S54 making the jump

[NOTORIOUS VR]

Hey Mr. Two-Posts, do you know what your talking about, you'd better be able to provide links/pics of what you think gives you the ability to make these claims... Maybe you should read around a bit here first. S54 is gonna need standalone or a complete donor car, and, lots of wiring labor.

I'm not here to start an argument. I'm here to give you my OPPINION (that is allowed here isn't it?) on what I think about the situation. Even though I don't believe you are here to help anyone with the attitude that you're better because you have a higher post count :roll:

The S54 isn't all that complicated (or at least it doesn't need to be IMO).

Any decent stand alone will run that motor w/o a problem. I see only the double VANOS control being the biggest issue. And really, why bother with it when going aftermarket ECU. Locking the cams won't give you the best economy, or emissions, or probably even power. But the percentage of loss isn't going to be all that much.

IF you get an EMS that will control both cams in a similar manner as the OE ECU, where the hell is anyone going to get the information for the proper cam positioning? That would involve a whole whack of time, money and effort for not so huge gains. Unless some of this information could eventually be extracted from an OE ECU where the cam phasing is properly setup it's better IMO just to omit the VANOS completely.

As for my first post about a stock E30 w/ 400RWHP... Yea I'm pretty sure I know what I'm talking about. As he's a very good friend of mine, I helped build that car, I've driven the car many times, I did the EMS install and tuned the car. The car is 100% stock drivetrain/body wise, and the car is beaten on every single day/time it gets driven. The chassis/motor/transmission has well over 280 000km on it...

I've personally owned 2 E30's myself (non boosted) as well. I'm not new to these cars in any way. So don't automatically assume people don't know what they're talking about just because they're a new member and have a small post count. I don't believe I was rude in my posts either.

Thanks

[Farbin Kaiber]

Yeah Nando, I'm sure Wolf is ample, and prolly a great option, but it came off as if this guy was implying something else from what I got from it.

[nando]

Hey Mr. Two-Posts, do you know what your talking about, you'd better be able to provide links/pics of what you think gives you the ability to make these claims... Maybe you should read around a bit here first. S54 is gonna need styandalone or a complete donor car, and, lots of wiring labor.

that's what he said?

I don't get why everyone is so worried about using an EMS on the S54...

It's just a motor people... it's not like they've reinvented the wheel.

And you don't need a $5000 stand alone to do it either.

I'm pretty sure he meant you don't need a Bosch Motorsport ECU, but something nice out of Australia would run about $1500 and work very well.

how much do you know about engine management farbin.. I'm betting nothing?

[BenM]

1st



2nd



Hey Mr. Two-Posts, do you know what your talking about, you'd better be able to provide links/pics of what you think gives you the ability to make these claims... Maybe you should read around a bit here first. S54 is gonna need styandalone or a complete donor car, and, lots of wiring labor.

bingo.

Oh and IBTB.

[Farbin Kaiber]

1st

I don't get why everyone is so worried about using an EMS on the S54...



It's just a motor people... it's not like they've reinvented the wheel.



And you don't need a $5000 stand alone to do it either.

2nd

Are you for real? my friend owns a 400RWHP E30... are you trying to say a stock E30 can't handle it? Because you'd be wrong.

And I know I'm bring up an old thread, but only because I'm searching for info on this swap...

Hey Mr. Two-Posts, do you know what your talking about, you'd better be able to provide links/pics of what you think gives you the ability to make these claims... Maybe you should read around a bit here first. S54 is gonna need standalone or a complete donor car, and, lots of wiring labor.

[NOTORIOUS VR]

Either way it goes, whether yuo do an S54 or a euro S50, there's still too much power for a run of the mill E30.

So why bother with an S54?
Unless you plan to convert to 5 lug for a better wheel choice or come up wtih huge rear tires and serously reinforce the subframe, huge brakes etc etc, you'll never even come close to feeling all of the power that is either engine. So if you're dreaming up an intense motor swap project and cant spend more 15k dollars, throw an M50 in and call it a day. If you're original post is any testiment to how you are in real life, you probably shouldnt be driving a car with all of that power.

