M52 or S50

[BazPatto]

I know this has probably been asked a thousand times but im in the middle of stripping my E30 318is and would like to know what would be best? An M52 conversion or an S50? Also are there any links for doing these conversions?

At the minute my mind is saying go for the S50!! ive got a replacement M42 engine to go in but have decided against it and would like to create something that puts a smile on my face when i take it out!! So to that end i think ive got an M42 engine for sale!

[staley_turbo]

Depends mainly on budget, If you can afford it - then s50.

[BazPatto]

Not really bothered about the budget!! i just wont tell the misses ha ha

[backspring]

s50 gets my vote but i think its a little more complicated. (expensive) but it sound awesome and flys.
if moneys no issue m52 plus turbo will be alot of fun.

[jmc330i]

Having done my S50 (3.0ltr) conversion, I'd go for a sorted M52 if I was to do it again. Cost being the main reason. £3-4k would do a hell of an M52 conversion that wouldn't be far off the S50 in terms of pace. Just depends if you think the extra couple grand is worth it.

That said, the noise of the S50 when the Vanos comes in is very addictive, so if I had the money for another S50 (3.2ltr this time), I'd be looking at an S54...

[BazPatto]

has anybody got a link on parts needed for the S50 coversion! i found the 1 for the M52 conversion! i will be doing the work myself and dont wanna put myself in too much trouble!

[BazPatto]

did you do the coversion yourself james or did you get some one to do it?

[jmc330i]

Did it myself mate. Took fookin ages, but I think there was only 1 or 2 done when I started mine, so it was a lot of trial and error. Would be much easier now all the info is readily available.

With all the parts available ready to fit, I could do it again in month or two, working at the weekends or days off work.

[BazPatto]

Spot on!! im currently stripping the car down to its shell so i can get it blasted, welded and resprayed!! im currently 99% certain im gonna go for the S50 option!

[leeparkes]

With what it would cost to shoehorn a S50 in id rather turbo a M50.

[DanThe]

S50 conversion is £6000 DIY

[jmc330i]

^^^^ Which is why I'd rather go for a sorted M52, unless my lotto numbers come good

[BATTS91]

Or for 6k would you rather have an m50 turbo 500horses . But i know personally i wouldnt cost 6k to do lol its who you know in this game ;)

[DanThe]

i know personally i wouldnt cost 6k to do lol

Oh, you must have done several then

[N00b]

S50 conversion is £6000 DIY

Just out of curiosity, how much does it cost if you don't DIY?

BTW, for the sums involved I'd be going with the Turbo M52 option every time unless I was a serious BMW purist.

[ajay]

Out of curiosity at what rpm would the power come in on an m50 turbo? What rpm could you expect to rev to? And how useable/controlable would the 500 bhp be?

[DanThe]

S50 conversion is £6000 DIY

Just out of curiosity, how much does it cost if you don't DIY?

BTW, for the sums involved I'd be going with the Turbo M52 option every time unless I was a serious BMW purist.

Depends if you want a bodge job that falls apart faster than you can put petrol in it or a proper job, not many are even capable of doing a proper job, plenty have spent 5 figures with so called specialists for conversions that are much less than perfect

[N00b]

S50 conversion is £6000 DIY

Just out of curiosity, how much does it cost if you don't DIY?

BTW, for the sums involved I'd be going with the Turbo M52 option every time unless I was a serious BMW purist.

Depends if you want a bodge job that falls apart faster than you can put petrol in it or a proper job, not many are even capable of doing a proper job, plenty have spent 5 figures with so called specialists for conversions that are much less than perfect

FIVE FIGURES???
You'd need to be sailing with your heart and not your head to throw that much money at the car. Holy moly.

[Gunni]

Out of curiosity at what rpm would the power come in on an m50 turbo? What rpm could you expect to rev to? And how useable/controlable would the 500 bhp be?

You can rev to 7k

Torque would peak at about 4k , good solid low end below 4k,

Its turbo power but would leave a S50 car behind everytime

[PazzaAE86]

Id probably sell my S50 E30 setup for about 2k. It needs an exhaust system (just seen those predator ones for £1100 for the complete system, manifold back) and some fault finding as it has a small running issue. Its currently fitted to my car..

[BATTS91]

i know personally i wouldnt cost 6k to do lol

Oh, you must have done several then

Old byt only juat noticed. I havent myself as you probably know but i know a guy who has done three conversions ,thwo of which with s52

[Cook318IS]

i know personally i wouldnt cost 6k to do lol

Oh, you must have done several then

Old byt only juat noticed. I havent myself as you probably know but i know a guy who has done three conversions ,thwo of which with s52

You do know that an s52 is essentially a 3ltr m52? I can't imagine there would be any more work shoving an s52 in compared to an m52. An s50 is a complete different species of animal however

[BATTS91]

Apologies i mean s50b32 . Had just woke up from a power nap before i wrote that ,as you can see in my spelling mistakes

[maxfield]

I have driven an S50 E30 and was dissappointed. You really have to rev them to make them move IMO

M50 turbo is where it's at.

[BATTS91]

Well i have m50 . But a pal has m52b28 and another with s50b32 and there wasnt much in it between them!

Im with you there maxfield ! M50 turbo is where its at if you have the money !

[jmc330i]

I have driven an S50 E30 and was dissappointed. You really have to rev them to make them move IMO

Probably down to the dual mass flywheel. I tried one with a lightweight flywheel made me wish I'd spent the extra for mine

As for cost, mine stood me at just about £5k including the suspension and BTB manifold, although I never finished the exhaust so it would've been closer to the £6k that everyone thinks they can beat.
With the exception of the plenum welding and custom oil cooler pipes, I did everything myself at home on the drive, people forget how much all the little odds and sods add up - new rad, clutch, prop bearings, engine/gearbox mounts, all the perished hoses that people don't bother replacing then wonder why their S50 runs like a bag of shite.... You're looking at £1-1.5k easy.

And all those people who don't bother renewing all those bits while they're at it, soon have the recently converted car up for sale cheap 'in need of finishing' because the bits they didn't renew have started to break and they've realised how much its gunna cost to sort it out.

Having been there and done it, I can say don't try and do it cheap, do it right first time, or don't bother.

[jmc330i]

Well i have m50 . But a pal has m52b28 and another with s50b32 and there wasnt much in it between them!

An M52 with M20 flywheel and the usual M50 bits added etc will stick with a standard S50 conversion up to a point. An S50 with a lightweight flywheel is something else though, doesn't bog down and revs up like a bitch. I've only driven one with a lighter flywheel (a 3.0ltr like mine), but it pulled away from mine with ease.

[BATTS91]

Both have dual mass still with the e36 box of course . Love abit of money to splash on mine .

[jmc330i]

In that case, the S50 has issues. It should pull convincingly from a standard M52. Although I've seen a standard E36 328i pull away from my mates S50B32 converted E30 - but as above, the S50 conversion was done cheap, with a shite exhaust manifold and it ran like a dog.

[redcar]

what does an s50 e30 do a 1/4 mile in. I remember my brother's s38 e30 which made about 290bhp on the rolling road did a 13.1-13.2 second i think, with wheelspin