Which engine should I go for?

[Major]

I've been wanting to do an engine swap seeing as I'd like to go down the turbo route. I've found an 3.2L S52 engine, and it would cost me about $1500 (US$ to ZAR converted), but haven't had much luck finding an M50/M52. Is this a good price?
Is the S52 a good engine for turbo purposes? Looking at all the forums I've gathered that people prefer to turbo an M50 or M52 with S52 parts, and it's usually cheaper too. Also converting an S52 to OBDI is a pain.
So what should I do. S52 with relatively low psi boost, or keep looking for an M50/M52? Or hell, stay with the M20 and turbo that?

Thanks!

[PiercedE30]

S50b32

[static]

http://forums.bimmerforums.com/forum/forumdisplay.php?f=150

http://www.e30tech.com/forum/forumdisplay.php?f=23

[Mike B.]

S50b32

Yep!

[SA E30]

Stick 2 South African Boards...

and it's easy enough 2 find a M50 here in SA

[BeirBrennerE30]

s54b32 turbo.... or s62b50 NA

[whiltebeitel]

I've been wanting to do an engine swap seeing as I'd like to go down the turbo route. I've found an 3.2L S52 engine, and it would cost me about $1500 (US$ to ZAR converted), but haven't had much luck finding an M50/M52. Is this a good price?
Is the S52 a good engine for turbo purposes? Looking at all the forums I've gathered that people prefer to turbo an M50 or M52 with S52 parts, and it's usually cheaper too. Also converting an S52 to OBDI is a pain.
So what should I do. S52 with relatively low psi boost, or keep looking for an M50/M52? Or hell, stay with the M20 and turbo that?

Thanks!

I think you should get the S52. More displacement, vastly superior heads. If convetting to OBD1 is too difficult for you, mybe an engine swap isn't really something you're ready for yet. Besides, you can make good power without convering, as OBDII tuning software has improved greatly since the inception of the S52.

[asubimmer]

you should swap in a m10b18 and boost it

[BeirBrennerE30]

I think you should get the S52. More displacement, vastly superior heads. If convetting to OBD1 is too difficult for you, mybe an engine swap isn't really something you're ready for yet. Besides, you can make good power without convering, as OBDII tuning software has improved greatly since the inception of the S52.

s52 heads are the same as m50 heads... and if you think swapping an obd2 engine to obd1 is hard just try putting an obd2 engine in an e30...

[Van Westervelt]

m52 has been a better option for reliably taking boost I do beleive. Forged crank on that one if I am not mistaken.

[LINUS]

Can't say much about your market, I'd take whatever low-miled motor presented itself. No worries on if it's an 'M5x' or a 'S5x' - either way you know from the get-go that want a snail, so it's not like the guys that build a hi-compression NA setup, then decide they need different pistons so they can boost & basically have to start over.

If you know you want a turbo, I think I personally would find the turbo kit / setup that suited my 'wants' best - buy it first. Then get the motor it is best suited to run with. It might be a little easier to keep your budget in check too kind of going in reverse order.

At least I'd look at it that way & see if that narrowed the field of choices.

[SA E30]

To have a really stonking motor in South Africa, u gonna have to shell out more than 60k (ZAR , not USD)

If u think u gonna buy a M50 drop forged internals into it, and boost it with any amount of reliability, u dreaming

We dont have a S52 here... , and a S54 swap is undeard of, with these motors still out of the budget for 90% of e30 drivers.

[gobuffs]

ZA got Euro motors in the E36. My S50 B32 is from a ZA sedan.

[LINUS]

To have a really stonking motor in South Africa, u gonna have to shell out more than 60k (ZAR , not USD)

stonking - is that good?


ZAR - don't worry, the way the USD is plummeting, soon we'll pay $60K for a motor too. Parity FTL.

[SA E30]

Haha, stonking is strong , and reliable :)

Yes, I know that we got those motors here... my s50b30 Euro is lying at my mech's place