s54 in e30

General E30 related discussions -
Please put technical questions in E30 Tech Help forum below

Moderator: martauto

User avatar
moggie
E30 Zone Regular
E30 Zone Regular
Posts: 307
Joined: Mon Jan 25, 2010 11:00 pm
Location: Leem

Post Sat Jan 26, 2013 6:24 pm

hi ,im thinking s54 in my e30 next winter and i know the wiring is tricky but does it mount in the same as the s50 coversion i.e m535i mounts etc ive done the 3.2 conversion before and the mounting of it was easy
ross2009
E30 Zone Addict
E30 Zone Addict
Posts: 2762
Joined: Mon Nov 19, 2007 11:00 pm
Location: In my beemer MAN !!!! st neots CAMBS

Post Sat Jan 26, 2013 7:21 pm

you better have 6 k to spend on it aswell then its not a cheap conversion
Turbo M20
Image
v8 project 6.0 twin turbo
http://s924.photobucket.com/user/Rossco ... ject%20e30
User avatar
moggie
E30 Zone Regular
E30 Zone Regular
Posts: 307
Joined: Mon Jan 25, 2010 11:00 pm
Location: Leem

Post Sat Jan 26, 2013 7:26 pm

torn between s54 and ls v8!
ross2009
E30 Zone Addict
E30 Zone Addict
Posts: 2762
Joined: Mon Nov 19, 2007 11:00 pm
Location: In my beemer MAN !!!! st neots CAMBS

Post Sat Jan 26, 2013 7:29 pm

that still wont be cheap depends if you go manual or auto box
Turbo M20
Image
v8 project 6.0 twin turbo
http://s924.photobucket.com/user/Rossco ... ject%20e30
glenn
Engine Transplant Services
Engine Transplant Services
Posts: 2196
Joined: Sat Jan 29, 2005 11:00 pm
Location: blackwood, south wales

Post Sat Jan 26, 2013 8:03 pm

moggie wrote:hi ,im thinking s54 in my e30 next winter and i know the wiring is tricky but does it mount in the same as the s50 coversion i.e m535i mounts etc ive done the 3.2 conversion before and the mounting of it was easy
yep,
the mounting of the s54 is almost the same as the s50
Motorhole
E30 Zone Addict
E30 Zone Addict
Posts: 2395
Joined: Tue Jul 12, 2005 11:00 pm
Location: Cheshire

Post Sat Jan 26, 2013 9:09 pm

moggie wrote:torn between s54 and ls v8!
LS all the way :cool:
turk
E30 Zone Squatter
E30 Zone Squatter
Posts: 1879
Joined: Sun May 20, 2007 11:00 pm
Location: Portsmouth

Post Sat Jan 26, 2013 9:13 pm

The S54 Conversion is basically the same as the S50/2 bar the wiring and loom mods.

The best way to sort the Gbox is to use an e36 m3 box, decent flywheel an clutch selection on the market and bolts straight up.

S54's are great driving engines, v8s are great noise and drift engines imo.

If you need some ideas on ecu and loom kit cost let me know.

www.ergen.co.uk
adem@ergen.co.uk

Cheers
Adem
Last edited by turk on Wed Mar 13, 2013 4:01 pm, edited 1 time in total.
S54, S62, S65 & S85 Plug & Play loom/Ecu Kits
Sump Baffles
Engine Conversion Kits/Parts
TrackDays
Image
Motorhole
E30 Zone Addict
E30 Zone Addict
Posts: 2395
Joined: Tue Jul 12, 2005 11:00 pm
Location: Cheshire

Post Sun Jan 27, 2013 12:36 am

would love to do an LS conversion if I had the cash. Would be more economical than an S54 day to day and would give a lower COG and better weight distribution, even if the engine and box are a little heavier than S54 and the E36 m3 box. An easy 400 bhp out the box too pretty much...and the noise. Oh, the noise...

User avatar
ajay
E30 Zone Camper
E30 Zone Camper
Posts: 1041
Joined: Fri Nov 24, 2006 11:00 pm

Post Sun Jan 27, 2013 9:26 am

Sounds nice! But i would soon tire of the noise, and to benefit from that engine on the public highway would loose my licence too. Would be a hell of a machine though, me thinks more of a toy than every day useable sleeper! May be not too good (fast) cornering on a track, more of straight line beast!
User avatar
moggie
E30 Zone Regular
E30 Zone Regular
Posts: 307
Joined: Mon Jan 25, 2010 11:00 pm
Location: Leem

