M30 or S52?

[nando]

N52 :p

it's funny, because it makes the same torque curve (maybe flatter), weighs a hell of a lot less, and can make more power. maybe even the M54 for the same reasons.

I get the period correct thing though, and boosted M30s are pretty tough to beat. but then, there is the N54..

[MannyTranny]

N52 :p

it's funny, because it makes the same torque curve (maybe flatter), weighs a hell of a lot less, and can make more power. maybe even the M54 for the same reasons.

I get the period correct thing though, and boosted M30s are pretty tough to beat. but then, there is the N54..

I'd be down man but i'm assuming those engines would be much harder to work on compared to an M30 or an S52. Is this true?

[the imitator]

I sold my m30 swap in favor of an N54, it's turning out to be fairly smooth sailing. Although it may be a little more expensive to maintain, they're younger engines and a newer design. The motors primarily use torx style hardware, and simplified release clips.

The great thing about m30 swaps is the simplicity, and cost

[nando]

I'd be down man but i'm assuming those engines would be much harder to work on compared to an M30 or an S52. Is this true?

they are more complicated but I wouldn't say they are "hard" to work on.

[the imitator]

[pandaboo911]

Boosted s52 all day every day

[MannyTranny]

Interesting, what would be cheaper/easier to maintain? S52 or N54?

Boosted s52 all day every day

Does your E30 have a boosted S52 in it?

[the imitator]

An S52 will be cheaper to maintain part for part, that's a fact, a boosted s52.. well that depends.

Assuming the n54 you hypothetically purchased had recent maintenence, and had recalls taken care of which most have considering warranty intervals... you should be able to drive that sucker with basic oil changes for a damn decent time.

I would rather work on an n54 than an S52.

[MannyTranny]

An S52 will be cheaper to maintain part for part, that's a fact, a boosted s52.. well that depends.

Assuming the n54 you hypothetically purchased had recent maintenence, and had recalls taken care of which most have considering warranty intervals... you should be able to drive that sucker with basic oil changes for a damn decent time.

I would rather work on an n54 than an S52.

Really? Is that because it's more simple? Cheaper parts?

[pandaboo911]

Does your E30 have a boosted S52 in it?

Indeed.

S52s are reliable even boosted, and the stuff that does break (vanos) is cheap to repair.

[totheredline]

Ive gotten rides in an m30 swap car and an s50 car and I fell in love with the m30. sOOOO much torque. It felt like I was in a muscle car. The s50 car remided me too much of my E46.
While the S50/S52 is a good engine and they move an e30 very very well I really don't see why theyre worth what people want for them. I very rarely see good ones for less than 2k. for just a little bit more you could get an S54, delete VANOS and run it on megasquirt. ORRR you could buy like 3 m60's... or like 10 m30s.... or 5.0 swap it, or Ls swap it.... (now Im just fantasizing) cant count out the regular 24v's either. An m52 can be had for next to nothing, and while you wont be making quite as much power as an S5x youll have a pretty chunk of change in your pocket that you wouldn't have had if you went S5x. Also, no harmonic issues with M52s and m50s, unlike M54b30s and S5x engines.

I went with a fully built, carbed m30 because I love old school BMWs and the M30 is pretty much the embodiment of old school Bavarian muscle. No other reason than that.

[MannyTranny]

Ive gotten rides in an m30 swap car and an s50 car and I fell in love with the m30. sOOOO much torque. It felt like I was in a muscle car. The s50 car remided me too much of my E46.
While the S50/S52 is a good engine and they move an e30 very very well I really don't see why theyre worth what people want for them. I very rarely see good ones for less than 2k. for just a little bit more you could get an S54, delete VANOS and run it on megasquirt. ORRR you could buy like 3 m60's... or like 10 m30s.... or 5.0 swap it, or Ls swap it.... (now Im just fantasizing) cant count out the regular 24v's either. An m52 can be had for next to nothing, and while you wont be making quite as much power as an S5x youll have a pretty chunk of change in your pocket that you wouldn't have had if you went S5x. Also, no harmonic issues with M52s and m50s, unlike M54b30s and S5x engines.

