M30 vs S50 swap question

[bad_azz_bmr]

s50/s52 are actually not as expensive as you guys think they are, if you find a nice wrecked m3 for 5k or less, you pretty much will end up with a free motor/tranny/wiring and also a nice rack upgrade for your car, (interiors, body parts on the m3 fetch for a lot on the used market)..

but purchasing a s50/52 outright then putting all the money into the swap parts could get very expensive...

[5KWattson]

so everyone is talking HP HP HP out of the m30's but how much rwtq are we talking because my m20 stroker(rip) with my lsd is almost undrivable in the rain...TQ is what gets you moving not HP =)

[Jean]

Torque is what M30 is known for, you got 3.5L of displacement and all the usable torque is there, 225lb/ft of it.

[5KWattson]

Torque is what M30 is known for, you got 3.5L of displacement and all the usable torque is there, 225lb/ft of it.

holy hell sounds like im guna need some wider tires for damn sure

[digger]

Torque is what M30 is known for, you got 3.5L of displacement and all the usable torque is there, 225lb/ft of it.

it should have >250-260 though if it was half efficient

[e30polak]

You guys are also forgetting about another huge factor between m30 vs. s5x: weight!

It took me a while to get my s52 swap handling as well as my buddy's e30 M3, but I finally got it down. Turn in and braking still aren't as optimum as I'd like, but I make up for it with power coming out of a corner. The m30 is even heavier up front!

Anyone care to chime in on handling and braking characteristics with the m30?

Any s50s in the socal area want to race?
You must have a 2.93 rear end though!

70mph in 2nd ft w/L?

Jahnaboi has/used to have a 2.93 out back, not sure if he switched to 3.25 yet or not.

I'm down to run, but I have a 3.46 with the ZF, and a few bolt-ons. ;)

It would still be a lot of fun!

BTW you have great gearing for a turbo! :nice:

[Jean]

Everybody keeps talking about the weight w/o showing the weight of the two engines on the scales...

That's what suspension tuning is about, you need to get the right rates front/rear.

[LowR3V'in]

I think it was like 10lbs heavier then an m50.

[BDK]

yea, there is little difference between a S52 and a M30 weight wise, the S50 is lighter but doesn't have the power of the s52 so ....then you have the money shift issues too with the S52....
Once my M30B38 gets built I would happily run a S52....
The turbo M30's are just plain crazy....

[yert315]

Everybody keeps talking about the weight w/o showing the weight of the two engines on the scales...

That's what suspension tuning is about, you need to get the right rates front/rear.

aren't you getting a scale to weigh the m30?

[Jean]

Yep :)

[wildstoats]

The numbers that I have seen kicked around are:

143kg for the M30
152kg for the S50 (US)

Needless to say I am very interested in seeing some actual verified results on this subject. :)

[e30s52]

yea, there is little difference between a S52 and a M30 weight wise, the S50 is lighter but doesn't have the power of the s52 so ....then you have the money shift issues too with the S52....
Once my M30B38 gets built I would happily run a S52....
The turbo M30's are just plain crazy....

The s50 and s52 wieght almost the exact same if I recall. The moneyshift is with the s50's too being on the earlyer build date.

If anyone in the pnw has a m30 car with 3.46lsd rear end I will go to the track with you and see the diffrence.

[yert315]

The s50 and s52 wieght almost the exact same if I recall. The moneyshift is with the s50's too being on the earlyer build date.

If anyone in the pnw has a m30 car with 3.46lsd rear end I will go to the track with you and see the diffrence.

I don't think the argument is that the s50/2 is faster than the m30. That's a given. I think what everyone is trying to get at is the best bang for the buck.

[Jean]

That! And unless we have two equal cars with s50/m30b35 engines there are far too many variables to say which one is faster. By equal I mean similar configuration (tranny/diff/wheels/tires) and weight of the car + two competent drivers. I would rather have a fresh m30 swap than a junk yard s50 imho.