Are you for real? my friend owns a 400RWHP E30... are you trying to say a stock E30 can't handle it? Because you'd be wrong.

And I know I'm bring up an old thread, but only because I'm searching for info on this swap...

[NOTORIOUS VR]

I don't get why everyone is so worried about using an EMS on the S54...

It's just a motor people... it's not like they've reinvented the wheel.

And you don't need a $5000 stand alone to do it either.

[BigD]

The s54 is a better engine than the euro s50 no matter what anyone says. More power and better technology... not to mention you can actually get parts for it in the US. If the euro engine was better BMW would never have designed the s54 to replace it.

Also you would be much better off to use a standalone for the ems. It eliminates a lot of headaches and gadgets that simply would be near impossible to use on the e30. Evosport has an ems for the s54 that basically retains everything that you can use in the e30.

good luck... bring money

OMGWTFBBQ, SAY IT AIN'T SO, SOMEONE WITH THE ABILITY TO REASON??! Right on with every word, esp the last bit.

[scabzzzz]

Either way it goes, whether yuo do an S54 or a euro S50, there's still too much power for a run of the mill E30.

So why bother with an S54?
Unless you plan to convert to 5 lug for a better wheel choice or come up wtih huge rear tires and serously reinforce the subframe, huge brakes etc etc, you'll never even come close to feeling all of the power that is either engine. So if you're dreaming up an intense motor swap project and cant spend more 15k dollars, throw an M50 in and call it a day. If you're original post is any testiment to how you are in real life, you probably shouldnt be driving a car with all of that power.

[FredK]

I would rather have an M54B30 than an S54.

:giggle:

[matt]

good luck... bring money

That is brilliant in its simplicity.

[matt]

I would rather have an M54B30 than an S54. They have very similar performance up to 6800rpm and the aluminum motor is lighter.

Just a thought...

[1990m3]

I've experienced euro s50b32 motors in both e30 and e36's. Don't be fooled by numbers...the s54 motor has a lot more power than a euro s50b32. BMW numbers are one thing but the truth is that the s54 is a more advanced higher output motor. I personally think an s54 swapped e30 would be awesome and significantly quicker than a euro motor swap.

my $.02 based on a little experience

[BeirBrennerE30]

The lack of knowledge in this thred is staggering....

The euro s50 and s54 are very similar swaps. If you are looking to swap an s54 then you should look at what people are doing to fit the euro s50.

The s54 will mount with the 535 mounts provided you use e36 arms. To use the e46 m3 6-speed you need to use e36 evo 6-speed shifter stuff and a custom trans x-member. For the throttle VAC sells a conversion kit to use. You also need to do "something" with the brake booster... i.e. get rid of it, get a smaller one, make or mod the intake plenm, or move the master booster into the cabin or forward behind the headlight.

The s54 is a better engine than the euro s50 no matter what anyone says. More power and better technology... not to mention you can actually get parts for it in the US. If the euro engine was better BMW would never have designed the s54 to replace it.

Also you would be much better off to use a standalone for the ems. It eliminates a lot of headaches and gadgets that simply would be near impossible to use on the e30. Evosport has an ems for the s54 that basically retains everything that you can use in the e30.

good luck... bring money

[madjurgen]

your awesome to man.

Well I learned proper English in elementary school, so I hope that's all the education you have. I sure would be embarrassed if I wrote sentences like that.

In all seriousness, I'm just sick of noobs like you coming in here and making threads asking for complete parts list on complicated projects. Like was said before, if you dont have the due diligence to research what you want to do, there's not a chance in hell youre ever going to complete the project.

There was a large thread a few months ago detailing the difficulties of the S54 swap. Go read it and if you still want to use an S54, come back with specific questions. r3v would be happy to help you, even though no one here has attempted nor completed the swap in an e30(a hint as to how hard it is).

/rant