$8k to spend on power....

[craigmo]

I think this idea has been kicked around a bit, but my search for a supercharger pulled up a post from 2004..???? So, I was hoping to get suggestions on what to do with $8k in order to get more top end power out of my M50. My friends at Edgemotorworks are recomending the Dinan Supercharger, but I am also open to other ideas. I've heard a little about the S50/S52 motor swap but would love to hear more ( smog issues in CA. )? Is there a good turbocharger out there? Can I put the S38 motor from a M5? Thanks in advance for any educated suggestions.

[John 540i6]

take your car...sell it.

take the 8k cash and combine with your money from the car.

Buy e34 M5!!!

[Joey Link]

We have a winner folks!!

[Fastx525ixGuy]

Interested to hear answers, as I could always use more power...

[hwl328is]

I would suggest selling your car and getting a faster platform. BUT, if you want to keep your car you have a few options.

First, you can contact VFE engineering and get a supercharger kit. I have researched them, and if I was getting FI, I would get the VFE kit - by FAR the best deal and much cheaper than Dinan with better power output.

Second, you can turbo your M50. That would yield some pretty impressive numbers, and the M50 is a great platform for a turbocharger.

Engine swaps are finicky, and I wouldn't recommend doing that. Not to mention you wouldn't get anywhere near the power you would if you went FI, and you would spend the same amount of cash. Just my .02.

[HE53]

subscribing

some sort of FI will be going in one of my cars in the future. I have also been thinking about an s50 swap for my daily driver.

turbo is the way I would like to go.. is there any info or high power kits made for the m50, or are they all custom built. Also, what about non-vanos. Looks like the original poster has a non vanos car as well.

[Grim Reaper]

take your car...sell it.

take the 8k cash and combine with your money from the car.

Buy e34 M5!!!

This guy knows what he's talking about. E34 M5 and you will OWN the real deal :buttrock

[The Beastmaster]

This guy knows what he's talking about. E34 M5 and you will OWN the real deal :buttrock
I agree whole heartedly. By putting $8k into your 525, you will still end up with a 525 that is worth $5-6k. If you sold it and put the $8k towards a M5, you would have a much more valuable car. On top of that, you will have factory reliability.

[craigmo]

So all you guys telling me to sell my car and take the money from that plus the $8K.....let me ask you this -

Given the blue book on my car (which was also referenced earlier in this thread) is about $5K..

Where can I get an E34 M5 in excellent condition for $13K? I saw the '94 Euro Spec one in the forum, but that's $22K.

[HE53]

So all you guys telling me to sell my car and take the money from that plus the $8K.....let me ask you this -

Given the blue book on my car (which was also referenced earlier in this thread) is about $5K..

Where can I get an E34 M5 in excellent condition for $13K? I saw the '94 Euro Spec one in the forum, but that's $22K.
You can't. Im still on the same boat you are.. FI and S50.

[liquidtiger720]

Go to bimmer.info and talk to JonK.

[xatlas0]

Twin-screw. It will be faster than a M5 (even the 3.8) and have more torque than the M60B40. I suggest Eurosport or AA, although AA's is still pretty much untested on the boards here, aside from stimpee. 350ish rwhp and 300ish rwtq at low boost.

[craigmo]

Twin-screw. It will be faster than a M5 (even the 3.8) and have more torque than the M60B40. I suggest Eurosport or AA, although AA's is still pretty much untested on the boards here, aside from stimpee. 350ish rwhp and 300ish rwtq at low boost.

Thanks for the suggestion. Anyone in particular I should ask for at Eurosport?

[xatlas0]

Thanks for the suggestion. Anyone in particular I should ask for at Eurosport?

That I do not know. Poke around on the FI section for a spell, there's been many threads about the TS system. Right now, the only application is for the S50/52, but M50/52 applications should be arriving soon.

[craigmo]

That I do not know. Poke around on the FI section for a spell, there's been many threads about the TS system. Right now, the only application is for the S50/52, but M50/52 applications should be arriving soon.

Will do, thanks again.

[The Beastmaster]

So all you guys telling me to sell my car and take the money from that plus the $8K.....let me ask you this -

Given the blue book on my car (which was also referenced earlier in this thread) is about $5K..

Where can I get an E34 M5 in excellent condition for $13K? I saw the '94 Euro Spec one in the forum, but that's $22K.
tirefryer just sold his euro for @ that much. After I fix my hood, I'll sell you mine for $13.5k. :D

[Mblaster]

Sell your car, add the 8K and shop for a nice early E39 540/6.

[zlh]

So all you guys telling me to sell my car and take the money from that plus the $8K.....let me ask you this -

Given the blue book on my car (which was also referenced earlier in this thread) is about $5K..

