Will a M54 Camshaft fit 1996 E36 2.L??

[Boland01]

:(My son's 1996 328i has 330i running gear (M54B30 crank and pistons) along with S52 (M3) intake and exhaust camshafts. Recently, he threw a rod bearing which damaged the crank and as we just found out now the exhaust camshaft, bearing and tray. We've already sourced a new crankshaft but can't find a S52 exhaust camshaft anywhere.
My question is has anyone or would a M54 intake camshaft work on the exhaust side of our engine? The S52 exhaust camshaft has a 244 duration and a 9.67-10.02 lift from what I've been reading. An M54 intake camshaft has a 240 duration with a 9.7 lift. I guess a little less desirable alternative would be an M54 exhaust camshaft with a 244 duration and 9.0 lift.

Does anyone know if these are drop in options? If not, can they be made to work and what will it take? Thanks in advance.

[pbonsalb]

M54 is dual vanos engine; your son's M52 is single vanos. Not sure you can strip the vanos stuff off the M54 exhaust cam so it will fit. I am sure someone knows. You just have to find someone familiar with both motors. Consider also asking in E46 forum.

[earthwormjim]

You can't use the intake cam for the exhaust, there is no Vanos on the exhaust of an M50/M52. And you can't use the exhaust camshaft from an M54 for the same reasons.


The intake camshaft from an M54 can be used on M50/M52 engines though for the intake cam.


VANOS issues aside, I'm pretty sure the sprockets don't allow proper chain alignment if you put an intake cam in the exhaust position.

I don't see how you'd get proper timing anyway, the markings would be meaningless, and you'd have to eye ball it which sounds frightening.

[autowa]

:(My son's 1996 328i has 330i running gear (M54B30 crank and pistons) along with S52 (M3) intake and exhaust camshafts. Recently, he threw a rod bearing which damaged the crank and as we just found out now the exhaust camshaft, bearing and tray. We've already sourced a new crankshaft but can't find a S52 exhaust camshaft anywhere.
My question is has anyone or would a M54 intake camshaft work on the exhaust side of our engine? The S52 exhaust camshaft has a 244 duration and a 9.67-10.02 lift from what I've been reading. An M54 intake camshaft has a 240 duration with a 9.7 lift. I guess a little less desirable alternative would be an M54 exhaust camshaft with a 244 duration and 9.0 lift.

Does anyone know if these are drop in options? If not, can they be made to work and what will it take? Thanks in advance.



It can. Be done. There was a thread on it not to long ago. Some mods were needed but it did fit. People also use dual intake m50 cams as well. .

[spyderg0d]

Yea it can be done. But for the amount of trouble it is for the exact same cam dimensions, piontless. The 2.5 2.8 3.0 all have the same exhaust cam specs. So you might as well buy one and put it in. Better $100 spent on new cam than the $175 of parts youl be "customising" to make the vanos exhaust cam work + a bit of time.

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But alls it comes down to is taking the cam position plate off the 3.0 exhaust cam so it will even fit. Or you can reverse it i beleive if you really feel its got to he perfectly balanced. You have to lock the vanos part of the cam. You can do that by inserting the m54 vanos helical gear and pushing it all the way in and useing some sort of tack weld or bolt on plate hold it in for extra comfort. Then time the engine. That was me just screwing around on a weekend for sag.

[Boland01]

Thanks for the reply's everyone. That at least gives us some potential options. Sounds like the simplest might be to buy an E36 2.8L exhaust camshaft and just drop it in. I'm guessing he'll just lose some top end power due to the shorter duration and lift versus the now damaged S52 camshaft.

[earthwormjim]

It can. Be done. There was a thread on it not to long ago. Some mods were needed but it did fit. People also use dual intake m50 cams as well. .

For the M50NV engines people do, but people also complain about horrible timing chain rattle when they do so too.

[Boland01]

We're going to stay with the S52 on the intake side and use a M52 camshaft on the exhaust side. If we can find an exhaust S52 in the future we'll just drop it in then. I'm guessing he'll lose some top end power but the car should be fine.

[spyderg0d]

.. All 2.5. 2.8 have the exact exhaust cam specs. Just incase you find s 325 and no 328.

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Except 2.5 nv. Use that intake as your exhaust and youl actually have a slightly hotter set up if i remember. The nv intake is like s50. The s50 are hotter thsn s52 i think. ?

[Boland01]

Thank you.