Skip to content
  • Categories
  • Recent
  • Tags
  • Popular
  • Users
  • Groups
Skins
  • Light
  • Brite
  • Cerulean
  • Cosmo
  • Flatly
  • Journal
  • Litera
  • Lumen
  • Lux
  • Materia
  • Minty
  • Morph
  • Pulse
  • Sandstone
  • Simplex
  • Sketchy
  • Spacelab
  • United
  • Yeti
  • Zephyr
  • Dark
  • Cyborg
  • Darkly
  • Quartz
  • Slate
  • Solar
  • Superhero
  • Vapor

  • Default (No Skin)
  • No Skin
Collapse
WIBIMMERS logo

WIBIMMERS

  1. Home
  2. General Discussion
  3. Members BMWs
  4. M20 Turbo => M50 turbo fun.

M20 Turbo => M50 turbo fun.

Scheduled Pinned Locked Moved Members BMWs
561 Posts 19 Posters 0 Views 1 Watching
  • Oldest to Newest
  • Newest to Oldest
  • Most Votes
Reply
  • Reply as topic
Log in to reply
This topic has been deleted. Only users with topic management privileges can see it.
  • B
    B
    B C
    wrote on last edited by
    #99

    Your logic is definitely sound.

    It would be silly to try and say the M20 is a better engine than the M50 but I think the point at which my jimmies become rustled is when someone has an M20 in a poor state of tune (see also too cheap to hunt down vac. leaks and replace old parts) swaps in a junkyard M50 and pretends the M20 was a total un-fixable pile and the M50 is a rocketship, when in reality, a tune up would have likely yielded the same performance increase.

    One thing to keep in mind about the M20, is that in NA form, it was a very highly optimized engine for its day. The LS1 is praised for being such an optimized engine with only 2 valves per cylinder, but when you do the math, the M20 has a specific output very close or equal to that of the LS1 (depending on the version of LS1) and that is with an archaic EFI system and relatively low compression ratio. Being reasonably optimized means that there is not a whole lot to gain unlike a 350 chev with 190 hp which gains 100hp with a carb, manifolds, and a cam.

    So yes, the M50 is a more advanced engine, has more area under the torque curve, is more refined, and capable of making more power with less sacrifice down low, but the M20 aint a bad gig either, especially when the cost of replacement is so low, especially when your snail-obsession gets out of hand.

    1 Reply Last reply
    0
    • R
      R
      Rowleym
      wrote on last edited by
      #100

      Thanks for the input. If you were me, would you do the swap? I want to be drifting with this car, and also track days. Around 350whp or 400bhp. Trying to keep it semi reliable.

      96.jpg96.jpg96.jpg96.jpg

      sk8 or die

      1 Reply Last reply
      0
      • B
        B
        B C
        wrote on last edited by
        #101

        if you are like this guy and know what you are doing

        you could have yourself a reliable turbo m20 with little lag that screams on the track.

        A turbo M50 will make a little more power with less boost than an M20 and might be the better choice if you want to keep the internals stock.

        If it were me I would probably do the M20 just because I feel that if the heat of the turbo caused a cracked head or if the bottom end blew out, another healthy M20 engine could be dropped in for hardly anything.

        1 Reply Last reply
        0
        • YoungCRY
          YoungCRY
          YoungCR
          wrote on last edited by
          #102

          badass!

          Chris Young
          BMWCCA #458972
          1986 528e/5  | 1994 530i/5 | 1995 540i/6 | 2013 X5 35d | 1998 C1500 Suburban | 1995 K2500 Suburban

          1 Reply Last reply
          0
          • R
            R
            Rowleym
            wrote on last edited by
            #103

            Aaah. So I have to pay 800$ for my sisters laptop to be fixed. I really need some persuasion. Is there any stock piston/rod/crank setup that would get me some damn low cr? Like around 7? Still might go m50 but I don't know yet.

            96.jpg96.jpg96.jpg96.jpg

            sk8 or die

            1 Reply Last reply
            0
            • Brian.B
              Brian.B
              Brian.
              wrote on last edited by
              #104

              That blow off valve in the video, sounds queer as fuck.

