M54 Question

[e30time]

Sorry up front if this is a noob question, but I have searched but didn't find the answer...

I have a 92 M50b25 I bought out of a running 525it. I plan on putting it in my 91 318. Would it it be possible to swap the short block with a m54b30 to gain displacement and make use of the lighter alloy block?

Cheers,

Blake

[Leo_328i]

Unfortunately the blocks are not interchangeable due to different cooling lines in the blocks of the M54/M52TU to the M50/M52 engines.

The crank and pistons however are interchangeable so you will need to swap that into your M50 325i block to create your 3.0l motor :)

[328ijunkie]

^That

[Zic]

is the bore different on both engines? does the 2.5 need to be bored out?

[Zic]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/BMW_M50
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/BMW_M54

did a no no, asked before i searched. there you go, anyone that is wondering the same.
both engines got 84mm bore.

[e30time]

Thanks for the responses!

Is there a different alloy short block that I could use with the m50 head, accessories and bits? It seems like I remember reading that there was a z3 with an alloy block. Was it maybe a m52b28?...

Cheers

[Danny]

Yes but really the "holy grail" that is the alloy M52 really isn't worth the hassle.

[e30time]

Is the hassle finding one, or is there more to it than that?

[Danny]

Hassle is finding one.

[weedshoes]

If you have 4k i have an m54b30 with dme, wiring harness, ews, steering column and keys.

[e30time]

Gotcha. Thanks for the help guys. Search is officially turned off. I will continue to move forward on the M50 conversion. And be on the lookout for a good price on a top mount turbo header... ;-)