M54. Let the foolishness begin.

[SpecM]

that's so stupid that you have to have full OBD II everything on a Cali car

even an OBD I m54 is WAY cleaner than an m20, or even m50

isn't that the goal? clean?

[SoEm0]

Even the intake mani's between the M50 and 54 look similar. I am guessing swapping to a single vanos head wouldn't matter too much since I think Hovering isn't controlling his exhaust vanos. I wouldn't boost an M50 either since that wouldn't pass smog anyways.

[DRTSRFR]

Ryan G just got done with an S54 swap in his M3...very impressive...

But it'll never pass Cali Smog:hitler:

http://forum.norcale30.com/showthread.php?t=11433

[e30polak]

I dont think its bolt on though....

word on the street is that Single vanos can be bolted on to the m54 head, and it might actually work - this would be an interesting way to get an ALU motor;l

get M54b30 +S52 valvetrain and single vanos+headers+ some hybrid intake manifold and m44 CPS and OBD1 everything.....

but you would loose dual vanos.

Both the m50 and m52 intake manifolds can physically bolt-on to the m54, as well as the headers for either motor.

[Wanganstyle]

Just run an m50 intake manifold on it, and the person doing the bar test will have no clue. Pass it off as an M50 by switching to an OBD1 valve cover. :p

I dont think its bolt on though....

word on the street is that Single vanos can be bolted on to the m54 head, and it might actually work - this would be an interesting way to get an ALU motor;l

get M54b30 +S52 valvetrain and single vanos+headers+ some hybrid intake manifold and m44 CPS and OBD1 everything.....

but you would loose dual vanos.

[e30polak]

Just run an m50 intake manifold on it, and the person doing the bar test will have no clue. Pass it off as an M50 by switching to an OBD1 valve cover. :p

[Wanganstyle]

The m50 and m54 look similar.... guess its time to start searching.

similar yes, but BAR legal - NO.



no engine can be swapped and pass bar legitimately unless its original DME and full emissions system is also installed with it.
Legitimate pass and "pass" are different things, I would prefer to be 100% by the rules if playing that game.



if goal is bar legal, stuff in entire M50. easier to tweak for top end power as well- better for boosting....etc

[SoEm0]

The m50 and m54 look similar.... guess its time to start searching.

[Wanganstyle]

Hmm I am going to have to find out a little more about the bar process. Try and find a way to make this work.

CAli BAR + M54b30 in an e30?

sure, can be done.

give me complete M54b30 car, and about 2 months...... it would NOT be cheap.

CAli bar requirements requires the replacement engine to be used with its factory DME and full emissions control ; complete OBD2 with its full evap system would need to be installed.

S52 converted to OBD1 is NOT cali smog legal. Most definately not bar legal at all

if you want to "pass" smog, there are ways to "pass".

[SoEm0]

Hmm I am going to have to find out a little more about the bar process. Try and find a way to make this work.

[Danny]

I am wondering how I can get this to smog in Cali. I would so love to run a M54 instead of traditional swaps.

Easy way? Try to pass it off as an M50.

Hard way? Bend over.

[SoEm0]

I am wondering how I can get this to smog in Cali. I would so love to run a M54 instead of traditional swaps.

[CorvallisBMW]

I reckon the better-flowing single vanos heads are why Alpina continued to use them even when the M54 had come out! The Z4 B3.3 is based on the M52 motor, not the M54!

very true, I had forgotten about that car!

[hoveringuy]

I did get to use the benefits of the M54's torque to great advantage the other day.. raced an e39 540i.

It was a steep on ramp, about 7% grade, with two lanes that merged into one about 500 feet up. Stop light at the bottom.

e39 was behind me and I couldn't tell if he was just going to follow me up and be mellow or..

..try to blow by me in the right lane.

Light turned green, I took the left lane and he swung right and floored it for the kill on a hapless, old e30. Game on!

I floored it in turn at the bottom of second gear and the grade kept the rpms low in the rpm band for an inordinate time. DISA is magic in the 3200 rpm area. I stopped his pull and he slowly drifted back off my quarter. I saw the smug leave his face.

He conceeded the pass and trailed me into the merge, I slowed for traffic while he blew through the marbles and passed me to the left in the "no man's land" between the freeway and the on-ramp. A ricer fly-by!

The 540i is a 14.0 second car with tons of torque, so I felt pretty good about it. That's what I love about the M54.

[Leo_328i]

I reckon the better-flowing single vanos heads are why Alpina continued to use them even when the M54 had come out! The Z4 B3.3 is based on the M52 motor, not the M54!