Opinions on the everyday driveability of s50 swap

[kevmo707]

I see a lot of trouble shooting threads on this forum, and I was looking for the opinions of some people who have done the swap as to the reliability. I know that the quality of the swap is going to greatly effect this topic, but if done correctly could a swapped e30 be a daily driver. I also live in california, so smoging the vehicle is another variable.

I ask because I just purchased a supper clean 1989 325is w/ 190k and have begun to collect the necessary parts to do the swap, and i was wondering the best way of attacking it. I figure I could avoid some frustrations and troubles by learning from you guys. I have built numerous hot rods from the ground up, and owned a 1995 M3 (until my friend drove it) so I have mechanical know how, but I wouls not be able to assemble an s50 if you brought it to me disassembled in a box.

Im using the getrag 260 to avoid rear end and drive live hassles. I ordered the trans crossmember from e30this on this forum, and the harness connector from mazure.

thanks,

kevin

[hoveringuy]

I can't answer to the California smog... I hear it's a crap shoot. But to the reliability of a swap if done correctly it will be as good or better than the m20. My M50 swap car was a daily driver until I switched to the M54. It still is a daily driver. You wouldn't know the motor was swapped in my car except for the acceleration. Everything works.

I would take your time collecting the parts and doing the necessary maintenance on the motor. I would get a low-mileage S52 over an S50 that needs too much attention.

It's really not a hard swap. Good luck!

[AL GReeNeRy]

m/s50/2 motors should have came stock in our cars. they actually feel like they belong in there. a swapped e30 is like combining the best of both the e30/e36. you get the lightweight and nimbleness of the e30 and power of the e36. a lot of people here DD their swaps. smog isnt too hard to pass if you keep all the oem emission items, like cats, o2s, and evap can. the best way to tackle this swap is collect every single part you need, then get it done in a few days, otherwise youll be carless

[hugh jass]

i can't see any downside to doing the swap - great driveability, tons of power, very reliable, all the stock e30 systems will work.
the smog referee stations vary wildly in what will pass and won't pass. my experience at the sacramento ref station was very different from the ass-rapings handed out at the station in san jose. the more sano and stock your swap is/looks, the easier it will be to pass. your best bet is to have stock cats and a carb-approved air filter, along with the charcoal canister.

[hoveringuy]

m/s50/2 motors should have came stock in our cars.

I'm convinced the engineers designed them for the e30 and then the marketing people came up with the e36. Of course, the engineers came up with the e30 to start with, not marketing!

We're just doing what the engineers had intended.

[kevmo707]

I see that hugh jass and Al GreeNeRy are relatively local to me, I live in Santa Rosa, Ca. If you guys dont mind, i might hit you guys up when I get all the all the parts ready. I have every thing except for the engine, Im just waiting for the right S50/52 to come along. I dont want to go with an M50/52 if im going through the hassles of the swap. I want some juice.

[hugh jass]

no problem, ask away, or come over to sac if you want to see the car and go for a ride. i've got an obd1 s52.

[kevmo707]

Fug yeah!!! done and done. i have to put a new rack & pinion in my car and then i will contact you

[Mr Two]

Just make sure you respect the right pedal :)

[AL GReeNeRy]

im down to help also. might be a little drive but itll def be worth it. but yea take your time and stack all your parts.. when yorue ready hit me up!

[FredK]

The M/S5x engines are dead nuts reliable. Just change the oil, basically.

People always complain, oh, the VANOS will give out. Sure, but you can reseal it for around $50 or get it rebuilt for $250 and enjoy many many more troublefree miles. Also, a malfunctioning VANOS won't cause a no-start like the bell housing sensors or relays just randomly flaking out on early Motronic cars.

The M/S5x is a fairly inexpensive engine to work on. It's highly user-serviceable, and the S50US and S52 share a LOT of parts with the M50, so refresh parts are not very expensive at all.

[funcrew]

The S50 in my cabrio puked (blown HG at least) a few months after I bought the car. This is no knock to the S50; It appears that the PO decked the head too much, installed a questionable chip, and generally abused it. I am having a low mileage S52 converted to OBD1, 6500RPM chip from TRM & expect that combo to be much more satisfactory and reliable as a daily driver than the hack-job S50 was. I also have a stock M20 cabrio, which really feels underpowered after driving the S50.

[JGood]

I daily drive my 220k m50 in my 250k mile e30, 100 miles a day. Been doing it for 6 months now. It feels so solid and reliable, I wouldn't hesitate to take it across the country. The power band and throttle response is just amazing in comparison to an m20b27. It truly does feel like the engine belongs in there. When I drive my m20 track car, it feels old and outdated. The power delivery is so much different. I spent under $500 on my swap, and it was the best money I've ever spent.

[e30polak]

I've daily driven my s52 swap for almost 3 years now and have no complaints. If you take care of your car it will take care of you. Hopefully within the next year, it will be supercharged with 2.73 gears and 300+ whp...and still daily driven. :pimp:

Only concern I would see for daily drivability is gearing. With the 3.25 gears and the zf 320 trans, my car did better on gas milage, then with the new 3.46 gears. However, the 3.46 is tons more fun and would be perfect with a 6spd!

New cars are overrated. I'd take a well sorted 24v e30 over most of the crap being produced today. :woowoo:

[mazur]

S/M50 reliability > M20 reliability