I have noticed that there is a lot of information on R3v and on Bimmerforums about these engines. However, there are a couple problems, 1) there is a lot of misinformation, and 2) all the information is not really centralized in one place (well I haven't found it centralized at least). So I am posting this information to have important info that is available for easy access for the noobs, for those who need referencing, and for myself to learn too :D.
Here goes nothing (closing my eyes cuz I don't want to be flamed [esp. by stuck]).
M50- Found in: 1992-1999 e34 and e36 à OBD1
Crazy info: M50b24! Was a specification for Thailand.
Disp: 2.0 or 2.5 liters (M50b20TU, M50b25TU)
Eng Code Compression HP
M50b20TU 11.0:1 148
M50b25TU 10.5:1 189
M50 non vanos- Found in: 1990-1992 e34 and e36 à OBD1
Disp: 2.0 or 2.5 liters (M50b20, M50b25)
Eng Code Compression HP
M50b20 10.5:1
M50b25 10.0:1
Less torque than vanos and has heavier lifters (I think) – but great for Turbo application.
M52- Found in: e36, and z series à OBD2
Disp. 2.5 and 2.8
Eng Code Compression HP
M52b25 10.5:1 170
M52b28 10.2:1(?) 189-193
M52TU = Double Vanos- e39 and e46 ('99+)
S50- Found in: 1995 e36 M3 US spec à OBD1
Disp: 3.0
Eng code Compression HP
S50b30 240
S52- Found in: 1996-1999 e36 M3, and M roadster and coupe à OBD2
Disp: 3.2
Eng Code Compression HP
S52b32 240
Ok. OBD2 can be converted to OBD1 to gain a little power by:
Changing the M52 or S52 manifold to M50 or S50
Modifying harness
540 MAF
Fuel rail and injectors.
Though there is gain in power and tunability (is that a word?) there are always debate as to exactly how much is gained. Truth is every engine is different and not everyone flosses.
Look at these threads for more info: http://www.m3forum.net/m3forum/showthread.php?t=130494
The UK M52 block:
A lot of motors in US have iron blocks (but not all), but there are many in Europe with aluminum blocks which are cool if you could get a hold of one, but make sure you are aware of the UK sulfur issue happening in the 90’s that led to corrosion in these aluminum blocks (so be careful and check if the issue was resolved). However...
The Euro M3 engine:
I don’t want to go into too much detail because I am disappointed that (yet again) US gets stuck with crapier engines compared to Euro and Japan. Ex. M3 motor, Lancia integrale, e30 Tourings, 190E Evolutions, Skyline’s and SR20’s. Ugggghhh! But whatever, cuz Europeans don’t floss! Oh wait, their health care and education systems are much better though. Uggghh! They win again.
Euro M3: 320hp and 7400 redline! And individual throttle happies J!
Conclusion:
Cheapest motors to get for e30 swap perhaps: M50 and M50 non vanos. Upgrades for non vanos are more scarce though, but better for turbo.
M52 is a little more $ (generally) but nice when OBD1ed, with S52 cams. This way, it gets closer to M3 POWAA! http://r3vlimited.com/board/showthre...light=m50+head
S50: 3.0 liter OBD1 rawness (with same HP as S52). Probably a little harder to find but a little cheaper too. It’s nice but…
S52 can be converted to OBD1 for 10-13 HP more (don’t quote me; flyboyx has input below to help). Then again, you have 3.2 liters to work with. More expensive though.
As for me… I want to swap my M20 for one of these, but am beyond confused as to which one to go for. So I will wonder in the abyss of 24v swap thought.
That is all I have for now, I will update more when I find more relevant information. Eventually, I want to find out what the best bang for the buck is when applying to I want to eventually get a rough sketch of power output differences per each engine and engine head combos.
Please feel free to add more info, give me some constructive criticism, and if you see someplace where I am missing some info or getting something wrong please correct me. I do not know everything (that’s for sure), and I am sure I made a mistake somewhere. Main goal for me is to have this info centralized so noobs like me can go to one place to search for 24v info rather than bouncing from search to search and waiting for 15 seconds each time :-?. Thanks for everything guys and e30 gals (call me
), and enjoy.
