FYI - some N52 oil pan research

[nando]

all AWD pans BMW has ever made are rear-sump.

[e30shmobberr]

and it doesn't have the added stress and complexity issues that come with boost, to compare it to the n54.
The only real advantage the n54 has over it is power

Check you facts before saying statements like this.

[VinniE30]

Check you facts before saying statements like this.

Make a counter argument before making statements like this.
Care to explain how adding a turbo does not put the intake pluming, head gasket, internals, etc under more stress? Or how a turbo doesn't add more complexity to the swap and more points of failure?

[e30shmobberr]

Make a counter argument before making statements like this.
Care to explain how adding a turbo does not put the intake pluming, head gasket, internals, etc under more stress? Or how a turbo doesn't add more complexity to the swap and more points of failure?

Not here to argue, just trying to point out that you make the n54 sound inferior to the n52 because of the reason of forced induction. Personally the n54 would be a prime candidate for a swap because of the 300hp, less power than a s54, but more than the s50/s52. And the n54 is capable of handling a huge amount of power on a stock internals (700+ crank hp). N54 is rock solid, and in the event of wanting more power in the future stock turbos can be removed for a single to get more power. Seems like a better swap than the n52 to me, but that's just my .02

Glad people are looking into newer swaps, it make for some awesome e30's

[pandaboo911]

Not here to argue, just trying to point out that you make the n54 sound inferior to the n52 because of the reason of forced induction. Personally the n54 would be a prime candidate for a swap because of the 300hp, less power than a s54, but more than the s50/s52. And the n54 is capable of handling a huge amount of power on a stock internals (700+ crank hp). N54 is rock solid, and in the event of wanting more power in the future stock turbos can be removed for a single to get more power. Seems like a better swap than the n52 to me, but that's just my .02

Glad people are looking into newer swaps, it make for some awesome e30's

Probably 90% of used n54s you can buy are coming out of wrecked cars. Wrecked 335s have probably been abused, unless some Asian lady drove it and got rear ended. In which case any used n54 you buy will need its turbos replaced. they last about 60k.

Also swapping an n54 is kind of pointless when you can buy an s54 with 330 NA horsepower, and plenty of swap documentation.

[VinniE30]

Not here to argue, just trying to point out that you make the n54 sound inferior to the n52 because of the reason of forced induction. Personally the n54 would be a prime candidate for a swap because of the 300hp, less power than a s54, but more than the s50/s52. And the n54 is capable of handling a huge amount of power on a stock internals (700+ crank hp). N54 is rock solid, and in the event of wanting more power in the future stock turbos can be removed for a single to get more power. Seems like a better swap than the n52 to me, but that's just my .02

Glad people are looking into newer swaps, it make for some awesome e30's

If you actually read the whole thread you would have read my answer to why n52 is a better swap candidate than the n54 in my opinion... And the n54 using FI was only one of my reasons, which the person that quoted me picked out.
from a few posts back...

http://www.r3vlimited.com/board/showpost.php?p=3185400&postcount=37

Read what I said about it there, i'm not going to explain it again.
The only point you're making for the n54 is power. That's not what this is about.
My main point was having a light engine. On that same note, I'd rather have a n20 than an n54 in an e30... Lighter than even the n52 AND would sit farther back in the engine bay, and still more power than you can handle, 300+ hp with mods. But there are more complications swapping it into an e30 than even the n52 and n54.

[e30shmobberr]

Probably 90% of used n54s you can buy are coming out of wrecked cars. Wrecked 335s have probably been abused, unless some Asian lady drove it and got rear ended. In which case any used n54 you buy will need its turbos replaced. they last about 60k.

Also swapping an n54 is kind of pointless when you can buy an s54 with 330 NA horsepower, and plenty of swap documentation.

There are always opportunities to be able to get a low mileage engine that has not been beaten up. Might just take awhile ha.

If one got the swap to work, the n54 would be capable of producing more power than the s54 with less mods. so far the testing of the n54 has shown that the engine can handle a great deal of stress and power with stock internals. For the guys that want crazy power, this road would make more sense than the s54.

But for the person that doesn't want a crazy hp swap, the s54 would be the better choice.

