Is the M50 route worth the hassle?

[Jhonno]

This was my touring with the M52 getting some 3rd gear action, the chromie should feel & go even better

[youtube][/youtube]

Was that it?

Considering results at Santa Pod from the last few years, your M30 anchor must be a massive disappointment for you every time you drive it

[Rav335uk]

Why would it be, i'm happy with it, I take it you have 24V blinkers on all the time then

[Alex]

You must take your 8.5 tonne e30 down the strip this year Rav

[E30BeemerLad]

14.52 down the 1/4 Rav. The only M30 slugger I've seen doing better than that was Andy with the Green M30 Touring, but that was on throttle bodies etc and doing about 260bhp IIRC

[Rav335uk]

You must take your 8.5 tonne e30 down the strip this year Rav

You too!!!

Fuckin' hell it's like the "Invasion of the Bodysnatchers"

[Alex]

You must take your 8.5 tonne e30 down the strip this year Rav

You too!!!

Fuckin' hell it's like the "Invasion of the Bodysnatchers"

I did 16.4 seconds

I'am debating wether or not to come fully stripped this year

[Rav335uk]

14.52 down the 1/4 Rav. The only M30 slugger I've seen doing better than that was Andy with the Green M30 Touring, but that was on throttle bodies etc and doing about 260bhp IIRC

Ah Throttle boddies, I have some of those of an M88
just on the hunt for a 288 cam, and MS

[Jhonno]

Why would it be, i'm happy with it, I take it you have 24V blinkers on all the time then

How is it blinkered to state fact?!

You M30 girls have been slower than the 24v boys at the Pod the last few years..

[DanThe]

Like you said above, Andys M30 was the only one I remember to do any good up the strip, do you remember the time?

[Rav335uk]

Why would it be, i'm happy with it, I take it you have 24V blinkers on all the time then

How is it blinkered to state fact?!

You M30 girls have been slower than the 24v boys at the Pod the last few years..

Yes we M30 BOYS have proper cars not lightweight poverty spec ones with plasic engines in them.

[Jhonno]

14.4.. With a lot of money thrown at the lump..

[Jhonno]

Why would it be, i'm happy with it, I take it you have 24V blinkers on all the time then

How is it blinkered to state fact?!

You M30 girls have been slower than the 24v boys at the Pod the last few years..

Yes we M30 BOYS have proper cars not lightweight poverty spec ones with plasic engines in them.

Rav... You drive a baby blue convertible that weighs as much as a planet. How is that a proper car?!

Extra weight does not a decent car make.

[Rav335uk]

How is it blinkered to state fact?!

You M30 girls have been slower than the 24v boys at the Pod the last few years..

Yes we M30 BOYS have proper cars not lightweight poverty spec ones with plasic engines in them.

Rav... You drive a baby blue convertible that weighs as much as a planet. How is that a proper car?!

Extra weight does not a decent car make.

True, but not all of us have a point to prove.

[Jhonno]

True, but not all of us have a point to prove.

You could have fooled me..

I personally have no point to make, the numbers do the talking..

[Rav335uk]

True, but not all of us have a point to prove.

I personally have no point to make, the numbers do the talking..

There you go, munbers, point to prove.

[ETERNITY]

so much ego on the zone.who cares about figures.what should matter most is how the car feels to the individual driver in terms of drivability,performance,engine tone etc.m30 vs m52=pure ego.

[325isporttech1]

Yes we M30 BOYS have proper cars not lightweight poverty spec ones with plasic engines in them.

+1 Im running an m30 in a e34 touring and im loving it..even if it the car does way 2 tonne. A proper engine thow not like the m50 plastique

[Rav335uk]

Yes we M30 BOYS have proper cars not lightweight poverty spec ones with plasic engines in them.

+1 Im running an m30 in a e34 touring and im loving it..even if it the car does way 2 tonne. A proper engine thow not like the m50 plastique

Someone who sees the light

[DanThe]

More like you have brain washed him Rav

[Rav335uk]

More like you have brain washed him Rav

Come on Dan, there's no brainwashing going on here , it's you lot who need to remove you sunglasses and see the light

[d6dph]

Give it a rest please Rav, You seem to do this on every M5x thread.

M30 was the one to do a few years ago, but it's a no brainer to go with a more advanced engine like the m5x series. 4v per cyl and more effective control systems are more suited to most.

[Rav335uk]

He must of had a shitter of an engine then because from my experience of an M50 converted E30 is that it goes really well compared to an M20 engine.

overall.... yes a m50'd car is going to be quicker. but 20 bhp is not alot in the real world. ive been around a few m50 coverted cars and they seem to go alright but why bother with a engine swap for alright? you may aswell do a m30 swap

Sorry Dave, but I didn't mention the M30 on here till later.
And as "on every M5x post" yes, taking the stick on the engine is ok with you then?

