Brilliant Red M3 - S50B32 (DONE - mot passed)

[MrBenn]

So I got this a couple of weeks ago (Friday 30th), and I've been busy putting a S50 conversion that I bought from Glenn into it.

Here are a few shots of when it arrived



Rally edition! (bought with no engine or box)








I had hoped it would be done a bit sooner if I'm honest, but its not exactly been a plug and play conversion and there have been a few problems along the way, but its nearly done now.

There are a number of things I want to change about the conversion and a few repairs to sort out, but its nearly summer and I want to drive it, so its just getting thrown together for now and I'll pull it all apart once the effect of driving it is starting to wear off.

Alex

[bss325i]

Another S50 M3

Very solid shell this one!

[kieran325]

Looking good, keep it updated

[trevski]

Lovely car mate and it's going to fly

[gareth]

nice project!

[pacerpete]

Nice turd !

[Cook318IS]

My ride height is catching on I knew i was onto something special! Not a bad start though, how long do you think it will take to do?

[MrBenn]

cheers guys, yeah Pete knows his turds!

Should be done in a few more days, fingers crossed.

[inlovewithRWD]

Just out of curiosity, how much would it change the handling having an S50 up front instead of an S14?

[yetti24]

my e30 m3 with s50 b30 is fine a little bit heavier but i really dont notice the difference plus it goes like stink i prefer it alot more than my old m3 with the standard s14, i am sure alot of people wont agree though

[MrBenn]

The S14+gearbox is much heavier than people think it is, its almost identical weight to the M20+gearbox. The S50 with the 6 speed box is about 40kg's heavier than that, I'd imagine with the 5 speed box a lightened flywheel and a carbon bonnet you wouldn't know the difference.

[Blitz]

Nice. Love red M3's.

[Falkster]

Nice. Love red M3's.

Theyre brilliant!! Get it??

[Rich_W]

The S14+gearbox is much heavier than people think it is, its almost identical weight to the M20+gearbox. The S50 with the 6 speed box is about 40kg's heavier than that, I'd imagine with the 5 speed box a lightened flywheel and a carbon bonnet you wouldn't know the difference.

Maybe, but the downside to the 6 pot is where the engine actually sits. 2 pots are forward of the front axle line. Why people don't just shift the whole lot back further (obviously cutting the bulkhead in the process) is surprising.

TBH, a E36 M3 is cheaper and probably handles better with a few choice mods. So I'm never sure why people bother at all with the conversion.

Each to their own of course.

[Falkster]

The S14+gearbox is much heavier than people think it is, its almost identical weight to the M20+gearbox. The S50 with the 6 speed box is about 40kg's heavier than that, I'd imagine with the 5 speed box a lightened flywheel and a carbon bonnet you wouldn't know the difference.

Maybe, but the downside to the 6 pot is where the engine actually sits. 2 pots are forward of the front axle line. Why people don't just shift the whole lot back further (obviously cutting the bulkhead in the process) is surprising.

TBH, a E36 M3 is cheaper and probably handles better with a few choice mods. So I'm never sure why people bother at all with the conversion.

Each to their own of course.

If youre interested in an absolute minter, I know a 71k one owners for pennies!!

[gareth]

I've not looked closely at a E30 M3 for a while but how far back does the engine sit? I know on lesser 4 pot E30's the engine is miles from the bulkhead.

a 6 pot is usually tucked tight up against the bulkhead so not necessarily as simple as the extra weight being on the front of the engine...?

[Falkster]

Uploaded with ImageShack.us

[Jhonno]

Throwing it together and then revisiting it is the worst idea in the world imo.. Been there, done that..

[harry_p]

theyre fairly tight against the bulkhead, and tilted over too so have a lower cofg than the upright 6pots



tbh, i love the idea of an s50'd e30 m3.

the e36 m3 is a decent car, very good infact, they just look so 'normal' and are that bit heavier, that bit more refined and isolated. despite being only a couple of hundred kgh lighter the e30 m3 feels like a lightweight sportscar compared to the e36.

however, the s50 is an astonishingly good engine. so smooth and refined, with plenty of torque from low down, and power that just build and builds, they feel as smooth at 7500rpm as at 3000 and have a lovely growl when given some throttle, yet almost silent on a cruise.

the s50 totally makes the e36 m3, it'd be pretty boring without it. that engine in something smaller, lighter and more responsive can't be anything other than huge fun.