[VinniE30]

If one got the swap to work, the n54 would be capable of producing more power than the s54 with less mods. so far the testing of the n54 has shown that the engine can handle a great deal of stress and power with stock internals. For the guys that want crazy power, this road would make more sense than the s54.

The thing is though if you're looking for crazy power neither of those are the best option. It's doing the proven and well documented 24v e36 engine swaps and then boosting it (or boosted m20) which is also been done and proven to be very capable. Look the people that actually want the crazy power you're talking about and look what they use.

http://www.e30tech.com/forum/showthread.php?t=3473

^ The top 2 on the list there are boosted m52s and the majority of the rest are boosted m20s. The n54 does not appeal to this application when a proven, well known setup can do the same thing for way less money and trouble.
The n52 has the advantage of being very light. Think of it this way... it makes s50/s52 power while being way lighter than those iron blocks, and it's also way more efficient.

[e30shmobberr]

If you actually read the whole thread you would have read my answer to why n52 is a better swap candidate than the n54 in my opinion... And the n54 using FI was only one of my reasons, which the person that quoted me picked out.
from a few posts back...

http://www.r3vlimited.com/board/showpost.php?p=3185400&postcount=37

Read what I said about it there, i'm not going to explain it again.
The only point you're making for the n54 is power. That's not what this is about.
My main point was having a light engine. On that same note, I'd rather have a n20 than an n54 in an e30... Lighter than even the n52 AND would sit farther back in the engine bay, and still more power than you can handle, 300+ hp with mods. But there are more complications swapping it into an e30 than even the n52 and n54.

You informed me about the weight of the n52 over the n54. I did not know that the n52 was lighter. I learned something. Thank you.

My intentions on my postings were not to attack you in anyway. Or to detour you from a n52 swap. Being than this is a thread about a newer generation engine swap, it will gainn probably a lot of attention. I asked about why n52 over n54. You replied back with the weight reason (completely understandable) and you also stated "The only real advantage the n54 has over it is power." I replied back "Check you facts before saying statements like this." (btw came off a bit strong there, didn't realize. My bad. Anyways, you were implying that the power was the "only real" advantage. Kind of a bold statement there. The n54 will handle way more stress and abuse because it is a better built engine. More strength would lead to a longer lasting engine (correct me if I'm wrong). That would be another advantage over the n52.

Being that the n54 is becoming a well known BMW engine, I am not the only one that would think why n52 over n54. I did not want the "only real advantage" statement to detour others away from the n54. maybe some of the information that is discovered about the n52 swap might help out the guys that want to do a n54 swap.

Sorry I hate being in debates/arguments, did not mean to start one. Just that I really like the n54 because it keeps surprising everyone with its capabilities.

[nando]

I can see it now - just like every time somebody talks about building an M20, you get all the idiots posting "just M50 swap dude" - some guy spends a lot of effort doing an N52 and a bunch of kids post "just N54 swap it, dude". :p

personally I think an N54 swap is going to cost as much as an S54, if not more, for about the same power. Yeah it has more power potential (or not - horsepowerfreaks anyone?) - but 700bhp in an E30 is going to be 100% pointless. the N52 has the edge in weight for sure.

[VinniE30]

^ Someone gets it.

This thread was made to share info on the swap and discuss it.
I'm not doing this BTW, just wanted to get r3v to start talking about it and brainstorm some ideas, my current goal is just to do an M5x swap.:)

[nando]

what's the weight comparison between the N54 and S54? they're both cast iron, correct?

[Fusion]

When you look at pics of the N52 intake manifolds they dont seem to have injectors ports, at least not in the same position as the M50/M52 ones, they are either underneath or in the actual head of the car.

Aren't N52 high pressure injected? Thus injected directly?
Iirc, some problems with FI on the first engines?
Sorry for my ignorance, but this is new to me and I'm interested in this swap.

[nando]

somewhat on-topic, but did E60s come with the N52? I really want an E60 wagon, AWD, with a 3 liter N52, for the family..

[Fusion]

Seems like only the 230hp version, marked as 528i/ix sedan and touring.
Europe has the 272hp.