Another N52 swap attempt!

[Striker01]

Are you in SoCal? would love to see the car and pick your brain and maybe give you some ideas too perhaps. I have lots of experience pulling power from the n52 and building e30's. Im actually looking into this swap for one of my current e30 projects but to be paired with a DCT. Im in Los Angeles

No, I'm in Tulsa, Oklahoma. Be nice if there were other E30s around here, I've only seen a couple.

[E30budget]

No, I'm in Tulsa, Oklahoma. Be nice if there were other E30s around here, I've only seen a couple.

Aw bummer, less crazy people there though. I too am from a smaller area than LA and we had a few E30 owners in the area but not like here. Sub'd to this thread, keep it coming!

[hoveringuy]

I have lots of experience pulling power from the n52 and building e30's. Im actually looking into this swap for one of my current e30 projects but to be paired with a DCT. Im in Los Angeles

I'd love to see that!

My motor is tuned to run well, make decent power and not have flat spots and it makes 250 whp with the DISA intake, but I know there's a lot of untapped potential including the MAF delete, MILV, or going back to the N54 intake. I haven't even touched timing.

It screamed with the N54, but the bottom-end was "meh".

[projectJTv4]

Are you in SoCal? would love to see the car and pick your brain and maybe give you some ideas too perhaps. I have lots of experience pulling power from the n52 and building e30's. Im actually looking into this swap for one of my current e30 projects but to be paired with a DCT. Im in Los Angeles

Not OP, but I'm in the LA/SGV area working on an N52 for my E30 also. Let's connect!

[E30budget]

Not OP, but I'm in the LA/SGV area working on an N52 for my E30 also. Let's connect!

Shoot me an instagram message @halfcabbob

[E30budget]

I'd love to see that!

My motor is tuned to run well, make decent power and not have flat spots and it makes 250 whp with the DISA intake, but I know there's a lot of untapped potential including the MAF delete, MILV, or going back to the N54 intake. I haven't even touched timing.

It screamed with the N54, but the bottom-end was "meh".

Healthy numbers for sure. I made 262whp on full E85, N54 intake manifold, S65 fuel injectors, AA headers, N55 135i full magnaflow exhaust no cats, and thats it!

My future plan is to delete valvetronic and run S54 ITB's with CSL airbox. I did all of this research a few years ago so bare with me as I try to remember lol. The S54 fuel rail has a vacuum rail attached to it for the intake which will allow an easy and seamless integration with the held of the flage adapter. The other plus side is the ability to use the factory S54 throttle actuator with drive by wire. So you really just install and plumb the intake system and tune for it.

I had other plans in the past to do the opposite and KEEP valvetronic and remove all throttle bodies from the intake system. I was going to use the DOC race intake manifold, remove the aluminum plenum from the runners, and make a carbon plenum with 5" inlet to be bonded to the existing DOC race runners. The downside of this risk factor in valvetronic fails. Im not ruling this option out as I believe it will really wake up the N52, but I also plan to street drive my build and I drive my stuff hard at times, so I would like to avoid mechanical catastrophe on these LA roads lol.

my idea with the n52 and DCT is that I would be removing roughly 50lbs from the engine and gaining it back with the DCT which is behind the front suspension

[hoveringuy]

My future plan is to delete valvetronic and run S54 ITB's with CSL airbox.

This is where I get fuzzy on the cost/benefit tradeoffs. I had always kinda thought that Valvetronic was individual TB's because each valve is its own throttle based on lift, so I don't understand how locking-out the Valvetronic (forcing full-lift at all times, like it does when it's in limp mode..) and replacing with ITBs makes more power.

Plus, low valve lift makes better power at lower rpms and I LOVE how this motor makes gobs of torque down low.

[E30budget]

This is where I get fuzzy on the cost/benefit tradeoffs. I had always kinda thought that Valvetronic was individual TB's because each valve is its own throttle based on lift, so I don't understand how locking-out the Valvetronic (forcing full-lift at all times, like it does when it's in limp mode..) and replacing with ITBs makes more power.

Plus, low valve lift makes better power at lower rpms and I LOVE how this motor makes gobs of torque down low.