              @ Mitch, good job dipshit! I might be up next week. I'll keep you posted.

              instagram @howdoyoudrivethat

              1 Reply Last reply
              0
              • R
                R
                Rowleym
                wrote on last edited by
                #105

                Little update. Bought a m50nv. 130k on it supposedly. Need to track down an oil pan and stuff. Also sold my hx35 to GunMetalGrey, and he gave me a swap brace. Pretty excited. Cool dude.

                96.jpg96.jpg96.jpg96.jpg

                sk8 or die

                1 Reply Last reply
                0
                • GunMetalGreyG
                  GunMetalGreyG
                  GunMetalGrey
                  wrote on last edited by
                  #106

                  I never even caught your name!

                  Sent from the future. Or my phone, who knows.

                  ...

                  1 Reply Last reply
                  0
                  • YoungCRY
                    YoungCRY
                    YoungCR
                    wrote on last edited by
                    #107

                    so whats the plan now? Between you and Ben its hard to keep track! Y'all change motor ideas every other day :P

                    Chris Young
                    BMWCCA #458972
                    1986 528e/5  | 1994 530i/5 | 1995 540i/6 | 2013 X5 35d | 1998 C1500 Suburban | 1995 K2500 Suburban

                    1 Reply Last reply
                    0
                    • GunMetalGreyG
                      GunMetalGreyG
                      GunMetalGrey
                      wrote on last edited by
                      #108

                      Lol, I don't know if that was a good thing or bad!

                      I'm set on the m50 turbo now, so have no fear!

                      Sent from the future. Or my phone, who knows.

                      ...

                      1 Reply Last reply
                      0
                      • N
                        N
                        Nick_08
                        wrote on last edited by
                        #109

                        I'm a little late on this post but, a stock m20 with stock head gasket, ARP's, stock intake manifold, and hx35 12cm will easily give you 400+ whp (with a good tune)...

                        It's proven to handle 1 bar (350whp) all day long.

                        If you grenade it, no big deal.

                        Also, TB size doesn't really matter when FI. Most either o-ring or weld, m20's weak point is the head gasket pushing out into the coolant channel. Specifically cylinder #6 (hottest). Unless you plan on detonating, you wont get far.

                        GL with your new m50.

                        1 Reply Last reply
                        0
                        • GunMetalGreyG
                          GunMetalGreyG
                          GunMetalGrey
                          wrote on last edited by
                          #110

                          M20 on a stock head gasket will not make 400HP, nor will one without built internals, they take a little bit of boost alright but they don't make much power per lb of boost.

                          Sent from the future. Or my phone, who knows.

                          ...

                          1 Reply Last reply
                          0
                          • Ryan...R
                            Ryan...R
                            Ryan...
                            wrote on last edited by
                            #111

                            If he's got the same car as I last remember, Nick's been running a boosted M20 for some years now. I dont remember the details anymore, but I almost bought a kit off him in like 08 for my bronzit sedan :D

                            2021 Gladiator Willys -- 6 speed manual, 33" Falken AT, 3/4" level

                            2021 Low Rider S -- Stage 2, 117hp/128ft lbs

                            1 Reply Last reply
                            0
                            • N
                              N
                              Nick_08
                              wrote on last edited by
                              #112

                              GunMetalGrey said:

                              M20 on a stock head gasket will not make 400HP, nor will one without built internals, they take a little bit of boost alright but they don't make much power per lb of boost.

                              Sent from the future. Or my phone, who knows.

                              Not trying to thread jack OP I'm also not sure if it's against the rules to link another forum but here goes...

                              Here is just one instance. I know he isn't using the stock head gasket but he is using shitty MB head bolts AND stock internals...93 octane.

                              Stock motor w/ 208k miles.

                              head was rebuilt @ 185k (valve job minor port cleanup stock cam/springs)

                              Metrick Blue bolts and Cometic MLS

                              boosted for over 20k.

                              437whp/380ftlbs on 20psi

                              http://www.e30tech.com/forum/showthread.php?t=112167

                              This thread has a couple turbocharged m20's (with dyno charts) slightly different setups. A lot of them have stock m20's pushing 400whp easily.

