325iX to S50/S52 Swap

[M3inIndy]

Has anyone done this swap successfully? I did a light search and found some people who claimed to have done it, but their threads either didn't help or didnt exist anymore.

Super interested in doing this so let me know!

[nando]

Yes it's been done many times actually. So far, the only successful methods have been the frankenpan, which requires a booster delete and manual pedal setup.

Actually, that's not quite true - Nisse has done it with the 525ix parts, but they are very expensive and it requires modifications to the firewall and/or the subframe. He lives in europe where getting a 525ix parts car is (relatively) easy. The franken pan is still the most popular method in the states.

But on the other hand, for S52 power I'm not sure a swap is really worth it. The engine is heavier than the M20, and you could realistically get 240hp out of an M20 with a similar investment, with less fabrication & modifications necessary to the rest of the car. An S54 would require similar modifications/fabrication and you get 333hp out of the box.

Also, there's a huge thread on swaps right in this forum, I'd have look at it..

[stonea]

My advice is to build the M20, like Nando said you can get 240 hp out of a M20 with about the same amount of money. I was dead set on a 24v swap until I got realistic about it, then I set my sights on a M20 and realized it would be a lot easier to just build the M20 than to swap it.

[Kershaw]

That said, an m20 will be way less driveable with 240hp than s50. Variable valve timing is amazing. A 240hp m20 will be peaky, idle rough, and suck to drive around town.

24v is great around town.