Which engine would you choose for a swap?

[JimmyP]

If you guys are making a case for engine sound, obviously you are all too young to not have ever heard a race S14.

There isnt a better sounding engine than "maybe" the P60B40.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tR-wOK85ruw

[325e '87]

:loco:

Hahaha, I don’t think I’ve been hanging around here long enough to call anyone crazy but I’m sure glad you and Austin didn’t let that comment slide.

[nando]

The exhaust on my 330i is completely stock. Somebody gave me a mid pipe (no cats) - I thought about it for like 10 minutes, realized I'd have to cut stuff, and was like, nahhh. I'll save it for the E30.

[Staszek]

24v exhaust is pretty raspy, yeah. I do think M20s sound better overall. Actually, I don't really like loud exhausts at all - induction noise is where it's at IMO. The S54 with the CSL airbox is the best sound ever (except maybe the S70 V12).

The popular mod with new BMWs is muffler deletes. Literally, people cut off the muffler on their mom's old 328i. It sounds horrible, probably what people are thinking of when they say the newer cars sound like crap. Then they pay extra for a tune that makes them backfire, or if it's new enough, to "enhance" the fake engine sounds coming through the speakers. God, BMW sucks these days...

Agreed, that is why I love my S65 the induction noise is intoxicating!

The S54 with an xpipe removes all the rasp.

Everyone thought I was crazy putting in an E36 M3 exhaust with my swap thinking it would be too quiet, I think its perfect, quiet when at idle and normal speeds and wakes up very nicely when punched.

I also dont like loud exhausts. Getting old:)

[e30austin]

24v exhaust is pretty raspy, yeah. I do think M20s sound better overall. Actually, I don't really like loud exhausts at all - induction noise is where it's at IMO.

The older I get, the more I agree with you on the loud exhaust part.

[JimmyP]

Do you get any chatter and excessive vibration with the lightweight flywheel?

Chatter I dont experience.
There was very little change in vibration with stock driveline mounts, but those are so mushy.
When I went to the E21 trans and Bimmerworld Gruppe N engine mounts, yeah if got pretty rowdy.
I personally dont care much about that much, I have a pretty high tolerance for NVH if the car is fun to drive.
With the lightweight flywheel, stiff mounts and stiff bushings throughout the suspension its like a go kart.

[nando]

24v exhaust is pretty raspy, yeah. I do think M20s sound better overall. Actually, I don't really like loud exhausts at all - induction noise is where it's at IMO. The S54 with the CSL airbox is the best sound ever (except maybe the S70 V12).

The popular mod with new BMWs is muffler deletes. Literally, people cut off the muffler on their mom's old 328i. It sounds horrible, probably what people are thinking of when they say the newer cars sound like crap. Then they pay extra for a tune that makes them backfire, or if it's new enough, to "enhance" the fake engine sounds coming through the speakers. God, BMW sucks these days...

[e30austin]

The shop next door to me builds race cars and dyno tunes them all day long. Not a great noise, IMO

[Andrew325is]

Gonna have to disagree with all of this, bud.

M20 makes beautiful, beautiful noises, especially at 6500rpm. M54 isn't a bad sounding engine, but the M20 wins - all day long.

S54 is a horrible sounding engine; if you don't like rasp, i'm not sure how you like the sounds of an S54.

You’ve got to be kidding me, haha. The S54 on the dyno to 8,000 RPMs sounds glorious.

[Andrew325is]

I know you guys dont like the M42 / M44, but an 8lb flywheel with a light clutch is a game changer on an M44, I assume the same on an M42.
Similar to CodyM42, my M44 has 217K on it, gets 32 MPG at 90 mph on the highway and uses less oil than my E46 325T with 1/2 the miles.
Im ok with it for what it supposed to do, just general driving around. Its not super sporty, but the lightweight flywheel is a real character changer along with some stiffer driveline mounts. Feels a bit more like a sportscar now.

Do you get any chatter and excessive vibration with the lightweight flywheel?

[E30 Wagen]

I still think it boils down to what car you're starting with and what you're going to use it for. If you've got a slicktop 318is then I'd say definitely stick with the m42/m44. Delete the A/C, PS, and all the SRS crap and you've got a lightweight weekend warrior that's a ton of fun to drive at the limit. How cheaply can you source all the parts for a stroker build? Compare that with the cost of any worthwhile 24v swap and it's probably not far off?? I don't know. And for me I think less about power:weight ratios and more about how easy it is and how much space a bunch of swap parts are going to take up in my garage, and then having to get rid of the old engine.

[digger]

id say m42 stroker but done properly i.e. 200whp ish not 200 bhp

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gE0Y5tFnt2c

maybe a bit smaller cam than this one though....

[e30austin]

I think it sounds awful, at least that rasp. M54 sounds so much better than an M20... M44 sounds better too IMO. (S54 sounds the best of course)

Gonna have to disagree with all of this, bud.

M20 makes beautiful, beautiful noises, especially at 6500rpm. M54 isn't a bad sounding engine, but the M20 wins - all day long.

S54 is a horrible sounding engine; if you don't like rasp, i'm not sure how you like the sounds of an S54.

[agent]

I think it sounds awful, at least that rasp. M54 sounds so much better than an M20... M44 sounds better too IMO.

:loco:

[JimmyP]

I know you guys dont like the M42 / M44, but an 8lb flywheel with a light clutch is a game changer on an M44, I assume the same on an M42.
Similar to CodyM42, my M44 has 217K on it, gets 32 MPG at 90 mph on the highway and uses less oil than my E46 325T with 1/2 the miles.
Im ok with it for what it supposed to do, just general driving around. Its not super sporty, but the lightweight flywheel is a real character changer along with some stiffer driveline mounts. Feels a bit more like a sportscar now.