**** Load Of Questions
- Thread starter equate
- Start date
M50 is the original 2.5 liter dohc 24v inline six that debuted in the US in the 1991 525i and 1992 325i. It also can refer to the many engines that are a part of this family.
Single vanos (intake) came to the M50 in 1993, and double vanos arrived later (I forget when, not earlier than 95 or 96).
Vanos, for all of you VTEC hating folks out there, is BMW's version of Variable valve Timing and Electronic lift Control, i.e. VTEC.
From the M50 came the S50 US 3.0 liter M3 engine (240 hp, 225 ft/lbs) in the 1995 US M3. (European engines were more like the current M3 engine, with individual throttle bodies for each cylinder)
Interestingly, the S52 3.2 liter M3 engine (96-99, 240 hp, 236 ft/lbs) also comes from the 2.5 liter M50, which has an iron block as opposed to the later M52 2.8 liter's aluminum block.
The basic M50 is 189 hp., 181 ft/lbs. Easily tuneable for 210-220 and similar torque at the crank, in a 3100 pound car. Take a later 2.8, which only has 190 hp, but 207 ft/lbs, and change the OBDII emissions system to OBDI and you basically have the equivalent of a 95 M3 engine.
OBDII was a killer, and they had to add displacement to stay at 240hp in the case of the M3 and 190 hp. in the case of the 325/328. They got more torque for their trouble, but OBDI is much easier to tune.
Happy hunting.
Now my problem is holding out another couple years before I buy another BMW. (Or, if things go well maybe I won't have to![[;)]](/images/smilies/wink.png "Wink [;)]")
) Those E36 M3s keep falling. In a couple years, IF the market does not stabilize, a decent 80-100k mile example is going to be $10k. That is hard to pass up.
I went and looked at a 2000 M5 yesterday. Avus blau. Don't know what I'd do about the TL lease or winter driving, but I guess I could manage.![[:D]](/images/smilies/biggrin.png "Big Grin [:D]")
![[?|]](/images/smilies/icon_smile_banghead.gif "Bang Head [?|]")
Single vanos (intake) came to the M50 in 1993, and double vanos arrived later (I forget when, not earlier than 95 or 96).
Vanos, for all of you VTEC hating folks out there, is BMW's version of Variable valve Timing and Electronic lift Control, i.e. VTEC.
From the M50 came the S50 US 3.0 liter M3 engine (240 hp, 225 ft/lbs) in the 1995 US M3. (European engines were more like the current M3 engine, with individual throttle bodies for each cylinder)
Interestingly, the S52 3.2 liter M3 engine (96-99, 240 hp, 236 ft/lbs) also comes from the 2.5 liter M50, which has an iron block as opposed to the later M52 2.8 liter's aluminum block.
The basic M50 is 189 hp., 181 ft/lbs. Easily tuneable for 210-220 and similar torque at the crank, in a 3100 pound car. Take a later 2.8, which only has 190 hp, but 207 ft/lbs, and change the OBDII emissions system to OBDI and you basically have the equivalent of a 95 M3 engine.
OBDII was a killer, and they had to add displacement to stay at 240hp in the case of the M3 and 190 hp. in the case of the 325/328. They got more torque for their trouble, but OBDI is much easier to tune.
Happy hunting.
Now my problem is holding out another couple years before I buy another BMW. (Or, if things go well maybe I won't have to
) Those E36 M3s keep falling. In a couple years, IF the market does not stabilize, a decent 80-100k mile example is going to be $10k. That is hard to pass up. I went and looked at a 2000 M5 yesterday. Avus blau. Don't know what I'd do about the TL lease or winter driving, but I guess I could manage.
Here is a website for a guy who did an M30 AFM conversion on a M20 engine. I am going to go this route because I am going to stick with the M20 engine. Parts are a lot more expensive for the M50, atleast from what I have seen. Plus I think the M20 is going to give me all the power I am ever going to want, since I just drive on the street.
http://www.davelength.net/
You will have to look around that site a little bit and find the AFM conversion. Its on there though. He even has some dyno specs, just to prove that the bigger AFM and bigger injectors do help.
