M50/52 or M30B35?????

[dannyboy759]

I’ve now got another LHD car to do a conversion on in March time when the weather gets a bit better.
Just wanted to know what you guys thought regards to whether to put an M50/52 in it or just go for the good old M30.
I’m happy how to do both conversions but just wondered for you guys who had had or driven both engines in an E30 which one would just clinch it over the other.
Obviously the M50 is the more modern engine which can produces as much bhp as the M30 but the M30 will not be good on fuel, so what’s the balance between the two?
Also I feel that the M30 is an easier conversion compared to the M50 which requires a lot more parts and is a lot fiddler and will take longer to do, although time isn’t really an issue.
Any advice, views would be great

[Jhonno]

My M50 swap took me a week, and it doesn't require a massive amount of parts..

If you are looking for something cheap and fun swap in an M50 with a light flywheel

[dannyboy759]

Thing is with an E34 535 all the parts are on the car, apart from the prop which comes off an E36 2.8 which i already have, or indeed shorten the exsisting 325 one.
But with the M50 swap you need an E32 brake master cylinder a golf servo a prop form this a gearbox from this lol and the sump from an E34.
Its just getting all the parts.
And is an M50 2.5 ok or should i go for a 2.8?
I take it the swap is the same on both?

[savvi]

And is an M50 2.5 ok or should i go for a 2.8?

2.8 with 2.5 intake manifold

[dannyboy759]

Lol thought that would be the answer but ive noticed that most M50 conversions were 2.5's so i thought there might be some hidden agenda with them! but obviously not!

[savvi]

m50 iron block, m52 2.8 alloy, m50 is stronger for the turbo set up , m52 accepts m3 internals

[Jhonno]

if the m52 does the m50 does also..

[Ziggy]

Depends what you want from the car.

Read this: http://www.e30zone.net/modules.php?name ... c&t=117249

I went with an m30, but that doesn't mean it's 'best', just that it was more suitable for me.

[oakey]

Depends what you want from the car.

Read this: http://www.e30zone.net/modules.php?name ... c&t=117249

I went with an m30, but that doesn't mean it's 'best', just that it was more suitable for me.

As said^. Choose which engine is best for you. VERY different engines. The m30 is a more lazy torquey beast and the m50/2 is more revvy.
I would assume that an m30 engined e30 will feel a lot quicker than a m50/2'd one.
M30 will use more fuel. etc etc

[Rav335uk]

I'd go for the M30, purley for the ease of fitting it.
Oh and its a bulltproof engine too.

[dannyboy759]

See thats the thing i cant really decide between the two as ive had revvy engines E30 M3, E36 M3 ect but ive got a diesel at the moment aswell so i like the torque too!
I just get the feeling that the M50 is more of a pain to fit where as the M30 is more staigt forward.
But there is the fact that the M30 weighs a lot compared to an M50 and the M50 is a more modern engine and more fuel effiecent.
I take it that the M30 will be quicker than an M50 2.8?

[essexboy]

i'm just coming to the end of my m50 conversion should hopefully be running today theres not a great deal of parts needed if your doner is an m20 engined car you can use the running gear from that

[Rav335uk]

See thats the thing i cant really decide between the two as ive had revvy engines E30 M3, E36 M3 ect but ive got a diesel at the moment aswell so i like the torque too!
I just get the feeling that the M50 is more of a pain to fit where as the M30 is more staigt forward.
But there is the fact that the M30 weighs a lot compared to an M50 and the M50 is a more modern engine and more fuel effiecent.
I take it that the M30 will be quicker than an M50 2.8?

Now heres a debate building, with you asking the question on which is quicker.
Can't wait to see the replies
M30 is quicker imo

[DanThe]

Not many M30's beat my 4 door at the pod, the results need digging out I think

[Brenner5]

Can the M50/M52 engines be ran on single point LPG?

I'm sure the M30 can run off the same lpg kit as an M20 bar a few parts such as the mixer?

[Jhonno]

What times were M30's running at Pod?

[Theo]

I did 14.8 in 2007, but that was with the old starship mileage engine and comedy bodge exhaust.

[dannyboy759]

Id always think of an M30 being quicker as the M50 makes less torque than an M20 and obviously the M30 makes the most and at the end of the day its torgque you need, torque gets things moving

[Jhonno]

as the M50 makes less torque than an M20

Erm.. No it doesnt

[oakey]

as the M50 makes less torque than an M20

Erm.. No it doesnt

M50B25 180ftlb at 4700rpm
M20B25 167ftlb at 4000rpm

[DanThe]

I think it was only Andys modified 335i running this year, 14.3 IIRC, there were about 4 last year though.
My standard 2.8 did a 14.5 this year

[Rav335uk]

as the M50 makes less torque than an M20

Erm.. No it doesnt

M50B25 180ftlb at 4700rpm
M20B25 167ftlb at 4000rpm

M30 is 200+ ftlb torque, see you boys missed that one out

[oakey]

M30:

218 bhp @ 5200rpm
229 ftlb @ 4000rpm

When new

[Ant]

M30 = 18 mpg ave

M50 = 35 mpg worst

given its LHD, S50

[Rav335uk]

M30 = 18 mpg ave

M50 = 35 mpg worst

given its LHD, S50

Theres food for thought

[dannyboy759]

Yeah, lol what i meant to say was!! theres not much in the two engines when it comes to torque, M20 M50 i mean!
So theres not really an advantage there.

[ShakeyC]

M50/52 2.8 is nice balance of everything economny, cost, torque, power, reliability.

M30 makes the front end feel too heavy and rear too light to properly enjoy a nicely built m20 2.7 is far better than m30 regardless of figures.

[town325i]

if it was me i would go for the m50/m52 as the m30 is as old as the ark and finding one with low miles would be a task in its self and the m52 will weight a hell of alot less making your e30 better to drive

[12345kevin]

Erm.. No it doesnt

M50B25 180ftlb at 4700rpm
M20B25 167ftlb at 4000rpm

M30 is 200+ ftlb torque, see you boys missed that one out

M52 2.8 with a 2.5 non vanos head 206 ft1b

[Jhonno]

Yeah, lol what i meant to say was!! theres not much in the two engines when it comes to torque, M20 M50 i mean!
So theres not really an advantage there.

There is enough in the headline figure to make a difference, plus the VANOS effect means it'll have more all over

[dannyboy759]

Yeah but rule of thumb ish lol' is that multi valve engines have less torque

So I think it’s a clear decision then, an M50 is the way to go.
But what’s the best I take it a non Vanos one would be the way to go did they make a 2.5 and a 2.8 non vanos?
Which would be the preferred engine, obviously a 2.8 would be best case but non, single or double vanos?
I understand the way they work and what vanos does and the end result but as far as an engine transplant goes is one better over the other?

[Jhonno]

Yeah but rule of thumb ish lol' is that multi valve engines have less torque

Erm.. No it isn't! They have more power and more torque!

[dannyboy759]

Ok i stand corrected lol

I've driven an m50 e30 and it really is nothing like as fun as an m30 transplant. Further positives to the m30 include it's ability to withstand untold abuse, a really lovely exhaust sound, cheap parts, cheap engine, only custom part needed to fit to an e30 are the engine mounts, very simple conversion.

That came from another thread about m30 v's m50

This is my point though!!!

[Jhonno]

M50's are cheap

I abuse my royally (can't help it!) and it keeps coming back for more, it sounds fantastic, cheap servicing etc, no custom parts required

M30's aren't any quicker than an M50 in reality

[town325i]

the only go thing about the m30 lump is the weight it puts on the scales when you weigh it in