how fast is an e30 with m50???

[rThor432]

Not everyone does the swap to run a 14 second 1/4.

Seems like that is the name of the game most every time someone posts up about a 24 valve motor. The "how fast can I go" question always pops up.

Out of curiosity, what reason other than power did you have for swapping in the M50?

[BigD]

Seems like that is the name of the game most every time someone posts up about a 24 valve motor. The "how fast can I go" question always pops up.

Out of curiosity, what reason other than power did you have for swapping in the M50?

How fast does it go is fine but what's the 1/4 mile and 0-60 obsession - try a 60-120 pull. You're not going to get an answer that means diddly shit from a standstill until someone tries with 235++ tires. My friend who races his S14 M3 doesn't put on anything smaller than 245 R comps. Why would people with cars of almost the same weight and like 2x the torque seriously care about their 0-x acceleration times with shitty 205 ZRs? I'll try to get a time for my eta this summer, it's wearing 235 RT615s.

[ban1]

s50

[sumyungguy]

rebuild and turbo the m42.... 666Fabrication.com

[rThor432]

I'll try to get a time for my eta this summer, it's wearing 235 RT615s.

Stock eta?

[BigD]

Stock eta?

Mostly.

[matt]

Wide tires!!!!!

[hoveringuy]

I swapped to the M50 because it's something I've wanted to do for a while. It's still primarily a commuter car so going M50 was the low-risk path to upgrading with minimal down time. I've learned a lot about the car and the motor and now I have an easier path to an eventual S50 upgrade.

Yes, S50 eventually.

Meanwhile, the M50 is a nice motor and worth the trouble for me to upgrade from the M20.

[PiercedE30]

Did you skip the non-vanos pistons also?

(My last post doesn't apply to you)

Yes I did. I pretty much tossed the NV bottom end. I should have used Vanos valves and guides to take advantage of the smaller diameter valve stem. But, it's a learning process.

Oh, and fit the widest tire you can for all that traction you will need.

[rThor432]

Yes, S50 eventually.

Well the car is prepped for it now, all you have to do is pull the M50 and drop in the S50. That's convenient.

I can already see that I am going to have a dual cam E30 soon. I've been wanting an excuse to put a Euro motor in my E36 anyway, and that S52 would be perfect for a dual cam project.

Hmmm $$$$$...

[AL GReeNeRy]

An M50 is just a waste. I dont care if it is $700, it doesnt have enough power to overcome the added weight. For the cost of the motor alone you could build up a decent M20 that will easily out run an M5x.

If you do it right you will have more than $2k in it. Not saying you cant do it for that, but if I had an engine out it would be fully refreshed and decently hot rodded before it went back in. Not to mention I would buy a new lighter flywheel, clutch, and pressure plate that would run an extra ~$800 anyway.

Just get an S50 or S52 [unless you build an aluminum block]. Even then, I would put money into it so that it would out-perform an ///M motor.

My opinion though.

completely untrue. i personally know someone who threw more than 10k into a n/a fully built m20 with a goal of 300hp but didnt get remotely close to that. the only way to get good numbers out of an m20 is to boost the shit out of it.

s5x swap is by far the best bang for your buck, but if thats not obtainable at the time, an m50 is a good low budget swap that can be built into an s motor.

[rThor432]

completely untrue. i personally know someone who threw more than 10k into a n/a fully built m20 with a goal of 300hp but didnt get remotely close to that. the only way to get good numbers out of an m20 is to boost the shit out of it.

What is completely untrue? Stock vs. stock the M20 and M50 put down similar numbers. The M50 obviously has a bit better curve and overall power output, but the $1000 that goes into swapping in that motor (and that is a bare-bones budget swap) could be better spent elsewhere, or better yet, saved for an S5x.

Putting 10k into an N/A M20 is foolish, no offense. Hoping to get 300 horses out of an old N/A single cam is crazy. I didnt say that M20s can be built to compete with an S5x.

Unless you have an M50 lying around (ie. free) I see no reason to waste your time swapping out your M20 for it.

I'm in no way arguing that the single cam is superior or has even close to the potential of a dual cam. I just dont see the point of putting in an M5x when you can get 180 whp out of the M20 and still not have the added weight up front.

[AL GReeNeRy]

What is completely untrue? Stock vs. stock the M20 and M50 put down similar numbers. The M50 obviously has a bit better curve and overall power output, but the $1000 that goes into swapping in that motor (and that is a bare-bones budget swap) could be better spent elsewhere, or better yet, saved for an S5x.

Putting 10k into an N/A M20 is foolish, no offense. Hoping to get 300 horses out of an old N/A single cam is crazy. I didnt say that M20s can be built to compete with an S5x.

Unless you have an M50 lying around (ie. free) I see no reason to waste your time swapping out your M20 for it.

I'm in no way arguing that the single cam is superior or has even close to the potential of a dual cam. I just dont see the point of putting in an M5x when you can get 180 whp out of the M20 and still not have the added weight up front.

i was lookin at it from a different point of view. im doing the swap into my 318is which blew a HG, and needed tons of major engine service so in my case the m50 was a much more viable solution.

but when comparing an m50 swap to a running m20, you are correct. it isnt worth it and an s50 should be the MINIMUM. i do feel that the m50 is definitely a much better engine than the m20 as well but like you stated m20 to m50 isnt worth the gains. again, this is all based upon budget and all around goals for your car.

i personally cannot wait to get my m50 in =D

[hoveringuy]

Well the car is prepped for it now, all you have to do is pull the M50 and drop in the S50. That's convenient.

Not completely....

another reason I went with the M50 as the quicker alternative is that along with a 240hp S50 I would need 240hp brakes.

Plus, I'm runnning the stock exhaust. Great for the M50 (quiet!) but not so much for a bigger motor.

I still have lots of things to work on before I drop the S50.

[SA E30]

For the record, I like my M50.

I liked my M20, too (but not as much).

Not everyone does the swap to run a 14 second 1/4.

I used 2 do mid 14's win an M20 N/A on 225 R Comps ... that equates roughly mid 13's (depending on track) over in the states. (our tracks here are slower due to traction, and the fact that we so high above sea level)