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  4. M52 or S52 in an E30

M52 or S52 in an E30

Scheduled Pinned Locked Moved General Technical
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  • B
    B
    B C
    wrote on last edited by
    #14

    Makes me wonder how many M52 cars with S52 cams have been sold as S52 cars and how many S52 engines have been sold with M52 cams. Are there any markings on the block?'id thin there would have to be a stamp

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    • KaiserRollsK
      KaiserRollsK
      KaiserRolls
      wrote on last edited by
      #15

      Snap said:

      Makes me wonder how many M52 cars with S52 cams have been sold as S52 cars and how many S52 engines have been sold with M52 cams. Are there any markings on the block?'id thin there would have to be a stamp

      Yes and no. Heads I believe are all casted the same (?)

      Block should have markings

      If not the vin is a give away "WBSxxxx" is ///M and "WBAxxxx" is non ///M iirc

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      • jc43089J
        jc43089J
        jc43089
        wrote on last edited by
        #16

        Sticker on the back of the head. The same castings for both heads.

        Sent from my 831C using Tapatalk

        2/94 325i Sedan, Arctic Gray: UUC LTW FW, EVO 3 and DSSR, +.020 Maxsil pistons, ASC delete, Eibach shocks/springs, 16" contour reps 238k
        3/93 325i Coupe, Schwarz 2, Sketchy stance action, ebay turbo, 300k
        '89 325i Vert, Alpine White: 5spd swapped, sold.

        '04 Toyota Sienna: 24V to 24V swap in progress

        '05 Volvo V70R, 6spd.  200k
        '85 Toyota LandCruiser: Lifted, gas hog. 205k
        '99 Nissan Maxima: 5spd, Rusty but trusty winter beater. 252k RIP.

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        • KaiserRollsK
          KaiserRollsK
          KaiserRolls
          wrote on last edited by
          #17

          jc43089 said:

          Sticker on the back of the head. The same castings for both heads.

          Sent from my 831C using Tapatalk

          This, my tag came off when I had the head hot tanked

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          0
          • D
            D
            Daggerty
            wrote on last edited by
            #18

            KaiserRolls said:

            This, my tag came off when I had the head hot tanked

            So it's a S motor then

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            • KaiserRollsK
              KaiserRollsK
              KaiserRolls
              wrote on last edited by
              #19

              Daggerty said:

              KaiserRolls said:

              This, my tag came off when I had the head hot tanked

              So it's a S motor then

              Yes, mines an s50

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              • EarlE
                EarlE
                Earl
                wrote on last edited by
                #20

                Could buy this and then sell the chassis: https://minneapolis.craigslist.org/hnp/cto/6129059575.html

                museum sig 2earl.jpg

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                • Bassboy3313B
                  Bassboy3313B
                  Bassboy3313
                  wrote on last edited by
                  #21

                  "M3 engine" in the title and yet STILL no engine bay pics. People confuse the shit out of me

                  CHECK OUT >>> RAGE DRIFT DESIGNS <<< FOR DECALS AND MORE!

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                  • B
                    B
                    B C
                    wrote on last edited by
                    #22

                    Thats a nice find, Earl

                    Ive made offers on 2 cheap M3s but the sellers are holding them for other buyers.

                    My friend in high school was told his E30 325is had "an M engine" when he bought it, hopefully this seller isnt also that mental

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                    • EarlE
                      EarlE
                      Earl
                      wrote on last edited by
                      #23

                      Bassboy3313 said:

                      "M3 engine" in the title and yet STILL no engine bay pics. People confuse the shit out of me

                      a picture of an ///M Power beauty cover still doesn't mean it is 100% s5x 😄

                      museum sig 2earl.jpg

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                      • Bassboy3313B
                        Bassboy3313B
                        Bassboy3313
                        wrote on last edited by
                        #24

                        True. Doesn't change the fact every sale ad should include an engine pic. Especially if you mention it in the title.

                        Sent from my SM-G930R4 using Tapatalk

                        CHECK OUT >>> RAGE DRIFT DESIGNS <<< FOR DECALS AND MORE!

