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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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  • 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.

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      0
      • 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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          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

              1 Reply Last reply
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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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                0
                • 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

                        1 Reply Last reply
                        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

                          1 Reply Last reply
                          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.

                            1 Reply Last reply
                            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

                              1 Reply Last reply
                              1
                              • 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
                                  📷 Follow me on Instagram: instagram.com/jakespence
                                  🏁 Shop BMW merchandise: bimmerstreet.com

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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

                                    1 Reply Last reply
                                    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

                                      1 Reply Last reply
                                      0
                                      • 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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                                        0
                                        • jc43089J
                                          jc43089J
                                          jc43089
                                          wrote on last edited by
                                          #34

                                          It is convenient that the heads are no different between m5x and s5x.  So by swapping cams you have the full thing rather than still being limited by smaller ports or other differences.

                                          Just an FYI early (OBD1) heads have different cam trays and lifters that don't fit the late cams that have the extra balancing material between the lobes.  The profiles are the same between OBD1 and OBD2 but the OBD2 cams are thicker.  Just a heads up, it looks like you aren't considering an M50 anyway but just in case.

                                          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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