Anyone tried an S38B38 or B36 swap?

[Kit_L]

Just wondering if it might be an easier swap than the S50/52?

[BadDave]

Both Karan and Tomson on here have/are doing just that

Karan has done it and since sold the car.
Tomson is.still has the car IIRC


HTH

[Kit_L]

Cool, it just occurred to me that it might be a tad easier, is there a general consensus on if it is yet?

[tomson]

I think on balance they are both equally challenging though the wiring on the S50 is more in depth. The exhaust manifold is the hardest bit to get right on both. I have both conversions on the go and the S38 is almost running, just the cooling to sort out (I think!)

[reggid]

I would do S50B32 over the B36

[Kit_L]

I think on balance they are both equally challenging though the wiring on the S50 is more in depth. The exhaust manifold is the hardest bit to get right on both. I have both conversions on the go and the S38 is almost running, just the cooling to sort out (I think!)

It'll be very interested to see which you prefer then!

Kudos to you tomson, fair play

[FormerMember]

S50 is almost straight plug'n'play whereas S38 is quite a bit more challenging.

Basically, S50 is like M50 swap and S38 is like M30 swap + brake booster & radiator clearance problems. Both can be done but i don't see sense swapping S38 if you're going to keep it ~stock because S50 makes about the same power.

[tomson]

S50 is almost straight plug'n'play whereas S38 is quite a bit more challenging.

Basically, S50 is like M50 swap and S38 is like M30 swap + brake booster & radiator clearance problems. Both can be done but i don't see sense swapping S38 if you're going to keep it ~stock because S50 makes about the same power.

There is nothing plug & play about an S50 conversion!
You have more of a brake servo clearance problem with the S50 as the plenum is bigger and a different style/shape which fouls it more. The S50 reacts poorly to inlet & exhaust modding, these two things need to be spot on or the engine will be down on power.

The S38 has no rad clearance issues so long as you "persuade" the bulkhead back a bit, something I have seen done on M30 conversions too, the wiring on these is less complicated than the S50 as they are based loosly around the M30 which is a similar generation to the E30

Whilst the S50 has 6 more ponies, I'm lead to believe the S38 is MUCH more of an animal due to the grunt & torque of the big 6. Having driven a few E36 M3's they are much more of a revvy engine where as the S38 has the power much more on tap throughout the rev range.

Both my conversions will be done this summer so I will be able to decide which I prefer then!

[FormerMember]

There is nothing plug & play about an S50 conversion!
You have more of a brake servo clearance problem with the S50 as the plenum is bigger and a different style/shape which fouls it more. The S50 reacts poorly to inlet & exhaust modding, these two things need to be spot on or the engine will be down on power.

Ummm... E34 M50 oilpan ( & pump?), stock motor mounts and E21 brake booster + some wiring, isn't that it?

The S38 has no rad clearance issues so long as you "persuade" the bulkhead back a bit, something I have seen done on M30 conversions too, the wiring on these is less complicated than the S50 as they are based loosly around the M30 which is a similar generation to the E30

Yes, and if i've understood correctly the height of the engine is an issue also. I had some problems with radiator clearance with my M30 swap which doesn't have the water tube in front of the engine. Also M30 / S38 produces much more heat than S50..

Is there bolt-on driveshaft for S38 conversion? Or transmission mounts / linkage?

Whilst the S50 has 6 more ponies, I'm lead to believe the S38 is MUCH more of an animal due to the grunt & torque of the big 6. Having driven a few E36 M3's they are much more of a revvy engine where as the S38 has the power much more on tap throughout the rev range.

Both my conversions will be done this summer so I will be able to decide which I prefer then!

Yes and S38B38 has ~20hp more than S50B32. Anyways, the engines are of course different but considering the additional work needed to fit S38 i wouldn't do it if i weren't going to turbocharge it


Anyhow, both of the swaps have been done many, many times and there aren't any major problems with them. Straightforward building

[Karan]

s38 is better....