» Site Navigation | | » Recent Threads | | | | | | | 11-07-2015, 04:34 PM | #1 | Member Join Date: Nov 2015 Location: Vermont, USA Posts: 33 | '95 318ti OBD I to S52 OBD II... Questions? How much more difficult does the OBD I to OBD II engine swap make? Any advice here? I've got a 1995 318ti w/ 62k and am looking to swap in a '97 S52, I'm open to other options, just need more power. Any advice would be helpful! Thanks | | | 11-13-2015, 07:36 AM | #2 | Member Join Date: Sep 2015 Location: Scottsdale Posts: 47 | Great swap! My advice is Do it! Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk | | | 11-13-2015, 03:17 PM | #3 | Member Join Date: Nov 2015 Location: Minnesota Posts: 32 | Are you saying that you already have access to the '97 S52? | | | 11-13-2015, 03:59 PM | #4 | Member Join Date: Nov 2015 Location: Vermont, USA Posts: 33 | Quote: Originally Posted by Nix328ti Are you saying that you already have access to the '97 S52? | Yes I do. Or I could order the s50. | | | 11-13-2015, 04:15 PM | #5 | Member Join Date: Nov 2015 Location: Minnesota Posts: 32 | Got it. So your question is which would be more challenging, S50 or S52, right? Such low miles! I bet you could get some extra $$ from the parts. Since it sounds like your still in the early stages, how about a wrecked Z3 for a donor? Not an S engine but it does use the aluminum block (2.8); Not a super power but definitely more power... Then you could get the trans and LSD with the deal. Maybe even some suspension upgrades... Just throwing that out there. I don't have experience with the S swap but having swapped a few cars (non-BMW) it's really just about the small details. My other project is a '73 Vega GT. That's a whole different ball game since most of what I've done for that car I had to custom fabricate myself. With what I've experienced since getting my ti, there is way more support for parts out there. I know one of the small issues to work out is the shifter setup. I guess that does bring up thel need to get a comparable S transmission too. Not speaking from personal experience with BMW but it's VERY likely that the S will make ice cream of the stock ti trans. You probably already know all this so sorry if I'm tossing out information that you've already got a handle on. Best of luck! OK, now someone with more experience can take it from here! LOL | | | 11-13-2015, 04:32 PM | #6 | Member Join Date: Nov 2015 Location: Vermont, USA Posts: 33 | Quote: Originally Posted by Nix328ti Got it. So your question is which would be more challenging, S50 or S52, right? Such low miles! I bet you could get some extra $$ from the parts. Since it sounds like your still in the early stages, how about a wrecked Z3 for a donor? Not an S engine but it does use the aluminum block (2.8); Not a super power but definitely more power... Then you could get the trans and LSD with the deal. Maybe even some suspension upgrades... Just throwing that out there. I don't have experience with the S swap but having swapped a few cars (non-BMW) it's really just about the small details. My other project is a '73 Vega GT. That's a whole different ball game since most of what I've done for that car I had to custom fabricate myself. With what I've experienced since getting my ti, there is way more support for parts out there. I know one of the small issues to work out is the shifter setup. I guess that does bring up thel need to get a comparable S transmission too. Not speaking from personal experience with BMW but it's VERY likely that the S will make ice cream of the stock ti trans. You probably already know all this so sorry if I'm tossing out information that you've already got a handle on. Best of luck! OK, now someone with more experience can take it from here! LOL | Do you have this Z3? If so, where are you from? | | | 11-13-2015, 04:58 PM | #7 | Member Join Date: Nov 2015 Location: Minnesota Posts: 32 | Shoot, sorry dude, I was just throwing out an idea for you. I have a z3 swap in my TI. | | | 11-13-2015, 05:34 PM | #8 | Member Join Date: Nov 2015 Location: Vermont, USA Posts: 33 | Quote: Originally Posted by Nix328ti Shoot, sorry dude, I was just throwing out an idea for you. I have a z3 swap in my TI. | Yeah I'll need a different diff. and a few other components to do the s50 swap. Will be a nice ride afterwards. Then plan to turbo it down the road! | | | 11-13-2015, 05:37 PM | #9 | Member Join Date: Sep 2015 Location: Scottsdale Posts: 47 | If you plan to do turbo I have heard the 2.8 is best. Thick walls and when you lower the compression you can fill it up with boost. Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk | | | 11-13-2015, 06:03 PM | #10 | Member Join Date: Nov 2015 Location: Vermont, USA Posts: 33 | Quote: Originally Posted by turbobaja If you plan to do turbo I have heard the 2.8 is best. Thick walls and when you lower the compression you can fill it up with boost. Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk | hmmm, didn't consider that. Wanted the M engine but am open to other ideas. | | | 11-14-2015, 01:50 AM | #11 | Member Join Date: Sep 2015 Location: Scottsdale Posts: 47 | Only difference for M engine is the cams. Changing those for turbo anyway. My Schrick's were nearing 800$ so don't waste money. I'm actually looking around here to get a 2.8 and prep it to swap out my S52 and add boost. Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk | | | 11-15-2015, 05:03 PM | #12 | Junior Member Join Date: Nov 2015 Location: NJ Posts: 4 | Quote: Originally Posted by turbobaja Only difference for M engine is the cams. Changing those for turbo anyway. My Schrick's were nearing 800$ so don't waste money. I'm actually looking around here to get a 2.8 and prep it to swap out my S52 and add boost. Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk | This isn't true. Cams, Bore size, and crankshaft are all different between a M5x and S5x motors. (The M cars motors are S5x's, the 325i for examples had M5x's) | | | 11-20-2015, 04:37 PM | #13 | Member Join Date: Sep 2015 Location: Scottsdale Posts: 47 | Quote: Originally Posted by essi1553 This isn't true. Cams, Bore size, and crankshaft are all different between a M5x and S5x motors. (The M cars motors are S5x's, the 325i for examples had M5x's) | I was commenting on the head. Bottom end is shorter and thicker cylinders which in my experience is better for running boost. Valve size and ports are same. Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk | | | 11-21-2015, 01:12 AM | #14 | Junior Member Join Date: Nov 2015 Location: NJ Posts: 4 | Quote: Originally Posted by turbobaja I was commenting on the head. Bottom end is shorter and thicker cylinders which in my experience is better for running boost. Valve size and ports are same. Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk | Shorter? Are you talking block height? I think you mean to say thicker cylinder walls (since the block is the same, and the bore size for a M50 less than an S50) that is true. You can run boost through either safely, as long as you have a good tuner, and not running crazy levels of boost. If you're going to boost the motor, stay with an M50. You want the thicker cylinder walls, and an iron block (although both blocks are iron, you lose this when you get to the m52tu or M54) Ideally you'd want to lower compression but that depends on your car's purpose. If you're looking to build the motor thats a whole different story. Not sure why you are saying the 2.8 is the best, but you're not wrong. Technically it could be better. The 2.8 has a 84mm Stroke, while the s50 is 85.8mm, and the s52 89.6mm. The compression may be different, but if you're building a motor that would all be compensated for with the custom piston set (determined by you, and constructed to spec). If you're car came OBD1 i'd follow that route, though the job isnt too difficult, and there are a couple guys that make pretty cheap custom wire harnesses. | | | 11-19-2015, 09:31 PM | #15 | Member Join Date: May 2013 Location: uk Posts: 33 | Its relatively easy and plug and play for the best part of it, everything lines up including the gearbox from a s5x just make sure you get the linkage as well. You will need 6 pot clocks for the tach to read right. From it being a 95 I think you might have a problem with the abs light but bmw do a fix for that it's just a bit of cable to go between the plugs behind the cluster. Easy job it is and you need the front part of the prop shaft as well as its shorter Sent from my E6553 using Tapatalk | | | | | Currently Active Users Viewing This Thread: 1 (0 members and 1 guests) | | Posting Rules | You may not post new threads You may not post replies You may not post attachments You may not edit your posts HTML code is Off | | | |