Here goes nothing (closing my eyes cuz I don't want to be flamed [esp. by stuck]).
M50- Found in: 1992-1999 e34 and e36 à OBD1
Crazy info: M50b24! Was a specification for Thailand.
Disp: 2.0 or 2.5 liters (M50b20TU, M50b25TU)
Eng Code Compression HP
M50b20TU 11.0:1 148
M50b25TU 10.5:1 189
M50 non vanos- Found in: 1990-1992 e34 and e36 à OBD1
Disp: 2.0 or 2.5 liters (M50b20, M50b25)
Eng Code Compression HP
M50b20 10.5:1
M50b25 10.0:1
Less torque than vanos and has heavier lifters (I think) – but great for Turbo application.
M52- Found in: e36, and z series à OBD2
Disp. 2.5 and 2.8
Eng Code Compression HP
M52b25 10.5:1 170
M52b28 10.2:1(?) 189-193
M52TU = Double Vanos- e39 and e46 ('99+)
S50- Found in: 1995 e36 M3 US spec à OBD1
Disp: 3.0
Eng code Compression HP
S50b30 240
S52- Found in: 1996-1999 e36 M3, and M roadster and coupe à OBD2
Disp: 3.2
Eng Code Compression HP
S52b32 240
Ok. OBD2 can be converted to OBD1 to gain a little power by:
Changing the M52 or S52 manifold to M50 or S50
Modifying harness
540 MAF
Fuel rail and injectors.
Though there is gain in power and tunability (is that a word?) there are always debate as to exactly how much is gained. Truth is every engine is different and not everyone flosses.
Look at these threads for more info: http://www.m3forum.net/m3forum/showthread.php?t=130494
The UK M52 block:
A lot of motors in US have iron blocks (but not all), but there are many in Europe with aluminum blocks which are cool if you could get a hold of one, but make sure you are aware of the UK sulfur issue happening in the 90’s that led to corrosion in these aluminum blocks (so be careful and check if the issue was resolved). However...
The Euro M3 engine:
I don’t want to go into too much detail because I am disappointed that (yet again) US gets stuck with crapier engines compared to Euro and Japan. Ex. M3 motor, Lancia integrale, e30 Tourings, 190E Evolutions, Skyline’s and SR20’s. Ugggghhh! But whatever, cuz Europeans don’t floss! Oh wait, their health care and education systems are much better though. Uggghh! They win again.
Euro M3: 320hp and 7400 redline! And individual throttle happies J!
Conclusion:
Cheapest motors to get for e30 swap perhaps: M50 and M50 non vanos. Upgrades for non vanos are more scarce though, but better for turbo.
M52 is a little more $ (generally) but nice when OBD1ed, with S52 cams. This way, it gets closer to M3 POWAA! http://r3vlimited.com/board/showthre...light=m50+head
S50: 3.0 liter OBD1 rawness (with same HP as S52). Probably a little harder to find but a little cheaper too. It’s nice but…
S52 can be converted to OBD1 for 10-13 HP more (don’t quote me; flyboyx has input below to help). Then again, you have 3.2 liters to work with. More expensive though.
As for me… I want to swap my M20 for one of these, but am beyond confused as to which one to go for. So I will wonder in the abyss of 24v swap thought.
That is all I have for now, I will update more when I find more relevant information. Eventually, I want to find out what the best bang for the buck is when applying to I want to eventually get a rough sketch of power output differences per each engine and engine head combos.
Please feel free to add more info, give me some constructive criticism, and if you see someplace where I am missing some info or getting something wrong please correct me. I do not know everything (that’s for sure), and I am sure I made a mistake somewhere. Main goal for me is to have this info centralized so noobs like me can go to one place to search for 24v info rather than bouncing from search to search and waiting for 15 seconds each time :-?. Thanks for everything guys and e30 gals (call me
), and enjoy.
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