New guy

[91Saleen#15]

Greetings...
As my handle suggests, I've been racing a Saleen. However, just recently I picked up an 89 325is. So here I am. I guess I'll just nose around here and see what ideas I can come up with to make the car competitive for autocrossing. I think I'm going to want more power pretty soon. An engine swap is probably going to be in order as soon as I can figure out which engine is the best choice. It looks like some people are using M30s and others are using M50s. I have a connection to buy at the salvage auctions so I'll probably pick one up as soon as I can figure out which year and model to look for. I've already bid a couple of times on some wrecked M3s, but they seem to be going for a pretty penny.

Anybody here doing Megasquirt fuel injection?

Richard

[Jarvis]

I have a connection to buy at the salvage auctions so I'll probably pick one up as soon as I can figure out which year and model to look for. I've already bid a couple of times on some wrecked M3s, but they seem to be going for a pretty penny

From someone who has helped on M50 swaps, hold for for the right S50/S52 motor. If you have the cash for the bigger motor, GET IT. It'll definitely be worth it since the "custom" parts of the swap are the same as the ones for a modest M50/M52 swap.

[chuckybob]

www.e30tech.com has a lot of information on e30 megasquirt

[91Saleen#15]

From someone who has helped on M50 swaps, hold for for the right S50/S52 motor. If you have the cash for the bigger motor, GET IT. It'll definitely be worth it since the "custom" parts of the swap are the same as the ones for a modest M50/M52 swap.

Where can I find out which cars have the S50/S52 motor? (This may seem like a dumb question... but I've only just recently become interested in the E30)

[2002maniac]

Welcome Richard!

S50's came in the 1995 M3 only. S52 was in the '96-'99 M3. The S50 swap is a little more affordable because it is OBD1 and makes the swap a bunch easier.

[bmwmike]

I think for a racing application you'll want some good n/a power. What kind of power do you want from the car? Id say your two best choices are the M50 or S50 for what your doing. If you want some mad power, you can swap the M30, then turbo it.

[Jarvis]

S50's came in the 1995 M3 only. S52 was in the '96-'99 M3.

You can also find an S52 in the '98-00 M Roadster and '99-00 M Coupe.

[91Saleen#15]

I think for a racing application you'll want some good n/a power. What kind of power do you want from the car? Id say your two best choices are the M50 or S50 for what your doing. If you want some mad power, you can swap the M30, then turbo it.

From what I've seen, it's going to be hard to find an S50, and hard to replace if I blow it up. An M30 with a turbo sounds like a more practical way to go. ..... is there a website that documents the details of the swap?

[mr.happy]

You can also find an S52 in the '98-00 M Roadster and '99-00 M Coupe.

These were aluminum correct?

[Mastrcruse]

http://www.da-motorsport.com/projeler/evolutionm3/

1000 hp E30...Could be fun!

[Jordan325iC]

Mert (the guy who runs DA Motorsport) is infamous for making outrageous claims and then never backing them up. There is no proof that his kit makes anywhere near 1000hp. Hell, I don't think there's even any proof that the stock drivetrain can handle 1000hp.

On topic, there is a site that thoroughly documents the m30 swap, but I don't remember what it was. Somebody on here probably knows.

[2002maniac]

These were aluminum correct?

no. I think only the Z3 2.8 was. Not sure what year.

[Jarvis]

These were aluminum correct?

No, all M50, M50TU, S50, and S52's had iron blocks. I think it was '97-98 Z3 2.8's that had aluminum blocks, all other M52's were iron.

[Ryan Stewart]

If you want to make it competive in autocross then an engine swap is NOW what you want to do.

[german g]

You should consider stroking the M20, it is a very durable engine and can prob. make all the power you want for auto crossing.