E30 M3 w/S54 Swap Video

[Bimmerman325i]

Just curious, why delete vanos and cam the motor for only 330whp when guys are making 350-360whp on stock cams with vanos?

Seems odd to me.

Car sounds amazing though!

[s14power]

Just curious, why delete vanos and cam the motor for only 330whp when guys are making 350-360whp on stock cams with vanos?

Seems odd to me.

Car sounds amazing though!

my ecu didnt support vanos. i didnt want to buy another ecu when i already had one that is sufficient.
plus no vanos = less problems
plus im around 330 at the wheels, more than stock at the wheels. they arent making that with stock cams and vanos, they are making that with modified cams and vanos, ask VAC.

[VinniE30]

I love the sounds of that, especially when you leave the porsches behind on the long straight.

How ironic your name is s14power yet you swapped the s14 for an s54.

[s14power]

I love the sounds of that, especially when you leave the porsches behind on the long straight.

How ironic your name is s14power yet you swapped the s14 for an s54.

I used to have a VAC built 2.5 s14, (over 300hp) i sold that and bought the s54....
so when i signed up to r3v, i did have an s14, but i wasnt going to pay for a s14 rebuild ever again! too much coin!

[wannaBMthree]

wow, very nice car. must be an absolute blast to drive

must be scary fun to drive! I've gotten an e46 m sideways and that was a bit freaky. Can't imagine what the s54 would be like in an e30 without DSC

[nrubenstein]

must be scary fun to drive! I've gotten an e46 m sideways and that was a bit freaky. Can't imagine what the s54 would be like in an e30 without DSC

A lot easier to drive. The E46 is actually pretty unpleasan to hang the tail out in. More grip, of course, but the snap back is vicious. (I think it's heavily influenced by the M clutch diff.)

[Bimmerman325i]

my ecu didnt support vanos. i didnt want to buy another ecu when i already had one that is sufficient.
plus no vanos = less problems
plus im around 330 at the wheels, more than stock at the wheels. they arent making that with stock cams and vanos, they are making that with modified cams and vanos, ask VAC.

Understandable, having to buy another ECU gets pricey really fast.


As for the hp numbers...yea...VAC is dead wrong on cams being needed for higher power levels. Bimmerworld and Epic Motorsports (tuner) have been cranking out many 340-350whp bone stock S54s with just bolt-ons:



Bone stock S54 with Headers/Exhaust/Epic tune. 93 octane. Stock cams with vanos. That's a tune on the stock ECU as well (in an E36 swap), Bimmerworld sells ECU packages that can be swapped into any chassis. With cams you'd likely be 10-20whp higher.

quote from the tuner on the above graph:

Stock motor, no cams, infact it has never been opened even for a valve job. This graph was from an E36 with good headers/exhaust, factory air box, pwr steering and even had a clutch fan. We typically see 340 to just over 350 from stock engines with the right boltons.

If you can, I'd call Bimmerworld and ask for a remote Epic tune for your ecu and cams, I would be surprised if you could not get more power to the wheels with a simple reflash.

[s14power]

Understandable, having to buy another ECU gets pricey really fast.


As for the hp numbers...yea...VAC is dead wrong on cams being needed for higher power levels. Bimmerworld and Epic Motorsports (tuner) have been cranking out many 340-350whp bone stock S54s with just bolt-ons:



Bone stock S54 with Headers/Exhaust/Epic tune. 93 octane. Stock cams with vanos. That's a tune on the stock ECU as well (in an E36 swap), Bimmerworld sells ECU packages that can be swapped into any chassis. With cams you'd likely be 10-20whp higher.

quote from the tuner on the above graph:

If you can, I'd call Bimmerworld and ask for a remote Epic tune for your ecu and cams, I would be surprised if you could not get more power to the wheels with a simple reflash.

1st, no one touches my car but VAC. everyone has their own "dyno" figures, but of course if you read the forums EVERYONE has different numbers per different dynos. i really dont car what bimmerworld has to offer since i have vac do the work. ask bimmerworld if they are familiar with KMS.. i doubt it.
anyway there is no sense to argue or say i could got this or that. I am completely happy with my results. all dyno figures i take with a grain of salt.. the real test is on track.

cheers!

[e30polak]

Understandable, having to buy another ECU gets pricey really fast.


As for the hp numbers...yea...VAC is dead wrong on cams being needed for higher power levels. Bimmerworld and Epic Motorsports (tuner) have been cranking out many 340-350whp bone stock S54s with just bolt-ons:



Bone stock S54 with Headers/Exhaust/Epic tune. 93 octane. Stock cams with vanos. That's a tune on the stock ECU as well (in an E36 swap), Bimmerworld sells ECU packages that can be swapped into any chassis. With cams you'd likely be 10-20whp higher.

quote from the tuner on the above graph:

If you can, I'd call Bimmerworld and ask for a remote Epic tune for your ecu and cams, I would be surprised if you could not get more power to the wheels with a simple reflash.

Cams aren't worth it on these motors. Especially when you see the amazing dyno graph above!!! :twisted:

I would love to see what kind of dyno that was on, the numbers seem a bit high. Also I want to see the elevation, temperature, humidity, etc.

320-330whp is more realistic. Either way, this can be made on stock cams with headers, a free flowing exhaust, a less restrictive intake, and a proper tune.

Cost of cams for the s54..... :eeek:

Schrick Cams = $1658
DLC Coated Rocker Arms/Cam Followers = $50 x 24 = $1,200
Uprated Valvetrain = $1,000 - $1,500
Reflash/Dyno Tune = $700 - $1,200

All for maybe 20whp. Might as well get a used supercharger kit for the same amount and make 450+whp.

[nando]

Cams aren't worth it on these motors. Especially when you see the amazing dyno graph above!!! :twisted:

I would love to see what kind of dyno that was on, the numbers seem a bit high. Also I want to see the elevation, temperature, humidity, etc.

320-330whp is more realistic. Either way, this can be made on stock cams with headers, a free flowing exhaust, a less restrictive intake, and a proper tune.

Cost of cams for the s54..... :eeek:

Schrick Cams = $1658
DLC Coated Rocker Arms/Cam Followers = $50 x 24 = $1,200
Uprated Valvetrain = $1,000 - $1,500
Reflash/Dyno Tune = $700 - $1,200

All for maybe 20whp. Might as well get a used supercharger kit for the same amount and make 450+whp.

I was looking at that too.. totally not worth it

[LJ851]

I would love to see what kind of dyno that was on, the numbers seem a bit high.

Uummm, it says Dynojet right on the graph.

[BUDNUNTA]

VACs dyno is known to read low

They're not totally concerned about having the highest numbers, it's just a tool to tune with

[nrubenstein]

And to be clear, the Epic tune requires a 3.5" exhaust and the right headers to hit 350ish. That is *not* a streetable setup. In fact, the optimum exhaust has track noise restriction issues.

I don't know that I would choose to run standalone, but it's certainly not worth the cost of switching to a stock or even a different ECU now.

[s14power]

When youre as close to the owner of VAC as i am, the prices listed are way off, i didnt pay nearly that much for that stuff.

cheers!

[s14power]

When youre as close to the owner of VAC as i am, the prices listed are way off, i didnt pay nearly that much for that stuff.

cheers!

and no i will not buy parts for people