14 years - 1991 325ix, Stroker/5-Speed (N52 swap?)

[nando]

Its hard to know exactly what the quoted weights include but either way the difference is significant. The manesum/aluminum block is pretty dang light.

Hopefully i will be able to weigh the n52 and m20 to have a better and more direct comparison.

[digger]

are you sure its 150lb lighter apples to apples?

[nando]

Im going to part it out - pistons, cam, headers, megasquirt 3 will be up for sale.

Yeah, i have an S52 block in the garage, i hate dragging that thing around, its damn heavy!

[Sean]

Its not an m50, no. Its an N52B30. Also happens to be the lightest inline 6 ever made by BMW. :-)

I have been working on a 24v swap for 5 years lol. Original plan was S54, but when i got my E90 land barge i realized i didn't want to ruin the nimbleness of the E30. The S54 is about 150lbs heavier than the N52.. Thats a lot of weight for the front of an ix!

Plans are custom intake (no throttle, no maf), modified cams, solid lifters, headers. Looking for at least a 7500rpm redline, possibly 8k (stock is 7k). There is potential for 300bhp, but it will take some time!

This engine will minimally get a rebuilt head, new seals and rod bearings. Need to check the cylinders to see if a deglaze and re ring is neccesary. Internals will remain pretty stock.

The only unknown now is fabricating the oil pan - i have a plan but i need a talented fabricator.

I did a quick check today and the m20 pilot bearing fits right into the crank, so my 24v getrag will bolt right up. Will use an aluminum single mass flywheel & E34 M5 clutch.

All in all i would like double the power of the stock m20 and less weight. First step is getting it on a stand!

Sheesh...shows how well I can identify an engine! I should have known that an M52 couldn't be lifted by two people easily. haha

That sounds awesome! Looking forward to seeing more!

What will happen to your stroker? I've been considering doing more work to mine, but go back and forth on putting more moeny into my m20 or putting it into a different engine...

[nando]

About time!

Gonna be ready for the picnic this year?

No unfortunately i doubt it. Car is likely to be in peices by then.. Hopefully. :-P

Good thing is my wife will want me to finish it so no excuses!

[nando]

Wait...are you putting an M50/52 into your IX?!

Its not an m50, no. Its an N52B30. Also happens to be the lightest inline 6 ever made by BMW. :-)

I have been working on a 24v swap for 5 years lol. Original plan was S54, but when i got my E90 land barge i realized i didn't want to ruin the nimbleness of the E30. The S54 is about 150lbs heavier than the N52.. Thats a lot of weight for the front of an ix!

Plans are custom intake (no throttle, no maf), modified cams, solid lifters, headers. Looking for at least a 7500rpm redline, possibly 8k (stock is 7k). There is potential for 300bhp, but it will take some time!

This engine will minimally get a rebuilt head, new seals and rod bearings. Need to check the cylinders to see if a deglaze and re ring is neccesary. Internals will remain pretty stock.

The only unknown now is fabricating the oil pan - i have a plan but i need a talented fabricator.

I did a quick check today and the m20 pilot bearing fits right into the crank, so my 24v getrag will bolt right up. Will use an aluminum single mass flywheel & E34 M5 clutch.

All in all i would like double the power of the stock m20 and less weight. First step is getting it on a stand!

[AndrewBird]

About time!

Gonna be ready for the picnic this year?

[Sean]

Haha, Chris, I read back a little in the thread - I'm totally with you on a list of things that need to be done. My e30 has just been pushed back and forth for the last 14 months - needed a timing belt and I've just been trying to get other things done first.

Now I don't feel so bad about my roof - finally joining the no clear coat club! haha Although my entire cirrus blue roof is silver - no paint left at all. The top of my doors are going south now too. At least I don't feel bad leaving it parked outside now. ;)

Still a gorgeous car, as always! ;)

[Sean]

Wait...are you putting an M50/52 into your IX?!

[nando]

So this happened..



The guy was worried that i dont have a hoist, but this motor is so light we just picked it up off the back of his truck and sat it on a dolly. :-)

[nando]

Hopefully, ews3 delete. I have to hook it up and bench test.

[The Dark Side of Will]

What is?

[nando]

Step 1:


No real progress on the ix - actually, it's been more like "the reliable car I drive while my E90 is broken". Nothing crazy - one of the issues was my own fault (shorted out DME - I think it was my BDM header), the other was just a misfiring coil which took all of 5 minutes to fix. Also my wife hit a deer which took the E90 out of commission for a few weeks.

The only "new" issue to pop up is the front CV joints are starting to click. Well, they have 300,000 miles on them, with 80,000 miles being lowered, so I'm not surprised.

I did put it into "winter" mode. By that I mean I put on the snow tires (just in case), washed it, and put it in the garage with a cover on it and a battery tender. :p

[nando]

I just used them because my wife's car came with rubber mats and the stock set which were never used. They slide around a bit too much but aren't too bad. my rears are still stock E30 and seem to be in decent shape. Wish I'd bought a new set when they were $90 and not NLA..

[DER E30]

In the E90, which is a fantastic DD and honestly quite a bit faster - it's like, *yawn*. Oh, we're going 95mph? guess I'd better slow down...

-the floor mats are terrible. I guess I'll use the E90 mats for now.

My mom's e90 is like that

I bought a set of e82 1 series M floormats for mine, they fit perfect in the front, the backs not so much...