m50 engine

[lesward]

not knowing bmw well what car are they from?
and can someone list parts to source contenplating this engine to get fitted in mine and dump the m10 after new yr

[rix313]

They come from the E36, I know that much

[E30BeemerLad]

M50 is found in either 2 litre or 2.5 litre form.

M50 B20 = 2 ltr
M50 B25 = 2.5 ltr

Forget the 2ltr

Found in E36 3 series 325
or E34 series 525i from about J reg onward

Also, the earlier engines were non-vanos. These tend to need some encouragement up into the higher revs to lay the smack down, the vanos engines tend to have a little more legs lower down, but they are a multivalve engine that enjoy a good raping. No massive preference though, non-vanos better for future forced induction.

To get the engine to sit in an E30 your engine (wherever it came from) needs to have the sump, oil pickup pipe & disptick tube from the 5 series and the alloy engine arms from the E36.

If you are starting with a M10 engined car then you will need to upgrade the rear end with disc brake setup from say a 325.

There are many combinations of how to do this swap, i.e retaining the donor vehicle manual gearbox or using an E30 gearbox, but here is what I have used in a 24V swap (starting with a touring which had discs on the rear)

M52B28 (2.8 ltr from 328i)
E34 sump, oil pickup & dip tube
E36 engine mount arms
E28 M5 rubber mounts
clio servo from 2000 onwards clio (using E30 master cylinder)
E30 318is gearbox, M20 325 flywheel, clutch & starter motor
320 gear selector rod & alloy cradle
325i propshaft
3.9:1 LSD
Electric fan from M3 + electric thermo switch
328i Radiator
Adapted "plug & play" engine wiring loom from a member called DanThe
"plug & play" electric fan wiring loom
6 pot chip for the instrument cluster

That is the fundamentals, trouble is you generally need to be upgrading/ freshening up lots of bushes, drivetrain parts etc as you go along, so an engine swap turns into a mechanical resto unless you enjoy fixing your car all the time you start asking more of it

[lesward]

ok sounds fun will start hunting parts down and some one to do job for me
are there better engines to swap in
my friend has a 5 series v8 thats rapid

[Cook318IS]

I'd also upgrade the front suspension to 325i stuff. The suspension struts are wider, the springs are designed for the weight of the heavier 6 cylinder engine and the brakes are vented instead of solid

[lesward]

ok im at scrappy tomorrow will look for suspension and brakes

[Cook318IS]

Get the whole assembly like this:



Im pretty sure that tourings have the beefer suspension + brakes too.

[lesward]

M52B28 (2.8 ltr from 328i)
E34 sump, oil pickup & dip tube
E36 engine mount arms
E28 M5 rubber mounts
clio servo from 2000 onwards clio (using E30 master cylinder)
E30 318is gearbox, M20 325 flywheel, clutch & starter motor
320 gear selector rod & alloy cradle
325i propshaft
3.9:1 LSD
Electric fan from M3 + electric thermo switch
328i Radiator
Adapted "plug & play" engine wiring loom from a member called DanThe
"plug & play" electric fan wiring loom
6 pot chip for the instrument cluster


can i just swap in 6pot clocks? e28 m5 rubber mounts (engine mounts)? is there a easier box to find as the is box looks a bit hard to find?

[lesward]

Get the whole assembly like this:



Im pretty sure that tourings have the beefer suspension + brakes too.

ok any body recommend some one to fit engine? im away on continent alo in hgv,s and not realy mechanical minded lol

[Cook318IS]

you could change the clocks for 6 cylinder ones, but changing the chip to a 6 cylinder one is a lot easier and cheaper.
I'd only buy the e28 m5 mounts from bmw tbh, they would probably be hard to find second hand and chances are, they'd be perished anyway if they are from an old bmw.
The part number is 11 81 1 132 793 and they are about £25 each.

You will need to modify the exhaust manifolds(m52 manifolds are easiest) and fit an e30 m20 exhaust system. You will also need to get a different steering linkage to clear the manifold still. IIRC, wullie325i (or something like that) on here can supply you with modded manifolds, and danthe was doing a group buy on the steering joint.

[lesward]

thanks i will get on with sourcing bits what bhp do they put out?

m20 exhaust right im thick that is the 320-325i?

[Cook318IS]

About 192bhp. Mine made less because of a stupidly small induction kit though

[lesward]

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/BMW-E36-323i-325i ... 2ea9d4e56f this would be nice bung a turbo on but that is out of my league i can service and maintain it thats it

[E30BeemerLad]

oh one thing I forgot, you'll need the exhaust manifold from either an E36 328i or E39 5 series 528i

[lesward]

oh one thing I forgot, you'll need the exhaust manifold from either an E36 328i or E39 5 series 528i

front or rear manifold?

[E30BeemerLad]

both parts, modification is also needed

[lesward]

ok

[lesward]

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/bmw-e36-325-325i- ... 3a5578636a
or
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/E36-325i-engine_W ... 4a9bd955bb

what you guys think? need quick answer

[E30BeemerLad]

A risk buying either. I'd take a pass on them to be honest

1st one sounds like it needs a top end rebuild

2nd one - i'd take the mileage claim with a pinch of salt.

You are much better buying a complete running car so you know how the engine truly is and also recoup some costs by selling on some of the bits from the donor car.

PM a member on here called Scott325se, I believe he has an E36 325 engine with some schnitzer goodies and maybe some other useful parts for a 24v swap for sale.

[lesward]

pm sent to him thanks

[lesward]

what about ecu take that from the donor if i get lump from a 5 series i can use the sump as well just need e36 motor mounts? can i use the m20 box? dont think my 318i box wil hold up to that motor


been done scrappy today and a 5 series came in but seems different engine had 3.5 on inlet and was a quiet runner
brought e36 pwr steering rack for £20 with lower column and going to stip a 318ti of its rear suspension for 5 stud swap i like the later range of bmw wheels

[lesward]

ews?

[wullie325i]

if you get one of my manifolds you wont need to change the steering linkage as i fit it round it.....just.

the first 2 i did started to knock off it a little after being fitted and used but i sorted it by the 3rd one.

as i have said already though i wont be doing any till prob mid/end of january but will try and post pics up before then.

wullie

[wullie325i]

ews is the factory immobiliser system on these.

if you get an engine with it fitted but you dont get the key from the car and the ews wiring it wont run as it needs the signal from the chip in the key.

[lesward]

it came with lower part so i grabbed it i will be using your services mate