I dont know where you have seen the $900 kit but if you watch ebay or go to a salvage yard you can find a M30 AFM for cheap. Then all you have to do is swap the circuit board from your 325 AFM to the M30 AFM. I have seen a Mass Air Sensor kit for $900 from BMPD. A MAS will of course flow more air but its expensive. Again this is what I am going to do, I allready have an extra m20 AFM that works. I figure with injectors and a cone filter that this conversion is going to cost me no more then $300, probably less.
VANOS is variable valve timing, its the system BMW design in like 1992 or something. It does the same thing as Honda's VTEC. I do not know how it works exactly but if you look around teh web you will find it. VANOS sounds really cool but I am not rich enough yet to get an engine with one. I will stick with my M20.
Later
http://www.davelength.net/
You will have to look around that site a little bit and find the AFM conversion. Its on there though. He even has some dyno specs, just to prove that the bigger AFM and bigger injectors do help.
I dont know where you have seen the $900 kit but if you watch ebay or go to a salvage yard you can find a M30 AFM for cheap. Then all you have to do is swap the circuit board from your 325 AFM to the M30 AFM. I have seen a Mass Air Sensor kit for $900 from BMPD. A MAS will of course flow more air but its expensive. Again this is what I am going to do, I allready have an extra m20 AFM that works. I figure with injectors and a cone filter that this conversion is going to cost me no more then $300, probably less.
VANOS is variable valve timing, its the system BMW design in like 1992 or something. It does the same thing as Honda's VTEC. I do not know how it works exactly but if you look around teh web you will find it. VANOS sounds really cool but I am not rich enough yet to get an engine with one. I will stick with my M20.
Later
Two things:
1. The 2.8 is not an M50, but an M52. Different block (aluminum) but otherwise very similar.
2. All of the 2.8s in the US are OBDII. I believe they can all be converted to OBDII, but there may be a cut off for later cars or certain models may be easier than others. If you are going to do an engine swap you need to speak to someone about this and all of the other issues.
www.bmpd.com has a CD on the conversion (M50, but M52 would be essentially the same). I don't know the part #, but I think you can find it in their catalog or by contacting them.
You can also search this and other sites, as an M50 swap is not that uncommon. If you go to www.bimmerforums.com/forum you can find several people that have M50s in their E30s, and probably on this site as well.
1. The 2.8 is not an M50, but an M52. Different block (aluminum) but otherwise very similar.
2. All of the 2.8s in the US are OBDII. I believe they can all be converted to OBDII, but there may be a cut off for later cars or certain models may be easier than others. If you are going to do an engine swap you need to speak to someone about this and all of the other issues.
www.bmpd.com has a CD on the conversion (M50, but M52 would be essentially the same). I don't know the part #, but I think you can find it in their catalog or by contacting them.
You can also search this and other sites, as an M50 swap is not that uncommon. If you go to www.bimmerforums.com/forum you can find several people that have M50s in their E30s, and probably on this site as well.
No. Its an S52 with an iron block, like all of the US E36 M3 engines. The US M3 engine is basically a stroker M50, as they enlarged the bore and substantially increased the stroke to raise it to 3.0 and later 3.2 liters.
From the exterior, the only visual difference between an M50 and an S50/52 is the M Power Valve Cover, which an be purchased for less than $100.
The M52 has an aluminum block and is the 2.8 in the E36 3/528s/Z3 2.8 and the 2.5 in the later vintage E36 323s/Z3 2.3 (BMW's typo).
M52TUs are in the early E46 323 and 328. The switch to the 325i/330i in 2001 is the start of the M54 series of engines.
From the exterior, the only visual difference between an M50 and an S50/52 is the M Power Valve Cover, which an be purchased for less than $100.
The M52 has an aluminum block and is the 2.8 in the E36 3/528s/Z3 2.8 and the 2.5 in the later vintage E36 323s/Z3 2.3 (BMW's typo).
M52TUs are in the early E46 323 and 328. The switch to the 325i/330i in 2001 is the start of the M54 series of engines.
Howdy Yall,
BMW Performance is a great mag i think.
Its comes from the UK. Its sold in the states.
http://www.performancebmwmag.com/
There is also BMW Scene Live, Eurotuner, and BMW Tuning.
I dont think they sell BMW Tuning in states. Only Europe.
BMW Performance is a great mag i think.
Its comes from the UK. Its sold in the states.
http://www.performancebmwmag.com/
There is also BMW Scene Live, Eurotuner, and BMW Tuning.
I dont think they sell BMW Tuning in states. Only Europe.