[gareth]

Ooh, ta gents!
that is in my eyes, quite a long way forward though, you could actually fit some paper behind it, not something you can do on mine

Oh, the 6 pots are tilted too (not so sure on the 24V ones - not looked closely)

[Jhonno]

S50's are tilted..

[harry_p]

when i said 6pots i meant the old 2valve donks

tbh, i've never measured the angle of the dangle, or spent much time looking under the bonnet of other e30s, just seem to remember that m3s and is engines are visibly canted over more than the 2vpc lumps.

[Dezzy]

Very nice. A proper engine for a proper car.

[bss325i]

Most BMW 6's are tilted.

[MrBenn]

Rich-W - I'm not interested in cutting up the bulkhead or doing anything to modify the shell, I will probably convert back to a S14 when I next have 5-6k kicking around.

Jhonno - Care to elaborate why?

Harry_P - Thats the right attitude

Dezzy - Cheers mate!

[beardymat]

There are going to be quite a few of these kicking around soon, I have a lachs silver M3 which i bought minus its engine which im just prepping the engine bay on ready to take my S50B32.

So looking forward to getting it done its untrue but itll be a long process for me as i dont have a lot of time spare.

The thing for me is i love the look of the E30 M3 but i love six pots so with this conversion ill have the best of both and with its low down torque you can just go for a cruise if you want and then wind it up when you feel the urge to be a hooligan

[MrBenn]

I have a lachs silver M3 which i bought minus its engine

I thought I was going to be the new owner of your new car. I'd made arrangements to go see it, half an hour before I was due to set off I got a text saying it was now sold and some mysterious buyer from Hong Kong had sent a deposit.......
I have no problem with you Matt, and I wish you all the best with it, luckily I found another one

[MrBenn]

Update:

Spent yesterday sorting out the fuel system. AS I'm sure most of you know, the S50B32 runs on 5 bar pressure so the pump needs to be swapped, the M3 also uses a 2 pump system so one needs to be removed.

Here's the S50 and S14 pumps side by side


S14 pump stripped down


The only bit we actually need.


Which ends up looking something like this




The other fuel pump is simply removed and a length of fuel line in its place. As the M3 pump is different to the others and its output is 12mm you will need a 12mm-8mm coupler.

[/// KAMI]

Looking Good....Should Be A Cracker Once Finished

[jmc330i]

Nice one Alex

Didnt realise you were fitting it into an M3 Its looking good so far.

[beardymat]

I have a lachs silver M3 which i bought minus its engine

I thought I was going to be the new owner of your new car. I'd made arrangements to go see it, half an hour before I was due to set off I got a text saying it was now sold and some mysterious buyer from Hong Kong had sent a deposit.......
I have no problem with you Matt, and I wish you all the best with it, luckily I found another one

Sorry about that Alex, id been resisting for two days as it meant using the overdraft to buy it but i couldnt resist the lure of lachs silver again. just rang him up and bought it there and then after digging up all his posts to get a feel for the car. Tbh you probably have a better shell by the sounds of it as mine has seen some action which will be getting put right in due course. Funny how we both had the same plans though eh.

In response to your PM you could use a slide hammer on the bulkhead but you would have to either drill holes in it or use the weld on type we bodyshop guys use. probably best to get the headers off and do it that way. If anyone has any pics of how much and where to adjust the bulkhead to clear the standard S50 manifold that would be useful to me right now

[Rich_W]

Jhonno - Care to elaborate why?

Probably means do it ONCE right. Not half a job then "plan" to finish it as you'll never get round to it!

[Jhonno]

Jhonno - Care to elaborate why?

Probably means do it ONCE right. Not half a job then "plan" to finish it as you'll never get round to it!

Pretty much yeah.. Plus somethings are a lot more hassle once it's together and running.

My oil cooler is still cable tied in place in behind the headlight a year on as a temp 'get it going' fix

[jmc330i]

^^^

Yup, do it right first time or pay for it twice! - either in money or blood, sweat and tears because things are so much more difficult when the engine is in place.

[Felix79]

I always find it funny how the m5* and S5* look like they should have always been in an e30. Fingers crossed you can get it done to a good standard in a good time ready for the summer. Also I love the pics of the pumps, it is always nice to see the more techincal stuff and for it to be explained.