what do u think?

[e30s52]

m50 has cooling system problems, m30 has rockers so we're even.

Really, they are both good engines to swap into an e30. Both cost about the same and will be about the same speed-wise.

But this has been discussed before.

True. I haven't had any issue with the cooling system in ethier of my cars but my s52 car has only been driven about 1700 miles and my other car (M50NV) has been driven around 15,000 but I had to replace the water pump at 135,000.

[iwillhunt]

Why is there even a debate about which one sounds better? Sound hardly seems like a good method for selecting a motor.

The M30 is a great option, but the M50 is going to offer comparable performance with excellent fuel economy. It kind of seems like a no-brainer to me.

[E30SPDFRK]

Meh, I get 25mpg driving pretty hard.

It's really just personal choice.

[iwillhunt]

Meh, I get 25mpg driving pretty hard.

It's really just personal choice.

Interesting. It's amazing what torquey motors can do in lightweight cars.

[416stroker]

I would have liked to have built an m30 car but the m30 just looks like ass compared to an m50 in the engine bay. So I went the m50 and I will be adding 4.10s soon. There verry similar but the m30 just ulgy compaired to an m50.

[ILoveMPower]

Both are great engines, for me personally the M50 power curve just doesn't compare to the down-low torque of the M30. I prefer the rumbling/ticking idle of my old SOHC that needs a valve adjustment to the increased fuel economy that a newer "better" engine might give me. The nostalgia of classic BMW's is what attracts me to them, not the gas mileage and pretty valve cover.

[Wh33lhop]

Both are great engines, for me personally the M50 power curve just doesn't compare to the down-low torque of the M30. I prefer the rumbling/ticking idle of my old SOHC that needs a valve adjustment to the increased fuel economy that a newer "better" engine might give me. The nostalgia of classic BMW's is what attracts me to them, not the gas mileage and pretty valve cover.

Exactly. I fell in love with old bmws when I first rode in an E28 M5 (which to be fair, the M88 is DOHC, but still an old powertrain).

I would have liked to have built an m30 car but the m30 just looks like ass compared to an m50 in the engine bay. So I went the m50 and I will be adding 4.10s soon. There verry similar but the m30 just ulgy compaired to an m50.

4.10s... hope you didn't go with the E36 tranny too...

[Fidhle007]

How much more does an M30 weigh then an M20?

[E30SPDFRK]

about 60lbs

[Fidhle007]

Cool. My car lost 50lbs when I swapped the M20 for the S50. The only thing I deleted was the AC and that was NOT 50lbs worth of shit so your M30 weight theory is total bunk.

[416stroker]

4.10s... hope you didn't go with the E36 tranny too...

Wow you mean that wont work.

[Wh33lhop]

Wow you mean that wont work.

I just wouldn't mate a non-overdrive tranny to a 4.10:1 differential unless you like turning over 5 grand at 80mph.

[daniel]

Wow you mean that wont work.

yeah that is a pretty high diff ratio for an M50.

[Fidhle007]

Wow you mean that wont work.

Look on the bright side, you'll be able to launch in third gear...

3.46 is the absolute shortest you'll want to go and I still think that's retarded.

[yert315]

Cool. My car lost 50lbs when I swapped the M20 for the S50. The only thing I deleted was the AC and that was NOT 50lbs worth of shit so your M30 weight theory is total bunk.

I'm pretty sure anyone would want to swap an s50 over an m30. This main discussion was regarding the m50 vs. m30. People usually do these swaps because they are on a tight budget. I know I finished my swap with a total coming out to just under $1000 including the motor and transmission. I can't find an m50 motor for under $500, which is a rough one at that. Some may say we are "down grading" to an m30, but considering the years that motor and the e30 were produced, it is an upgrade. Its like swapping in an s50 into a 1995 325i. Just because it isn't newer technology, doesn't mean it's inferior.

I'm sure we could go on and on about the pros and cons of each swap. I just don't see how people can knock the m30 if they have never experienced it first hand.