super expensive to rebuild, yes ($5K head!!), but maintenance is just like any other BMW motor, especially if you do the valve adjustments yourself. I've had mine for 5 years and 40K miles now with not much put in other than the usual coolant, oil, plugs, wires, filters, belts, valve adjustments (knock on wood). Just don't be an idiot and practice proper warmup procedures (it's easy when you have an oil temp gauge) and the motor will run for 250K miles.

[Wanganstyle]

I think the bolded are reversed? Maybe I'm wrong but the S54 swap regardless of what people have been saying is still very hard to pin down below $12,000 in raw parts.

my last swap (S54 swap) cost me ~ right under 10k all said and done, diy like any 24v swap. pnp just like a S52 swap-

many internet people like to "talk"

v few people pull big triggers and innovate :)

[M-technik-3]

my last S54 swap cost me ~ right under 10k all said and done, diy like any 24v swap. pnp just like a S52 swap-

many internet people like to "talk"

v few people pull big triggers and innovate :)

So can we see some of your S54 cars?

[e30m3s54turbo]

I suggest s52 less expensive. I have 3 e30 car #1 has a m88 it was bitch to swap. Car #2 has a s54 turbo more $$$$$$$$.

[Wanganstyle]

So can we see some of your S54 cars?

I have only built one s54 swap car; my prior 1997 e36m3/4/5

Wish I had more time to do another- I did keep my e36 harness though, so its an easy pnp adaptation to e30 chassis!!


Just picked up a S54 a few days ago and considering installing it into my E30 sedan :)


Here is the S54 E36 build thread with detailed parts list, what fits, how to fit, etc. Daily drove the car for 5 months before s54 removed and car caged for 2jz-single turbo full drift car (sold the shell), still have the s54 harness here and DTA s100 full alpha N map on my laptop for it.

Also have s54 here with pan pulled that would be so perfect for my e30.....

Anyone who can plan and execute a 24v e30 swap can do a s54 swap. Nothing special in this; BMW engineered this swap - I just stuffed it into my car without much thinking.

http://forums.bimmerforums.com/forum/showthread.php?t=1437471

e36m3+s54+dta s100 with full dual vanos+ alpha N tune on 91 octane poop gas for 310 rwhp. Zfsg320 5 speed + s52 clutch and oem dual mass fly+3.38 final drive 2 way wanganstyle LSD.

the 3000lb e36m would pull with catless re-mapped sti's from 80-110, pull car lengths anywhere north of 105mph, the gearing was pretty long for top range power but a good compromise with the 5 speed. From 130-170mph it was a monster :)

6mt would have cost 30lbs in weight and a decent chunk of $$$ more but would have allowed for short gearing and quite a lot of more acceleration. 4.10 or 3.91 would be nice, 4.27 for track.

Many sfbay Locals have seen my prior e36m :)

[Wanganstyle]

I suggest s52 less expensive. I have 3 e30 car #1 has a m88 it was bitch to swap. Car #2 has a s54 turbo more $$$$$$$$.

m88? 3500cc? ballllllin!! how is the balance between m88 e30 and s54 e30? I noticed the s54 being about 40 lbs heavier in the nose than the s52 it replaced on my e36m

[e30polak]

I think I'd re List in order of driving excitement of engines.

1. S54 - just own everyone. Engine speed like something exotic

2. s38- even a 1988 3500cc will happily pound 170 OVER. Vintage beast power

2. s50b30 or b32- still good stuff, just puzzle to get parts.

3.2800-3200cc boosted m50 of some kind

Not at all, you've obviously never driven a properly set-up 24v engine with boost. :neutral:

I think the bolded are reversed? Maybe I'm wrong but the S54 swap regardless of what people have been saying is still very hard to pin down below $12,000 in raw parts.

Not really, depends on your ability to find a cheap motor. My complete s54 was $1,800 + $1,300 for reprogramming, everything else is fabrication and labor, which I don't pay for. ;)

IMO a PROPERLY boosted s50/2 will run you at least $4,000 if not more. I'd rather have a boosted frankenmotor then a real s50/2, thicker cylinder walls are much safer with boost.

m88? 3500cc? ballllllin!! how is the balance between m88 e30 and s54 e30? I noticed the s54 being about 40 lbs heavier in the nose than the s52 it replaced on my e36m

S54 and S38/M88 are similar weight in stock form. For the s54, catless headers, and a carbon/fiberglass airbox will save you some weight.

[CHIF8008]

needs a six speed swap to enjoy the power

[Wanganstyle]

Not at all, you've obviously never driven a properly set-up 24v engine with boost. :neutral:

A former car of mine had a 24v dohc swap and Twin turbo. I also ran the same engine in single turbo form AND NA form. They were all interesting in their own way :)

Engine code is called 2JZ-GTE; it's a pretty good piece of kit.

I seriously doubt there is an 24v BMW non oem turbo setup in anyones car that can match punches with the quality of OEM toyota; the dyno time and engineer costs for mapping, manifold flow design would cost.............

2jz-gte + OEM toyota twin turbo setup + OEM toyota ecu for twin turbo :) BPU supra is the proven king of 24v turbo;

If you want a decent 24v turbo bmw setup we need a e92 twin turbo swap.

even then:


Nothing makes me as excited pushing redline on an ITB NA engine.

Skyline Rb26DETT is pretty fun with ITB+twins, but its sound is a bit muffled.

deck height and bore spacing of the s54 (small) and s38 (big six) are different; have not seen s38 e30 in person- how is the front weight on your s54 e30?

[Wh33lhop]

Chris, how'd you wind up with an $1800 S54? Did you ever button it up?

[samiam3356]

I have only built one s54 swap car; my prior 1997 e36m3/4/5

Wish I had more time to do another- I did keep my e36 harness though, so its an easy pnp adaptation to e30 chassis!!


Just picked up a S54 a few days ago and considering installing it into my E30 sedan :)


Here is the S54 E36 build thread with detailed parts list, what fits, how to fit, etc. Daily drove the car for 5 months before s54 removed and car caged for 2jz-single turbo full drift car (sold the shell), still have the s54 harness here and DTA s100 full alpha N map on my laptop for it.

Also have s54 here with pan pulled that would be so perfect for my e30.....

Anyone who can plan and execute a 24v e30 swap can do a s54 swap. Nothing special in this; BMW engineered this swap - I just stuffed it into my car without much thinking.

http://forums.bimmerforums.com/forum/showthread.php?t=1437471

e36m3+s54+dta s100 with full dual vanos+ alpha N tune on 91 octane poop gas for 310 rwhp. Zfsg320 5 speed + s52 clutch and oem dual mass fly+3.38 final drive 2 way wanganstyle LSD.

the 3000lb e36m would pull with catless re-mapped sti's from 80-110, pull car lengths anywhere north of 105mph, the gearing was pretty long for top range power but a good compromise with the 5 speed. From 130-170mph it was a monster :)

6mt would have cost 30lbs in weight and a decent chunk of $$$ more but would have allowed for short gearing and quite a lot of more acceleration. 4.10 or 3.91 would be nice, 4.27 for track.

Many sfbay Locals have seen my prior e36m :)

:bow: