what to look for when buying an m50?

[vic_325]

i'm going to go take a look at an m50 out of a 94 325is. i havent had any first hand experience with these engines yet, but what should i be looking for?

the engine is not in the car so i wont be able to hear it run, but the guy said its strong with good compression. claims it has 152k kms. tranny is attatched.

ive been doing alot of reading about 24v swaps so i know what most parts will be needed to do the swap,

just some advice on what i should be expecting to see on a 152k kms m50 is what im looking for.

Thanks, Vic.

[grib]

Definitely determine what parts are included with it. More is better, because it's all stuff that you won't have to source later... my engine came almost bare and it cost me.
Here's a quick list:
ECU (413 red is ideal, but a silver label one can still be chipped - I believe the 506 only came on M cars)
Manifolds (both exhaust and intake)
MAF sensor
Wiring harness, all brackets and sensors (you may not be familiar enough with the engine yet to know all of them, but it should be telling if it has been "looted") Believe it or not my engine was missing some brackets and they can be difficult to hunt down
Exhaust possibly? (this would save you some dough)
Even small stuff like the shifter saves you time/money for sourcing.
Don't worry about the oil pan, you'll be replacing it.
Any performance parts? Some people have been pleasantly surprised by performance fly wheels.

Check for any obvious cracks/dents/missing parts. My engine showed up with a cracked valve cover and vanos unit - possibly damaged during removal?
If the party has service records (oil changes, tune ups, repairs, etc) that is a plus.
Since the tranny is attached, you might consider a compression/leak-down test if either of you know how/are equipped.
If nothing else, check the condition of the spark plugs and residual oil.

[vic_325]

thanks for the post,
i called the guy yesterday and he said he got it used from the wreckers and never got to swap it (into his e36) so he doesnt know much about it, it has ecu and harness, but there is no intake mani and im not sure if he has the maf and TB, it does have headers and a chip tho.

but basicly i should just look for leaks, any broken wiring.

[surebimmer]

I would see if you can take a look under the valve cover and make sure there Isn't sludge build up on the top of the head cams. Look and see were the leaks are coming from.if there are any.

[SchnellerVert]

It would behove you to be able tho hear it run. Vanos unit if it's going south will rattle like a can of marbles. Then I would want some form of written guarantee that it runs and the vanos unit is quiet and good, due to you can not hear it run.

[BigD]

If you're still in Ontario, there's a really good guy parting out an M50 525i. I bet you could hear it run and if you get that motor, you won't have to touch the oil pan. I got some odds and ends from him, just another student down on his luck, trying to recoup $ from an accident. Check craigs if you care.

[grib]

thanks for the post,
i called the guy yesterday and he said he got it used from the wreckers and never got to swap it (into his e36) so he doesnt know much about it, it has ecu and harness, but there is no intake mani and im not sure if he has the maf and TB, it does have headers and a chip tho.

but basicly i should just look for leaks, any broken wiring.

If it's missing the intake manifold forward, I would skip it unless you are getting a GREAT price.

You're going to spend several hundred dollars getting that stuff together, and whatever else might be missing. (Manifold, T-body, MAF, etc)

Also "got it used from the wreckers" doesn't inspire confidence. I would back away from this one. There isn't much more frustrating then spending money on an engine/tranny, then spending a ton of money on parts, then spending a ton of time putting it all in the car... and having it not work.

[vic_325]

thanks for the help guys, but he had someone looking at it before i got to it and was sold... so im looking around again.

BigD does this guy have an add "parting 95 e34" on Craigs?

i heard the wire harness is too short from the e34( ecu cant reach the inside of the car) and that mounting arms and exhaus manis dont fit. so i figure it would be better to get an e36 engine and saftey lock the oil pump while the pan is off.