[d6dph]

Sorry I don't understand your point?

[Rav335uk]

Point has been forwarded to you

[Mikey_Boy]

So anyway - to get back to the thread!!

Dare I say that the whole M20 / M5x engine debate depends ultimately on personal preference? The M5x engines are fantastic and once you have gotten your head around the installation, then it makes a lot of sense to do it..

But... I run an M20 for trackdays and yes, it was a bit lethargic until I got a BTB exhaust on it and MAF conversion - now she makes a bit more power and responds much much better, dare I say up to about 6k and a bit... Sure - it needs more hp (2.7/2.8 with a cam etc) but the grunt coming out of slow corners (good old 2 valve torque!) makes for a not bad compromise. Let's also not forget that M20's are geared very long with big spacing between the gears - makes for a lethargic feel as well (which is why I am slotting in a 262CR box when rebuild funds allow!) Plus there is a stubborn part of me that wants to keep the character of the car as intact as possible whilst persuading a few more ponies to come out to play! A-Tech 2.7 with 230hp anyone??

This thread shows that this debate can run on and on - the only common thing is that either route costs and takes time!

Cheers,
Mikey_Boy

[bmwsport]

Yes we M30 BOYS have proper cars not lightweight poverty spec ones with plasic engines in them.

+1 Im running an m30 in a e34 touring and im loving it..even if it the car does way 2 tonne. A proper engine thow not like the m50 plastique

Someone who sees the light

Count me in

I guess for me to be cool i better swap out my M30 and put in one of those plastique 24 valver things... According to some that's the best thing to do period, i'm sure it will increase it's value too

[Jhonno]

+1 Im running an m30 in a e34 touring and im loving it..even if it the car does way 2 tonne. A proper engine thow not like the m50 plastique

Someone who sees the light

Count me in

I guess for me to be cool i better swap out my M30 and put in one of those plastique 24 valver things... According to some that's the best thing to do period, i'm sure it will increase it's value too

WTF are you chatting about?

[bmwsport]

The whole M50 vs M30 thing is getting really old and repetitive. I'm sure the original poster was asking if he should keep his EXISTING M20 or replace it with an M50 but somehow the thread turns into another M50/M30 slagging match... My comment was to just take the peepee as these threads are becoming very tiresome and unneccessary.

M30 E30's are what they are and so are those with M50 power, each car is very different and both have good and bad points but at the end of the day it's all down to personal preferences. For me i don't care about stats it's more about originality/engines of the same period. 1/4 mile runs, bhp, torque, lack of rpm above 6k rpm means nothing to me, the car is what it is and should be kept in A1 original mechanical condition, some people like myself don't care 'if' the M50 is a better overall engine but there is no denying the M30/M20 has a better soundtrack!

This factor alone is enough to keep a smile on my face and makes up for the extra (if any) fuel costs and the M30 isn't exactly slow and will keep up with most modern cars (within reason) on the roads today.

[325isporttech1]

Theres no replacement for displacement..an old saying but true

My e34 535 touring absolutely flies now ive sorted out the intake and got rid of the induction kit and replaced with a viper..couldnt imagine a m50-52 pulling the weight of it as well as the m30 does tbh but guess thats a different story away from e30's all together

[DanThe]

The whole M50 vs M30 thing is getting really old and repetitive. I'm sure the original poster was asking if he should keep his EXISTING M20 or replace it with an M50 but somehow the thread turns into another M50/M30 slagging match... My comment was to just take the peepee as these threads are becoming very tiresome and unneccessary.

The thread was going fine until shite started to get posted

there is no denying the M30/M20 has a better soundtrack!

More than one 325i driver commented on how good the exhaust note of my car sounded last year at the North Wales meet, IMO this invalidates your statement

[325isporttech1]

The thread was going fine until shite started to get posted

Must be said the 'banter' has been quite mild on this one compared to some threads ive seen, Just the usual 'm30 boat anchor' jibes and 'm50 hating' etc etc quite amusing as usual

And Danthe if you have a m52b28 they do sound much much better than the m20. i must admit ive never liked the noise on either of my m20's.

[sweep]

If you dont like the sound of either of your m20 engined cars why buy the cars then?

[325isporttech1]

If you dont like the sound of either of your m20 engined cars why buy the cars then?

Because noise isnt everything, was a very strange noise up the revs maybe because both had scorpion dtm's?

I like the raw feeling of the m20 and the power delivery and that is all

[sweep]

Noise is mostly everything if you buy a six cylinder bmw..
But i understand both points m52/m20 but im biased so im right

[DanThe]

You have to be careful with what exhaust you use on an M20, its easy to get it wrong and end up with a booming note
My 24v engines have all been used with a full 325i scorpion system and sound great, a little loud possibly but a great sound