M30 vs. S50

[White5]

550f/750r. ideally need more for front extra weight

[Jean]

Mine isn't all that great, but it works. Modified front housings/revalved bilstein sports/ground control 550front/675rear,ground control race camber plates and rear shock mounts, offset lower control arm bushings, cabrio bar.

[VinniE30]

Jean, what is your suspension set up? What are your spring rates?

Mine has vogtland springs (225 front / 360 rear) with bilstein shocks. Feels good, I guess the firmer spring rates in the front work well with the extra weight.

[Jean]

The weight of the m30 is distributed , so it's not all at the front of the car or anything like that.

With some work to the suspension, e30 can handle just fine with m30... obviously if you are one of those who does a swap (sohc or dohc) and keeps the stock worn out suspension then thats your own problem.

[stinkydriverx]

This is the one time I feel like a faahhgett(spelled that way on purpose). I chose the m30 for its period correct look. And that wonderful sohc noise maker. I'm gonna be in my m30 swap for about 2k when its done. I'm in it that much and I payed 300 for the running engine. I didn't spend this much money for a stock for stock swap. I chose it because for 300 dollars, Its a great base to start with. I chose it because an m30 can make 400hp without breaking a sweat. Now, so can an s52. However 9/10 times. the m30 is going to make that power for alot less money. Its all up to your budget. whats important to you.

Chris brings up a good point that i'm a little scared of. The handling. I guess we will see how that goes.

[slammin.e28]

but 24v is what god intended to happen you heathen.

If ?god? intended 24 valve....M20 wouldn't exist....and thus the would would be a better place.

M30 still would though....it's what ?god? intended before 24v, then we fucked it up...(M20...)

[Wanganstyle]

S38 is a much more difficult swap, friend.

its been done so many many many times in europe -

I'm sure if given a running E34M you would do it...... :P

[InuFaye]

but 24v is what god intended to happen you heathen.

[slammin.e28]

I get plenty of ticking from my VANOS.

...but that ticking isn't supposed to happen. M30/20 ticking is.... ;)

Also, that's probably the e30 trying to puke out that 24v engine. It's like giving my grandfather a Mac and taking away his abacus. Something will be thrown out the window....then we just have and angry old dude and a broken computer.

[kronus]

eh, you just need one more custom thing, subframe spacers. Everything else is purchasable. the real issue is the cost, S38s are expensive to buy and expensive to maintain.

[Danny]

S38 is a much more difficult swap, friend.

[Wanganstyle]

I've got some of the best ppl around to help out, I'm not exactilly as e30 savy as I was before the army because of going through basic training and 3 months after being deployed to afghanistan... well now I'm almost half way though my deployment and my R@R is coming up soon so I can read up and go through my car. I know my car has a 2inch drop and has f/r tie bars, a 4 point cage will be in the works and a modest interior strip will be also aswell as 3.46-3.64 gears. High dollar parts and quality are mandatory and when I build something nice, I am determined to build it nice! I will be mounting the engine as far back as possible to get the balance. The reason for the swap is that the current 2.5 is running around 250k and when I get back to Ft.Drum (I'm not worried on passing emissions in NY)I'll have some rivals like my Lt. who's going to purchase a new boss 302 with track keys. I'm liking the idea about that lighter flywheel to get quicker revs out. The car might be N/A for while and the turbo is not included in the 5k limit...

if you want to mess up your Lt; why not a S38 swap? same thing as m30 and you could buy a running e34M for close to your budget and break it if you are so inclined. S38 is a marvelous engine; 3600cc :D

[VinniE30]

If I can make as much peak power from an m30 as a stock s50 then all the better. Same power from a 12v head without VANOS and better reliability and less complexity is a great thing.(Isin't less complexity what the e30 is all about?) Not to mention it's a period correct swap if you care about that for the cool factor.

And i'm not sure what you guys are talking about as far as the 24v having a more linear powerband. The m30 torque curve is very flat, and since HP is a function of torque, a flat torque curve results in a linear increase in HP with increase in RPM. The extra displacement of the m30 helps it match the VANOS's linear power band.

Lots of misleading statements here about torque. The M30 has around the same peak torque as the s50. The reason it feels different is that it get it's peak torque at a lower RPM than the s50.

I have an m30 e30 and just drove an s52 e30m3 last week. The s52 was very smooth and fast but wasn't that impressive compared to an M30. I thought the joy of the e30 for a lot of people was it's raw, old school feeling right? M30 can give you s50 power with that old school feeling and reliability and less complexity.
Everyone and their mother has a 24v swap, M30 is less common.:D

BTW i'll have a dyno of my very lightly modded m30 within a week or 2.

[SUICIDE109]

I've got some of the best ppl around to help out, I'm not exactilly as e30 savy as I was before the army because of going through basic training and 3 months after being deployed to afghanistan... well now I'm almost half way though my deployment and my R@R is coming up soon so I can read up and go through my car. I know my car has a 2inch drop and has f/r tie bars, a 4 point cage will be in the works and a modest interior strip will be also aswell as 3.46-3.64 gears. High dollar parts and quality are mandatory and when I build something nice, I am determined to build it nice! I will be mounting the engine as far back as possible to get the balance. The reason for the swap is that the current 2.5 is running around 250k and when I get back to Ft.Drum (I'm not worried on passing emissions in NY)I'll have some rivals like my Lt. who's going to purchase a new boss 302 with track keys. I'm liking the idea about that lighter flywheel to get quicker revs out. The car might be N/A for while and the turbo is not included in the 5k limit...

[Danny]

M30....because E30 has to have a SOHC and valve tick to be E30.

I get plenty of ticking from my VANOS.