Anyone Bought/ Imported Engine from EU

[mccor023]

So I've got my eye on this evo S50B32 with roughly 100k and just wondering if anyone else has imported a Euro motor and ran into any unforeseen problems.

I have the cost with shipping right where I want it, I realize I will have to pay customs once I receive it. But, I don't really know what to expect for customs or any other associated cost. Any insight as to other problems to look out for would be great.

Thanks, your reward could be seeing me giddyup in euro-spec S50 late model E30:D

[evandael]

talk to the guys at Castro Motorsports

also, may I suggest just going s54? the software flash costs are going down (epic motorsports and mark dsylva can do this, among many others), it's a better engine, and the cost of euro parts might be hard to bear.. not that s54 parts are cheap!

[nando]

S54 would likely be cheaper and you can get one right here in the US with shipping being only a couple hundred bucks. there's always half a dozen on ebay - you should be able to pick up one with under 100k miles for $3k or so. or buy a whole parts car, then sell off the extra parts.

getting a euro-only motor means parts will have to be special ordered and nobody here knows how to work on them. also, the parts are still expensive.

MSS54 flashes, however, are not going to be expensive anymore. ;)

[Todd Black 88]

Are you doing the flashes now Chris?

[mccor023]

Ill check the S54 pricing out. I hadnt really considered it because I was trying to keep motor to $4k or less. (Yes I know swap will cost more than just buying a motor.)

[nando]

you can definitely get an S54 for 4k or less. the rest of the swap is basically the same - they have similar issues (brake booster interference, oil pan/pump swaps, etc).

[slammin.e28]

Only things really worth importing now are diesels, IMO.

S54 stuff is just getting cheaper every day, and we got those here, so no importing.

[yahh]

You should buy my s50 drivetrain so I can go LS :)

[MikeLenoch5]

Ill check the S54 pricing out. I hadnt really considered it because I was trying to keep motor to $4k or less. (Yes I know swap will cost more than just buying a motor.)

Phew, sold my S54 and ZF for 6.2k!

[mccor023]

You should buy my s50 drivetrain so I can go LS :)

FU, I was perfectly happy bobbing my M20 round town until you showed with your "look-at-me" S50 swap. :)

[James Crivellone]

I've worked on an S50B32, fuck that motor!

You cannot buy parts for it in the US unless you have a legally imported VIN attached to the motor, (IE a title, documentation of federalization, etc) So unless you know someone with a Gray market S50B32 car, OR you want to just have somebody in the UK/Germany send you parts its not worth it.

The S54 is newer, easier to get parts, and very common.. Once S54 prices started dropping the appeal of a S50B32 went to nada.

[Wanganstyle]

I've worked on an S50B32, fuck that motor!

You cannot buy parts for it in the US unless you have a legally imported VIN attached to the motor, (IE a title, documentation of federalization, etc) So unless you know someone with a Gray market S50B32 car, OR you want to just have somebody in the UK/Germany send you parts its not worth it.

The S54 is newer, easier to get parts, and very common.. Once S54 prices started dropping the appeal of a S50B32 went to nada.

fuck s50b32. It's as annoying to work on / get parts for stateside as RB26dett

the local BMW dealer parts counter stocks pretty much anything you can need on an S54; cost is not terrible either.

some things hurt bad, but for the euro would hurt even worse (same bmw motorsports part with tarriff of un-obtanium attached to it.

the bmw dealer will service your s54 car even if the s54 is installed in a E36 or E30. try that with a s50b32 euro- I know one dealership that can work on that car but its only because the owner has a PTG M3.

[yahh]

FU, I was perfectly happy bobbing my M20 round town until you showed with your "look-at-me" S50 swap. :)

I'm telling you, you should buy it :). I'll also give you half the stuff you need to turbo it. I reaaaaalllly want an ls3 in mine.

[Unearth078]

if your vanos goes out on the s50b32 you will be SOL. cant import the sensors via bmw NA