Announcement

Collapse
No announcement yet.

S50 vs. S52

Collapse
X
Collapse
 
  • Page of 2
  • Filter
  • Time
  • Show
Clear All
new posts
Previous 1 2 template Next
    #1

    S50 vs. S52

    I'm trying to decide what to go with for my daily driver. The additional cost/work involved with an OBD1 conversion on the S52 or retainer replacement on the S50 is not a factor here. I also understand that it is easier to find an S52 with low miles than an S50, but for the sake of this discussion lets assume I can find both with relatively the same mileage. Lets also assume that I will be staying NA.


    After looking at countless dyno plots of each, w/ or w/o NA mods, it seems that the only significant quantifiable difference is torque below 3k rpms. It usually seems to be a 20-30 lbft difference. Will my butt feel this?

    Now I know there are a few people here that initially had S50s in their e30s and have since swapped them out for S52s. Reasons?

    I guess what all this blathering is amounting to is this: With a large amount of time spent below 3k rpms during daily use, will I regret going with the S50 instead of the S52?





    Cliff notes: Will the extra torques of the S52 make me regret going with an S50?
    Last edited by madjurgen; 03-02-2008, 04:47 PM.

    As time went on, the factory developed the car each year, making it faster, more comfortable, and capable of handling at higher speeds.
    You don’t want this. You want the trickiest, most dangerous, oldest model you can find. Only then can you prove to the world that you’re a man.
    Tags: None
    #2
    I'd go s52 either way. Why take a chance on an older, one year production engine with chances of valve issues? Price MAY be 200-500 more, right?

    Comment

      #3
      Originally posted by Farbin Kaiber View Post
      I'd go s52 either way. Why take a chance on an older, one year production engine with chances of valve issues? Price MAY be 200-500 more, right?


      Doesn't matter if its a few years older if it has near the same amount of miles. Edited original post to include retainer replacement as a non-issue. Not concerned with price either. Let's just imagine I found a good candidate local S50 first. Should I pick it up or wait for a good candidate local S52 to pop up?

      This was mainly meant for people to express their subjective feelings about the 'daily driving power', if you will, of each motor.

      As time went on, the factory developed the car each year, making it faster, more comfortable, and capable of handling at higher speeds.
      You don’t want this. You want the trickiest, most dangerous, oldest model you can find. Only then can you prove to the world that you’re a man.

      Comment

        #4
        well with an s50 u'll see more gains on ur bolt ons, but our s52s have a lil more displacement, gain around 20 hp just going to obd1...and ya they r gonna have less miles...ur best bet would be to get one out of like a 98 M coupe, it's got an aluminum head so it's the same weight as an m20!!! if u take a/c off ur even lighter...s52 ftw!!! i love my motor :bow:
        Check out Undr8d Empire on Facebook: www.facebook.com/Undr8dEmpireLlc

        INSTAGRAM: @UNDR8D_EMPIRE
        Scarlet V2 - #Project333Ti by @castromotorsport, @kingsautobodyshop, @bimmerheads, @hardmotorsport, @excel_motorsports & @mateomotorsports - http://www.r3vlimited.com/board/showthread.php?t=371356

        Your signature picture has been removed since it contained the Photobucket "upgrade your account" image.

        Comment

          #5
          i vote s52 for daily and keep the s52 intake mani.

          s50 is kinda gutless below 3k (what i have)

          Comment

            #6
            Originally posted by e30polak View Post
            ur best bet would be to get one out of like a 98 M coupe, it's got an aluminum head so it's the same weight as an m20!!!
            so i guess a regular M has a cast iron head then ;)

            Comment

              #7
              Originally posted by static View Post
              so i guess a regular M has a cast iron head then ;)
              lol, i let that slide when i read it.

              Comment

                #8
                Originally posted by e30polak View Post
                well with an s50 u'll see more gains on ur bolt ons, but our s52s have a lil more displacement, gain around 20 hp just going to obd1...and ya they r gonna have less miles...ur best bet would be to get one out of like a 98 M coupe, it's got an aluminum head so it's the same weight as an m20!!! if u take a/c off ur even lighter...s52 ftw!!! i love my motor :bow:
                Do you ever post anything that's correct?

                Comment

                  #9
                  You're correct about the 3.2's having quite a bit more low end torque. The extra ~4mm of stroke makes a nice difference in the 2000-4000 rev range that you use in a daily driver. 3.2's have the "squeeze the trigger and pull at any RPM" factor, while 3.0's tend to be softer down low and really come alive around 4000RPM. 3.2's will have the grunt you'll want for a DD, but arn't necessarily faster in a drag race.

                  If you're buying a used junkyard motor, I'd get a 3.2 due to the nicer bottomend, updated components, greater availability, lower mileage (usually), etc.

