Straightforward poll: S52 or M6X swap in e30 vert

[slammin.e28]

pretty sure that's jgood's car

Yup.

[lolcantturn]

there's a youtube vid of some guy with a brown e30+m60 in it(think he's a member here) pulling super hard on a S52 E30 (might be a vert I think..)

is the power band THAT much different>?

Yes. M6x will blow the doors off any S5x...any day

[3vilE30]

Needs s54 added to poll. Top down csl air box all the induction noises.

[JGood]

Yeah, that's my m60 e30 sedan and my buddies OBD-I s52 e30 vert. Yes, the power band is that much different.

Here's an s52 dyno plot. I overlaid an m60b40 dyno, and my old cammed m50 dyno for comparison.




It's making 50+ lbs ft more in the mid range. And you can feel it. You never really feel like you're out of your powerband. It pulls hard from idle to redline. Having low end torque is really nice. I've had a cammed m50 that liked to hang out at 7k, I have a turbo Volvo that likes to make you wait a second or two then break your neck, and I much prefer the m60's brutal instantaneous torque over both (although they are all very fun).

There's really no comparison as far as the fun-factor goes. Overall cost isn't much more for the m60, depending on how you go about it. Well worth it, IMO. The sound, the feel of the torque at 2-3k, and the attention you get from EVERYONE, it's great.

[slammin.e28]

^^ This post /thread.

I don't see how anyone can vote for S5x after seeing that.

[nando]

an S54 has a wider torque curve but it's obviously a different animal. there's always something about a V8's growl.

an M6x is going to be a more involved swap than an S52 though, and it still isn't cheap.

[Vtec?lol]

So since I have an m60 vert I'd like to lay down some bias in this bish.

I work downtown, the heads and thumbs up I get while I cruise slowly down one way streets is an amazing feeling. With the top down it multiplies by at least 10?..

No matter what engine you put in the car, the vert is a loud highway cruiser. You might as well enjoy some v8 rumble. The sound literally causes me to pull over into the nearest dark over pass so I can get out and blow my load... Or, since it's a vert just shoot it straight up into the night sky. That's if your taint is strong enough.

When driving, I love that I get a jerk from 2krpm. I break traction on my bottle caps constantly and even when not being aggressive so it's tamed my foot very much. Can't wait for my 225's.

The 6speed. Ahhhhh. If it wasn't for the glorious sound of the v8, having that 6th gear would make it all worth it. Even in 6th gear with a 2.93, I can still pull pretty nicely if I accidentally slipped below speed on the freeway.

Gas mileage. It sucks. But I think of it this way, I now have an excuse to pull into the nearest gas station and talk it up with whoever heard me pull in. "What do you have in that thing? A cammed big block?" Nah man, it's a 4 liter factory BMW v8 missing a few sensors.

I love it. If I could do it over again if spend a little more money and time making it as factory as possible. I love finding excuses to drive it.

[Wh33lhop]

Honestly as much as I love the shrill sound and smoothness of an S54, in a vert I would do a V8. The sound and the effortless low-end just can't be matched.

[JCarp90]

Fuck man. I really hate to de-rail your thread, and I REALLY love my S52, but have you considered an S50B32?

If it's just between the S52 and the M60, I'd choose the S52.

[E30 Wagen]

I've never seen the appeal of swapping engines in a vert, but my vote is for a M62TUB44. That with a 6 speed is what I want to put in stripped down e36 track car.

If I had a vert I'd swap in a healthy M54 with some bolt ons and call it good. I don't like loud cars and the attention it brings.

[slammin.e28]

Fuck man. I really hate to de-rail your thread, and I REALLY love my S52, but have you considered an S50B32?

If it's just between the S52 and the M60, I'd choose the S52.

No because those are a pain in the asshole to work on and get parts here in the states. There was a thread in the not so distance past that elaborated, but I'm not going to suss it out.

S54 is a way better choice over M50B32

[Chriskbmx]

I see the appeal to adding the extra power to the vert. He wants something that is effortless to drive, unlike any m20 car, can pull great on the highway, and makes you feel all giddy inside when you listen to that v8 rumble. Besides all of that the torque pretty much makes the m6x swaps king in a very where they are way to chubby.

As far as dollar amounts go I don't really see where the extra effort is except for maybe dealing with breaks? Its not like this will be the shops first m6x swap, so they probably have it down to a science.

Just to add I came in here thinking the s52 would be the best route, but after many youtube videos, and reading jgoods post, and it just makes more sense for your goals. though if you plan on trying to make any extra power in the future the m6x is probably not for you.

[matthugie]

No because those are a pain in the asshole to work on and get parts here in the states. There was a thread in the not so distance past that elaborated, but I'm not going to suss it out.

S54 is a way better choice over M50B32

Agreed. It's a cool and rare motor, but why bother when compared to a S54?

[Chriskbmx]

the only thing the s50b32 has is rarity on the s54

[Wh33lhop]

As far as dollar amounts go I don't really see where the extra effort is except for maybe dealing with breaks? Its not like this will be the shops first m6x swap, so they probably have it down to a science.

Spoken like somebody who has never looked into the swap, lol. DOHC V8 and its dressings has some ah... spacial overlap with some bits in the E30 engine bay.