That is one way to think of it. Think of it like this, Both intake/tuning options make more power over stock manifold. However, the ITB option is safer. While yes I want to drive this car hard and fast at times, I also want as much seat time as possible and to not ever be stranded. I do think running with no TB gives you the potential for more power with a well designed intake manifold. But the risk of the valvetronic motor failing doesnt justify it for me for what I want to use the car for.

I actually was dead set on running only valvetronic with my 1M clone 128i. I made a plan to use a DOC race N54 intake manifold. I was going to remove the plenum from the runners, weld proper velocity stacks to each runner, and create a carbon plenum with 5" inlet velocity stack and bond it to the existing flange of the DOC race manifold.

Even with ITB im expecting atleast 280-300whp. My last N52 made 262whp with N54 manifold.

[Striker01]

Too cold to spend much time in the garage but made a little progress.

Decided to go with the Valeo single mass flywheel and clutch kit.



Found a clutch slave cylinder that I think will work and mates to the E30 clutch line.



Compared to the E90 one.



Had to trim the transmission just bit to get it to sit flush.





Unfortunately I won't know if it actually works for a while but I'll update this if I have any issues once I get it running. This slave cylinder does work!

Other than that, headers are done and off for ceramic coating. Got the alternator, tensioner, and power steering pump mounted back on the engine.

Running out of stuff before I actually have to finish the engine bay prep and tackle wiring.

[Striker01]

What are you guys using for diagnostic software for the MSV70? Will ISTA+ work?

[hoveringuy]

What are you guys using for diagnostic software for the MSV70? Will ISTA+ work?

It is a Z4 as far as anything is concerned. I use INPA mostly but ISTA works fine.

Bimmergeeks makes a nice little standalone application, you can even run it on your phone as I recall through bluetooth!

[Striker01]

It is a Z4 as far as anything is concerned. I use INPA mostly but ISTA works fine.

Bimmergeeks makes a nice little standalone application, you can even run it on your phone as I recall through bluetooth!

Thanks. Sent them a message. Anything I’ll need beyond diagnostic features? Hoping those cover running the water pump for bleeding and testing the DISA actuators on the 3 stage I bought.

[hoveringuy]

Thanks. Sent them a message. Anything I’ll need beyond diagnostic features? Hoping those cover running the water pump for bleeding and testing the DISA actuators on the 3 stage I bought.

I can't see why you would need coding, that's mostly for the interior modules, lights, etc. (do you want all the doors to unlock, or just driver's?....)

INPA, for the most part, is free, the cheap $20 ebay KCAN cable works great and a crappy old laptop will do. Problem is, INPA has been de-published (thanks BMW!) so you need to know someone that still has a copy. Ahem..

You'll need a lot of the activation features, such as activating the fuel pump to ensure your EKP module is communicating. Activating your radiator cooling fan. firing injectors and coils one by one to verify wiring. VVT activation. checking coolant temp. There's really no end to what you'll use it for!

I'm guessing the Bimmergeeks app duplicates all those functions in a more convenient format.

[ome30]

INPA, for the most part, is free, the cheap $20 ebay KCAN cable works great and a crappy old laptop will do. Problem is, INPA has been de-published (thanks BMW!) so you need to know someone that still has a copy. Ahem..

Absolutely, I still use INPA for most of my E-chassis diagnosis, but imo ISTA has better tools/interface for activating electronics. I still have a copy of it floating around somewhere on my laptop if anyone needs it...

[Striker01]

I can't see why you would need coding, that's mostly for the interior modules, lights, etc. (do you want all the doors to unlock, or just driver's?....)

INPA, for the most part, is free, the cheap $20 ebay KCAN cable works great and a crappy old laptop will do. Problem is, INPA has been de-published (thanks BMW!) so you need to know someone that still has a copy. Ahem..

You'll need a lot of the activation features, such as activating the fuel pump to ensure your EKP module is communicating. Activating your radiator cooling fan. firing injectors and coils one by one to verify wiring. VVT activation. checking coolant temp. There's really no end to what you'll use it for!

I'm guessing the Bimmergeeks app duplicates all those functions in a more convenient format.

Thanks guys. Talked to bimmergeeks and they said their app can do all the diagnostic activation stuff. I'll probably give that a shot.

Update. Bimmergeeks software will not work well with the ECU as a standalone option, it's made to work with the original module setup.