M52 to S50

[craigieeb]

Can anyone tell me what I would need to change from the M52 2.8,
To the S50?
Obviously engine, box, 328i prop?
Am I right in thinking the servo needs to be moved over?
What engine mounts fo people use?
The same ones I have used for the M52?
And how much different is the wiring?
Could the existing modified loom be used? Or would I have to start a fresh with the M3 loom?

Cheers

[billgatese30]

Not sure about most of those as I bought mine as a finished car, but for the engine mounts then I believe they are the standard S50 arms with e28 M5 mounts that most people use. Although I (and plenty of other people) have found that under acceleration and moderate to hard cornering then the engine will move enough to make the steering column and the exhaust manifold collide. this could potentially lock the steering with disastrous results. Plenty of people (including my self) have switched to the AKG mounts which are sadly £200 per pair, but work great, even on the track Well worth the money compared to having the steering lock solid at speed

[Jhonno]

Exhaust manifold/exhaust - different
Wiring - completely different, start from scratch with the M3 loom.. (About 15-20hrs work there to do properly).
Engine mounts - E28 M5 ones work.. Ish. However hard cornering will result in coupling to manifold contact. AKG poly mounts is the solution.
Servo needs to be moved over
Sump needs drilling and tapping for the oil return.
Custom oil cooler lines.
328i prop/box - 3:25(ish) diff

So basically you are starting again from scratch.

[Barx325i]

having the steering lock solid at speed

the joys of

[billgatese30]

I nearly had it coming out of the hairpin at croft. That would have resulted into a head on into the concrete pit wall. Since then I fitted the AKG's and I've never had a problem again. Although if you blip the throttle when the car is in neutral and sat still you can feel the car rock slightly

[e30topless]

the S50 works really really well in an E36

[craigieeb]

Not sure about most of those as I bought mine as a finished car, but for the engine mounts then I believe they are the standard S50 arms with e28 M5 mounts that most people use. Although I (and plenty of other people) have found that under acceleration and moderate to hard cornering then the engine will move enough to make the steering column and the exhaust manifold collide. this could potentially lock the steering with disastrous results. Plenty of people (including my self) have switched to the AKG mounts which are sadly £200 per pair, but work great, even on the track Well worth the money compared to having the steering lock solid at speed

Check, i'll have that covered, i'll be using solid alloy ones, and also on the gearbox and while im at it i may as well go the whole hog and do the diff aswell

Exhaust manifold/exhaust - different
Wiring - completely different, start from scratch with the M3 loom.. (About 15-20hrs work there to do properly).
Engine mounts - E28 M5 ones work.. Ish. However hard cornering will result in coupling to manifold contact. AKG poly mounts is the solution.
Servo needs to be moved over
Sump needs drilling and tapping for the oil return.
Custom oil cooler lines.
328i prop/box - 3:25(ish) diff

So basically you are starting again from scratch.

Exhaust, i can sort that out easly enough,

Wiring, do you know of any guides that tells me what goes where?

As said above, alloy mounts are the way forward for me,

How far does the servo need to be moved over? and is there a "direct fit" brake/pedal bar, that people have used?

Sump, M3 one or the rear bowled one off the E34?
drilling and tapping can be done easily enough,

Oil lines, I can sort them,

And i'll get a hold of a 328i box & prop, get rid of my 3:64 slipper and buy a 3:25

the S50 works really really well in an E36

Better in an E30

[Cook318IS]

I think you'll find alot of people recommending the btb s50 for e30 manifold. The manifold can lose you a lot of power if you fuck it up on an s50 - it's not easy to do either from what i've read.

[penton08]

+1 on the exhaust manifold. Why are you solid mounting the engine? Servo needs moving over as far as possible really using a shortened e34 brake bar.

[craigieeb]

I'll not be going to BTB their prices are just stupid.
I make stainless exhausts, so have a fair idea of what im doing
iv got the "spec" of the BTB manifold, so should be able to knock one up,

I'm going with solid engine mounts as the AKG mounts are only available from the us and as Chris said, are £200,
I can make alloy ones at work, with the correct angle's,
and with my style of driving....... it just makes sense

Cheers for the info on the brake bar

[DanThe]

Fck solid mounts, AKGs are hard enough! Will be selling mine eventually

[craigieeb]

I never have liked my fillings

[DanThe]

Servo -

[craigieeb]

It is right over isnt it..

Cheers dude

[Jhonno]

I'll not be going to BTB their prices are just stupid.
I make stainless exhausts, so have a fair idea of what im doing
iv got the "spec" of the BTB manifold, so should be able to knock one up,

I'm going with solid engine mounts as the AKG mounts are only available from the us and as Chris said, are £200,
I can make alloy ones at work, with the correct angle's,
and with my style of driving....... it just makes sense

Cheers for the info on the brake bar

Solid mounts wont necessarily work without modding the subframe..

The e36 arms actually introduce an angle between the subframe mount surface and the mount, the AKG's are angled to suit, and with e34 mounts the angle is taken up by the rubber flexing..

So you would have to cut and re weld the subframe to suit.

The BTB is not easy to copy.. I took it to Zero, who is awesome and does some lovely manifolds and plenty of race cars and he didn't have the tooling to reproduce the OEM S50 bends like BTB do..

[DanThe]

Mandrel bends on stainless are difficult from what ive been told?

[craigieeb]

It is, tricky but not impossible,
you just have to know the tolerance of the stainless, if you take it too much, it's just going to stretch and flatten the "bend",
i'v filled some with sand before and it seemed to work ok,

I'll give the BTB a shot, i know it's complex but, if it's been done before........

[craigieeb]

Solid mounts wont necessarily work without modding the subframe..

The e36 arms actually introduce an angle between the subframe mount surface and the mount, the AKG's are angled to suit, and with e34 mounts the angle is taken up by the rubber flexing..

So you would have to cut and re weld the subframe to suit.

I'm sure i can get the angle on the mounts without cutting and re welding the frame, but if it comes down to it, i'll break out the mig

[Jhonno]

Mandrel bends on stainless are difficult from what ive been told?

They are tight mandrels also..

You are right though Craig.. If BTB can do it, it is possible.

[Jhonno]

Solid mounts wont necessarily work without modding the subframe..

The e36 arms actually introduce an angle between the subframe mount surface and the mount, the AKG's are angled to suit, and with e34 mounts the angle is taken up by the rubber flexing..

So you would have to cut and re weld the subframe to suit.

I'm sure i can get the angle on the mounts without cutting and re welding the frame, but if it comes down to it, i'll break out the mig

I suppose you could with studs yeah..

Didn't really think it through, but just informing