Where do you buy ///M motors?

[Fidhle007]

Thanks, it was just a random thought that struck me while reading this thread and I figured it would be easier to ask here than start my own thread for such a little question. My appologies for the jack, good luck with the swap!

[DEV0 E30]

S38 has gone to a guy in Washington (state).

Tell me James bought it, puhleeze.

Don't have any regrets about the E34, it's a perfect driving car to get anywhere comfortable. I think you win for sticking it to the wife when she says no. :)

[uflnuceng]

Wait, you're gonna drop this S50 into the E24? If you want to minimize the amount of money lost, just drop in a fresh or decent M30 and be done with it.

Granted... I do have a spare M30 lying around and I could probably drop a fraction of the cost into a reworked M30 that would make well over 300hp N/A. However, if you know the typical pretencious ///M bitches out there, if there isn't an ///M on the motor somewhere and its an ///M car, they flame and don't buy. In my mind, the E34 M30 was the pinical for the big inline 6, cos the cost of rebuilding an S38 for base horsepower would get you a rocket in an M30.

However, that being said there are some slight advantages to going to an S50 in an E24. E24's are front heavy by about 5% and an S50 would be a nice drop in weight over the S38 and is even ~15lbs lighter than the M30. The weight would sit lower and farther back improving handling. Horsepower potential would be about the same and working up the motor and installing it would still be a less than a simple rebuild of the S38. I'm just running the ideas... trying to see what would have the best appeal.

Tell me James bought it, puhleeze.

No... some old dude. If James had wanted it though I would have given it to him at a fraction of what I sold it for as long as he promised to document the swap and let us slam him for everything we thought he did wrong.:grin:

I think you win for sticking it to the wife when she says no.

We have a weird relationship... not ideal by any means but we do make an assload of money together, and I'm starting to get her on the "lets have lots of kinky sex" (brought up taking pictures and video last night and she didn't turn it down... actually had a soft agreement on it... no I will not post, the pics will be for me and her only... and my sprays in Counter Strike: Source:pimp: ) and "lets try and move out sometime this year" band wagon. It would be nice if PETCO offered wife training courses...

[FredK]

Well, a true ///M Bitch would want only the S38, and would consider the S50 US a bored and stroked M50. Which it is. But that doesn't detract from the power potential of the engine, and in my eyes, it is a great solution to someone who wants reliable power and inexpensive maintenance costs. Also, there's a lot of US support for the engine.

I wonder what a Shark enthusiast would pay for a S50 swapped 6er. The swap is going to cost $5000-6000. Can you sell it for $8000? You should get TLC to show up to your house to do an episode of Wrecks to Riches.

[uflnuceng]

Well, a true ///M Bitch would want only the S38, and would consider the S50 US a bored and stroked M50. Which it is. But that doesn't detract from the power potential of the engine, and in my eyes, it is a great solution to someone who wants reliable power and inexpensive maintenance costs. Also, there's a lot of US support for the engine.

I know... I'm driving around doing a tug-of-war in my head over it. Either sell it to a guy in Massachusettes for $1400, or hold on to it, make some thing fun with it later, and then maybe get rid of it. But then will I be able to get rid of it? There are a lot of people in love with the E24 body, but fear the cost of ownership. An S50 motor would definitely be a fraction of the cost to maintain. Granted, searching Roachfly and BF.C doesn't show anyone even looking down this road except for one other guy... but still... there is one guy who has an 88 M6 who is installing a LS6 V8 GTO motor who is getting adorded by the masses. Granted, his install is very clean, but how could I get more backlash for actually installing a "better" ///M motor over an american motor (not that I knock the LS6... that is a crazy magnificent motor).

I wonder what a Shark enthusiast would pay for a S50 swapped 6er. The swap is going to cost $5000-6000. Can you sell it for $8000? You should get TLC to show up to your house to do an episode of Wrecks to Riches.

The other thing going through my head... but then I can justify in my own mind the cancelling out of funds or possible additional expense of putting an S50 in my car because it will be fun to do. Maybe I'll fall in love with the car again, take it to a couple car shows/track events, find someone who just has to have it and unload it at a decent price. Atleast this way I would feel justified in loosing money because I actually got some use outta the car, as opposed to now where I would take it in the pooper for almost $6000 just because I made a bad eBay purchase.

