S52 Brilliantrot 318is from Australia

[bmwfan52]

power wise its night and day when you compare the two. I meant to ask about the overall fun factor.

How long did you drive the m42 before starting on the project?

[jsta1109]

Congrats on the car mate.
Dont be afraid to red line that puppy.
You might not want to swap the engine when you figure out the driving style that car likes.
What month and year do you have on your door?
May be too nice for a first swap in this day and age.

oops just realized that it was a long thread and your done with the swap.
how do you like it compared to the m42.

Both the M52 and S52 are better than the M42 in an E30. I couldn't really tell much difference as far as weight/feel on the M52 and I haven't really given the S52 much of a drive yet so it is hard to comment. That being said, the huge increase in power and torque is worth it every time.

[bmwfan52]

Congrats on the car mate.
Dont be afraid to red line that puppy.
You might not want to swap the engine when you figure out the driving style that car likes.
What month and year do you have on your door?
May be too nice for a first swap in this day and age.

oops just realized that it was a long thread and your done with the swap.
how do you like it compared to the m42.

[jsta1109]

I'll hopefully have a more detailed update but I've had a successful first drive. (Sorry no videos yet)



I pulled my front ground controls out as the shocks are leaking. I had some spare BCs for the front but as pictured they were way too low. Front lip is about 60mm off the ground and I ripped it off on the driveway getting out. I also bottomed out on the first drive and took a chunk off of my steering rack. If I had an E34 pan, it would have been obliterated...



It seemed to drive okay, hard to say if it felt any quicker or better than the M52 at this point as I was paying more attention to noises etc, I'll do some data logging soon and see if there is any notable increase in MAF readings. Exhaust is much louder on the outside now, surprisingly it's quieter than my old exhaust on the inside with no drone. Hopefully I'll update the thread shortly with a video.

Few issues I did note, getting a bank 2 o2 code (bank 1 seems fine, two brand new NTK sensors), looks to be lean so I could potentially have a vacuum leak. Going to give the MAF a clean as well.

I also dropped my good working radiator fan switch when moving the radiator, I replaced it with a spare but I don't think it is working. I also put an 88c thermostat in, E30 gauge is reading 3/4 at operating temp so that does get me nervous.

One more thing, always hated the intake. I have had a eBay / KAMotors style one for some time and I really dislike it. I've purchased a generic K&N filter and I plan on building a box.

[BillyRad17]

That car is siiiiiick! Unique too, I like what you did with your BBS's

[jsta1109]

Exhaust looks great

Thanks!

Nicely done! sounds alright to me.

I mean sure yer a single pipe would be way easier, but wheres the fun in that! you would have learnt alot making that exhaust.

Thanks, might be a bit loud for me but I'll find out when I get to drive it. And yes certainly learnt a lot, gained quite a bit of confidence TIG welding and keen to work on something other than an exhaust for a bit.

[e30davie]

Nicely done! sounds alright to me.

I mean sure yer a single pipe would be way easier, but wheres the fun in that! you would have learnt alot making that exhaust.

[2mAn]

Exhaust looks great

[jsta1109]

Threw some coolant in it and had it running up to temp. Recorded some sound from the exhaust, a bit raspier/louder than I expected but also noted after this that two of the four vbands were leaking slightly (since tightening them, exhaust is a bit quieter and no ticking).

Low revs/exhaust sound https://youtu.be/8JIYJ3KV1Lc

Idle after tightening exhaust https://youtu.be/Agvolh9mqrM

Finished exhaust photos, don't look too closely... I'm pretty happy overall, but next time I should just go single 2.5/3", would have saved me a bunch of time.





Got the engine up to temp and I have a very small leak from the coolant hard line coming from the back of the thermostat housing. Currently waiting on o-rings to ship from the states.

[jsta1109]

Very nice. Looks like a lot of work! Be interesting to see what it sounds like with those 2 separate mufflers at the back.

Yeah I'm keen to hear it as well, those mufflers weren't really supposed to go there. I originally ordered them with the intention of throwing them behind the cats but they were way too big. Instead of wasting them I decided to use them in the rear.

I still may throw some resonators behind the cats but my local supplier didn't have any in the size I wanted in full stainless.

[e30davie]

Very nice. Looks like a lot of work! Be interesting to see what it sounds like with those 2 separate mufflers at the back.

[dadsbmw]

Exhaust looks awesome!

[jsta1109]

Quick update. Ended up buying a portable bandsaw as I was sick of cutting pipe with the angle grinder. Very happy with my purchase.

Mid section of the exhaust complete



Mufflers hanging using factory hangers and pipe tacked in place



Muffler piping all fully welded, still need to get vbands and mufflers fully welded in place now. Ran out of straight tubing to finish the tips



Should be sorted soon, I have some 3" rolled tips to go on and then I should be almost ready to drive.

[jsta1109]

I have considered it, just figured if I was going to spend money I might as well wait and get the bandsaw.

[e30davie]

ah yes the band saw is the dream. I have a cheap bunnings ozito circular drop saw. which produces pretty straight cuts, not perfect you have to be careful how hard you go at it as the blade can flex i think, more perfect than my trying with an angle grinder. Think it was only 130bucks.