Upgrade of E30 w/ Existing M50 Swap to S50 / S52 - Easy as it seems… or Not…
Hi Folks,
Have an E30 with M50 swap. Everything works as it should, mechanically and electrically. Obviously a correctly done conversion.
Due to the radiator cap failing to seal, and a flaky temp gauge it overheated and cooked the engine. The car has a well sorted out suspension, handles great IMO, is really fun to track and makes a great HPDE car for instructing. Have put a lot of work sorting out some things the PO had neglected, and finally got it right, just in time to have it go south. Bottom line I want to resurrect it.
Obvious first choice, easiest and least expensive, would be obtaining a replacement M50 long block or complete engine. QED
I'd previously toyed with the idea of replacing the M50 with the much preferred S50 or S52 but aside from the cost I was under the impression little of the existing stuff for the M50 conversion would be useable hence yet more expense and a whole lot of extra work and hassle.
Having come time to do something about it I took another look into trying an upgrade to an S5x. Have spent a good deal of time reviewing several articles and sources on the subject of M5x / S5x to E30 swaps including the numerous threads on this site.
If I'm correctly understanding these sources, it appears that all the bits and pieces which are present for the existing M50 conversion are the same ones needed for a S50, or even a S52, conversion, to include the electronics, which I had a hard time believing at first but appear to be the case.
If true, then all I need is an S5x long block. Swap the lunched M50 long block out with an S5x long block and with a few possible minor sensor connections being different, hook it up with what's there and go.
The following links are the main sources I've reviewed to arrive at the above conclusions:To sum up, this info suggests that it takes the same basic parts to make the E30 engine swap regardless of whether one is going with a M5x or an S5x, with perhaps a few, if any, minor differences, mostly related to doing an OBD II to OBD I conversion. Which if I read that part right is the same as needed with a straight up M5x swap. Which my existing setup has to start with.
What am I missing here? Would like a confirmation of my conclusions… or disabusing me of the thought that something could be so easy. Preferably from someone intimately familiar with this specific subject.
TIA,
Hi Folks,
Have an E30 with M50 swap. Everything works as it should, mechanically and electrically. Obviously a correctly done conversion.
Due to the radiator cap failing to seal, and a flaky temp gauge it overheated and cooked the engine. The car has a well sorted out suspension, handles great IMO, is really fun to track and makes a great HPDE car for instructing. Have put a lot of work sorting out some things the PO had neglected, and finally got it right, just in time to have it go south. Bottom line I want to resurrect it.
Obvious first choice, easiest and least expensive, would be obtaining a replacement M50 long block or complete engine. QED
I'd previously toyed with the idea of replacing the M50 with the much preferred S50 or S52 but aside from the cost I was under the impression little of the existing stuff for the M50 conversion would be useable hence yet more expense and a whole lot of extra work and hassle.
Having come time to do something about it I took another look into trying an upgrade to an S5x. Have spent a good deal of time reviewing several articles and sources on the subject of M5x / S5x to E30 swaps including the numerous threads on this site.
If I'm correctly understanding these sources, it appears that all the bits and pieces which are present for the existing M50 conversion are the same ones needed for a S50, or even a S52, conversion, to include the electronics, which I had a hard time believing at first but appear to be the case.
If true, then all I need is an S5x long block. Swap the lunched M50 long block out with an S5x long block and with a few possible minor sensor connections being different, hook it up with what's there and go.
The following links are the main sources I've reviewed to arrive at the above conclusions:To sum up, this info suggests that it takes the same basic parts to make the E30 engine swap regardless of whether one is going with a M5x or an S5x, with perhaps a few, if any, minor differences, mostly related to doing an OBD II to OBD I conversion. Which if I read that part right is the same as needed with a straight up M5x swap. Which my existing setup has to start with.
What am I missing here? Would like a confirmation of my conclusions… or disabusing me of the thought that something could be so easy. Preferably from someone intimately familiar with this specific subject.
TIA,
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