M54. Let the foolishness begin.

[hoveringuy]

What's your opinion on US S50/S52 vs M54 reliability?

If you're not going to track the car the M54 is dead-nuts reliable. I'm talking the motor itself, not the crap radiator and expansion tank that comes with it on an e39/e46.

The reason the S50 makes more power is that the intake and the ports are better for high rpms flow. The M54 is optimized for torque. The numbers reflect that!

The problem with the aluminum block is that at high rpms (6500+) the oil pump suffers from harmonics and is prone to breaking the oil pump shaft from sustained exposure to the stress.

S50 will live happily at 6500 all day long!

[VinniE30]

So I don't see any reason a m54 can't be as reliable as an s50 revving over 6500 rpm if the oil pump problem is replaced with one of the solutions available for it and it has the ATI Super Damper.

[Toni]

Running a M54B30 in a E30 rally car in UK forests. Vanos gone; std cams gone, MAF gone, coil on plug gone, cam sensors gone, Dual mass flywheel gone, power steering gone, viscous fan gone. Using DTA Engine Management and getting around 245BHP and similar torque.
My biggest problem is crank shaft harmonics unsetting the nut that holds the oil pump sprocket on; i.e. it keeps coming loose. Having a mechanical harmonic damper made in the UK (Rattler) with just the main water pump/alt pulley. Has anyone else had problems with harmonics and sorted out a positive solution?

Toni
www.tc-rallying.co.uk

[nando]

M54B30 harmonics are a known problem. try checking some E46 websites - custom dampers, wired/welded oil pump nuts, and keeping the revs down are some solutions.

why would you delete the cam sensors and COP? wasted spark and batch fire? I suppose it really doesn't matter for power output...

[Elysian]

ATI makes a damper solution already.

[Toni]

why would you delete the cam sensors and COP? wasted spark and batch fire? I suppose it really doesn't matter for power output...

Cam sensors not required due to going wasted spark. The changes were done for engine reliability since this is a rally car and under a lot of stress. Coil on plug are a known failure mode and a GM coil pack running wasted spark looked a better option. After 3 rallies all good apart from the harmonics.
Yes I could keep the revs down and have timed the cams accordingly; however 6500rpm would be the optimum rev limit for my application, which them brings in the harmonic problem.

Welding/wiring the pump nut will not solve the destructive nature of engine harmonics above 6k rpm. I have engineered a solution for the oil pump and the sprocket will never come off but still intend solving harmonics to protect the cam chains and flywheel security.

Toni

[Toni]

ATI makes a damper solution already.

Could not establish an 'off the shelf' purchase from ATI for the M54B30 engine. The 'rattler' mechanical damper is being prepared this week by a company called 'Vibration Free'.

[VinniE30]

Could not establish an 'off the shelf' purchase from ATI for the M54B30 engine. The 'rattler' mechanical damper is being prepared this week by a company called 'Vibration Free'.

http://e46fanatics.com/forum/showthread.php?t=765627

[rob_e30]

Just read the thread. Many have pointed out the great technical work (which was spot on), but you deserve plenty of credit for your writing too. Clear, to the point, funny. Thank you for the info.

[hoveringuy]

227whp on Megasquirt!

I forgot to turn off fuel cut at 6000 or I'm sure it would have crossed 230whp at 6200. Oh well...

I have more details on the M54 megasquirt blog http://www.m54megasquirt3.blogspot.com

[CorvallisBMW]

When did you convert to Megasquirt?

[hoveringuy]

When did you convert to Megasquirt?

I started in November. I used an adapter so I could plug it into the stock harness just like the stock ECU so I could easily switch back if I needed the car to run like stock. It took me a month to get most of the starting/wiring/tuning issues cleared-up and I've been daily-driving it all year.

I never had the need to switch back...

It's gotten to the point where I forget that I have Megasquirt. It starts in the morning, idles smoothly and pulls strong. As a bonus, I don't have to bump the idle up to 900 rpms for my lightweight flywheel. It idles nicely at 750 and never stalls.

Plus I have traction control!

All that, and it makes more power than the 413 ever did!

[CorvallisBMW]

^ I was wondering what the benefit was to all that work :)

[Elysian]

Awesome!

[moatilliatta]

Running disa valve?