swapping a m30b35 into a 525i m50

[rob101]

hello everyone,

I was wondering what the difficulty would be in swapping a 535i engine into a 525i 1992 I believe the manual transmission will be the same. Probably have to get new ecu and mounts but apart from that is there much to this swap? the other possibility would be an M52 swap.... but i'd expect the m30 would be more reliable, simplier to swap and more economical (don't have to run premium unleaded).

[liquidtiger720]

pointless. the m30 isnt any better than the m50 really, especially if you are going to put that much time and money doing a swap. you minus well do a s50 engine which would bolt right on. you'd just have to change the ecu afaik.

[kyleN20]

really, whats the point, you blow yer engine?

[rob101]

really, whats the point, you blow yer engine?

m50 W/O Vanos is a gutless wonder as well as not being very robust... no i haven't blown my engine but i don't know if i could be stuffed getting a rebuild on an M50........ that said i am only considering the options at this point. You don't know if you don't ask.

[pyro]

id do an s50 swap Thats what im hopeing to do this summer

[liquidtiger720]

m50 W/O Vanos is a gutless wonder as well as not being very robust... no i haven't blown my engine but i don't know if i could be stuffed getting a rebuild on an M50........ that said i am only considering the options at this point. You don't know if you don't ask.

gutless wonder?

tell that to Jon K. the m50 non t/u has more potential than the m50t/u. I'm wishing I had a non-tu right now so I can SC it.

why don't you do that? SC the bitch and be done.

[calmloki]

Well - from a while back - this is a really pretty swap + 5 speed conversion:

http://www.bimmer.info/forum/showthread.php?t=17371

[rob101]

what is the S50 out of? M3 or M5?

[Scott H]

it is possible, and relatively straightforward. I'll have a write-up soon. I didn't get as much done on the website during my plane rides as I thought.

You would need the engine (with wiring harness and ecu), tranny, and driveshaft.........

With M52/S52 you are getting in to OBDII and will have a harder time....this is why people suggest the S50 from a 1995 M3.

There's always more to a project like this than you think.

hello everyone,

I was wondering what the difficulty would be in swapping a 535i engine into a 525i 1992 I believe the manual transmission will be the same. Probably have to get new ecu and mounts but apart from that is there much to this swap? the other possibility would be an M52 swap.... but i'd expect the m30 would be more reliable, simplier to swap and more economical (don't have to run premium unleaded).

[winfred]

in the us the 95 m3 was the only year of the s50, only slightly more work to do a s52 (which came in all of the later cars, not sure where you are but there may be more options) and just use your intake and wind up with more power, you'd be using your harness anyway just drill and tap for the 2nd temp sensor in the head, the boss is there. a m30 won't work with the m50 tranny as it's a different pattern, a m3 motor would be easyer as all you need is the longblock and you put all of your brackets/accessorys/manifolds on it

what is the S50 out of? M3 or M5?