To S52 or not?

[cody_eppler]

Is the s52 really worth all the time and effort to engine swap in my car? This is the question I have been asking my self. I have a 318is right now its fun. The m42 is pretty reliable and is great at the pump. But as you all know its just a 1.8 so thats pretty much all I need to say about that. Ive also thought about buying a new m42 engine to rebuild and turbo which is also not a half bad idea. The problem is there is no replacement for displacement lol. The S52 looks like a whole lot of fun but also a huge project. Things Id like to know. First is the S52 pretty hard to rebuild/swap? Second how much would that swap really cost? And third is this to much power for a 20 year old kid? Sounds weird That I ask that but I respect the e30s and wouldnt want to see something bad happen to mine lol. The great thing about my 318 is that ive had some time to really learn how to drive and control the car. Which makes me happy I started with a slower car.
Any and all feed back is great.
Thanks-Cody

[Shangsta]

Its not too much power for you. Just respect it while learning the new found power. Honestly if I were you I would do a m52 with s5o cams.

[E30 Wagen]

Just be happy with what you have. Kids always be wanting more and more power... I personally just like having a really balanced car.

[flyboyx]

it will get you more trim. i say do it!

[Roysneon]

Just be happy with what you have. Kids always be wanting more and more power... I personally just like having a really balanced car.

This. No, your car won't be the fastest, but the time and money of that car really should be spent on some sort of education and getting a good job and set up in other areas of your life. Just my 2 cents.

[yahh]

This. No, your car won't be the fastest, but the time and money of that car really should be spent on some sort of education and getting a good job and set up in other areas of your life. Just my 2 cents.

21 years old here. Have s50 swapped e30. Not too bad of advice here, but if you have the funds go for it. Just don't rush and half ass it, it will cost you more in the long run. Also do you have a second car to use while swapping? You're probably looking around 3-4k for the swap if you replace the stuff you're supposed to. Good luck.

[george graves]

I'm so thankful I learned to drive a 5hp Briggs-and-stratton racing kart. I spent all my summers learning how to drive - all before I was 12.

Enjoy your 318is. Ask for a gift certificate to a driver school.

Guess how 99% of F1 drivers started out in racing? In tiny karts. Yep. In little "go-carts" - don't believe me? Look it up.

One of the reasons I loath drifting....it's the opposite of carrying speed through a corner. And that *is* what speed *is*.

BTW - an 318is is a good car to learn that with.

[cody_eppler]

This. No, your car won't be the fastest, but the time and money of that car really should be spent on some sort of education and getting a good job and set up in other areas of your life. Just my 2 cents.

Yeah i see what your saying. Im in my third year of college as of right now. Im only 20 I have my whole life ahead of me. Also some reasons why Id like to do this is one of my friends is doing an super charged m42 right now into a 2002 so it makes me want to to learn more about swaps also. Learning to do swap is an education. Taking the time to learn how to do that is something most people dont get the chance to do. Ive helped my friends engine swap an m20 and that was also a start to this engine swap idea. Money should never be the issue seeing as I am 20 years old I have the time to save the money and do the job right.

[ParsedOut]

Don't bother with the S52, you'll just wreck it. Put that money into proper maintenance and mods, don't worry about speed right now. In a few years when you're making more money, a little more experienced driver and know your car better you can step up the power.

[jalopi]

Lol, if there's no replacement for displacement why settle for a 3.2L... go balls out and do a V8 :D

Very easy to putt putt around town in, very civil... and very uncivil when you want it to be.

[yahh]

Don't bother with the S52, you'll just wreck it. Put that money into proper maintenance and mods, don't worry about speed right now. In a few years when you're making more money, a little more experienced driver and know your car better you can step up the power.

That makes no sense? Why waste money on mods when swapping in an s52 is a more cost effective mod than anything he can get from bolting random shit on? At 20 I had been driving e30s for 5 years. If he swaps the motor and does a few auto-x, he will learn to handle the car and its limits better than probably 60% of the people on here.

[lolcantturn]

One of the reasons I loath drifting....it's the opposite of carrying speed through a corner. And that *is* what speed *is*.

BTW - an 318is is a good car to learn that with.

Drifting has its place in learning how to initiate and control oversteer, but other than that it is fairly silly.


The 318is has a lot more potential, bring your car to a track, I guarantee you'll notice that the M42 is fast enough. I've had my M42 car for 40,000 miles now, had a M50 swapped gutted car before for a year. I find my M42 to be more fun because I learned how to use the power more, plus track days let you find out what more fun your car has. Still not tired of it, still not craving power. Eventually I will want to go turbo, but even with track days and 40,000 miles behind the wheel of it, I feel like there is more fun to be discovered with it :)

[nick_318is]

The m42 on the track is fun, and best way to learn the limits of the car, you can carry more speed in the corners than most others due to the lighter weight and great balance of the car. With the low power you're forced to become a better driver to get all the speed out of the car that you can. Spend some money to do all required maintenance and then go do a HPDE weekend, you'll have a blast and be a lot better drive because of it and still have a bunch of money for more track days cause you'll want to go back.

[ParsedOut]

That makes no sense? Why waste money on mods when swapping in an s52 is a more cost effective mod than anything he can get from bolting random shit on? At 20 I had been driving e30s for 5 years. If he swaps the motor and does a few auto-x, he will learn to handle the car and its limits better than probably 60% of the people on here.

Where did I say he should do bolt on mods? I said he should do maintenance and mods (ie. oil change, belts, fuel filters, control arms, shocks/struts, upgraded suspension, fuel pump, wheels, etc, etc, etc). I'm saying he should take care of the things that are undoubtedly neglected on his car now while he saves money and becomes a better driver. I'm not going to pretend that the S52 in an E30 is a widow maker or anything, but I know if I had that power to weight ratio when I was 20 I'd be dead several times over. Too many young adults strive for max WHP before they get a handle on basic car maintenance and driver education. Does that make more sense now or am I wasting my time?

[yahh]

Where did I say he should do bolt on mods? I said he should do maintenance and mods (ie. oil change, belts, fuel filters, control arms, shocks/struts, upgraded suspension, fuel pump, wheels, etc, etc, etc). I'm saying he should take care of the things that are undoubtedly neglected on his car now while he saves money and becomes a better driver. I'm not going to pretend that the S52 in an E30 is a widow maker or anything, but I know if I had that power to weight ratio when I was 20 I'd be dead several times over. Too many young adults strive for max WHP before they get a handle on basic car maintenance and driver education. Does that make more sense now or am I wasting my time?

It makes sense but it's not that much power. Most modern cars make that much even camrys.. I understand where you're coming from, but at the same time I think with a few autox he should be fine. I'm not talking out of my ass, I've done all the work on my car myself and I know how much I've learned from it.