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M50 turbo,
Posted: Sun Jan 25, 2009 9:31 am
by cracker
How much boost can the m50 take on stock internals?
Re: M50 turbo,
Posted: Sun Jan 25, 2009 1:13 pm
by leeparkes
Im guessing around 6-7 psi (could be wrong)
Re: M50 turbo,
Posted: Sun Jan 25, 2009 1:18 pm
by E30BeemerLad
yeah, I'd agree.
I think the stock compression ratio is about 10:1 so about 7psi before you'd be looking at a thicker headgasket as a cheaper way of getting lower compression without the expense of pistons etc
Re: M50 turbo,
Posted: Sun Jan 25, 2009 1:20 pm
by leeparkes
what power do you expect to see on an M50 7psi set up,
(got me thinking)
Re: M50 turbo,
Posted: Sun Jan 25, 2009 1:22 pm
by E30BeemerLad
wild guess, probably about 250
Re: M50 turbo,
Posted: Sun Jan 25, 2009 1:31 pm
by GrindCulture
Non Vanos M50s can see 450-500bhp with a thicker head gasket on stock internals.
Re: M50 turbo,
Posted: Sun Jan 25, 2009 2:19 pm
by E30BeemerLad
GrindCulture wrote:Non Vanos M50s can see 450-500bhp with a thicker head gasket on stock internals.
I'm liking the sound of that, but in the real world, something in the 300-350bhp region with good tractability from low revs rather than some banzai creation that wakes up at 5k and slings you straight into the redline would be more my cup of tea.
Re: M50 turbo,
Posted: Sun Jan 25, 2009 2:22 pm
by GrindCulture
Is there enough room under the bonnet to fit an Eaton M62 supercharger to an M50? (Sorry for the slight hijack)
Re: M50 turbo,
Posted: Sun Jan 25, 2009 2:26 pm
by E30BeemerLad
there is a bit of dead space under the inlet manifold area, but I think you'd need to "borrow" a charger to see how much room you have to play with. The standard inlet would probably have to be ditched in any event.
Rotrex would be the solution, if a little dear at £3k for a complete kit, but you're gonna be into those figures to do a proper job of forced induction anyway I'd bet.
Re: M50 turbo,
Posted: Sun Jan 25, 2009 4:06 pm
by cracker
Thanks for the responses,ive been thinking about this
http://www.xs-power.co.uk/index.php?mai ... cts_id=295
apart from pipe work and intercooler what else would be needed,
has anyone used one of these kits?
thanks
Re: M50 turbo,
Posted: Sun Jan 25, 2009 4:22 pm
by E30BeemerLad
you would also need an intercooler & piping, but the main ball ache is the electronics, you need to run a standalone ECU system like megasquirt, emerald etc etc, or possibly a piggback like Dastek Unichip. It is the mapping on a rolling road which takes up a lot of money to be able to get the car to deliver the goods in terms of power, but most importantly drive properly in all conditions like cold starting etc and making sure it don't run too lean etc etc.
You could easily spend £500-£1000 on mapping
Also, exhaust system would need building, probably a single 3" system
Loads of other silly bits along the way too
This one is at the back of my mind too for the future as I have the non-vanos M50 lump.
Re: M50 turbo,
Posted: Sun Jan 25, 2009 4:45 pm
by cracker
so low boost cant be run on the standard managment system then...mmm...
Re: M50 turbo,
Posted: Sun Jan 25, 2009 8:45 pm
by leeparkes
ive been looking into these and from what ive read they are a bit fragile.
get in touch with ant and he will put you straight!
I thought you could run low boost on standard management.
Re: M50 turbo,
Posted: Sun Jan 25, 2009 8:48 pm
by E30BeemerLad
I doubt you can run low boost of 5-7psi on standard management, the fuelling will be horrendous still. It'll run but you'd just be cheating yourself after doing all the mecahnical work for it to not be worth the time or expense
Re: M50 turbo,
Posted: Sun Jan 25, 2009 9:05 pm
by GrindCulture
E30BeemerLad wrote:This one is at the back of my mind too for the future as I have the non-vanos M50 lump.
I haven't even started going M50 yet and already forced induction plans are festering.
Re: M50 turbo,
Posted: Sun Jan 25, 2009 9:10 pm
by blackcountrybimmerman
Sorry for asking stupid questions....
Is an M50 engine out of the E36?
Re: M50 turbo,
Posted: Sun Jan 25, 2009 9:11 pm
by E30BeemerLad
yep E36 325 also E34 525 (post 91)
Re: M50 turbo,
Posted: Sun Jan 25, 2009 9:11 pm
by leeparkes
GrindCulture wrote:E30BeemerLad wrote:This one is at the back of my mind too for the future as I have the non-vanos M50 lump.
