Can someone tell me which is better?

[Dtripp3]

For an e30 which engine is better the m50 or the s38, I though it was the s38 but everyone talks a real big game on the m50 but I'd argue that cause of this

http://www.rtsauto.com/e30-engine-swap-options-2/

^^According to this s38 is better^^

Opinions?

[Eecen]

I like butterflies

[318isbmw]

S38 is a true motorsports engine, but it is heavier than an M50 and also a lot more expensive, and harder to fit into an e30.

[bastianshaw]

how much money you got?

[noid]

Money being a non-issue it isnt even fair to compare the m50 to the s38. The s38 is almost 143hp more powerful then the m50. It has nearly 100 more then a US s52! Now when we starting talking about the s50b32 euro engine (321hp) we can respectfully compare the two.

Comparing the cost difference between an m50 and an s38 is astronomically different.

Did you mean an s38 vs m60?

[e30e]

You are new, welcome. There's a reason for more people having s5x/m5x powered cars than s38 powered guys. I hope you can figure that out and its not because what is better.

[Farbin Kaiber]

OP, everyone knows an s42 is where its at.

[Wschnitz]

S54? Although i love the s38, looks like a beauty in a e30s bay. I vote s38.

[matthugie]

S62

[Fifteen]

I'd just put a unicorn under your hood. Probably the best option.

[Pantless Spency]

is this really a question?
if you have the money S38 is such a fucking awesome swap.

[george graves]

All I know is that when it come time to re-build a 4 valve motor(m50, s50 or if you're so unlucky to own a s38 ).....there's going to be a lot of empty pockets around here soon. Most of these s50 swaps will need a refresh soon - and it's not going to be 'purdy.

M30 is where the sweet spot is at for a daily driver. They age much more gracefully - and let's face it.....It's all about the area under the TQ curve for a daily driver. HP figures don't mean much. But a turbo m20 is a heck of a lot of motor for the money. My 2 cents.

Oh....and OP - you should spend an hour reading about the differences in BMW motors. (not that I'm being the butt-head that says "search noob" - but rather it really fun and interesting stuff to learn about)

[scottinAZ]

All I know is that when it come time to re-build a 4 valve motor(m50, s50 or if you're so unlucky to own a s38 ).....there's going to be a lot of empty pockets around here.

Most of us will just do what we did the last time, get a new longblock and install the damn thing as is.....

buncha cheap bastards we are.....

on a car thats value rises or falls with the gas gauge, it doesnt make sense to reman a motor, when a new(non fucked) one is 2-500 bucks

[flyboyx]

do the chickens have large talons?

[george graves]

Most of us will just do what we did the last time, get a new longblock and install the damn thing as is.....

Yea, I hear you - and you're right - In the short term that will work - but as time goes by, there are only going to be so many low mileage e36 m3's that get parted out. The clock is ticking....tick, tock.