gahhhh WTF...i get screwed every time

[ptownTSI]

So a guy lists an engine for sale and tells me its from a 93 e36 325i...good, it has vanos, what i wanted. then 2 days before i'm going to go pull the engine out, he tells me its a non-vanos 1992, wtf is this shit!

[ptownTSI]

should i still get it? its in good shape with reasonable miles for a 1992, 115k i believe he said. paying $450 for it with all the accessories.

[Jon325i]

If it were me I would snatch it up. Vanos is nice, but the non-Vanos engine has more grunt in the mid and upper revs......that's where I like to keep my tach ;-)

Jon

[ptownTSI]

will the vanos get better mpg?

[Jon325i]

will the vanos get better mpg?

Well, you would be putting into an E30 which is lighter than an E36, and that means a little better mileage (providing you don't run hill climbing gears). Really, the only difference, driving-wise, is that the Vanos motor puts more torque down earlier in the rev band. Again, its going into a lighter car so the difference seems like a wash to me.

Just my

Jon

[ptownTSI]

in the vanos m50 cant you just swap a 2.8L crank in with the current 2.5L rods and pistons though? in the non-vanos you have to swap the crank+ rods??

[Jon325i]

in the vanos m50 cant you just swap a 2.8L crank in with the current 2.5L rods and pistons though? in the non-vanos you have to swap the crank+ rods??

Are you looking to build up a stroker M50? I wouldn't consider this unless you got everything real cheap.....not exactly sure what combo of factory parts (con rods & pistons) works properly. Going from memory here, a non-Vanos M50 can accept a 524TD crank and along with a slight overbore to achieve a 2.8L....perhaps an S50 crank can be dropped in with a little work (I think this is what Stu McHenry did). I don't think the same is possible with a Vanos M50 though....I believe your only options are the stock crank or an S50 crank.

If I am mistaken on any of these claims, someone please jump in and correct me. I don't want to spread misinformation.

You may want to browse through the M50/S50 swap page....could be some answers in there.

Jon

[ptownTSI]

hmm well this is from zionsville... looks like i can still do the 2.8 stroker.

BMW M50 engine "2.8 liter stroker kit" including (1) crankshaft, (6) pistons, (6) wristpins and (6) connecting rods. This is a "drop in" replacement for a 2.5 liter M50 engine but increases displacement by .3 liters and reduces the piston/rod weight by 67 grams per cylinder. Main and rod bearings are identical to 2.5 liter parts and the pistons are the same diameter. Using BMWs average horsepower/liter of displacement ratio, this change calculates to +22.5 horspower.
• E36 1992-95 325i, 1992-95 325is, 1994-95 325i Conv.
• E34 1991-95 525i, 1992-95 525it

$495 for all that. i have already found a 2.8 crank for $150, but i'm waiting response to see if it comes with the connecting rods/wristpins. i didnt know you needed new pistons. sounds like you can add new pistons if you want to reduce weight per cylinder?

[permit]

Get the non-vanos.

[Jon325i]

i didnt know you needed new pistons. sounds like you can add new pistons if you want to reduce weight per cylinder?

Whenever you drop in a longer throw crankshaft, you will have to do one of two things: 1) use factory conrods and get custom pistons, or 2) use factory pistons and get custom rods. Option 1 is cheaper of the two. The topic of stroker BMW engines has been discussed exhaustively elsewhere on this site. Refer to the Engine & Drivetrain page which covers stroker M20s and the M50/S50 motors as well. A lot of the general principles discussed in building up a stroker M20 can be applied to the same idea with the twin cam engines. Be sure to use the "search" feature.....this will sort through the BS and get to the nitty gritty of what you're looking to find out.

Jon

P.S. I concur Jeremy's advice: buy the non-Vanos ;-)

[ptownTSI]

well... jon then what is the zionville racing $495 stroker kit? isnt that all stock parts for an m52. stock crank/wristpins/pistons/rods. so you dont need to get custom anything, in every scenario for doing a stroker.

[ptownTSI]

talking about getting screwed. one of my best friends, the guy i was going to pull the engine with tomorrow flipped his truck 3 times and got ejected. at best he's paralyzed for life, worst...he dies. hes in the icu right now. now i really want to do something tomorrow to keep my mind from spinning out of control.

[diegom6]

are you planing to use boost on it? I fos, non vanos is better fo rit, lower CR and non vanos wich help to build power stright in all the powerbad.

[SchnellerVert]

Friend of mine bought a 92 M50 the other day for $315 long block. With harness. So there are good deals out there.

Advantage of the Non Vanos engine better valve spings and hotter cams, Limited availibity here in the US. No exploding Vanos or coffee can rattling vanos unit as it gets old. Oh no special tools to change the cams.

[ptownTSI]

only thing is i heard you need a $799 chip to make use of those cams??