Salt Lake - M50 swap thread

[Styleprojekt]

Hey Guys, figured I'd post my M50/Manual swap thread in the Mountain section since its not a very special swap for the general forums, but cool enough for the UT region.

I started off Saturday by taking the head off at home, then towed the vehicle to my friend's shop where we will be doing all the rest of the work:







So the easiest part is done, engine is out. Gonna go over there on wed and start cleaning the engine bay. Probably going to get an IX washer resevoir and booster and start relocating some things. I may brainstorm some more shaving/replacement of things which is not too time consuming since I would like to get this thing on the road soon.
I'm swapping in a basic NV M50 out of a e34, gonna crack it open this weekend just to make sure its solid and doing the head gasket at the same time. Unlike with my M20 which I blew apart, this build will be supervised by my friend who is a mechanic and knows more what to do than my noobie self.

Anyways, nothing interesting so far, i'll update as stuff happens.
Planned for this week/weekend:

- Weld subframe reinforcements, get re-powdercoated FAIL
- Clean alloy arms, block...paint FAIL
- Drop off oil pan, head, transmission to get it cleaned and checked FAIL

cheers

[Spkr4thDeaD]

Awesome, I love swap threads! What shop is this? Is that Alex's Autohaus??

[quikveedb2]

Sweet. Some day a motor swap will make it to the top of my to-do list...

[iamsam]

actually I am really digging that purple subframe. I think I am going to do that now to my car.

[Skoobeesnak]

Thumbs up.

I am very interested in this thread, I work in SLC and would love to stop by to check your car out and lend a hand if I can. PM me

[DatUtahGuy]

Nice to see an official thread Nico. I would also like to swing the E30 by and snap a few pics, when will you be there again? And exactly where is this?

[Roland H]

1. That's a clean E30, very nice!
2. Manual swap = ftw.
3. M50 swap = why bother?

[Styleprojekt]

Awesome, I love swap threads! What shop is this? Is that Alex's Autohaus??

Its not, this is a new place being started off Main and 7850s, next to some American performance shop. The place is still getting moved into as you can see from the pics its quite empty. They will specialize in Euro/JDM maintenance/repairs and minor performance stuff. Even the official name is TBA

actually I am really digging that purple subframe. I think I am going to do that now to my car.

I always had a thing for matte purple...I may do a couple more accents on the engine that way...not sure yet, I want to keep it pretty OEM looking so purple would be out of place.

I am very interested in this thread, I work in SLC and would love to stop by to check your car out and lend a hand if I can. PM me

Nice to see an official thread Nico. I would also like to swing the E30 by and snap a few pics, when will you be there again? And exactly where is this?

Most likely this saturday for a couple hours (I believe between noon and 5 or something amongst those lines, maybe 11 to 4). You guys are welcome to stop by. PM for my number

1. That's a clean E30, very nice!

2. Manual swap = ftw.

3. M50 swap = why bother?

Its not as clean as it looks in the pictures, but hopefully I can get it nicely done up. Im not sure why M50, 'just cause' I guess. Didnt really feel like sourcing any M motors and didnt wanna do a V8...neither am I trying to spend too much on this. I just want a quick swap to replace the M20 and gain a little bit of power/efficiency/reliability. Shortly after this is drivable again I will be tearing apart my A4 which is my real moneypit and will be doing major surgery to it

[iamsam]

the price disparity between an M50 and an S50 is so vast that it is hardly justified by the 50 hp difference.

For the price, it seems an M50 and a home-made turbo will get you farther than an S50 will.

[Styleprojekt]

For the price, it seems an M50 and a home-made turbo will get you farther than an S50 will.

Which probably will happen down the road. I picked up the M50 out of an E34 for $400 but obviously I'm spending money on other parts such as gaskets/seals and motor mounts etc...but its all within reason and its an exciting project for me nonetheless even if it doesn't have that wow factor to it

[iamsam]

Which probably will happen down the road. I picked up the M50 out of an E34 for $400 but obviously I'm spending money on other parts such as gaskets/seals and motor mounts etc...but its all within reason and its an exciting project for me nonetheless even if it doesn't have that wow factor to it

right of course. Well that $400 would be $2000 if it was an S50. My point is, not worth the extra $1600. Use that on turbo parts instead and then you will have over 300 hp conservatively.

And I would like an M50 in my E30 personally, but I can't seem to find one for the right price.

[Styleprojekt]

right of course. Well that $400 would be $2000 if it was an S50. My point is, not worth the extra $1600. Use that on turbo parts instead and then you will have over 300 hp conservatively.

And I would like an M50 in my E30 personally, but I can't seem to find one for the right price.

Yes yes, I was generally talking towards Roland H just explaning my position, I appreciate your input/backup :D

There is a e34 525i at the Tear a Part here in Salt Lake right now with the engine looking good, cams are silky smooth, no idea what the inside looks like though in all fairness. You guys dont get many BMW's at your local junkyards?

[iamsam]

Yes yes, I was generally talking towards Roland H just explaning my position, I appreciate your input/backup :D

There is a e34 525i at the Tear a Part here in Salt Lake right now with the engine looking good, cams are silky smooth, no idea what the inside looks like though in all fairness. You guys dont get many BMW's at your local junkyards?

We get BMWs in the yards, you just can't tell what kind of shape the motor is really in when you are dealing with a junkyard car.

[Roland H]

I just don't understand the point of putting a plain-jane M50 into an M20 E30. I hate hate hate the M20, but I'd take it over an M50 any day of the week.

[iamsam]

I just don't understand the point of putting a plain-jane M50 into an M20 E30. I hate hate hate the M20, but I'd take it over an M50 any day of the week.

So if you hate hate hate the M20, you must hate hate hate hate hate the M50, which is a very similar engine to the one in that thar blue car of yours.