Post Sun Jan 27, 2013 8:16 pm

its only a weekend toy and the odd track day,i know if i go s54 im always going to want that v8 noise,i did the last time when i s50 my last one.ls v8 it it then!
User avatar
redcar
E30 Zone Squatter
E30 Zone Squatter
Posts: 1610
Joined: Wed Jul 20, 2011 11:00 pm
Location: Hertfordshire

Post Sun Jan 27, 2013 8:20 pm

Ls all the way over that other iron block anchor.
User avatar
ajay
E30 Zone Camper
E30 Zone Camper
Posts: 1041
Joined: Fri Nov 24, 2006 11:00 pm

Post Sun Jan 27, 2013 8:23 pm

No 6cyl engine can compare noise wise with a v8,but an s54 with a decent carbon intake (csl style) does sound awsome and an 8k redline too.
User avatar
moggie
E30 Zone Regular
E30 Zone Regular
Posts: 307
Joined: Mon Jan 25, 2010 11:00 pm
Location: Leem

Post Sun Jan 27, 2013 8:24 pm

is there any links to anyone who has done an ls conversion in the uk?
Motorhole
E30 Zone Addict
E30 Zone Addict
Posts: 2395
Joined: Tue Jul 12, 2005 11:00 pm
Location: Cheshire

Post Sun Jan 27, 2013 8:53 pm

A chap called Wayne Greatorex did an E30 M3 with an LS. That's the only one I know of on this side of the pond. If you get onto E30Tech.com, there are at least two on there :D
User avatar
moggie
E30 Zone Regular
E30 Zone Regular
Posts: 307
Joined: Mon Jan 25, 2010 11:00 pm
Location: Leem

Post Mon Jan 28, 2013 7:18 pm

when i did my s52 conversion i used the standard e36 m3 mount arms and it bolted straight in[turned rubbers around] ,you can already buy engine mounts to put the ls in an e36 so surely the same mounts will fit the e30 ls conversion?
turk
E30 Zone Squatter
E30 Zone Squatter
Posts: 1879
Joined: Sun May 20, 2007 11:00 pm
Location: Portsmouth

Post Mon Jan 28, 2013 10:04 pm

This was me at Santa pod in the s54, did 13.6 if i remember rightly. And this was with poor traction.

Excuse the commentary by Ajay :mad:

[youtube][/youtube]
S54, S62, S65 & S85 Plug & Play loom/Ecu Kits
Sump Baffles
Engine Conversion Kits/Parts
TrackDays
Image
User avatar
moggie
E30 Zone Regular
E30 Zone Regular
Posts: 307
Joined: Mon Jan 25, 2010 11:00 pm
Location: Leem

Post Fri Feb 08, 2013 3:35 pm

hi turk,can you give me a bit of info in the work involved in putting the s54 in my e30,ive already done an s50b32 conversion but i just want something a bit newer.do you have to change the sump ,does it run the drive buy wire ie do i need the e46 throttle pedal and also how plug and play is the looms you do,will any sensors on the engine have to be changed and why cant you use the e46 gearbox,i saw a e28 s54 conversion and he had the engine and box in there.a lot of questions i no but im trying to work out the best route to go ,ls or s54.thanks.craig.
turk
E30 Zone Squatter
E30 Zone Squatter
Posts: 1879
Joined: Sun May 20, 2007 11:00 pm
Location: Portsmouth

Post Fri Feb 08, 2013 4:12 pm

Hi Craig,

The s54 is physically very similar the conversion you have already done.

Yes you change the sump, pump, pickup etc.

Yes you will need to use the S54 flybywire throttle. Theres no reason you cant use the 6 speed box, it just requires a custom mount and e46 auto front end of prop.

My loom is quite literally plug and play. You send me your loom, I send it back all ready to simply be refitted to the engine. All the plugs and earths etc simply need to be connected up. Of course the loom and ecu go hand in hand. No sensor etc need to be changed, you just need to my kit.

Feel free to give me a bell if you'd like a chat :)

Adem
07809243914
S54, S62, S65 & S85 Plug & Play loom/Ecu Kits
Sump Baffles
Engine Conversion Kits/Parts
TrackDays
Image
pony
I have been misbehaving and am sorry !
Posts: 6620
Joined: Sat Feb 11, 2006 11:00 pm
Location: London

Post Fri Feb 08, 2013 5:08 pm

S54 in a E30 ..... Do it .... BMW's finest high revolution concept NA straight six in the iconic BMW 3 Series E30 .... Ur after my own heart .... :-)

Are u putting in the M Diff ?
Manual or Auto ?
Which is better for drifting a S54 or V8 ?
How much does one of these cost if u told a garage to do this for u :-) ?