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Changing M50 for M52 or even M54?

Posted: Mon Mar 26, 2007 1:11 pm
by andyborris
Hi,

Got a M50 in my E30 already, wondering how hard it would be to upgrade to a M52 or even a M54?

Are the mounts in the same place, will the ZF gearbox I have work with them? Any other "gotchas" I should look out for?

Thanks

Andy (The M50 is great and very recommended, I'm just being greedy :D )

Re: Changing M50 for M52 or even M54?

Posted: Mon Mar 26, 2007 1:32 pm
by stuartgallafant
M54 would be absolute grief...

for a start, you need the complete engine wiring harness from the M54, as everything on it is fly-by-wire, meaning you'd also have to have the pedal 'assembly'

secondly, i dont even know if it would properly, due to information being relayed to and from many different controls at about 3million times a second, so if the data line is disturbed, you're engine wont work as you want it to

Re: Changing M50 for M52 or even M54?

Posted: Mon Mar 26, 2007 2:24 pm
by andyborris
As soon as I read "fly by wire", I ran screaming from the computer
8O !

Having had a look at the differences between a M50 & M52, I think it won't be much of a gain for the expense, esp. as the M50 I've got seems to be very strong. Save that till I need a new engine!

Thanks

Re: Changing M50 for M52 or even M54?

Posted: Mon Mar 26, 2007 2:35 pm
by Jhonno
M54 + OMEX/Emerald management.. 8)

Re: Changing M50 for M52 or even M54?

Posted: Mon Mar 26, 2007 7:43 pm
by m-dtech
Jhonno wrote:M54 + OMEX/Emerald management.. 8)
thats ok, but does the m54 not have VANOS ??

Re: Changing M50 for M52 or even M54?

Posted: Mon Mar 26, 2007 10:45 pm
by Jhonno
yup and both can cope with it now apparently

Re: Changing M50 for M52 or even M54?

Posted: Mon Mar 26, 2007 10:49 pm
by appletree
I spoke to dave walker end of last month and he said currently they could not offer anything for VANOS sytems but there was something in development :D

Re: Changing M50 for M52 or even M54?

Posted: Mon Mar 26, 2007 11:31 pm
by stuartgallafant
Jhonno wrote:yup and both can cope with it now apparently
i would LOVE to see an aftermarket engine management system that can control VANOS. No-one on here could create a map to set-up single VANOS let-alone dual-VANOS...

no offence, but there is about 3 people on the entire zone that understand properly how VANOS works... its not a walk in the park

the M54 alone is a VERY advanced and clever engine, and personally, i think stepping away from the DME is a bad idea

Re: Changing M50 for M52 or even M54?

Posted: Tue Mar 27, 2007 12:50 am
by Jhonno
There is already one out there, but it was mega £Â£Ã‚£Ã‚£

OMEX now say they can, and Emerald are developing something.. If BMW can do it, why not an ECU specialist?

Re: Changing M50 for M52 or even M54?

Posted: Tue Mar 27, 2007 2:08 am
by ian332isport
I discussed this with the Omex guys at the Autosport show. Their 700 series ECU has the capability of running dual Vanos. He did however say that they have not actually tried it on a BMW yet.

Ian.

Re: Changing M50 for M52 or even M54?

Posted: Tue Mar 27, 2007 8:38 am
by DanThe
You guys should give Jayson a ring at chipped uk, he fitted an E46 M3 lump to his cabriolet,,,,,,,,,,,,


So he says :)

Re: Changing M50 for M52 or even M54?

Posted: Tue Mar 27, 2007 1:24 pm
by stuartgallafant
ian332isport wrote:He did however say that they have not actually tried it on a BMW yet.
sounds promising...
Jhonno wrote:OMEX now say they can, and Emerald are developing something...
have you seen these systems working?
Jhonno wrote:If BMW can do it, why not an ECU specialist?
because a group of BMW ultra-brains designed and built the engine, designed and built the VANOS system and then told a group of BOSCH ultra-brains how it worked and what they wanted it to do

im not saying it cant be done. anything is impossible. but if you dont understand how VANOS works, how on earth are you gonna write a timing map for it?

is there anyone reading this thread, that honestly knows, properly, how VANOS works?

even Ant says that getting some of his MS maps took him 60+hours of data-logging and editing...

Re: Changing M50 for M52 or even M54?

Posted: Tue Mar 27, 2007 1:40 pm
by Morat
Go on then stu, spill the beans on VANOS :)

Re: Changing M50 for M52 or even M54?

Posted: Tue Mar 27, 2007 2:56 pm
by stuartgallafant
Morat wrote:Go on then stu, spill the beans on VANOS :)
how much time do you think i have?

last week, it took 13 of us approx. 2-3 days to learn about VANOS and even now, we still have questions!! that is how in depth it is!!

valvetronic... :mad: coupled with VANOS... :eek:

i know how it works, and could explain it, but i'd need a few hours, and some props!!