                              http://www.e30tech.com/forum/showthread.php?t=113066&highlight=m20+turbo+dyno&page=2

                              It's been done and proven...

                              Again OP, GL with your build.

                              1 Reply Last reply
                              0
                              • YoungCRY
                                YoungCRY
                                YoungCR
                                wrote on last edited by
                                #113

                                Nick_08 said:

                                Not trying to thread jack OP I'm also not sure if it's against the rules to link another forum but here goes...

                                Rules? What rules? :rolleyes: We're all about spreading the knowledge, thanks for sharing the links. Those are impressive numbers. Would like to see some videos of those cars in action.

                                Chris Young
                                BMWCCA #458972
                                1986 528e/5  | 1994 530i/5 | 1995 540i/6 | 2013 X5 35d | 1998 C1500 Suburban | 1995 K2500 Suburban

                                1 Reply Last reply
                                0
                                • N
                                  N
                                  Nick_08
                                  wrote on last edited by
                                  #114

                                  M20B27eta said:

                                  Rules? What rules? :rolleyes: We're all about spreading the knowledge, thanks for sharing the links. Those are impressive numbers. Would like to see some videos of those cars in action.

                                  If you read BobRoss' thread he has plenty of dyno and street kill vids ;). Here: http://www.e30tech.com/forum/showpost.php?p=1307822&postcount=65

                                  1 Reply Last reply
                                  0
                                  • Brian.B
                                    Brian.B
                                    Brian.
                                    wrote on last edited by
                                    #115

                                    http://youtu.be/KU3hKNWCy8c

                                    M30 turbo>M20. Just saying. I know you got your M50 with big penor power. But either way.

                                    instagram @howdoyoudrivethat

                                    1 Reply Last reply
                                    0
                                    • YoungCRY
                                      YoungCRY
                                      YoungCR
                                      wrote on last edited by
                                      #116

                                      Brian said:

                                      http://youtu.be/KU3hKNWCy8c

                                      M30 turbo>M20. Just saying. I know you got your M50 with big penor power. But either way.

                                      Dat shit cray

                                      Chris Young
                                      BMWCCA #458972
                                      1986 528e/5  | 1994 530i/5 | 1995 540i/6 | 2013 X5 35d | 1998 C1500 Suburban | 1995 K2500 Suburban

                                      1 Reply Last reply
                                      0
                                      • Brian.B
                                        Brian.B
                                        Brian.
                                        wrote on last edited by
                                        #117

                                        That m30 fuckin rips. And sounds amazing

                                        instagram @howdoyoudrivethat

                                        1 Reply Last reply
                                        0
                                        • R
                                          R
                                          Rowleym
                                          wrote on last edited by
                                          #118

                                          Im totally not against m20's in anyway, and I'm totally open to constructive thread jacking. Thanks funny. I had an hx35 12cm and literally everything else to turbo my m20, but for some reason, I went m50. I think basically because for the future, I want to be making big power, and I think that the m50nv is a pretty good base to start? I also like higher revving engines. Welding my head+Oring was over 400$ at my machine shop. Not only that, but I had to pull the engine anyway, so why not buy an m50 for 300$? All i have to do is arps, and mls for a decent 400. I dont know. I'm not saying anyone was right or wrong.

                                          96.jpg96.jpg96.jpg96.jpg

                                          sk8 or die

                                          1 Reply Last reply
                                          0

                                          Hello! It looks like you're interested in this conversation, but you don't have an account yet.

                                          Getting fed up of having to scroll through the same posts each visit? When you register for an account, you'll always come back to exactly where you were before, and choose to be notified of new replies (either via email, or push notification). You'll also be able to save bookmarks and upvote posts to show your appreciation to other community members.

                                          With your input, this post could be even better 💗

                                          Register Login
                                          Reply
                                          • Reply as topic
                                          Log in to reply
                                          • Oldest to Newest
                                          • Newest to Oldest
                                          • Most Votes


                                          • Login

                                          • Don't have an account? Register

                                          • Login or register to search.
                                          Powered by NodeBB Contributors
                                          • First post
                                            Last post
                                          0
                                          • Categories
                                          • Recent
                                          • Tags
                                          • Popular
                                          • Users
                                          • Groups