S38 or S52?

[James Crivellone]

Oh No You Didun't!
:)

Oh yes I diiiiiud!

Matt, lets the big kids enjoy our valve adjustments..thanks pookie!

[UNHCLL]

Some of us enjoy the S14/S38/M88 voodoo dance every time we turn the key.

We did a dual row conversion on one about a year ago. Ugh...
On another note, I know where there is a garage filled with M88/1 engines, left over "Spare Motors"... slide throttles, etc.

And there is nothing like the scream of an S38 at full throttle, even in an M5... glorious.


Cool stuff.
-Chris

[MR 325]

Oh yes I diiiiiud!

Matt, lets the big kids enjoy our valve adjustments..thanks pookie!

Indeed, I shall.

[WillisE30]

LOL, For the money the S52 is a better motor, be it a warmed over M50 or not. I've owned cars powered by both motors, is the S38 cooler? I think so, however, it's not worth the premium. For a similar investment you can have an S52 that will outperform the S38 across the board. For me that makes it a no brainer, now James is a dirty filthy purist so he thinks E30s should have period correct motors...HA

[e30_kid89]

Lol, for the price of 24 new s38 valves you can have a low mileage s52 obd1 converted in a e30 with some spare cash for bolt-ons.;)

[thectrlguy]

Like most already said, if you can find a well maintained low miles S38... do it, sure the S52 is nice, puts down respectable numbers, easier to maintain, blah blah blah.....

But it's got nothing on S38...

Again, you're clearly spending a decent amount of cash, why spend 12K for a S52... seems ridiculous.

[BenM]

Some of us enjoy the S14/S38/M88 voodoo dance every time we turn the key.

Can I use this in a sig quote? That's good stuff.

[ZiMMie]

why not try to locate a REAL Eurospec S50/2?

[James Crivellone]

LOL, For the money the S52 is a better motor, be it a warmed over M50 or not. I've owned cars powered by both motors, is the S38 cooler? I think so, however, it's not worth the premium. For a similar investment you can have an S52 that will outperform the S38 across the board. For me that makes it a no brainer, now James is a dirty filthy purist so he thinks E30s should have period correct motors...HA

Hah Will :p yah bastid...

The issue for me is that everybody does an S5X/M5X motor swap these days, and while the S52 can get similar horsepower for less, its still not a real ///M Motor. Everything I do is unique..it may be somewhat purist, but its unique..gotta admit that (with the exception of the wheels, which were rather unique when I bought them)

My logic is this, some people buy the Corvette, I'd rather take the Porsche, smiling all the way to the poorhouse =)

[James Crivellone]

Can I use this in a sig quote? That's good stuff.

Go for it :p

[ZiMMie]

Hah Will :p yah bastid...

The issue for me is that everybody does an S5X/M5X motor swap these days, and while the S52 can get similar horsepower for less, its still not a real ///M Motor. Everything I do is unique..it may be somewhat purist, but its unique..gotta admit that (with the exception of the wheels, which were rather unique when I bought them)

My logic is this, some people buy the Corvette, I'd rather take the Porsche, smiling all the way to the poorhouse =)

Nice theory but not all of us lke the porsche u know.

[Mphatik]

If you want a 'plug-n-play' driver, then the S52 (OBD1) is a no brainer. If you want the cool and show factor then the S38 would take the cake...
Availabiltiy of either motor plus maintenance costs should be considered, unless money is no object.

[James Crivellone]

Nice theory but not all of us lke the porsche u know.

and not all of us like the M5X/S5X motors either ;)

[Yakinho]

S38/M88 all the way

[WillisE30]

Hah Will :p yah bastid...

The issue for me is that everybody does an S5X/M5X motor swap these days, and while the S52 can get similar horsepower for less, its still not a real ///M Motor. Everything I do is unique..it may be somewhat purist, but its unique..gotta admit that (with the exception of the wheels, which were rather unique when I bought them)

My logic is this, some people buy the Corvette, I'd rather take the Porsche, smiling all the way to the poorhouse =)

Logic like that leads people to dump copious amounts of money into FWD Hondas man. ;)

I can see where you're coming from, and it makes sense. If I really wanted bang for the buck I'd be throwing a Chebby treefity in some light RWD chasis and expounding the virtues of 50yr old technology. I like to be different too, but my priorities are a little different as are my price points. That's what keeps our hobby interesting.