E30 diesel or s50

[tylernaugle]

Right now, I'm not quite sure which way to go. I have a s50 minus cams (got for free) but the engine was heated up and the guy replaced thw head and gasket but still had no compression and thought the block was warped...so I'd like to know if there's any thread with diesel swap information ( searched didn't see anything that stood out) or if trying to rebuild the s50 with m42 pistons would be better

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[dannyyisntt]

I've always fancied the idea of a diesel e30.. If you decide to go s50, I've got a few sets of s50 cams laying around

[jalopi]

If you could get your hands on one of the diesels top gear used in their endurance race that would be sweet.

*edit*

I realize that was a pretty vague comment. It's from an episode from about 4-5 seasons ago, they took a diesel e36/46 to (bristol?) for a 24hr endurance race. Hammond crashed into a Mosler at night or something.

[raudonis]

Which diesel? Early m21 is a direct drop in, late m57 involves a LOT more.

[lukeADE335i]

M51 from the e34 525tds would be the go. The electrics would be no harder than an M50 swap & the sump will be round the right way.

My brother in law had an e39 with the M51, and it was sweet - enough torque to be vaguely entertaining (even in a heavy e39) and returned 43mpg (imp) cruising at 80mph on the motorway.

Of course the M57 is better, but fabrication would also make it much tougher swap.

[Roysneon]

Did we get the M51 here in NA?

[lukeADE335i]

Probably not - we didn't get them in Australia (he lives in the UK).

[tylernaugle]

I live in the united states in pa. The m51 would be my choice by I looked it up on YouTube and saw a Mercedes diesel in one.. (mouth is drooling) I guesss ill have to look up performance upgrades for an m51 for going that route looking for about 300 horsepower that's reliable. The only downfall to that engine is I hear the heads aren't the greatest. (Maybe thats an m21). Seems like another s50 swap is the way to go :/

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[tylernaugle]

M51 from the e34 525tds would be the go. The electrics would be no harder than an M50 swap & the sump will be round the right way.

My brother in law had an e39 with the M51, and it was sweet - enough torque to be vaguely entertaining (even in a heavy e39) and returned 43mpg (imp) cruising at 80mph on the motorway.

Of course the M57 is better, but fabrication would also make it much tougher swap.

seem like you know a thing a two about these diesels. I saw a couple of e30s with a om606 engine (Mercedes). want wondering if you knew any information about this... ( think you are from a different place than the us)

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[lukeADE335i]

Sorry - don't know about the Mercedes diesels.

[brianf408]

I've actually been keeping my eye out for an M21 as well. Been trying to decide what my m42's replacement is going to be so I can be rebuilding it on the stand before the m42 dies (if it ever dies). Not going for a ton of power, just something that is fun and unique. Run it with a loud intake and exhaust, add an intercooler, and just have a blast.

[tylernaugle]

I've actually been keeping my eye out for an M21 as well. Been trying to decide what my m42's replacement is going to be so I can be rebuilding it on the stand before the m42 dies (if it ever dies). Not going for a ton of power, just something that is fun and unique. Run it with a loud intake and exhaust, add an intercooler, and just have a blast.

I've been on the fence between that and an s50 sadly. it seems like the m21 is the only one available to us and they have their own faults. i like the uniqueness that a diesel gives. if you know any info like switching out the fuel lines for diesel and the diesel pump etc. I want to get a jest about diesels before going with it.

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[ThatOneEuroE30]

Diesel all the way

[kylelauffer]

i have an m21! thinkin about mabey selling it. its pretty cool motor looking at it. so similar to the m20 and about three times easier to work on if you can imagine that! go for diesel! put a little bigger turbo on it and turn up injection pump and you should be happy with the power.

[brbahner]

I've always fancied the idea of a diesel e30.. If you decide to go s50, I've got a few sets of s50 cams laying around

how many of those cams are laying around? ive been looking for a set if they look good enough and the price is fair. shipping cams just scares me a bit.