most cost effective swap?

[chop_suey]

M20 2.7 turbo vs. M30 vs. M5x vs. M60 vs. LS1

Which setup do you think is the most cost effective way to go as far as the amount of power output and reliablity goes?

Or if you have a better one tell us.

[travish325]

m30 extremely reliable-not to much extra power over an m20
LS1 not as reliable as m20/m30-way more power and not very expensive, cheap upgrades
m5x reliable- not a whole lot of power in stock form
m60 pricey to build but reliable, good power and still a bmw engine (if that matters to you)


Honestly I would do an s50 swap. Theres lots of possibilities for performance and its very reliable, Plus I like staying straight 6 in e30s when it comes to swaps.

[unevolved]

Honeywell AGT1500.

[chop_suey]

Anyone else

[Exodus_2pt0]

Ls1 is very expensive if you want a manual. For an aluminum block your looking at around 2k, then another 1.5 to 2k for a good t56. Biggest cost is the trans because it can be mated to many engines with conversion bell housings, so they are getting to be slim picking.

It's not on your list, but I am currently up to only $200 into my 5.0/t5 swap and the car is nearly finished. Granted I traded labor for the drivetrain, but that can be had cheap. Great power with a good set of heads and cam, plus reliable if you keep it reasonable.

[TheTacoMan]

All of those engines can be reliable with the right set up that said, most reliable for the $/hp is probably the s50. Just my 2 cents.

[Nick_S]

I was toying with the idea of swaps for a bit. S5X's seemed out of my price range but M50's are a dime a dozen. With S50 cams and a chip they seem to make decent power for a good bit less. I have no real experience with it though.

[LowR3V'in]

I'm not up on s50 prices lately but an m30 all
you need is motor mount brackets and everything else is bmw bolt on.

Mine cost about 300-400bux and had a friend make the brackets.

For power output vs money turbo obviously ;)
use the 2.5 not the 2.7.

[Chriskbmx]

if you were to do turbo best bang for buck would be 2.7i, but i would go m30 extremly cheap swap, with insane reliablity and make decent horse power and torque.

[chance]

m30 is the way to go.

Then down the road you can turbo it and be putting down 350-450rwhp.

or 560 if you are Otis!

[Chriskbmx]

m30 is the way to go.

Then down the road you can turbo it and be putting down 350-450rwhp.

or 560 if you are Otis!

and i feel like the m30 is just badass in general

[chance]

and i feel like the m30 is just badass in general

I just got inside from driving around town in my newly m30 swapped car, and I must agree. This motor rocks.

And I like the fact that its a period correct motor.

[chop_suey]

Ya forgot about the sbf 302, but I do like the sound of an M30, I assume best bet would be to just buy an 89^ 535i and use everything from that

[Herr Faust Schinken]

I just got inside from driving around town in my newly m30 swapped car, and I must agree. This motor rocks.

And I like the fact that its a period correct motor.

does it pull like a damn train?

[chance]

does it pull like a damn train?

Hell yea. Spins through first with ease with rolling into the throttle hard. It definitely gets the e30 moving.