s50 or s52 ?

[mitch500]

ok there is this motor for sale for 3500canadian claims its an s52 obdI conversion. but i always thought that the oil filler cap is back by the firewall on the s52's? does anyone know im sure you guru's do.

[BimmerToad]

looks like either a M/S52 to me. The X52s have the oil filter towards the front of the engine and have a plastic vanos cover.

[325Projectz]

Thats not saying much...

My motor looks the same and its only a s50.

Whats up with that coolant hose?

[mitch500]

hmm dont ask me looks strange. i dunno buddy cant provide me vin and he had like 3 posts i think hes scamming

[tjhartge]

valve covers can be retrofitted......

check the engine number, there are codes to denote the 3.2 engine....

something like 32 6E XX, if its a 3.0, 30 6E XX

since it's an OBD conversion, intake and related parts would look exactly like the s50,

[Brew]

Looks like an OBD1 S52 to me. S50's have a different oil filter housing with a metal cap.

[325Projectz]

Oil filter housings can be changed just as easy, well not quite but...

You can see if its a OBD2 by looking at the block and head. Check for the CPS on the side of the block & check the head to see if it has untapped embossing for a second coolant sensor.

[grib]

From this photo it is not possible to tell for sure which engine it is. The oil filler is correct for an S52 - but the intake manifold is definitely an OBD-1 manifold. Manifolds can be swapped without doing a full OBD conversion, though.

[C ///M]

It has OBDII coils with an OBDI coil harness, as the OBDII valve cover is not notched properly for the harness and the OBDI harness runs a little different than the 2. Also has the 3.2's 21.5# pink top fuel injectors.

Looks like an OBDI 3.2 to me. That plumbing near the vanos cover is pretty sketchy though.

I'd get an engine code off the block or a VIN number if I were you so you can be positive. Anybody can Frankenstein a motor.

[mitch500]

you guys are awesome help. i love this site.

[Bennetts22@aol.com]

Its hard to say without numbers??? My s52 1999 has the metal oil cover.

[1990m3]

it's an OBDI S52, you can see the hose going across the front of the VANOS that goes to the air pump for the traction control, the S50 motor doesn't have this

[LINUS]

Looks like an OBD1 S52 to me. S50's have a different oil filter housing with a metal cap.

That isn't 100% indicator - My late '97 build has the metal cap to the oil filter. Salt corrosion on it was uniform with the rest of the motor, so I don't think it was a replace.

Mitch - I'm voting OBD1 based on the valve cover breather looking like 'custom' fit - if you look on the exhaust is there an oxygen sensor on each manifold before the flanged connection to the downpipe? If they are both still there and hooked to the wiring harness then OBD2.
If you are OBD1 then the O2 sensor should be downstream of where both downpipes merge, at least if it was done right.
Also, looking at the exhaust manifolds where they bolt to the head - do you see a diagonal oval shaped flange on each one that either has a 5/8" hole welded closed, or some sort of equivalent? Or do you see a ~7" long piece of 5/8" stainless tubing tying the 2 manifolds together and a piece of electrical equipment hooked to it?
Tubing and a air pump = OBD2
Holes welded closed or equiv = OBD1