Adding vanos to a non-vanos engine

[Kerrath]

I've searched quite a bit yesterday and today for information on replacing the n/v head with a later vanos one and I haven't come up with anything.

I'm curious if it's possible and what parts would be needed to do it. I kinda got swap-happy and grabbed the first m5x I found when if I had been more patient, I would've gotten a vanos one.

[SpecM]

you can, but it will be cheaper/better/more powerful to use an entire m50tu

you would need the head, harness, ecu, maf, knock sensers and other stuff

[Xuracing]

it would be cheaper to just purchase a vanos engine.!

[Kerrath]

Assume the head is free. So cost isn't an issue.
(Though I'm not disagreeing with you that a whole M50 TU would be generally a better idea.)

What's the difference between the vanos block and non-vanos?
IIRC the bore and stroke are the same and all the specs I can find suggest the difference is in the head.

[jahnaboi]

I believe the 93-95 m50vanos have oil squirters. Correct me if I'm wrong. =/

[Kerrath]

you can, but it will be cheaper/better/more powerful to use an entire m50tu

I believe the 93-95 m50vanos have oil squirters. Correct me if I'm wrong. =/

That makes it more powerful? ;)

[matt]

Swap in a whole vanos motor. The rods and pistons are very different. (Advantage: Vanos)

[Kerrath]

So then, it boils down to this;
I already have an M50 mostly done. Is it worth the effort to replace it with an M50tu now or eventually? Is it that much better on gas and is it that much better on power?

Low end power is nice and all, but I don't know how worth it to me it is considering I'm coming from a 3200lb volvo 240 with 114hp and an m50 in a much lighter car is going to be a huge improvement anyway.

[SpecM]

m50tu CR: 10.5:1

m50nv CR: 10:1

[Kerrath]

m50tu CR: 10.5:1

m50nv CR: 10:1

What difference in the block makes the CR higher on the vanos one?
Edit: Nevermind, 140mm vs 135mm rods.

[SpecM]

What difference in the block makes the CR higher on the vanos one?

the piston/rod combo, not the block

[So Live]

Dude honestly, after you buy the wiring harness, MAF sensor, cam and crank sensors, ECU you could have bought a used vanos motor and a half.

Trust me man i looked into it. Not worth the time or effort.

[416stroker]

just say fuck it and turbo the n/v instead

[Kingb]

What is Vanos and which years M5X's did they come in? Also is there a difference in the euro M5x's? Sorry I searched.

[So Live]

just say fuck it and turbo the n/v instead

Hell yeah! I totally agree. The only thing that blows with the non-vanos turbo is that you basically are strapped down to a standalone ecu cause theres no good way to tune the stock ECU and only 2 or 3 people actually do it. The vanos ecu is easy to tune and you can get a pretty good one from TRM at a pretty good price.

I stuck with the NV motor and now im buying an Autronic SM4 (standalone ecu) to control it.

What is Vanos and which years M5X's did they come in? Also is there a difference in the euro M5x's? Sorry I searched.

Vanos is BMW's variable intake cam timing system. It came on all e36 m/s5x motors from 1993 and e34's from late 92 i believe. The euro 'S' motors from 94 on i think had dual vanos. Im not sure about the euro m50's though.