S50 cams m50 trays m52 head

[JUS2K]

I just got the bad news today from machine shop that my M50 head has a crack between water jacket port and #3 cylinder combustion chamber.

Local board member will sell me rebuilt M52 head. As title says, can I mix the 3 different items?? Can I use M52 head w/ included valve train, M50 trays and install S50 cams?? OR use M52 head w/ included valve train and trays with S50 cams??

Cars been hung up awhile now:( as I didn't want to drive it once I smelled tell-tale sign of burning coolant. Now have the money (read: limited budget lol !! ) to do repairs and just want to do it right. So, any/all advice asked for, welcomed and appreciated.

Btw, searched threads and got confused on differing points and opinions. Looking for definitive answer to my particular situation. Hard to find a replacement head here. Thanks in advance to my fellow board members.

Peace. PG

[das borgen]

try PMing user 99Mpower........he knows a fair bit about this specific subject matter but my gut tells me yes it s fine

[thedude60126]

your fine. Had a buddy running this exact setup with no problems.

[fun2drive]

M50/S50 are the same head. M52/S52 are different head ending in 400. However the difference is one vs two coolant sensors, the M52/S52 have one, the M50/S50 have two. Thats it so yes the head should work just fine...

[das borgen]

M50/S50 are the same head. M52/S52 are different head ending in 400. However the difference is one vs two coolant sensors, the M52/S52 have one, the M50/S50 have two. Thats it so yes the head should work just fine...



I know of that difference and I do believe that is really the ONLY difference between the M/S52 head casting and the M/S50 one . Of this, I'm 90% sure...........





but the M50 does need both coolant sensors. One is for the ECU (which it MUST have or it just won t run right if at all) and the other is for the gauge cluster needle

The M52 uses the same sensor for both

[flyfishvt]

Then it seems pretty simple. From what everyone here is saying all you have to do is use the single coolant temp sensor port on the m52 head for the DME in your m50 harness and if you want to still use the stock temp guage in the cluster you just take the sensor out of your m50 head and install it as if you were installling an aftermarket temp guage.

So s50 cams can be swapped right into an m52 head?

[r0meyrome]

I was reading on other websites (googled). That s50 cams will fit any trays m50/m52/s50/s52 and fit right into the m52. Its when going to s50to m50 head youd need trays.

[flyfishvt]

I was reading on other websites (googled). That s50 cams will fit any trays m50/m52/s50/s52 and fit right into the m52. Its when going to s50to m50 head youd need trays.

You need to read that over again. They fit into any trays. But if you're putting s50 into m50 you need trays. that just doesn't make sense.

[BMW&PorscheDude]

M50/S50 trays are different than M52/S52 trays, and the cams are made to fit each accordingly. They're matched. However, M50/S50 cams will drop right into M52/S52 trays, and not the other way.

I installed S50 cams in my M52 trays no problem. You just can't put M52/S52 cams into M50/S50 trays.

[r0meyrome]

^ So I was right! Haha I KNEW I read it correctly!