E30 Zone

Would like to make a little pros and cons list here, very new to this so could you clever people help me make an educated decision to sell the M50 i already have and get the M52 instead.

Thanks

pros: m52 has more torque as standard and de-restricted it makes alot more power, its more economical, its not much more involved than an m50 swap (ews needs installing and a small mod to fit an e30 m20 "brown" temperature sender), same insurance as an m50 (in my case)

cons: engines can be more expensive than m50s (although i bought a full 328i for £400 and actually made a profit from breaking it), they have got the history of the dreaded nikasil issue (which should either be sorted or if it hasnt its survived a long time and would of died by now if it has got it!)

Thats all i can think of at the moment but im sure theres more

Thanks, am i right in saying the M52 is lighter, does that matter that much?

oh yeah i forgot that one! The m52 engine is lighter because it has an alloy block instead, im not sure on the weight difference but somebody on here will.

I had a non vanos m50b25 in my e30 before i had the m52b28. Hands down the m52 is the better engine and after driving one with a 2.8 there is no way i'd ever bother with another 2.5! mine is still restricted and it still made 203bhp + 220ft/lbs of torque - alot more than the book says and alot more than my m50 was producing.

Its around 20kg lighter, M52 is a better engine but not as strong in terms of the liners sinking, also if you cook it the block is scrap.

Perfect scenario is to build the guts of an M52 into a M50 iron block.

Thanks for the advice, much appreciated mate. I came on here because i have this M50 i thought i could use, now i have two of the buggers and i now want an M52!!

The iX engine should get a good price as the miles are low so it can fund a good M52

Cook318IS wrote:mine is still restricted and it still made 203bhp + 220ft/lbs of torque

As in still got the M52 manifold on?

leeparkes wrote:

Cook318IS wrote:mine is still restricted and it still made 203bhp + 220ft/lbs of torque

As in still got the M52 manifold on?

Yes. The place I got it dynoed is known for being accurate - my m50 only made about 183bhp on the same dyno to give you a bit of comparison

Cook318IS wrote:

leeparkes wrote:

Cook318IS wrote:mine is still restricted and it still made 203bhp + 220ft/lbs of torque

As in still got the M52 manifold on?

Yes. The place I got it dynoed is known for being accurate - my m50 only made about 183bhp on the same dyno to give you a bit of comparison

You got the M50 manifold on now? Be good to see the comparison

leeparkes wrote:

Cook318IS wrote:

leeparkes wrote: As in still got the M52 manifold on?

Yes. The place I got it dynoed is known for being accurate - my m50 only made about 183bhp on the same dyno to give you a bit of comparison

You got the M50 manifold on now? Be good to see the comparison

No I haven't got it on yet. I was thinking about doing it this afternoon but the weather is abit shit at the moment. I'm getting it re-dynoed tommorow anyway to see the difference the new vanos seals have made.