Z3M - S50 or S54?

[eng622]

Read the earlier post and noted pointers so is it worth paying extra (partly as car is newer) for an S54. Why does the S54 only have 325 bhp and not 343 as in the M3. Two cars with 19 inch wheels on PH, S50 (£12.5K) and S54 (£16K) and a further S50(£12K) on AT. Anyone viewed or know anything about these, first one says it has just had a new VANOS fitted.Does a car fitted with 19's give a much harder ride.

[edwardlovett]

you can achieve 343bhp due to the fact a 6 speed gear box cannot be fitted to the car.

[Paul.B]

The BHP is lower due to the space in the engine bay not allowing for the standard M3 exhaust manifold. A modified/standard one is used instead. The 5-speed 'box is used because the transmission tunnel is too narrow for the 6-speed 'box casing to fit.

Paul.B

[mroad]

Horses for courses really, not much in it.
S50 is cheaper than the S54 but the S54 has a less problematic VANOS.
S54 comes with TC unlike the S50.

As for performance, the S54 is slightly up on the S50. Good S50's put out about 290-300bhp on 98-99RON and S54's about 300-310bhp on the same.

www.zroadster.net/forum/viewtopic.php?t=8522&postdays=0&postorder=asc&start=50

I would just see what the best car was out of those you listed and go for that. A good S50 over a dog of an S54 will always be better!

[Rags]

The Wrongly described ad on Pistonheads can't be an S54 if its the one I am think of.

Silver?

[eng622]

2001 X reg in blue at Wigan, so assumed it's an S54 (325 BHP quoted)

[Philrose]

Wonder why the car has 'new rims'
One of the most striking features of the M cars were the lovely deep dish rims.
For more info
www.bmwmregistry.com/model_faq.php?id=16

[Dave Dax Builder]

edwardlovett said:

you can achieve 343bhp due to the fact a 6 speed gear box cannot be fitted to the car.

Uh????

[StuB]

Paul.B said:

The BHP is lower due to the space in the engine bay not allowing for the standard M3 exhaust manifold. A modified/standard one is used instead. The 5-speed 'box is used because the transmission tunnel is too narrow for the 6-speed 'box casing to fit.

Paul.B

Spot on plus the Z also has a slightly lower rev limit than the M3 S54, hence BMW not routinely sorting the big end shells on warranty for Z's (but they have sorted both S54's I've heard of with this problem).

The S54 has DSC, which is a lot more effective than Traction Control alone.

S50's must be one of the performance bargains of the moment.