S54 swap?

[Mike B.]

These EMS prices make me want to use the stock DME in with 35 emissions CELS and in limp-home mode!!!



One solution I won't be using is the Grand Am Koni Challenge Bosch MS4.3 package. $6200 + 2800 for a wiring harness. Hopefully people start jettisoning Motecs for pennies on the dollar. jk

Fred, I deal with Autronic. If the time ever comes when you need EMS, just drop me a line and I can offer some VERY friendly pricing.

[static]

The rest of the story is that the TECIII had huge (megasqurt-esque) running problems in their car. I think that was a big part of their decision to change to AEM on their new motor (S54).

all i said is that it CAN be done, in response to people saying it CAN'T earlier in the thread.
I understand the solution robustness is less than stellar for the end-user, but i am sure if you are the person who built and tuned the unit on their own car, and has a full understanding of what's going on (namely Vic), you can always diagnose and fix the problems quite easily.

btw, what kinds of "MS-esque" problems did they have? (hardware problems? tuning problems?) i wasn't really following the developments.

[matt]

Get in touch with Jim Conforti. You could probably send him an ECU and a bag of money and get back something that would work.

[FredK]

These EMS prices make me want to use the stock DME in with 35 emissions CELS and in limp-home mode!!!



One solution I won't be using is the Grand Am Koni Challenge Bosch MS4.3 package. $6200 + 2800 for a wiring harness. Hopefully people start jettisoning Motecs for pennies on the dollar. jk

[Mike B.]

btw, TEC3 *CAN* run dual-vanos (unofficially though). I am quite sure MS could too, with a bit of firmware/hardware massaging

http://forums.bimmerforums.com/forum...d.php?t=515437

Don't be penny-wise and pound foolish on an S54 swap. Megasquirt and TEC3 will not be up to the task. This is a Motec, Autronic, or EFI Technology type project.

[matt]

btw, TEC3 *CAN* run dual-vanos (unofficially though). I am quite sure MS could too, with a bit of firmware/hardware massaging

http://forums.bimmerforums.com/forum...d.php?t=515437

The rest of the story is that the TECIII had huge (megasqurt-esque) running problems in their car. I think that was a big part of their decision to change to AEM on their new motor (S54).

[dougsic]

EMS install is pretty straight forward and can be done DIY with sucess, but the tuning is better left to a shop with a good dyno operator. I can't stress this enough. I've done quite a few Porshe 911 EFI conversions and the tuning portion is crucial. Be prepared to spend quite a bit of money on dyno time.

Be prepared to spend quite a bit of money on dyno time is exactly correct.

I put a TECIII on my M5 and I can tell you that I've spent far more money on the dyno than I did on the hardware. The install was fairly easy but the tuning has been elusive.

If I had it to do over again, I would spend the extra money for Motec - without question. TECIII is cheap for a reason and has left me terribly disappointed.

[static]

btw, TEC3 *CAN* run dual-vanos (unofficially though). I am quite sure MS could too, with a bit of firmware/hardware massaging

http://forums.bimmerforums.com/forum/showthread.php?t=515437

[Car Addict]

Fred if you do this i must see it it will be Bad ass.

[matt]

My next GRM $200x Challenge project will involve a mid/front mounted motor, it looks like.

[Mike B.]

Maybe I'll go to the junkyard and scope out what the E36 front subframe looks like.

The front subframes look remarkably similar with the E36 one a bit deeper in the middle. The main issue comes with where the engine actually sits in the engine bay. The engine in the E36 sits farther back and allows for the rear sump placement.

What would be cool (track car only) is to remove the heater core and related parts and move the fire wall back to accomodate the rear sump. Although, this would lead to a host of other custom parts such as the mounting arms, shift carrier, drive shaft, etc.

Big plus is that it would significantly help with weight distribution.

[matt]

Nice. It's really rare to see a custom plenum done that well.

[FredK]

I found this on S14--a guy swapped in an S54 into an E30 M3, and is using Motec M800 to control the whole shebang.

http://picasaweb.google.com/impossiblechicken/M3S54E30

There's this guy near me who does tuning for the Motec M600. I guess his turnkey systems run around $10K. :o

Last but not least this guy on S14, M_US_E30, was at the brink of running an S54 in his E30 M3, but sold everything off prior to the completion of the project. I hope that's not me in 6 months!

[FredK]

dont forget about the oil pan. not sure if it can (or is even a good idea) to be swapped with the e34 lump.

The E34 M50 pan works, but it may not be optimal. The MITE46 guy used the E34 M50 pan, pump, and pickup. He combined it with an Accusump. This seems to be a fairly inexpensive and useful solution, but then again you have to rely upon the M50 oil pump. Retaining the S54 (or S50) dual pickup and oil pump would be nice.

i have been exploring the possibilities of using a different method to keep the s54 oil pan / pump. (would also work on the s50's to keep the dual sump.) no conclusive answers.

Long ago, I remember someone welding parts of an E36 front subframe to the E30 front subframe in order to retain the rear sump of the E36 oil pan. At the time, I thought, why not just buy an E34 pan and be done with it! However, with the dual pickup pans and pumps, there's a good reason to retain the rear sump of the S50/54.

Maybe I'll go to the junkyard and scope out what the E36 front subframe looks like.

[Mike B.]

fred - i too have been contemplating this for a good daily driver. i just dont have any time this winter.

dont forget about the oil pan. not sure if it can (or is even a good idea) to be swapped with the e34 lump. i have been exploring the possibilities of using a different method to keep the s54 oil pan / pump. (would also work on the s50's to keep the dual sump.) no conclusive answers.

mike - nice work on the dual master. looks awesome.

cheers, jason

I'd love to go drysump, but it is BIG $$$ for a complete system.