m30 vs m50 swap? whats your preference and why?

[richardkeith97]

last weekend i totaled my e30. when i get another one i'm going to get one with a motor swap. m50 and m30 e30s are about the same price. looking to spend $5-6k. what are the difference and whats your preference and why? thanks everyone.

[ak-]

How'd you total it if we mind asking?

[richardkeith97]

avoiding a deer

[rThor432]

I hate to hear that the car was hurt. I hope you find a solid new car to start with.

In my opinion, I would rather have an M50 family engine. With S52's being so cheap, I'd really recommend going after one of those. I like the VANOS M/S5x engines for their efficiency. I do 80 miles a day on the highway. My S52 car averaged 32 mpg with the overdrive transmission and 2.93. I don't think an M30 would deliver that sort of efficiency. I also like those engines because they are more modern. The aftermarket is huge for them and still growing. Parts can be had cheap and people are still developing parts for them, whereas the M30 is sort of old news. Sure, there are good parts out there for those as well, but generally they seem to be more expensive. There are other points to be made in favor of either engine, but that's my quick take on it.

Happy 4th Richard.

[MR 325]

5-6k for an m50 or m30 swap? You must be having a shop do it. Anyway, I'd go for the m30.

[richardkeith97]

5-6k for an m50 or m30 swap? You must be having a shop do it. Anyway, I'd go for the m30.

no i'm going to buy a car that already has it done.

[Syncro325is]

A few days ago there was an m90 swapped e30 on the forums for a grand 90% done. Ricksloans e30m30 hauls some butt, and the motor is bulletproof. The m50 family seems to be a good motor as well, with plenty of aftermarket parts and "bolt ons," although it seems to be a much more delicate motor. Along with that the m30 is much simpler to work on, and 20lbs of boost on stock internals is always tempting ;)

[Danny]

5-6k will net you an S50 car, or a car and then an S50 you do yourself.

[Kershaw]

S54.

its the only way.

[turbo325i]

go 24v, for parts availability and price. The 24v motors also offer newer tech which is more effiecient.

Although the m30 is sick! (calling otis) :D

[kronus]

M30. It has the brawn and the lack of moving parts that I value in a powerplant. Dead simple, widely available, cheap, solid power.

[george graves]

I hope you 24 valve'er guys have fun when it come time for you all to do a rebuild. That's going to suck for some of you.

[turbo325i]

I hope you 24 valve'er guys have fun when it come time for you all to do a rebuild. That's going to suck for some of you.

Whats hard about that?

I just did mine from the ground up.

[george graves]

Yea, that's just cause you're super-duper awesome. Hun?

[turbo325i]

I'm just a noob... i dont know nothin.