I went with a fully built, carbed m30 because I love old school BMWs and the M30 is pretty much the embodiment of old school Bavarian muscle. No other reason than that.

You're really making me want an M30 now. Would I need to 5 lug swap it? Would I need a new diff/bigger brakes? What all would I need to reliably complete this job? Sorry if there are tons of threads about this, i'll do some research when I have more time.

[totheredline]

You're really making me want an M30 now. Would I need to 5 lug swap it? Would I need a new diff/bigger brakes? What all would I need to reliably complete this job? Sorry if there are tons of threads about this, i'll do some research when I have more time.

First you need an engine. Theres lots of flavors of m30s to go with. If you were going to go with a stock M30 I would go with the M30B35. The US spec M30B34 is a low compression engine and they're really only good for turbocharging. Guys have made 800hp on the stock US b34 bottom end, so that's always an option. Or you could do something crazy and use a 2.5 litre m30 crank with 93mm aircooled VW pistons and long s38 connecting rods for a nice, very oversquare, revhappy 3.2 litre m30. Theres a lot of different combos. Definently go check out mye28. E28 guys love they're m30s.

I really don't think the m30, or the S5x motors make enough power to need bigger brakes on the street. Most people don't even mess with the brakes when theydo their swap.. However, It wouldn't hurt to pick up some stainless steel brake lines, good pads and rotors and maybe even some remanned calipers. You could go with RX7 front brakes but that is a little overkill unless you plan on tracking the car. You will need a different booster for the 24v swap.

Depending on your stock rear end ratio you probably won't have to change the diff with an m30 swap. Anything 3.73 and lower will be fine. No need to rienforce the rear end unless going turbo. An s5x with a Zf trans will need a numerically lower rear end ratio because it doesn't have an overdriven 5th gear. So 3.25 and lower.
You really need a new trans with either swap. G260 will bolt up to an s52 but it won't last long there. I would also invest in a new clutch.

M30 will also need a rock solid cooling system, and custom mounts. But that's not that expensive. Mishimoto z3 radiator and garagastic mounts. I got my mounts used for $25 on eBay.

[MannyTranny]

First you need an engine. Theres lots of flavors of m30s to go with. If you were going to go with a stock M30 I would go with the M30B35. The US spec M30B34 is a low compression engine and they're really only good for turbocharging. Guys have made 800hp on the stock US b34 bottom end, so that's always an option. Or you could do something crazy and use a 2.5 litre m30 crank with 93mm aircooled VW pistons and long s38 connecting rods for a nice, very oversquare, revhappy 3.2 litre m30. Theres a lot of different combos. Definently go check out mye28. E28 guys love they're m30s.

I really don't think the m30, or the S5x motors make enough power to need bigger brakes on the street. Most people don't even mess with the brakes when theydo their swap.. However, It wouldn't hurt to pick up some stainless steel brake lines, good pads and rotors and maybe even some remanned calipers. You could go with RX7 front brakes but that is a little overkill unless you plan on tracking the car. You will need a different booster for the 24v swap.

Depending on your stock rear end ratio you probably won't have to change the diff with an m30 swap. Anything 3.73 and lower will be fine. No need to rienforce the rear end unless going turbo. An s5x with a Zf trans will need a numerically lower rear end ratio because it doesn't have an overdriven 5th gear. So 3.25 and lower.
You really need a new trans with either swap. G260 will bolt up to an s52 but it won't last long there. I would also invest in a new clutch.

M30 will also need a rock solid cooling system, and custom mounts. But that's not that expensive. Mishimoto z3 radiator and garagastic mounts. I got my mounts used for $25 on eBay.

Nice little write up man I appreciate it! So pretty much just engine, tranny, steel brake lines, pads, rotors, calipers if the budget calls for it, and that's pretty much it? I wouldn't need to 5 lug swap it or get a new diff or anything?

[Bearmw]

A 5 lug swap is certainly unnecessary but the 4.10 or 3.73 diff would be too steep for many with stock diameter tires.