What engine to go for M30 or M50?

[Kos]

ok, the m30 is more period looking engine with the cast inlet manifold, however the m52 instalation in to the e30 looks clean and tidy, like it should be there.

i just like clean looking engine bay, probably a dub thing !

[johnscales]

Great thread. One of the first comparison thread i've read where nobody's mentioned 0 - 60 sprint times..... so I'm not going to either......
for the peeps who've been in both, which feels quicker though?

[wullie325i]

imo the m52 feels more alive but you have to kick it a bit harder than a m30 but after that its off and away weeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee

[chris_335]

time's

[Kos]

m52 feels quicker to me

[wullie325i]

time's

no its the guardian mate

[chris_335]

come on time's i dont know m52
0 - 60
1/4 mile

[bmw-mad]

This thread is confusing me even more

But im thinking m50/m52 as like kos said it looks smater in the engine bay. Im leaving it up to what ever donor car i find first m30 or m50,52 which ever pops up first at the right price

[chris_335]

the bay aint ment to look smart Old Kool 24v just aint got it unless ya doing a cab then its right

[Kos]

you will probably find an m50/52 attached to a manual box 1st


good luck with the project

[chris_335]

and when you finde it keep looking walk on and finde a m30 will pay off

[Kos]

lol

[chris_335]

its a better engine i had a play in both
the m50 it felt like a lump to move but
the m30 just a train no stoping it
when you think you going to be puting
that engine in a e30

[turkey]

but the m30 is getting on a bit, if i was to do it all again i would have probably gone the m52b28 and tuned it, but the m30 is cheap to do and engines are cheap to replace if it does go bang...

times?

I got a 5.76 0-60 in my m30'd e30, but that really is if you get the traction down.

[E30BeemerLad]

The M52 with a decent exhaust and the M50 inlet puts out respectable power and must surely be a more pleasant thing to pedal through the corners?

[chris_335]

aint no 24v going any where near a m30

[turkey]

i would of thought so, but never drivin an m50. Must admit though i thought the m30 would of made it alot worse handling than it is, considering the weight of the engine it still handles pretty well

[E30BeemerLad]

aint no 24v going any where near a m30

rubbish

[chris_335]

I give up on this


The 3.5 m30 is a lump

[Kos]

again, in a straight line it depends on the state of tune of the engine and the gearing and box being used

ok, mines in a compact but it has a similar weight to an e30 touring. i use 5sp manual from the e36 and a 3.25 LSD on the back and lighteded fly wheel. it ran a 14.3 1/4 with ease. DanThe did a 13.8 1/4 mile with his m52 which is well tuned with cams

on the street, i have battered DC integras, VR6's, R32's, 330i e46's and stuck with e36 m3's up to 100mph before having to slow down, scared e46 M3's. there are more but i just dont bother listing them.

oh and between 1750rpm and 6500rpm have over 170ft/lb of torque peaking at 205ft/lb, thats a lot of torque and very usable. Vanos for you

i'm sure at santapod this year its the 24v boys who were putting down the best times. the only m30 i remeber seeing was zaust which just slow

on the track, well i'd recon the alloy block car would be more ballance but how many people can actaully tell how a car feels ? with every one sunning different suspension set ups its some thing you can never trully test

its all matter of opnion/preferecnce/cash

chris 335, wana go for logs books

[Kos]

aint no 24v going any where near a m30

rubbish

agreed

[chris_335]

dont see the point in raceing for books
no point in wining a slower car
and havent got the cash
and i'm on a AUTO box





but if all go's well in the new year i might put a good fight up
dig the old lump of every bit of power i can finde

[turkey]

think you should go on slips and settle the score

[chris_335]

not on a auto box

[Kos]

well why say ?

aint no 24v going any where near a m30

heads up on the 1/4 mile some time for a coffee then

[DanThe]

You could tie an M30 to my rear towing eye and I would still be quicker

[Kos]

You could tie an M30 to my rear towing eye and I would still be quicker

[Rav335uk]

You could tie an M30 to my rear towing eye and I would still be quicker

You mean it would be pushing you up a hill

[bmw-mad]

Im pushing towards the m50/52 as im also going with the idea it looks neater and is lighter than the m30. Can some one tell me exactly what parts i will require as i cant seem to find a parts list in the m50/52 engine conversion section. I know i need a engine and a Box

[Kos]

e34 m50/m52 sump sump and oil pick up.........

moddified exhaust manifold

loom

DanThe can supply the lot, as he also has been known to do drive in drive out conversions

[bmw-mad]

e34 m50/m52 sump sump and oil pick up.........

moddified exhaust manifold

loom

DanThe can supply the lot, as he also has been known to do drive in drive out conversions

What do you mean by loom? I should'nt need a moddified manifold as its going to go in a left hand drive car.

What diff and prop is reccomended

[Kos]

i've never put one into an e30

but E30BeemerLad has, and so has DanThe, bob_s, they all know each other and dan is up your way so maybe give him a pm for complete break down of whats needed

sorry i cant help any more

[bmw-mad]

i've never put one into an e30

but E30BeemerLad has, and so has DanThe, bob_s, they all know each other and dan is up your way so maybe give him a pm for complete break down of whats needed

sorry i cant help any more

thanks for the help Kos i think i will have to give one of the above a shout

[e30bmlover]

aint no 24v going any where near a m30

rubbish

agreed

i can only echo this... the m30 is a heavy anchor! a decent m52b28 with a few tasteful mods will keep up with most modern cars.. take my anchor its got 145k on it with a bottom end at 50k, the top end is silent!!.. m50 inlet and a flywheel that weighs virtually @uck all... all i need now is a oversized throttle body... and when iv got the spear coin the unichip to get the most out of the mods... then it WILL be a weapon.. its plenty fast enough now and most of the time it dosent get taken over 4k... but take it over 4k and things get interesting as thats where most of the power is lol!! its not like most cars that run out of breath at 5k lol... it pulls hard then harder to the limiter.. i will get it on the rollers in the new year. im hopeing for 220+ bhp but we shall see.

[gareth]

oh and between 1750rpm and 6500rpm have over 170ft/lb of torque peaking at 205ft/lb, thats a lot of torque and very usable. Vanos for you

vanos, pah! i have 200lb.ft from 1800rpm to 6000rpm, peaking at 238lb.ft at 3900rpm that's with a LPG blowback catflap (read 45mm restrictor plate) fitted too. fueling etc all standard at that point as well.
it will be interesting to try it without the catflap and with my new speedtouch wild chip fitted. the arse dyno says it's improved

its all matter of opnion/preferecnce/cash

couldn't agree more. no engine is better than the other as a whole, just better suited to different cars / purposes / drivers.