M62 vs S54

[Jean]

Yeah, it's 50/50 since the engine must be newer than the car (and the one I found is an 84 as well with unknown history/condition) and remain ALL stock components. 745i setup is a huge old mess lol.

[Wh33lhop]

v12 are a waste of effort imho.... and boost is not in option in CA that's why i narrowed it down to two choices :)

Couple benefits I see to s54 over m60/2 - no need to lower front subframe, no need to relocate mc/booster hardware to the very front of the car. Longer rpm range, cheaper tranny, ITB, newer, lower mileage choices, mechanically almost a bolt in swap.

I hate to say it but on paper s54 looks better.... no?

Yeah, but you are overlooking the electrical pain in the ass that the s54 swap provides. Want to keep the original engine management? Well, swap in the full harness, cluster etc and make sure everything came from the same car. Want to go OBD1 or standalone? Deal with the electronic throttle body and dual vanos. The s54 swap is almost as simple as any other DOHC swap mechanically, yet you typically do not see people performing them in under a few months like you do other DOHC swaps.

Additionally, if you want to use a getrag 420 with the s54 you're still going to need European e36 m3 evo shift linkages as well as a custom trans cross brace and driveshaft.

I vote s54 between the two, but it is not because of ease of installation.

[Danny]

S54 will have to stay obd2 if you want to bar it. That means swapping EVERYTHING over.

[Wh33lhop]

True that. E-gas FTW, fun fun fun.

[Jean]

I know, I've read the same thing and that e-gas/throttle is actually better to go with vs. manual. I've seen s54 swaps w/o vanos delete as well, but still reading about the finer things about the swap.

[bimma360]

Couldnt find a sound clip good enough of an s54 in an e30... figured it wouldnt be fair. So here is one of an e46 M3 with an Eisenmann exhaust. Also followed by one of an m60 in an e30. I know that when it comes down to a track car the sound really isnt a requirement necessarily... But my vote is for an M60, the sound is better, the torque is better, and the weight isnt THAT much different. Not to mention its easier to install then an s54, and cheaper to boot. OH and its a BMW V8...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hej6IFt9Aqo

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PsbVYPtsXgs&feature=related

^^OH yeah!! I will one day be ripping that Dinan turbo'd m20 out of my car for that!

[Wh33lhop]

You're going to rip the turbo m20 out of your car for a 215hp m60b30?

The motors both sound great in person, if you want a good sounding s54 e30 go to jason89i's s54 thread. That thing will not stop revving.

[bimma360]

You're going to rip the turbo m20 out of your car for a 215hp m60b30?

The motors both sound great in person, if you want a good sounding s54 e30 go to jason89i's s54 thread. That thing will not stop revving.

Now why do you have to assume the worst? I was in fact talking about the m60b40 which has 282hp and 296 lb·ft of torque. And yes even that motor has less power then my turbo motor, but that was my point... I would still replace it with that m60.

[dude8383]

Now why do you have to assume the worst? I was in fact talking about the m60b40 which has 282hp and 296 lb·ft of torque. And yes even that motor has less power then my turbo motor, but that was my point... I would still replace it with that m60.

You should turbo that m60!

[nando]

don't you primarily autox? I would do the S54 for sure. more power, better everything really, easier swap, easier to maintain. I don't even want to think about getting to the sides of that V8 shoehorned into an E30.

I don't really think the electronics are that big of a deal, it's just like M50 swaps 10 years ago. People will figure it out and eventually they'll be everywhere.

the fanboi's can cry all they want, but honestly - aside from the "S" motors, BMW's V8s blow chunks.

[BMWerke]

for any east coast ppl
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/BMW-9...Q5fAccessories

[2002maniac]

The reliability of the S54 should help make this an easy decision. Plus they really do have ALOT of torque down low.

Really, you honestly think the S54 is more reliable than the M62? No way!

[Wh33lhop]

Now why do you have to assume the worst? I was in fact talking about the m60b40 which has 282hp and 296 lb·ft of torque. And yes even that motor has less power then my turbo motor, but that was my point... I would still replace it with that m60.

The cabrio whose video you posted was a 3.0; just goes to show, sure V8s sound good but that doesn't mean they're always the better option. ;)

[gregslow318i]

I love my m60 and its just a matter of time before Ill add the extra displacement of the m62

as far as a comparison for what you are doing you should look at the tq curve under peak between the m6x vs s54.... my dyno showed 200 something tq at 1500 r3vs to a peek a 265

all told I think I have just under $5k into the swap but keep in mind I did all the labor and stopped counting after 150 hours .... Ill post up my dyno sheet as well

[bimma360]

The cabrio whose video you posted was a 3.0; just goes to show, sure V8s sound good but that doesn't mean they're always the better option. ;)

Well honestly, at the end of the day the "better option" is really relative. I dont think this thread is really about which motor is better. I mean from an engineering standpoint, sure the s54 is superior. But the OP has to make a decision as to what will suit his purposes more. If he wants to spend almost twice the amount of an m60 swap to throw an s54 in there for more reving power, then more power to him. An s54 e30 is super cool, and no one will deny that.

To me that screaming BMW V8 is the way to go, but like I said its all relative.