E30 S50 swap

[WhiteE30]

I own an 87 E30 and am interested in doing the S50 swap and was wondering where I could find resources on that swap.

[Jordan]

are you planning on doing all the labor yourself?

[e30Matt]

Call up Precision Performance. They'll get you all the info you need. PM Stu Mc or Alex Mc for info.

[WhiteE30]

I wasn't planning on doing the labor for the swap myself because I personally do not have the proper tools. I work at a bmw dealership, but I don't want to take up one of the mechanics bays for as long as it would take to do it. I found a few shops near where I live that are capable of doing them.

[Jordan]

So engine, tranny, all the misc parts needed, and labor...

look at spending 6k minimum.

[e304eva]

So engine, tranny, all the misc parts needed, and labor...

look at spending 6k minimum.

to do it right youll spend 6k if you do the labor all yourself. including motor and all parts

[Jon325i]

Well....he did mention he works at a BMW dealership. Perhaps he's got a connection to get parts for cheap. Who knows :roll:

Either way, the S50 swap is not cheap no matter how you slice it. Great gains to be had once its done and sorted out....but it all comes at a price.

Speed costs money. How fast ya wanna go?

Jon

[WhiteE30]

I want to be fast enough to show the ricers where I live what a bmw can really do. I do work at a bmw dealership, so all the parts the shop needs I can get at a discounted price, I think my price is only 10 percent over cost. something like that. I wish I was mechanically inclined enough to do this myself. But I'm still learning things. I figure I save about 7 or 8 grand, that should enable me to do the swap and a couple other things to prep the chasis and suspension for the engine itself.

[rwh11385]

You're not the guy from my dealership are you? From Indianapolis.....? One of our guys wants to put in a S52 OBD-I. But it was in a black E30.

Jordan, e304eva is right, it'd be more than 6k......at a reputable shop. Going rate for just M50 around here is 5k, all inclusive. Add the increased value of the S50 (which someone said they are becoming more rare and hard to pick up). I don't know what Zionsville Autosport charges (heh, was just there today.......), but another shop said $3k for labor.

[e30Matt]

...Going rate for just M50 around here is 5k, all inclusive...

Shit, I'm getting a non-VANOS motor for ~$800. Where are you getting your engines?

[Jordan]

I want to be fast enough to show the ricers where I live what a bmw can really do.

Sigh.. another fast and furious wannabe street racer.

[ETA fro]

I want to be fast enough to show the ricers where I live what a bmw can really do.

Sigh.. another fast and furious wannabe street racer.

ehh everyone has there own reasons.
if anyone on this board said they didnt think the same at least for a second when they started, i would call em a liar.

you will get bored with ricers or crash messing with them, avoid it.

[rwh11385]

...Going rate for just M50 around here is 5k, all inclusive...

Shit, I'm getting a non-VANOS motor for ~$800. Where are you getting your engines?

The shop charge $2k for an engine. Well, if you would bring a complete engine, they'd charge $3k to put it in (conversion parts included).

This shop is different from say you getting an engine. They will have to fix anything that fucks up on it, while you'd have to add to your cost to do it. $2k covers engine cost plus a lot of fucking up cushion. Plus, there is effort in finding the engine.

[WhiteE30]

No street racing for me

Street Racer? No. I've learned my lessons...the hard way. This will one day be a track/weekend car only. But until that time it'll be an everyday driver. I've heard mixed things about zionsville autosport. I'm not sure yet I want to get it through them. The engine I would really like to use is a euro S50. I found that on www.bimmerworld.com. But I'll probably end up getting the us spec and adding the multi-throttle intake and headers later on. Zionsville's cd-rom says you have to modify the engine mounts, and other places i've read about this swap claims you can use the engine mounts from an e28. Has anyone done this swap successfully either themselves or had a shop do it and has any words of wisdom? And I'm probably not the guy you're thinking, mostly because I'm in maryland.

[ETA fro]

Re: No street racing for me

But I'll probably end up getting the us spec and adding the multi-throttle intake and headers later on. .

i have heard the imitation thortle bodies do little, if you get the real ones you need everything to get the most out of it.