Why cant I run my M52 in OBD2 configuration on my swap?

[FredK]

That is just plain wrong. The gains from the OBD-I swap are from the M50 manifold. If you stuck an M50 manifold onto an M/S52, you'd see similar gains.

[jrez]

obd1 swap will yield you approx 10% over the exact same setup as obd2.



Do you have any dyno comparisons to back this up?

[Funkmasta]

I don't know why anyone would want to go through so much headache to have a less efficient engine...

The OBD1 swap is EASY. Really, it is. there is ONE c101 connector (instead of up to 3 on the OBD2 cars).

You have Much much MUCH more to wire in an OBD2 conversion than you would to run into in the obd1 swap.

Think about it this way...
You can swap your motor to obd1, or you can swap your chassis to obd2. The answer is a no-brainer to me. Especially when the obd1 swap will yield you approx 10% over the exact same setup as obd2.

[etxxz]

a good read:

http://www.europeantransmissions.com...0EWS%20BMW.pdf

pretty much sums up how EWS works and how it communicates with they key and dme...digital signal etc etc etc i'm waiting on the transmitter module to start my car o.O

[jrez]

my bad

[e304me]

i think he was talking about the single vanos m52 z3 engnie

[jrez]

Very straight forward. Its just OBD1 swap and go.

and what do you with the exhaust cam vanos?

[e30_kid89]

Very straight forward. Its just OBD1 swap and go.

[e304me]

well the aluminum block is why i wanted to use it, it saves 50lbs over the iron block.

is the 97-98 z3 the only other option? they are a much straight forward drop in right?

[Brew]

alright thanks for the help. Im debating whether i should do the swap or not. There is an m52tu daul vanos (same engine you have??) for sale locally.

did you save your final wiring decisions? that would be a big help. Also doing some searching i found that you had to convert the speedo signal to digital? what was involved in that?


edit: looking more closely your engine looks like the m52, not the m52tu, The pan gasket part numbers are the same though so hopefully that will work. I guess no one has ever put a m52tu in an e30 before? sucks for me haha

I'm bet for the most part is very similar to the m52. The main difference being dual vanos.

I'd stay away from the M52tu. Its actually a very different motor from the M52. Aluminum block, different engine management, manifolds, etc.

[EtaSport]

I dont know if it will help, but I have seen an m54 installed in an e30 over on e30tech. when I asked the owner about his ecu "mods" he said a bmw tech friend of his disabled a lot of the functions that werent required, but couldnt specify. So, yes it is possible to do a dual vanos m52tu.

The TU however is MS42 as opposed to the MS41.1. There are a few different things. You still have an MDK throttle valve which has a cable as opposed to the EDK and throttle motor. It also has a DISA manifold. You still might be able to swap an earlier manifold over, but the DISA is probably your best bet for performance, even over the m50.

It also has EWS 3.3 which might put a few snags in things. If you think you are really serious about doing it let me know. I have all the IPO charts and the technical training manual for MS42, as well as all the info on EWS systems. You may need to get all the parts from the donor car though, as im not sure if you'll be able to encode the module in the e30 without a complete CAN-bus.

[matt]

If your tuner is good enough with code it is theoretically possible. I can't say if it's ever been done or not.

It has.

[e304me]

alright thanks for the help. Im debating whether i should do the swap or not. There is an m52tu daul vanos (same engine you have??) for sale locally.

did you save your final wiring decisions? that would be a big help. Also doing some searching i found that you had to convert the speedo signal to digital? what was involved in that?


edit: looking more closely your engine looks like the m52, not the m52tu, The pan gasket part numbers are the same though so hopefully that will work. I guess no one has ever put a m52tu in an e30 before? sucks for me haha

I'm bet for the most part is very similar to the m52. The main difference being dual vanos.

[jrez]

Im at work right now, but I'll give you some quick answers;

Brake booster - modified 320i unit, no way the stock one will fit.

e34 pan fits fine

drive shaft/tranny - all e36 here, no issues with fitting to the e30


for wiring, I used the bently manual for the 328i, and a reproduction factory wiring manual for the e30, as the Bently e30 one sucked for schematics.
I fix commercial aircraft for a living, so i've spent a decent amount of time in wiring schematics, and I was able to make some educated guesses as to how some of the components needed to be wired up.
Like I said earlier, there was'nt much available in terms of help 3 years ago, but having done it, I can say it is not rocket science.
If you have some specific questions I'd happy to pass on what I did.

[e304me]

Can you share with us what all is necessary?

did you need to swap the brake booster or does the stock one work with the obd2 manifold?

e34 pan fits fine?

what driveshaft and tranny did you use?

do you have any wiring charts that you used? is it pretty much just looking at the ETMs and matching things up?