Swap Cost Comparisons: M30vsM50vsS50vsS52

[Ahheck01]

It's not an easy decision, deciding which swap to go with. I'm somewhat budget minded (read: poor college student), so I originally figured M50 or M30, but if the others are a LOT more bang for the buck, and not a ton more bucks, I might have to consider them.

So my question - what do you think each of the following swaps would cost me, all said and done (assuming I did the work)


1) M30 (Mods: intake, chip, headers, exhaust, that's it)

2) M50 (Mods: intake, chip, S50 cams, headers, exhaust)

3) S50 (Mods: intake, chip, headers, exhaust)

4) S52 (Mods: OBD1 conversion, headers, exhaust)

So far I'm leaning most heavily towards option two as best bang for the buck. I don't need ridiculous power, but the smoothness of the M50 with a bit of extra juice from the S50 cams seems right up my alley. It all comes down to numbers, though, so post up!

-Evan

[Garageaholic]

1) Search it up

2) Hit the search button

3) Try to do a search

4) There's alot information under "search"


Seriously, M30 is probably cheapest. but then again, i'm biased :)

[Ahheck01]

1) Search it up

2) Hit the search button

3) Try to do a search

4) There's alot information under "search"


Seriously, M30 is probably cheapest. but then again, i'm biased :)

1) Did that
2) Covered that
3) Looked into it
4) Not quite what I'm looking for

:)

-Evan

[amdspitfire]

s50>*

[ldsbeaker]

I'm doing the M30, and I can't believe the doors I am opening up with the extra displacement and relative bulletproof-ness of the engine. I bought a 128K example that had just had head work and a new cam done. $500 dollars. what a deal!! Besides the engine mount arms, a little bit of firewall massaging, and a driveshaft, this swap is CAKE!! (at least in theory, I haven't ACTUALLY done it, yet... but I have just about all the parts ready...)

Money's tight? M30's are cheap, bulletproof, and technologically simple.

[Garageaholic]

I'm doing the M30, and I can't believe the doors I am opening up with the extra displacement and relative bulletproof-ness of the engine. I bought a 128K example that had just had head work and a new cam done. $500 dollars. what a deal!! Besides the engine mount arms, a little bit of firewall massaging, and a driveshaft, this swap is CAKE!! (at least in theory, I haven't ACTUALLY done it, yet... but I have just about all the parts ready...)

Money's tight? M30's are cheap, bulletproof, and technologically simple.

QFT

Replacement parts are EASY to find at any junkyard. Compatibility is a great advantage. And all parts are readily avaible and relatively cheap!

+The engines last forever

+They are cheap to find and maintain

+They are a dime a dozen at any junkyard

+They make massive power when boosted

+You can say you have a "335i" and people will definitely ask questions

+There is so much information about it online through forums or writeups, so technical support is EASY to find

+The more people that do the swap, the more people do the swap... it's an exponentially growing phenomenon!





-Difficult to bleed the coolant system

-If you're thorough, you can get your factory weight distribution, but for the most part, that's what you're sacrificing




Evan, Evan, Evan.......::Breathing as thinking what to say::I think it's worth it.... hmmmmmm?:pimp:

[Mike325]

This question has been asked and answered thousands of times. This is what you will get. The most reasonable answer.

It all depends on 4 things.

1: How much you get a motor for.
2: What shape the motor is in.
3: What your car needs for replacement parts.
4: Can you slowly search for parts to find the best price, or do you need to buy stuff quickly.

Some swaps are easier than others, and some can be done very cheaply. It all depends on the list above and how into the swap you get. Some people on here have spent 4K+ on their M/S50 swaps and don't even have the motor in the car yet. Some have spent under 1K to do a swap with the same motors. The ballparks on all these motors are on this forum, the price all depends on you.

[euroshark]

M30 swap is dirt cheap, the M30 is awesome in terms of torque and reliability, and it's not a hard swap to do... The wiring for mine consisted of like 8 wires being spliced at the fusebox.

[Garageaholic]

M30 swap is dirt cheap, the M30 is awesome in terms of torque and reliability, and it's not a hard swap to do... The wiring for mine consisted of like 8 wires being spliced at the fusebox.

And if you're lucky like me and get a gen III M30, there is absolutely NO wiring required, just hook up the C101 port!

[Ahheck01]

And if you're lucky like me and get a gen III M30, there is absolutely NO wiring required, just hook up the C101 port!

What donor car would have the Gen 3?

-Evan

[Garageaholic]

any E34 535i or E32 735i. It's easy to find and much less fabrication involved... simpler engine and less complicated. This is of course pending what car you have...

If you want to do an M30 swap, I suggest getting one of the aforementioned engines, but as far as an E30 goes. get an 88-91 E30, NOT 83-87 E30. It's possible, but much more work as far as wiring goes :)

[Ahheck01]

any E34 535i or E32 735i. It's easy to find and much less fabrication involved... simpler engine and less complicated. This is of course pending what car you have...

If you want to do an M30 swap, I suggest getting one of the aforementioned engines, but as far as an E30 goes. get an 88-91 E30, NOT 83-87 E30. It's possible, but much more work as far as wiring goes :)

I'm picking up an '89 325i

[Garageaholic]

You're half in the bag. If you're going to do M30, then i would pick up an engine from a car that I had mentioned before. After that, it's easy, All of us can help you in detail...

[MrK]

+1 on the M30 swap being easy for a late model e30. I did it, and it was practically plug n play, except for the "beating the firewall to shit" part LOL

[gearheadE30]

How much heavier is the M30 than the M20 or compared to the S50/52 engines?