I haven't even started going M50 yet and already forced induction plans are festering.
M50 is my plan for the summer,
but i know after a while i will be bored and want more power,hence the interest in this thread!
Re: M50 turbo,
Posted: Sun Jan 25, 2009 9:12 pm
by leeparkes
blackcountrybimmerman wrote:Sorry for asking stupid questions....
Is an M50 engine out of the E36?
or an E34 (5 series)
Re: M50 turbo,
Posted: Sun Jan 25, 2009 9:12 pm
by blackcountrybimmerman
E30BeemerLad wrote:yep E36 325 also E34 525 (post 91)
Ta v. much
Is this an easy transplant?
Re: M50 turbo,
Posted: Sun Jan 25, 2009 9:19 pm
by leeparkes
blackcountrybimmerman wrote:E30BeemerLad wrote:yep E36 325 also E34 525 (post 91)
Ta v. much
Is this an easy transplant?
have a read through the M50 sticky in engine swap section!
theres about 35 pages,and when you have finished reading you will need to reach for about 4 anadin ultra's.
it needs editing badly.
the only ballache about the swap is the chopping/welding of the manifolds,
They are 192bhp out of the box and better mpg.
Re: M50 turbo,
Posted: Sun Jan 25, 2009 9:21 pm
by dicko
I think you could fit a eaton m90 and make a custom manifold with a charge cooler built into it , I am hoping to do this soon .
I am starting a s50b32 swap next weekend for a bloke so I might have enough pennys after that to start my own .
Re: M50 turbo,
Posted: Sun Jan 25, 2009 9:31 pm
by blackcountrybimmerman
leeparkes wrote:blackcountrybimmerman wrote:E30BeemerLad wrote:yep E36 325 also E34 525 (post 91)
Ta v. much
Is this an easy transplant?
have a read through the M50 sticky in engine swap section!
theres about 35 pages,and when you have finished reading you will need to reach for about 4 anadin ultra's.
it needs editing badly.
the only ballache about the swap is the chopping/welding of the manifolds,
They are 192bhp out of the box and better mpg.
TVM Lee,
Will have a look at that.
I'd thought about a 3.5 litre conversion but I hsve very little experience of transplanting engines.
I do know where there is a 3.5 litre engine, but it's still in the car.
I would have to buy that to get the engine.
Re: M50 turbo,
Posted: Sun Jan 25, 2009 9:40 pm
by leeparkes
blackcountrybimmerman wrote:leeparkes wrote:blackcountrybimmerman wrote:
Ta v. much
Is this an easy transplant?
have a read through the M50 sticky in engine swap section!
theres about 35 pages,and when you have finished reading you will need to reach for about 4 anadin ultra's.
it needs editing badly.
the only ballache about the swap is the chopping/welding of the manifolds,
They are 192bhp out of the box and better mpg.
TVM Lee,
Will have a look at that.
I'd thought about a 3.5 litre conversion but I hsve very little experience of transplanting engines.
I do know where there is a 3.5 litre engine, but it's still in the car.
I would have to buy that to get the engine.
Id still consider an M30 (3.5 litre) if it was a good one
but they are a dated heavy engine,
turns an E30 into a rocket though!
is the car in question local?
sorry 'cracker' for the slight highjack.
Re: M50 turbo,
Posted: Sun Jan 25, 2009 9:42 pm
by blackcountrybimmerman
Same chap I got the E30 off mate.
D reg, 70000 miles. this 7 series is mint.... it's even on a personal plate at the moment.
SORN off road.
Re: M50 turbo,
Posted: Sun Jan 25, 2009 9:46 pm
by leeparkes
blackcountrybimmerman wrote:Same chap I got the E30 off mate.
D reg, 70000 miles. this 7 series is mint.... it's even on a personal plate at the moment.
SORN off road.
D-reg,i think thats the earlier less powered engine,
(could be wrong)
Re: M50 turbo,
Posted: Sun Jan 25, 2009 9:48 pm
by blackcountrybimmerman
I've just been looking them up.
I think it's the 218 PS engine.
V. sorry about the thread hijack.

Re: M50 turbo,
Posted: Sun Jan 25, 2009 9:54 pm
by leeparkes
is it the 'really' old shape,or the shape that carried on to the early '90s?
Re: M50 turbo,
Posted: Sun Jan 25, 2009 9:59 pm
by blackcountrybimmerman
Really old shape.
Re: M50 turbo,
Posted: Sun Jan 25, 2009 10:02 pm
by leeparkes
blackcountrybimmerman wrote:Really old shape.
its do-able but id choose a later engine for an M30 conversion
Re: M50 turbo,
Posted: Sun Jan 25, 2009 10:04 pm
by blackcountrybimmerman
Lee,
Check out the "which engine transplant" thread
Getting some good replies.