Wrecks to riches is my life... I would walk around college (10 years ago mind you) with 7 cents in my pocket for a month, now I give myself $300-400/week spending money and still buy this expensive car shit.

[blunttech]

I know... I'm driving around doing a tug-of-war in my head over it. Either sell it to a guy in Massachusettes for $1400, or hold on to it, make some thing fun with it later, and then maybe get rid of it. But then will I be able to get rid of it? There are a lot of people in love with the E24 body, but fear the cost of ownership. An S50 motor would definitely be a fraction of the cost to maintain. Granted, searching Roachfly and BF.C doesn't show anyone even looking down this road except for one other guy... but still... there is one guy who has an 88 M6 who is installing a LS6 V8 GTO motor who is getting adorded by the masses. Granted, his install is very clean, but how could I get more backlash for actually installing a "better" ///M motor over an american motor (not that I knock the LS6... that is a crazy magnificent motor).



The other thing going through my head... but then I can justify in my own mind the cancelling out of funds or possible additional expense of putting an S50 in my car because it will be fun to do. Maybe I'll fall in love with the car again, take it to a couple car shows/track events, find someone who just has to have it and unload it at a decent price. Atleast this way I would feel justified in loosing money because I actually got some use outta the car, as opposed to now where I would take it in the pooper for almost $6000 just because I made a bad eBay purchase.

Wrecks to riches is my life... I would walk around college (10 years ago mind you) with 7 cents in my pocket for a month, now I give myself $300-400/week spending money and still buy this expensive car shit.

heres my take, nobody who is a true m6 purist is going to want that thing with an s50 in it. run over to s14.net and tell them you have an m3 you transplanted an m20 into and see what they have to say. i gotta believe the m6 purists are of like mind. but regardless, its a cool car with reliable power. you may find the right guy who just digs it because its unique. but i wouldnt count on making any money. do it if youre just in it for the fun of doing it and you have the time. if it were me id dump it and move on but im short on time at this point.

[Matt86es]

heres my take, nobody who is a true m6 purist is going to want that thing with an s50 in it. run over to s14.net and tell them you have an m3 you transplanted an m20 into and see what they have to say. i gotta believe the m6 purists are of like mind. but regardless, its a cool car with reliable power. you may find the right guy who just digs it because its unique. but i wouldnt count on making any money. do it if youre just in it for the fun of doing it and you have the time. if it were me id dump it and move on but im short on time at this point.

I know what you are trying to say, but you just compared an S50 to an M20. The S50 is an M engine w/ almost twice the hp.

[bmws50b30]

I know what you are trying to say, but you just compared an S50 to an M20. The S50 is an M engine w/ almost twice the hp.

you missed the point. M or not an M6 purist would still like the original engine in it. Same goes for those e30M guys. almost 99% would stick with a car with the s14 in it than an E30M with an 24V in it.

my suggestion is ebay the chasis and you'll get more than $1500 for it. E30M rolling chasis still fetch a good $4K. I'm sure someone out there has an S38 for it.

[uflnuceng]

I've decided that I'm probably not going to sell it... just going to put it into storage or give it to my body shop guy to finish painting it and then store it. I'm probably going to put a euro motor in it or something. Probably a euro S50B32, although I hear you gotta dodge around some wiring issues. Of course this means I will be banished from the purist E24 M6 crew forever, but I don't really care.

I'll gut the interior for the time being and sell it as its in quite good shape. Then I'll get a custom interior put in later and turn this E24 into a track rat or something as the E34 is destined for sheer daily driver with 500+ crank hp... I hope that makes Permit happier that his car isn't going to get wrecked:D

On the E34 topic... if it ever stopped raining I could atleast go and see the E34 which got to the shipping terminal on Monday. However the rain doubles the length of the commute because people can't drive so I haven't had the time to run out and back.

[uflnuceng]

my suggestion is ebay the chasis and you'll get more than $1500 for it. E30M rolling chasis still fetch a good $4K. I'm sure someone out there has an S38 for it.