                  Comment

                    #10
                    Originally posted by static View Post
                    i vote s52 for daily and keep the s52 intake mani.

                    s50 is kinda gutless below 3k (what i have)


                    Exactly the type of subjective response I was looking for. So I'm guessing you'd put an S52 w/ S50 mani somewhere in between the two stock configs? Doesnt the S52 mani make the motor dead up top past 6k?

                    As time went on, the factory developed the car each year, making it faster, more comfortable, and capable of handling at higher speeds.
                    You don’t want this. You want the trickiest, most dangerous, oldest model you can find. Only then can you prove to the world that you’re a man.

                    Comment

                      #11
                      Originally posted by madjurgen View Post
                      Exactly the type of subjective response I was looking for. So I'm guessing you'd put an S52 w/ S50 mani somewhere in between the two stock configs? Doesnt the S52 mani make the motor dead up top past 6k?
                      The OBD-1 manifold flows roughly 280cfm while the OBD-2 is around 210cfm. Past 6000, the OBD-2 manifold is a choker. The benefit is the daily driving/useable torque.

                      Also, it MAY be possible to use the stock E30 booster with the shorter/smaller OBD-2 manifold, but I havn't confirmed this.

                      Comment

                        #12
                        Originally posted by Stu View Post
                        The OBD-1 manifold flows roughly 280cfm while the OBD-2 is around 210cfm. Past 6000, the OBD-2 manifold is a choker. The benefit is the daily driving/useable torque.

                        Thanks for the data points Stu, I didnt know the difference was so large. So the inevitable question: Does putting the OBD1 manifold on an S52 negate the low-down torque advantage it has in stock configuration? Or is it really the best of both worlds for DDing?


                        Thanks for the serious responses guys. I know these questions might be annoying to some but i dont know of any '95 M3s locally so my chances to experience the S50 are limited at the moment.

                        As time went on, the factory developed the car each year, making it faster, more comfortable, and capable of handling at higher speeds.
                        You don’t want this. You want the trickiest, most dangerous, oldest model you can find. Only then can you prove to the world that you’re a man.

                        Comment

                          #13
                          Originally posted by madjurgen View Post
                          Thanks for the data points Stu, I didnt know the difference was so large. So the inevitable question: Does putting the OBD1 manifold on an S52 negate the low-down torque advantage it has in stock configuration? Or is it really the best of both worlds?


                          Thanks for the serious responses guys. I know these questions might be annoying to some but i dont know of any '95 M3s locally so my chances to experience the S50 are limited at the moment.
                          No, the 3.2 will still make quite a bit more torque than a 3.0 given the same intake manifold.

                          Example: One of my brothers had a motor built just like mine except for stroke. His was 89.6x86 while mine was 86x86. Both cars used OBD-1 manifold, similar exhaust, same head work, etc. The difference in his 3.2 around town was quite noticeable, like Jason (jason89i) put it...the 3.2 is "squeeze the trigger at any RPM" while the 3.0 just doesn't have that low-end grunt.

                          Honestly, the 3.0 feels like a Civic Si hitting VTEC while the 3.2 is linear power off-idle. However, that's not to say the 3.0 is gutless under 3000. You really have to drive the cars to get a feel for all this.

                          Buying a junkyard motor to do a swap....go for the 3.2. They're just better, especially for the RPM-range you use on a daily basis. That said...my 3.0 whipped my brother 3.2 in straight line acceleration. :) ~

                          Comment

                            #14
                            Originally posted by Stu View Post
                            That said...my 3.0 whipped my brother 3.2 in straight line acceleration. :) ~

                            I don't get it, if they had similar mods why the whipping? Gearing?


                            And not to get OT in my own thread, but why havent you added cams to your track beast?

                            As time went on, the factory developed the car each year, making it faster, more comfortable, and capable of handling at higher speeds.
                            You don’t want this. You want the trickiest, most dangerous, oldest model you can find. Only then can you prove to the world that you’re a man.

                            Comment

                              #15
                              Originally posted by matt View Post
                              Do you ever post anything that's correct?

                              well there's some big portion of the motor that's aluminum in the M coupe that makes it lighter dammit!!! and i post this info so people who know what they r saying can correct me like u matt...jerk
                              Check out Undr8d Empire on Facebook: www.facebook.com/Undr8dEmpireLlc

                              INSTAGRAM: @UNDR8D_EMPIRE
                              Scarlet V2 - #Project333Ti by @castromotorsport, @kingsautobodyshop, @bimmerheads, @hardmotorsport, @excel_motorsports & @mateomotorsports - http://www.r3vlimited.com/board/showthread.php?t=371356

                              Your signature picture has been removed since it contained the Photobucket "upgrade your account" image.

                              Comment

                              Previous 1 2 template Next
                              Working...
                              X