tubo m20 vs m50

[raoke]

thanx for the info.
diegom6- I'm not sure if you ever had a turbo m50 or even an m50e30, but how can you compare if you never had?

On a side note, im guessing the s50 is a whole other story...
Is it worth it getting an s50 for the cost of dropping an m50 and maybe even turboing it?

[diegom6]

thanx for the info.
diegom6- I'm not sure if you ever had a turbo m50 or even an m50e30, but how can you compare if you never had?

On a side note, im guessing the s50 is a whole other story...
Is it worth it getting an s50 for the cost of dropping an m50 and maybe even turboing it?

NO!! never got a m50 in my e30 , but a turbo m20b25 will beat a e30M50 anyways... That's what i said.. and now if you refer to a M50B30 The US M3 engine I think it will beat that engine anways but with higher boost, perhaps just with 8 PSI...

[Bryson]

i said "probably" because i've never been for a ride in a turbo m20, don't shit a fucking brick. Seriously though, m20s are shitty engines with their timing belts and rocker arms and an m50 swap can be pulled off for under a grand. Bang for the buck/simplicity an m50 swap takes my vote, but I still love turbos more than NA cars

[diegom6]

i said "probably" because i've never been for a ride in a turbo m20, don't shit a fucking brick. Seriously though, m20s are shitty engines with their timing belts and rocker arms and an m50 swap can be pulled off for under a grand. Bang for the buck/simplicity an m50 swap takes my vote, but I still love turbos more than NA cars

that's true!

[TCD]

I have ridden in a stock 325i m20 with 147rwhp, a 325i with a stock m50 and a turbo m20 325i. I can tell you that the m20 and m50 in n/a form are very similar. And upon observation, I see that the m50 2.5 seems to respond to mods about as well as a m20 in n/a form. The m50 is just an evolution of the m20. It's nothing more. The 24 valve head and very compression are worth 20rwhp over a stock m20. Nothing more nothing less. Want a good turbo motor? Don't choose the m50. The m20 is a much better candidate. Why does everyone look down on the timing belt? Follow the maintenance schedule and it's as realiable as a chain.
Todd

[diegom6]

I have ridden in a stock 325i m20 with 147rwhp, a 325i with a stock m50 and a turbo m20 325i. I can tell you that the m20 and m50 in n/a form are very similar. And upon observation, I see that the m50 2.5 seems to respond to mods about as well as a m20 in n/a form. The m50 is just an evolution of the m20. It's nothing more. The 24 valve head and very compression are worth 20rwhp over a stock m20. Nothing more nothing less. Want a good turbo motor? Don't choose the m50. The m20 is a much better candidate. Why does everyone look down on the timing belt? Follow the maintenance schedule and it's as realiable as a chain.
Todd

Tell us why ours M20 are much better candidate Todd, the M50 even when has higher CR (wich is a little problem for F.I. , no much boost can handle) and is 24valve DOHC it should be breathe a lot more than our old dogs isn't it? or the Motronic in the M50 doesn't let us tune it easily? :roll:

[TCD]

Tell us why ours M20 are much better candidate Todd

The m20b25 has 8.8:1 compression and the cam has little overlap. The m50b25 non vanos has 10:1 compression and wild cams. The m50b25 vanos has 10.5:1 compression. Neither is suitable for turbocharging.

At Sharkfest, I rode in an e39 528i with a MecTech turbo kit running 6psi. It was a beautiful kit but at 6psi it was just a waste of time.

Todd

[diegom6]

Tell us why ours M20 are much better candidate Todd

The m20b25 has 8.8:1 compression and the cam has little overlap. The m50b25 non vanos has 10:1 compression and wild cams. The m50b25 vanos has 10.5:1 compression. Neither is suitable for turbocharging.

At Sharkfest, I rode in an e39 528i with a MecTech turbo kit running 6psi. It was a beautiful kit but at 6psi it was just a waste of time.

Todd

In the "CAMS World" I'm lost...what exactly do or how the overlap affects in a F.I engine vs a N.A. engine..?

of corse we are talking about stock engines with stock internals tough...

[TCD]

how the overlap affects in a F.I engine

Overlap is basically the exhaust valve and intake valve being open at the same time. This is advantageous on a n/a motor because the scavenging exhaust helps suck the intake air into the combustion chamber. This is bad on a FI car because the charged air will just blow out the exhaust.

Todd

[reelizmpro]

I have ridden in a stock 325i m20 with 147rwhp, a 325i with a stock m50 and a turbo m20 325i. I can tell you that the m20 and m50 in n/a form are very similar. And upon observation, I see that the m50 2.5 seems to respond to mods about as well as a m20 in n/a form. The m50 is just an evolution of the m20. It's nothing more. The 24 valve head and very compression are worth 20rwhp over a stock m20. Nothing more nothing less. Want a good turbo motor? Don't choose the m50. The m20 is a much better candidate. Why does everyone look down on the timing belt? Follow the maintenance schedule and it's as realiable as a chain.
Todd

Don't you mean 21-24 fly wheel HP instead of 20rwhp? 168 vs 189-192?

[rwh11385]

Todd, would 24V head play that big of a role in a turbo engine? I think that if you are pushing air through doors instead of just sucking it in a little, the size (or #) of the doors don't matter as much. I mean, of course less restriction is good, but if you're bring boost into the equation, don't the DOHC vs. SOHC benefits decrease from whatthey would be in N/A form??

Bryson, can you really pull off a M50 swap for $1000? Engine, radiator, mounts, etc. ?
I mean, this has been beaten to death, but the M20's vices: timing belt, rocker arms, and 12V head seem to be livable.

Todd, wasn't your turbo project completely stock bottom end, and running 12lbs of boost? Pretty impressive.....was it just tuning that allowed that?

In my eyes, if there is a choice between a swap that shoves in a completely new motor, versus using a turbo that makes great use of what you already got, the turbo makes sense.

[SickE30]

I'm not trying to knock Lukus by saying this, but look @ his results with all of his mods. Then go and look @ Todd's setup on a STOCK M20 w/ boost. End of arguement ladies.

[raoke]

How long has Todd been boosting? If not for long, then lets wait a year and see whats going on with those two. And maybe by that time Lukus may have a turbo m50..

[diegom6]

How long has Todd been boosting? If not for long, then lets wait a year and see whats going on with those two. And maybe by that time Lukus may have a turbo m50..

My turbo setup is runing almost 1 year with out major problems, the only serious thing that happened was the rod bearing, but it could hapened a cause of the air plane fuel that I used once when it blew and the other was a blown head gasket, but that was my fualt...too much air, almost nothig of fuel= Pinging like crazy!

other than that, Im so happy with the turbo!

[Bryson]

Robert, if you start with a post 88 325i the swap can be done for under a grand. Mine's about 2k with an alu flywheel, m3 clutch, new used tranny, and various mantenance parts, this and the car i bought with the m50 was running