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                        1
                        • EarlE
                          EarlE
                          Earl
                          wrote on last edited by
                          #25

                          Also true=)

                          museum sig 2earl.jpg

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                          0
                          • m42b32M
                            m42b32M
                            m42b32
                            wrote on last edited by
                            #26

                            I have never driven a swapped car so I can't comment on that part of it, but I think there is value in "doing it once" and getting the S52 right off the bat as they are only going to get more expensive. No matter what you do with the M52 it will always be a little bit short of the S52 (unless you do an M54 rotating assembly), so if your goal is maximizing performance from an NA 24v, might as well get the S52 now versus wanting one later. If you can find a wrecked M3 for a reasonable price and have the time/space to take it apart, you can keep the S52/zf combo, part out the rest and end up with a decent deal on a motor/trans.

                            1991 318is, 1991 318i, 2022 Bronco

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                            0
                            • B
                              B
                              B C
                              wrote on last edited by
                              #27

                              I was honestly expecting more M52 votes. Extremely valid point about doing it right ONCE, which actually goes both ways. I could do an M52 swap right by refreshing everything and be able to get it together and driving this summer. To do the same for an S52 I may have to save my pennies and shoot for completion next year.

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                              0
                              • straight6pwrS
                                straight6pwrS
                                straight6pwr
                                wrote on last edited by
                                #28

                                Snap said:

                                I was honestly expecting more M52 votes. Extremely valid point about doing it right ONCE, which actually goes both ways. I could do an M52 swap right by refreshing everything and be able to get it together and driving this summer. To do the same for an S52 I may have to save my pennies and shoot for completion next year.

                                buy the motor, stuff it in, than worry about fixing stuff/refreshing later. the point is to drive these cars, right? or am i doing it wrong?

                                you won't have done any extra work this way. youll just have the pull the motor one time in the future for your refresh.

                                Dan
                                yajsYRL.jpg.e5f350b4dfe961d76ac8b32efce2e1a6.jpg

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                                • Bassboy3313B
                                  Bassboy3313B
                                  Bassboy3313
                                  wrote on last edited by
                                  #29

                                  The time aspect is what you have to think about if you are just gonna throw an engine in and worry about it later. You may not have the time to work on it later, but have the time to do it correctly right now and get it over with. That's just my thought.

                                  CHECK OUT >>> RAGE DRIFT DESIGNS <<< FOR DECALS AND MORE!

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                                  1
                                  • suspencefulS
                                    suspencefulS
                                    suspenceful
                                    wrote on last edited by
                                    #30

                                    straight6pwr said:

                                    the point is to drive these cars, right? or am i doing it wrong?

                                    Clearly you don't understand the WIBimmers crowd. Most members actually prefer a non-running BMW that is constantly being worked on.

                                    🎬 YouTube channel (60K+ subs): youtube.com/jakespence135
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                                    4
                                    • retoropakR
                                      retoropakR
                                      retoropak
                                      wrote on last edited by
                                      #31

                                      Stroke m52 to 3.0 with the m54 rotating assembly. That way you can refresh the m52 with new bearings and gaskets and still be cheaper than s52.

                                      It just happened that i have m52 i that don't need[emoji39]

                                      Or m50nv stroked to 3.0 with m54 bits and run crazy cam and itbs. Oh i just realized that i have n50nv too that i might get rid off [emoji848][emoji6]

                                      Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

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                                      0
                                      • B
                                        B
                                        B C
                                        wrote on last edited by
                                        #32

                                        Stock E36 328i (M52) baseline vs. same car with M50 manifold, S52 cams, tune, air filter, intake elbow, asc delete, stock exhaust

                                        23b565cf23b0f00ccb3298b9643b30a8.png

                                        Add headers and exhaust for additional gains.

                                        The hp/$ quotient is strong

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                                        • EarlE
                                          EarlE
                                          Earl
                                          wrote on last edited by
                                          #33

                                          Oh man...you have me thinking bad thoughts now

                                          That's over a grand for 40hp though=(

                                          museum sig 2earl.jpg

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