E30 Zone

Hi. Just swapped s50 engine in over my 2.8 with upgrades chip and manifold.im not that impressed . I prefer the 2.8 any idears why it's not as quick as people are telling me . Car run's fine many thanks

Difficult to say from behind a laptop. But the 2.8 has a different character producing it's torque from low down, where as the S50 needs to be revved to unleash it's potential. That might be what you are experincing, unless the S50 you have is not very healthy.

John

What exhaust manifold are you running, any chance the ports are not matched

The S50 produces more torque from idle to redline than a 2.8 ever could. The fact people say you need to rev it to get the potential is simply ridiculous.
If it doesn't feel as quick as a 2.8 then there is obviously something wrong! many are quite tired, and need vanos seals, valve adjustment, and new MAF sensors among things like air leaks, ccv problems and throttle body balancing. First thing I would do is check for fault codes then go from there.

As above, first get the fault codes read (fix issues and clear codes if needs be) and get the adaptions cleared. Clearing the adaptions on mine made it a different car.

M3Pete wrote:The S50 produces more torque from idle to redline than a 2.8 ever could.

Where you getting this info from ? The 2.8 is clearly a better engine!

Nobody feed the troll ^

The difference between a good s50 and a not so good one is huge. Like M3pete says, fix the things that are wrong with it. And I would start with the vanos seals and associated gubbins.

Thank s a lot guys will do that .

I woud start with reading the fault codes first.

s50 300 bhp v m52 + m50 inlet est 225 bhp >>>

Houston !

As far as I know no fault codes. Will check again soon tho. Car runs fine just thought it would be a lot quicker as it got 70 if not more horse power more.

What diff /box you running ?

Siggo wrote:As far as I know no fault codes. Will check again soon tho. Car runs fine just thought it would be a lot quicker as it got 70 if not more horse power more.

A few years back i done an S50 conversion,at first when i drove it it was in limp mode around 70bhp down but still out paced the M52's around at the time! Something's not right for sure.

m52 b30 stroker ftw

M52 b30's are wicked, as we all know capable of great power, great torque and make great sense too! But an 8K red line & fly by wire throttle with sport button on a well sorted S54 is more of a thrill. a˜€

ajay wrote:M52 b30's are wicked, as we all know capable of great power, great torque and make great sense too! But an 8K red line & fly by wire throttle with sport button on a well sorted S54 is more of a thrill. a˜€

Oooh yes the s54 is some motor, ok it's not the quickest, I've had quicker jap crap motors but all round for the cash a e46 m3 is a nice place to be for a good all rounder

brian_s wrote:

ajay wrote:M52 b30's are wicked, as we all know capable of great power, great torque and make great sense too! But an 8K red line & fly by wire throttle with sport button on a well sorted S54 is more of a thrill. a˜€

Oooh yes the s54 is some motor, ok it's not the quickest, I've had quicker jap crap motors but all round for the cash a e46 m3 is a nice place to be for a good all rounder

Much better if you do an e30 shell conversion on it though

I'm sure all the quicker "Jap crap" would have had a little something something bolted to the exhaust manifold, besides theres more to it than the numbers or how quick it goes

Gearbox from the 2.8 diff not sure .that s what I was going change next was the diff have a 391 LSD but research saying 315 .will be going right through the car when it goes back in

Just met a guy who seems to think there should be a engine management wire going to the dash and that's why it's not as quick as it's not telling the engine .i have no engine mangement light that comes on dash on start up. Is this true thanks