S52 in E30

[The Lukas]

I love E30's. Yet the fastest one you can buy is a 325 (save the M3 but they cost allot and are left hand drive and have 4 pots instead of 6).

Has anybody here experienced or owned or even though of undertaking the project of taking the S52 3.2 E36 M3 engine and putting her in a very good E30? What is involved? It's something I've always wanted to do.

Your thoughts!

[chrisr29]

Check out the e30 forums, there's a uk and a US one. Google will bring them up. You'll find several incidents of people who've done such conversions.....amongst other things.

[rassi]

If you want to go one step further, search on the M5board for an Icelandic member "Blue Thunder" who put a turbocharged S50 B32 lump in an E30 M3

[Mroad]

Search for S50 or S54 unless you want a load of American results that will be incorrect for what you want to do (different engine). The S52 was not available in Europe, we got the S50B30 (3.0litre) and S50B32 (3.2litre Evo), the S52B32 was an updated M52 and is not the same as the Euro engines, it only produces around 240bhp.

[Cactussed]

Skip the hassle and just buy this.

http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/1234580.htm

Edited by Cactussed on Thursday 10th September 09:53

[rassi]

Cactussed said:

Skip the hassle and just buy this.

http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/1234580.htm

Edited by Cactussed on Thursday 10th September 09:53

Now, that is just bonkers! But great skills to make it work, and the BIG shoehorn has obviously been applied to make that V12 lump fit!

[mat205125]

Cactussed said:

Skip the hassle and just buy this.

http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/1234580.htm

Edited by Cactussed on Thursday 10th September 09:53

The Ad said:

.... line lock ....

[Mroad]

Cactussed said:

Skip the hassle and just buy this.

http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/1234580.htm

Edited by Cactussed on Thursday 10th September 09:53

Now that I like, whack standard BBS's on, very nice sleeper.

[Dino D]

I wonder what the V12 e30 sounds like???

[bones33]

google is your friend

http://videos.streetfire.net/video/Bmw-e30-v12-twi...

[The Lukas]

Mroad said:

Search for S50 or S54 unless you want a load of American results that will be incorrect for what you want to do (different engine). The S52 was not available in Europe, we got the S50B30 (3.0litre) and S50B32 (3.2litre Evo), the S52B32 was an updated M52 and is not the same as the Euro engines, it only produces around 240bhp.

Cheers for that! Is the S54 from the E46 M3? That's always another option and I've heard they are a stronger engine which would take forced induction better.

[The Lukas]

rassi said:

Cactussed said:

Skip the hassle and just buy this.

http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/1234580.htm

Edited by Cactussed on Thursday 10th September 09:53

Now, that is just bonkers! But great skills to make it work, and the BIG shoehorn has obviously been applied to make that V12 lump fit!

Woooow that is very cool. Surly 340bhp is a starting point. Incredible.

My concern would be excessive weight over the front end which is why I would use an M3 engine over a V12. A BMW V8 (S65...they are lighter than the S54 whilst being shorter) with a huge amount of power would be very interesting.

Edited by The Lukas on Thursday 10th September 17:47

[Mroad]

The S54 was indeed the E46 M3 engine and some were installed in the last of the line Z3M's.
As for being stronger, I can't comment other than I heard the early ones were prone to spinning a shell if not looked after, later ones were OK. Certainly the VANOS was more reliable on the S54.
Also you could go for an S38 (E34 M5). With a turbo over 1000bhp is possible (again search youtube, http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3qfwPgvqgOc )...it would be wallet stretching though so not an ideal choice!
Straight 6 3.5 litres have been done loads of times in the E30, try a search of www.E30zone.co.uk

[falkster]

S54 maybe a bit extreme for an E30, I am too thinking about something similar for a project next year (s54 in a compact).

Why not just go for an s50 B32, not a great deal difference apart from the vanos worry (not really a concern)

[tdm34ds]

ERM!!!!!!.....................

http://www.m5board.com/vbulletin/e90-m3-sedan-e92-...