S54 intake plenum onto S50??

[M3 euro ltw]

Validation

It looks like a lot of the stock plenum design was restricted due to how much space BMW had to fit it into the E46 chassis.. Not saying that it is a terrible setup-- it is not. Just agreeing with Alex that the CSL's manifold and others out there in the market allow better flow to to the trumpets.

Absolutely agree with a prior post celebrating the S54 VE or any other aspect of its performance....

But none-the-less, there are always decisions made that affect performance from being even better. Great examples are evident in header design. BMW consistently has designed headers for the E36/E36 which accomodate RHD steering linkages and stearing parts despite the very obvious consession to performance that results in a LHD car.

Damn Brits.

(JK)

But seriously, if you look at that as an example, it should be obvious that there could easily be artificial constraints on the flip side, the intake made for space accomodations.

Hopefully will be able to get some real data on what limitations are imposed by the airbox when I get my M-Tecnic to the dyno with this S54 on standalone....

[rThor432]

It looks like a lot of the stock plenum design was restricted due to how much space BMW had to fit it into the E46 chassis.. Not saying that it is a terrible setup-- it is not. Just agreeing with Alex that the CSL's manifold and others out there in the market allow better flow to to the trumpets.

[lifeiskaos]

s54's are incredibly effecient engines... Their VE is >100% IIRC. Lots of engineering went into that intake.

[rThor432]

Careful, not as wonderful a product as you might think.

Look into one closely, and you'll see a very, very significant restriction to airflow in cylinders 1,2...and especially to 6.

Yeah, I got a good look at this today and you are absolutely right. It's a bigger restriction than I would have guessed. Have you guys compared dyno plots and AFR's between an engine equipped with both manifolds? That'd be interesting to see..


^^The horns for 1, 2, and 6 are shoved right up against the inner wall of the plenum.

[M3 euro ltw]

S54 intake Plenum

Careful, not as wonderful a product as you might think.

Look into one closely, and you'll see a very, very significant restriction to airflow in cylinders 1,2...and especially to 6.

On the S50B3X, they used a larger rubber boot, so at least there is a larger opening, and a bit less directed airflow to cylinders 3,4.

On the S50BX motors, even the 3.0 version with the longer horns does not project the horns THAT close to the opposite wall of the plenum and creat flow issues...

There's a reason CF box on the CSL helps so much, and its primarily the issue with the horns so close to the inner wall of the plenum.

I could be wrong, but the DBW aspect of the S54 allows the intake plenum to come up VERY close to the TB assembly, and I don't think you'll be able to push the S54 up that close....unless you incorporate the S54 TB too, and get around the DBW issues.

The S50BX plenums look cooler anyway, work with those!

heheheh,

Just my 02 worth.

[xwill112x]

is the brake booster on the driver's side in your cars?

if this was true, everyone would want a rusted out shell so it would be easier to m50 swap it because the booster would clear. lolz

[rThor432]

I've got a friend with an S50B32 E30. Next time he comes by the shop I'll try to see how the S54 plenum matches up.. I'm selling mine and running the CF manifold so it would be nice to see if it is of any use to Euro S50 guys..

[lifeiskaos]

Hmmm, I'll have to try and get a set of S54 ITB's and tinker with them :)

:D

[MR_SAZ]

i need to know the final results with this... im so interested in doing it....pls let me know of any updates...cheers

sash

[SA E30]

Lol, it's like that on all RHD e30's :)

[equate975]

Lol, the brake booster is in the same spot as the LHD drive cars... we have a rod that runs across from the brake pedal to the booster and master cyl.

Seriously?? lol, that sounds ghetto.

[SA E30]

Lol, the brake booster is in the same spot as the LHD drive cars... we have a rod that runs across from the brake pedal to the booster and master cyl.

[equate975]

is the brake booster on the driver's side in your cars?

is the brake pedal over there? lol

[CarsSuck]

is the brake booster on the driver's side in your cars?

[SA E30]

Hmmm, I'll have to try and get a set of S54 ITB's and tinker with them :)