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  4. M52 or S52 in an E30

M52 or S52 in an E30

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  • straight6pwrS
    straight6pwrS
    straight6pwr
    wrote on last edited by
    #9

    suspenceful said:

    I know nothing about E30s or their market with non-factory motors in them.

    $1000+ for a measly 20whp is not money well spent in my opinion.

    PS: Put an N54 in it.

    however, his car will be worth at least $1000 more in the end, if not double that. (if that is an important factor to him)

    Dan
    yajsYRL.jpg.e5f350b4dfe961d76ac8b32efce2e1a6.jpg

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    0
    • i_love_carsI
      i_love_carsI
      i_love_cars
      wrote on last edited by
      #10

      straight6pwr said:

      however, his car will be worth at least $1000 more in the end, if not double that. (if that is an important factor to him)

      exactly. 

      S52 is the way to go especially if a parts car with engine, harness, and trans can be sourced - they usually don't go for more than $3k which is well worth it. 

      suspenceful said:

      I know nothing about E30s or their market with non-factory motors in them.

      $1000+ for a measly 20whp is not money well spent in my opinion.

      PS: Put an N54 in it.

      $1000+ for 20 whp is not money well spent to you because you're used to turbo cars where 75 hp can be gained with a tune =P  In the world of 200hp NA motors, 20 whp is a lot especially across the entire power band.

      IMG6593.jpg

      2011 E92 M3 6MT ZCP - ESS 625 supercharged
      2007 Z4MR 
      2003 E39 M5
      2002 E46 M3
      2021 X5 40i

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      • RobZRR
        RobZRR
        RobZR
        wrote on last edited by
        #11

        No replacement for displacement!!!!

        Any S-motor is an upgrade in the eyes of an E30 buyer. 

        For FI the M52 is a better choice leaving $ in the budget for a spare.

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        • KaiserRollsK
          KaiserRollsK
          KaiserRolls
          wrote on last edited by
          #12

          I vote s5x, or at least an m52 with M power valve covers

          1 Reply Last reply
          1
          • jc43089J
            jc43089J
            jc43089
            wrote on last edited by
            #13

            I have an M cover for you!!  I couldn't be "that guy" and leave it on my m50.

            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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            1
            • 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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                0
                • 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.

                  1 Reply Last reply
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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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                    • 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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                      0
                      • 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

                        1 Reply Last reply
                        0
                        • 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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                                    • 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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                                      • 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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                                        • 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

                                          1 Reply Last reply
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