Grand Master
S38 into Non M5? Best candidate?
I seem to be having a hard time finding information on cars that have had this swap performed on them. Is it possible to swap an S38 into a non-M E34? (I'm assuming a post '95' engine, because of EWS issues)
If so, which car would make the best candidate?
EuroLux:. Private Detail
E34 1/'89 ///M20 2.5i: Lachsilber
Super Moderator
Grand Master
Why the heck is the 8 series so heavy, though? It's over 4000lbs!
E31
840i (1,890 kg) 4,167 lb
850i (1,945 kg) 4,288 lb
Compared to...
e34
525i (couldn't find) 189hp
530i (1,655) 3,650 lb 215hp
535i (1,619) 3,570 lb 208hp
540i (1,710) 3,770 lb 282hp
M5 (1,718) 3,788 lb 310hp
EuroLux:. Private Detail
E34 1/'89 ///M20 2.5i: Lachsilber
Grand Master
Any US model S38 you're going to find isn't going to have any EWS since the last S38 equipped car sold in the US was the '93 M5.
I'd imagine the 535 would be easiest to drop the S38 into. Though it shouldn't be much different doing it with a 525. The 530 & 540 would be more of a pain due to the rather different layout of the V8 engine bay.
Why not just get a nice 540/6? It'd cost less to buy a 540/6 than it would just to buy a good S38B36. And you're going to need more than just an S38 to do a conversion. Not to mention a good running M60B40 will keep pace with an S38B36 when being driven under 100, and keep slightly ahead of the S38 under 60.
The 540/6 will give you better MPG than the S38 will. And parts are insanely cheaper for an M60 than an S38. The S38 also requires much more attention than the M60 does. I do love the sound of the S38. But the lack of any power under 4,500RPM on the S38, expense, etc. of the S38 make it very hard for me to find any good reason to throw an S38 into a non M5 E34. I say this all from having driven & worked on both a '93 M5 & a '95 540 M-Sport.
Now if you found a free S38 that didn't need a rebuild (those run in the $8k-$12k range) and found a nice 535 for a grand or two then I can see going ahead with a swap.
Cosmos Black/Black 1995 540iA M-Sport
BMW Individual Exclusive Edition, 1 of 65 total, 9/25/95 Build
Grand Master
I am planning on buying a 540i/6, actually, but thanks for the info, mom.
EuroLux:. Private Detail
E34 1/'89 ///M20 2.5i: Lachsilber
Grand Master
Just saying I don't see the big deal about the S38. They're expensive & practically worthless under 4,500 RPM (feels like an M50TU under 4,500 RPM). The do sound absolutely amazing though. And if you keep 'em above 4,500 RPM they're fine. But try driving above 4,500 RPM all of the time. Not fun. I've spent many hours behind the wheel of a '93 M5 and enjoyed it greatly. But the M-Sport is even better IMO.
Only thing I like better about the M5 over the M-Sport is the sound of the S38. The M60 does sound nice at higher RPM's. But they're two totally different sounds. The S38 sounds more raw while the M60 sounds fairly refined.
Haven't driven a non M-Sport 540 yet, so don't know how they compare as it's been said the M-Sport's had hotter tunes from the factory (probably why my stock M-Sport got to 60 quicker from a stop than friend's '93 M5 w/Dinan chip). But a good chip from EAT or Conforti will equalize that.
The S38 is great on a racetrack or the autobahn. Kind of a pain in city settings.
Cosmos Black/Black 1995 540iA M-Sport
BMW Individual Exclusive Edition, 1 of 65 total, 9/25/95 Build
2 Grand Master
S38 is great in the M5, but as a swap it's not something I would recommend. There are many better, cheaper options that will offer as much power with far less required maintenance, better parts availability and better reliability.
3 Grand Master
Yeah!!!Originally Posted by shogun
But I'd rather swap an E39 M5 into it
Last edited by Blitzkrieg Bob; 08-04-2010 at 03:46 PM.
Vee ave vays of dealing vid your kind...........
Big Time Poster
How about an S52? I had one in my old 5 with a powerdyne supercharger. Crazy fast. I bet it'd torch an S38 M5.
3 Grand Master
This would get stupid expensive. ( unless you’re a kid with a rich step dad and living at home and wish to spend the GNP of a small country on a project car)
S38 plus trans, DME, wire harness, exhaust, drive shaft, rear end..and on and on.
S38 is expensive to maintain...even on your own...the tappet tool is $90 alone, plus micrometer, shims and just about every other part is 3X the usual price over any other BMW motor.
Either buy an M or like planned a 540/6, or even a 535/5
Vee ave vays of dealing vid your kind...........
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