m52 swap - what keys?

[kevo]

Hi all, when you do an m52 swap do you use the e36 ignition key in your e30 barrel? also would you change the door locks too or are they e36 specific? just wondering as otherwise you'll have more than one key to open and start the car.
cheers
Kev

[Brianmoooore]

Fit the 'chip' from the M52 key inside an E30 'torch' key.

[kevo]

ahh nice, so you end up with original e30 keys and the ews works from that, very nice.
cheers for that Brian
Kev

[e30-EVN]

You have to dremel the e30 casing out a bit to fit the ews transponder around the ignition barrel.
For now I've mounted my transponder where I can put the chipped key in to start the car but I will be doing the above soon

[kevo]

cool, how do you rate your m52 over the m50 mister?

[e30-EVN]

Much much better mate, the low down torque is more instant and with the m50 inlet + throttlebody setup the power keeps coming to the limiter. Its brilliant, I found the m50 had to be wound up to get the very best from it but the 52 can be poked from 2000rpm and responds with ease, and once in the power band its fast as f**k mate. Its faster than my mates ibiza cupra and he has k03s turbo, front mount and a map, it supprised him lol
The thing I like most is you can drive about town at 1500rpm and there is enough torque to make it doable and also civilised but when you poke it there is effortless power there to blow away a supprising line up of quick cars

[kevo]

cool, the low down lazy torque is what i'm after tbh, i imagine it's a little better on juice too when not being driven hard?
Kev

[e30-EVN]

Yeah again surprisingly it is better on juice than the m50, obv when given a shoeing she drinks a bit but she is a 2.8 after all lol. But when driven nicely its not crippling, its an efficient lump with effortless power

[nickso]

are there two types of torch key available then? the key i got from bmw is a chunky bugger and i had to file it down to fit the antenna ring.

[DanThe]

This one -



If the antenna is not quite square on it can get in the way a bit

[nickso]

nope, even squarer at the key end than that dan.

[ian332isport]

I fettled quite a lot of plastic off the antenna ring before I fitted it to the E30 cowling. This allowed it to sit closer to the ignition barrel and avoids the key fouling on the antenna ring.

Ian.

[Robbo-80]

This one -



If the antenna is not quite square on it can get in the way a bit

Does anybody have the Part No. for the above key??

[DanThe]

51 21 1 900 894

[Robbo-80]

Have just been on the phone to John Clarks to order up a Torch Key to be told that unfortunately they are not available anymore. Is there another key that I could place the chip inside for starting the M52 set-up?

[nickso]

Have just been on the phone to John Clarks to order up a Torch Key to be told that unfortunately they are not available anymore. Is there another key that I could place the chip inside for starting the M52 set-up?

Hmm, I might have the part number for the key I have but like I said above it's not the best fit for for the antenna ring.

If you don't find anything you can still use the EWS by plugging the chip into the ring and then removing it before starting the car. My ring was just dangling in the car for a long time....ooer.

[Robbo-80]

That's the way I'm running the car at the moment with the Antenna hanging by the steering column
Thought I'd try & order up a key to tidy it up a bit

[ajay]

E36 ring with chip in e30 key!

[DanThe]

Have just been on the phone to John Clarks to order up a Torch Key to be told that unfortunately they are not available anymore. Is there another key that I could place the chip inside for starting the M52 set-up?

I spoke to my local dealers today and they told me they were on back order, £18 odd +VAT
I cant see why they would turn out to be NLA

Pic of how I mount the rings -



If you get it right the cowl will hold the ring against the barrel, ive never had to chop the ring

[rich318i]

thats the best way do it in both ajay and danthe pics. just makes it look factory. but you need the key with the M-TECH Torch to make it look better lol

[Robbo-80]

Have just been on the phone to John Clarks to order up a Torch Key to be told that unfortunately they are not available anymore. Is there another key that I could place the chip inside for starting the M52 set-up?

I spoke to my local dealers today and they told me they were on back order, £18 odd +VAT
I cant see why they would turn out to be NLA

Pic of how I mount the rings -



If you get it right the cowl will hold the ring against the barrel, ive never had to chop the ring

When I phoned up my local Dealer in Aberdeen, gave them the P/N 51 21 1 900 894 was told this wasn't a legit BMW P/N, so quoted my VIN No. they said a blank was available but only from Germany.
When I asked if that was the Torch Key style that's when I was told that this style wasn't an option any more

[rich318i]

try another dealers some parts people are rubbish. always best to go into the dealers really

[nickso]

Who did you get on the phone? All the parts guys I have dealt with at Clarks have all been pretty good. Not been in for a wee while so maybe that has changed.

[DanThe]

Part number is defo 51 21 1 900 894 its what I asked for the other day and what ive always used to order the above keys with