S54 Coversions - post your dynos here

[superleggeram3]

I would be interested in seeing dynos for s54 conversions that people have done and at the same time detailing ECU and Exhaust set up.

I am in the process of doing an s54 conversion but many here in the UK have questioned whether the S54 will produce stock power, mainly due to the need of having to modify stock headers and exhaust but also because many of the sensor inputs are disabled on stock ECU to make it work in an e30.

[nando]

power output is fine, have a look at 328ijunkie's dyno thread. there's really no sensors that are "disabled", not any that affect the engine anyway. S54 swaps have been done hundreds of times now with the stock DME, whatever people are telling you is likely nonsense.

[FredK]

I'd like to see what happens with the lower part of the powerband vs. a stock E46.

It seems a lot of people have very short secondaries in their exhaust system which seems to hurt low end torque.

[e30polak]

I'd like to see what happens with the lower part of the powerband vs. a stock E46.

It seems a lot of people have very short secondaries in their exhaust system which seems to hurt low end torque.

Most s54 powered cars with single exhausts, even with the popular Bimmerworld 3.5", make pretty poor torque before 4k rpms compared to stock or free flowing dual systems. Single exhausts CAN make decent torque down low with the right headers, a WELL designed merge and GOOD tuning.

For reference my friend is making close to record numbers on his e46 m3, has hard to get RMS long tube headers (sound and perform better than most), single 3.5" BW exhaust, the new Eventuri CAI by Evolve and custom Evolve tune - dyno'd 330whp/257wtq on 91 octane revving to only 8k. If you look at his graph, it looks like a dual system, mainly because of the headers and tune.

[nando]

dang, 330whp? that's pretty crazy.

but yeah, a bad exhaust is a bad exhaust. doesn't really have anything to do with doing a swap.

[DesertBMW]

Most s54 powered cars with single exhausts, even with the popular Bimmerworld 3.5", make pretty poor torque before 4k rpms compared to stock or free flowing dual systems. Single exhausts CAN make decent torque down low with the right headers, a WELL designed merge and GOOD tuning.

I always wondered why would BMW spend more money making heavier dual exhaust system on almost all of their inline 6 cars. Now I know the reason.

[e30polak]

dang, 330whp? that's pretty crazy.

but yeah, a bad exhaust is a bad exhaust. doesn't really have anything to do with doing a swap.

Tuning has come a LONG way on the s54. A few stock cammed, full bolt-on e46 m3s hitting over 340whp on 93 octane. Cams are starting to shine as well, there's a guy on M3forum with full bolt-ons, CSL intake, head work, and 288/280 stock lift Schrick cams that put down 362whp/264wtq on 93!

[nando]

still stock head/bottom end other than cams? yowsers. that's like 400+hp from 3.2l.. wonder how streetable the VANOS keeps it!

[Ray Smoodiver]

still stock head/bottom end other than cams? yowsers. that's like 400+hp from 3.2l.. wonder how streetable the VANOS keeps it!

To think that 100hp/L atmo was Mclaren F1/E36 M3 numbers back in 93!

[*freshm3]

I hope that this graph shows well from my iphone.

88' E30 M3
2005 S54 Motor/ 5 spd ZF
2.93LSD
DINAN High-Flow Throttle Boddies
Stock head/cams with fresh Beisan Systems Vanos overhaul and valve adj(pump disk, seals, rattle repair kit)
Bimmerworld Silicone boot with ECIS Filter (e46 m3 MAF sensor housing intact)
VAC U/D Pulley

2.5 inch double piping and Magnaflow products from merge back.
I guess that you can assume that I am at fault for designing the merge collector/secondary too close to headers. I have the stock headers and chopped the cats. My tq down low suffers but its my rocket ship.

Randy's EPIC Race tune/ Stock DME standalone

340/277 93oct on a dynojet. Outside air temp was around 75 degrees that morning.

[FredK]

Ah yes, I was searching for your dyno sheets somewhere! You have a stock air plenum too, right?

[*freshm3]

^ Yes Sir.

[e30polak]

still stock head/bottom end other than cams? yowsers. that's like 400+hp from 3.2l.. wonder how streetable the VANOS keeps it!

Yes, stock head and bottom end:

http://www.germanboost.com/content.php?5464-Schrick-288-280-S54-cams-CSL-intake-and-TTFS-%28Tuning-Tech-FS%29-tuning-results-in-361-7-naturally-aspirated-E46-M3-horsepower

I hope that this graph shows well from my iphone.

88' E30 M3
2005 S54 Motor/ 5 spd ZF
2.93LSD
DINAN High-Flow Throttle Boddies
Stock head/cams with fresh Beisan Systems Vanos overhaul and valve adj(pump disk, seals, rattle repair kit)
Bimmerworld Silicone boot with ECIS Filter (e46 m3 MAF sensor housing intact)
VAC U/D Pulley

2.5 inch double piping and Magnaflow products from merge back.
I guess that you can assume that I am at fault for designing the merge collector/secondary too close to headers. I have the stock headers and chopped the cats. My tq down low suffers but its my rocket ship.

Randy's EPIC Race tune/ Stock DME standalone

340/277 93oct on a dynojet. Outside air temp was around 75 degrees that morning.

Those have to be record torque numbers for a stock bottom end! Have you had it on any other dyno? Not saying they're not true, but IIRC 265wtq has been the max so far, and that's typically with much better headers like KromerKraft, Supersrint Stepped, Epic Race, or RMS....

[FredK]

Does RMS have a different set of headers than the ones with 1 7/8s primaries and 3.0" secondaries? They must have plenty of top end but I can't imagine the low to mid is better than say Euro headers.

[e30polak]

Does RMS have a different set of headers than the ones with 1 7/8s primaries and 3.0" secondaries? They must have plenty of top end but I can't imagine the low to mid is better than say Euro headers.

That blue e46 m3 I posted above has those headers, just look at the dyno plot. No loss in low end or mid-range, just gains everywhere over stock. They also have the deepest, angriest sound out of any headers on the s54.