I had it for $1250 for 6 and a half days, no bites, only odd emails and phone calls. It would have been perfect for one guy who had an E28 M5 that had been crushed in a garage cave in (couldn't get details )

[James Crivellone]

No... some old dude. If James had wanted it though I would have given it to him at a fraction of what I sold it for as long as he promised to document the swap and let us slam him for everything we thought he did wrong.:grin:

Hah, What did you let it go for if you don't mind me asking?

My current plan is to hunt down a wrecked E34 M5 and rip the complete drivetrain, rebuild the entire motor, and pickup a used Getrag D 6speed tranny from europe =)


About Triple the price of a good S50 swap, but soo fucking unique its just cool.

My backup plan is an E24 M6/E28 M5, but I really want the newer M88/3 - S38B36(or8)

I'm only going to buy a running car though, even if I need to strip one thats in good shape, I want every part I can get without paying an overpriced yard for ///M parts.

[blunttech]

I know what you are trying to say, but you just compared an S50 to an M20. The S50 is an M engine w/ almost twice the hp.

true i did. but its not that far of a stretch. the s50 is a mutt of an engine compared to the s38. yes its more reliable and cheaper to operate and maintain but the cool factor is gone with the s50. theres something magical when you open the hood and see 6 itb's. at least for me there is. i own an s52 so its not like i dont like them. i just like them less than a euro s50 with the itb's or s38/s14 etc. theres also something to be said about a turn key, no issues reliable motor. im no purist, i just like what i like.

[James Crivellone]

true i did. but its not that far of a stretch. the s50 is a mutt of an engine compared to the s38. yes its more reliable and cheaper to operate and maintain but the cool factor is gone with the s50. theres something magical when you open the hood and see 6 itb's. at least for me there is. i own an s52 so its not like i dont like them. i just like them less than a euro s50 with the itb's or s38/s14 etc. theres also something to be said about a turn key, no issues reliable motor. im no purist, i just like what i like.

The S50/S52 is a really cool motor.

My main issue with it however is the fact that everybody does it, its such a popular swap its not unique whatsoever. The intake manifold looks like shit imho, and it just does not belong in the e30 engine bay in my opinion, too new.

I agree on the S38, its a very special motor, very expensive (understatement) to repair/rebuild/maintain, however its a real honest to goodness ///M Motor, no fancy electronics making it better, just old school 70/80's engineering.

I was a big S50 fan for awhile, Until I drove an E34 M5, after that I knew I must have the S38, its something special, just like the M30.

[uflnuceng]

Hah, What did you let it go for if you don't mind me asking?

Because spending $25k on just a motor rebuild to get over 450 N/A hp isn't my idea of intelligent fiscal policy. That's what that Brannfors guy spent on his motor with Frank Fahey. Amazing car, no doubt, but $/hp is way off the scale. Also talked with Frank and a couple other people and they convinced me that the S38 doesn't really like boost (yes, I've seen the Swedish car but I think they spent the equivalent of that country's GDP). Then there was the shitty Getrag 280 tranny that was starting to die and the typical upgraded 265 tranny was a $3500 conversion.

Then I was going to put the E34 M30 motor in the E24 body, but I was looking at about $6k that needed to be spent on the suspension and brakes, not to mention I wanted to do something to the motor to up the horsepower. Then Permit's E34 came up that was only $4800 (cheaper than renewing the E24) and would be a direct fit for my worked over M30. Plus it was in nicer shape than the E24. So I'm taking this road.

My current plan is to hunt down a wrecked E34 M5 and rip the complete drivetrain, rebuild the entire motor, and pickup a used Getrag D 6speed tranny from europe =)

:up: for originality, hope you have fun refinancing your house.

[uflnuceng]

I was a big S50 fan for awhile, Until I drove an E34 M5, after that I knew I must have the S38, its something special, just like the M30.

Hmmm... that gives me another thought... wasn't there a video of a 3.0CSL with a worked up M30 motor in it with ITBs making sick amounts of horsepower with a 9000 rpm redline? I could do that for sure.