My car is F#$&*(#&$ slow.

[Streichholzschächtelchen]

m30

[Cronopoulos]

M20 turbo.

[Jafxod]

Jafxod, i'm interested in how you manage to pull together an M50 swap for under a grand. NV or Vanos? stock headers? do you make your own harness?


OP, swap in m50 w/ s50 cams and a tune.

If you can grab an m50nv for under 500 bucks. Use stock g260, wire your own adapter, weld up your own trans brace and exhuast, 944 booster, s52 headers and e36 midpipes (as a starting point), cheap electric fan, stock rad and such. Its really not that hard. The key is being able to do everything yourself.

[scabzzzz]

This thread is stupid and your car sucks OP.

[M-technik-3]

Round two of moaning and groaning. Sell it move on to a nice lease.

[Huff]

Buy an e46 M3 or used e9x please...

[imsotyerred]

Buy an e46 M3 or used e9x please...

do not listen to this knob gobbler

[E-Thirty]

This thread is stupid and your car sucks OP.

Thank you, I forgot what forum I was on for a sec. :p

[Vtec?lol]

Let me help you,
Swapping an M20 to an M50 is a huge waste of time and money. You gain 12 more valves, like a bunch of weight, and only 20 or less so horsepower. It will not rock your boat if you feel the M20 is sluggish.

If you are going 24V there should be nothing less than an s5x on your mind.

If you do like turbo, you will wan't to keep the M20. there's more room and less stuff to go wrong. You have tunes everywhere and basemaps. It's a very stout engine and will accept 300ponies all day. 220hp in an e30 and your now in mustang territory. 300hp, now that's a fast car.

Bottom line is, with the money you'd spend in making an m50 motor fast, you can get a manifold from otis and a good piggyback or standalone and start building a turb'. More rewarding, endless possibilities, less of trying to make shit swap n work. oh, and it'll be way faster than any s50 swap. just my $.02

*edit* disregard this.

[Vtec?lol]

Yeah very true, I think that I'd do a major cosmetic makeover as well once I did a turbo. (If I did) to be a little more low key, but with a swap I feel a little safer as long as I get a nice clean motor that's reliable. I have problems with my m20 almost every few weeks, with an m50 I feel like I'd be a little safer. My mom has an e46 3 series and the engine hasn't had a single problem yet... so that's making me way more motivated to buy an m50 and swap it all.

I'm not really sure on what else I need besides the motor, I have some buddies that built my motor for me and helped me a ton so I'll go to them definitely. From day 1 with this car I have learned more about BMW motors than I have anything else LOL.

But thanks to REV for all the help so far, you guys are awesome.

This is fail. an m54 is way different than an m50. You wont find an m50 with low miles in good condition for cheap and even if you find a 20yr old m50, why would you put it in your car without a rebuild if you're begging for reliability?

Also, not to bash but if your having weekly problems with your m20 you need not to own an m20 let alone a motor swap. Those have to be the simplest engines ever made by BMW and one of the cheapest to maintain. What makes you think going M5x is going to help you? also, if keeping up the m20 is such a chore, the m50 will be a nightmare.

OP I think seeing those exotic cars is slowly starting to get to your head lol. slow it down and think it out.

[dude8383]

Honestly, why don't you just try doing a track day with it? You'll realize that racing from stop light to stop light is completely pointless.

After I started participating at DE's my driving on the street has toned down considerably.... just sayin.

[kalib0y]

Honestly, why don't you just try doing a track day with it? You'll realize that racing from stop light to stop light is completely pointless.

After I started participating at DE's my driving on the street has toned down considerably.... just sayin.

quoted for the truth

[Massimo]

Let me help you,
Swapping an M20 to an M50 is a huge waste of time and money. You gain 12 more valves, like a bunch of weight, and only 20 or less so horsepower. It will not rock your boat if you feel the M20 is sluggish.

If you are going 24V there should be nothing less than an s5x on your mind.

If you do like turbo, you will wan't to keep the M20. there's more room and less stuff to go wrong. You have tunes everywhere and basemaps. It's a very stout engine and will accept 300ponies all day. 220hp in an e30 and your now in mustang territory. 300hp, now that's a fast car.

Bottom line is, with the money you'd spend in making an m50 motor fast, you can get a manifold from otis and a good piggyback or standalone and start building a turb'. More rewarding, endless possibilities, less of trying to make shit swap n work. oh, and it'll be way faster than any s50 swap. just my $.02

*edit* disregard this.

Agree. You have a new build motor so if you want more power y not just turbo it.

[Jand3rson]

What, no photoshoot?

[87e30]

What, no photoshoot?

lolz


OP I wouldn't do an m5x again. I'd just go straight s5x. The s5x motors are so much more fun.

But it's not going to turn your car into a newer car, it will still have its quirks and be an old bmw.

I felt similarly to you, so I sold my car and got myself out of modding until I have a nice daily and a job that will support a second hobby/track car.