how good does an m50'd e30 go?

[Bob_S]

barry.. i'll make sure i bring my blue turd down

[SM AUTOS]

There is no comparision to be had between the two engines. I have driven many 325i's and my M50'd car is in a different league.

Its not just about power/torque figures/weights, you only have to drive a M50 powered car to really notice the difference. The M50 loves to rev, once it gets past 4000rpm it just screams all the way to the redline, totally totally different to a M20.A much more modern engine, better manners and fuel consumption under normal driving also... a no brainer imho...

[e30bmlover]

m52 ftw boys.... she plays a lovely tune at 4k...

[Simon13]

I've driven both plenty to tell me this, just my opinion

The M50 has less low down grunt but is more zingy top end which makes sense as 2valve engine are actually better at lower RPMS.

4valve engines shine at high RPMS and with the advent of better engine ecu's and variable valve timing manufacturers have clawed the low end torque back that early 4 valves engines lacked over the older 2 valve donks. To well and truly hammer the nail into the 2 valve coffin

Thing is how many have had a really peachy 2.5 or 2.7 M20?

Anyhow Dan!

This year i'm hoping to be a touch quicker having rebuilt the lump and added on the performance side a schrick 284/272 cam, Racing Dynamics 6 branch and a hopefully soon a UniQ piggy back to make it all work.

Hoping to shave a few tenths off and looking forward to doing battle with some 24v and 2.7 motors this year!

[E30BeemerLad]

Si, I'll defo be ready to lay the smack down this year 24V stylee

If my schrick cams and the ECU I need to get hold of deliver the goods it could be a nice even match, might have to do something about the open diff on my turd though, or gamble and chuck a 4.1 in there to serve you up good n proper

[bss325i]

Thing is how many have had a really peachy 2.5 or 2.7 M20?

Not many!

[DanThe]

Oh and the sport will be this years pod contender!

Watch out M5x boys!

[E30BeemerLad]

Oh and the sport will be this years pod contender!

Watch out M5x boys!

Well you'll not be alone in the 15's Barry, plenty of other M20 bretheren to keep you company

[bss325i]

Oh and the sport will be this years pod contender!

Watch out M5x boys!

Well you'll not be alone in the 15's Barry, plenty of other M20 bretheren to keep you company

14.9 is the target!

[DanThe]

Will you be fitting a 4.10 diff and 14 inch wheels Barry?

[bss325i]

Will you be fitting a 4.10 diff and 14 inch wheels Barry?

Oz's old tech1 (pre B27) did 15.3.

I'm confident.

[DanThe]

I would be impressed to see it

[bss325i]

So will i!

As i said, 14.9 is the target.

[E30BeemerLad]

You'll be in your undercrackers sitting on a milk crate with no bonnet, wings or boot lid before you'll get in the 14's mate with that power.

[bss325i]

If a worn out tech 1 can do 15.3..........

[E30BeemerLad]

No stealth nawz installations allowed Barry

[Jhonno]

The 4v vs. 2v torque thing is a bit of a myth back to the days of the old Golf Mk2! Most 4v engines just feel like they have less low down compared to a 2v as they pull harder at the top than a 2v!

[bss325i]

No stealth nawz installations allowed Barry

I would never ruin my chariot with that.

No fast and furious here!

[Theo]

No stealth nawz installations allowed Barry

I would never ruin my chariot with that.

No fast and furious here!

Indeed, more like slow and slightly irritated.

[Simon13]

i've read other wise Dan, but if iirc its something to do with gas speed and how the cylinder fills at lower rpms which is different between the 2 styles. The 2 valve suffers with gettting enough air into the chamber at high rpms which i suppose is obvious compared to 4 valve tech

At the pod is great. Sorts the men from the boys and the pub talk from whos got the minerals!

Lee get your finger out and get your show on the road A-team stylee or however its going to end up looking.

I'm looking forward to serving BobS arse round the ring and up the strip this year!

[Jhonno]

A 4v has greater valve area, which would be indicative of lower gas speeds, but they are smaller valves.. 2v's are maybe a tad more torquey, but the feeling is accentuated by the power delivery of the 2 setups!

[Bavarian_Autotech]

didnt the facelift m20's have lower compression and less power, eg more like 160 bhp ?

Nope, low comp B25's were 171 bhp as well. A healty one should still be 171, like mine was.

Add a btb2 to one and see the results in my sig!

i just looked through a few old rolling road threads and the results seem to say the early cars make better power

[Jhonno]

As a rule they do.. But no reason why a well maintained facelift can't make the power!

[bss325i]

As a rule they do.. But no reason why a well maintained facelift can't make the power!

Exactly!

[Bavarian_Autotech]

As a rule they do.. But no reason why a well maintained facelift can't make the power!

except for a lower compression ratio

[bss325i]

As a rule they do.. But no reason why a well maintained facelift can't make the power!

except for a lower compression ratio

[Jhonno]

As a rule they do.. But no reason why a well maintained facelift can't make the power!

except for a lower compression ratio

Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaand?

They have better management to make the same power..

[bss325i]

Factory figures are the same for both high and low comp B25's.

[Bob_S]

i've read other wise Dan, but if iirc its something to do with gas speed and how the cylinder fills at lower rpms which is different between the 2 styles. The 2 valve suffers with gettting enough air into the chamber at high rpms which i suppose is obvious compared to 4 valve tech

At the pod is great. Sorts the men from the boys and the pub talk from whos got the minerals!

Lee get your finger out and get your show on the road A-team stylee or however its going to end up looking.

I'm looking forward to serving BobS arse round the ring and up the strip this year!

I will be sporting some alpenisness this year simon! it's all very wrong but amusing none the less!!
I have to admit I have been in a few m20's and m50's and tbh they are both totally different
My m50 and 52 were and are shit low down they seem to struggle a touch where I have noticed that decent 2.5's an 2.7's dont, yet my 2.7 seemed to sing it's heart out at top but not acheive much

[Morat]

If you fit a 4.1 you'll be deaf before you get there

[Jhonno]

and may well be slower over the 1/4 mile due to the number of gear changes required!!

[reggid]

Guys remember that the 1/4mi elapsed time (ET) is a strong function of the launch................ so its possible a good launch on a slow car can beat a crap launch on a quick car.

You need the full details of the run to make any proper conclusions, it does help to know the weight of the car either as 10% less weight is better than 10% more power.

So as much of the following as possible it should be on the time slip

60ft time =
330ft time =
1/8mi ET =
1/8mi trapspeed =
1000ft time =
1/4mi ET =
1/4mi trapspeed =

[Jon_Bmw]

Shall I bring the 540i to mix it up a bit? I will need an arm extension to get a decent shift between first and second! It is the longest shift I have ever seen

I hope the heavy turd should break into the 14's with some criminal driving.

[E30BeemerLad]

Naah, I reckon you'd struggle to break the 14's too Jon.

[Jon_Bmw]

"BMW 540i M Sport E39 14.9s 96mph"

It might just do it. Me and Simon13 had a little blat the other day and mine just came out on top and he made a 14.9... The 4 seconds it takes to select 2nd gear might disadvantage me somewhat though.