Where can I get an E34 M5 in excellent condition for $13K? I saw the '94 Euro Spec one in the forum, but that's $22K.
ran a quick autotrader search and found 3 M5s

black 1988, 137k autotrader.com/ fyc/vdp.jsp?car_id=202335765&dealer_id=57890653&car_year=1988&mod_bookmark_id=null&search_type=both&make=BMW&distance=300&model=M5&address=94102&certified=&advanced=&max_price=15000&bkms=1150262309693&min_price=10000&end_year=2007&start_year=1981&isp=y&lang=&cardist=300

green 1991, 114k autotrader.com/ fyc/vdp.jsp?car_id=203385357&dealer_id=57966139&car_year=1991&mod_bookmark_id=null&search_type=both&make=BMW&distance=300&model=M5&address=94102&certified=&advanced=&max_price=15000&bkms=1150262309693&min_price=10000&end_year=2007&start_year=1981&isp=y&lang=&cardist=114

red 1992, 115k autotrader.com/ fyc/vdp.jsp?car_id=203385357&dealer_id=57966139&car_year=1991&mod_bookmark_id=null&search_type=both&make=BMW&distance=300&model=M5&address=94102&certified=&advanced=&max_price=15000&bkms=1150262309693&min_price=10000&end_year=2007&start_year=1981&isp=y&lang=&cardist=114

sorry, cant post links so you'll have to copy it and remove the space

the black one is an E28, but it looks really nice in the pics

[Cheap]

get new wheels, and fresh suspension. take the rest and put in the stock market/mutal funds.

don't invest in a depreciating asset, but if you are set on making your car faster, then sell it and buy a fast car.

don't modify a car to make it fast. you will loose reliability, run into a legal issues when it comes time to smog your car, and you will only get a fraction of what you spend on it back when selling.

been there and done that.

[xatlas0]

Oh, yeah, he's in Cali. That puts a damper on things. Right now, the only CARB certified option is Dinan. The others (VF, AA, Eurosport, etc) are trying to be certified before the year is out. A S50/52 swap would be CARB legal, however, as long as all the emissions equipment was part of the swap, and the motor was from the same model year or newer as the car it is being installed into. All you'd have to do is take it to a CARB referrer, have them give it their battery of tests, and they will give you a CARB sticker. At least, that is how T-Rex described it over in the FI section.

Mblaster, what of the 25k rule? Pay it now or pay it later for an e34 or e28 M5.

[e39dream]

If I were unable to go forced induction I would take that 8k, find a nice white e34 540i-6 speed with low miles and upgrade it, keeping the other e34 for a daily driver.

[craigmo]

Sell your car, add the 8K and shop for a nice early E39 540/6.

Thanks, but I don't really care for the E39's.

[craigmo]

If I were unable to go forced induction I would take that 8k, find a nice white e34 540i-6 speed with low miles and upgrade it, keeping the other e34 for a daily driver.


If I did that I would have no $$$ to upgrade the 540i.

[craigmo]

get new wheels, and fresh suspension. take the rest and put in the stock market/mutal funds.

don't invest in a depreciating asset, but if you are set on making your car faster, then sell it and buy a fast car.

don't modify a car to make it fast. you will loose reliability, run into a legal issues when it comes time to smog your car, and you will only get a fraction of what you spend on it back when selling.

been there and done that.

My wheels and suspension are perfectly fine. I hear your points about the down sides of dumping a bunch of cash into something that won't give me the return later. Mutual funds, huh?

[craigmo]

ran a quick autotrader search and found 3 M5s

black 1988, 137k autotrader.com/ fyc/vdp.jsp?car_id=202335765&dealer_id=57890653&car_year=1988&mod_bookmark_id=null&search_type=both&make=BMW&distance=300&model=M5&address=94102&certified=&advanced=&max_price=15000&bkms=1150262309693&min_price=10000&end_year=2007&start_year=1981&isp=y&lang=&cardist=300

green 1991, 114k autotrader.com/ fyc/vdp.jsp?car_id=203385357&dealer_id=57966139&car_year=1991&mod_bookmark_id=null&search_type=both&make=BMW&distance=300&model=M5&address=94102&certified=&advanced=&max_price=15000&bkms=1150262309693&min_price=10000&end_year=2007&start_year=1981&isp=y&lang=&cardist=114



red 1992, 115k autotrader.com/ fyc/vdp.jsp?car_id=203385357&dealer_id=57966139&car_year=1991&mod_bookmark_id=null&search_type=both&make=BMW&distance=300&model=M5&address=94102&certified=&advanced=&max_price=15000&bkms=1150262309693&min_price=10000&end_year=2007&start_year=1981&isp=y&lang=&cardist=114

sorry, cant post links so you'll have to copy it and remove the space

the black one is an E28, but it looks really nice in the pics


Thanks for the look up, but I would want black and not an E28.

[steely]

So all you guys telling me to sell my car and take the money from that plus the $8K.....let me ask you this -

Given the blue book on my car (which was also referenced earlier in this thread) is about $5K..

Where can I get an E34 M5 in excellent condition for $13K? I saw the '94 Euro Spec one in the forum, but that's $22K.

I agree, not out there, Ive looked. My solution will be to turbo with a t3/t4 that will push around 20+ lbs and you will get the drastic improvement you need for a LOT less expensive. Combined with a few upgrades that I (and most owners) already have, I should pass the 315 of a US S38 swap that would be around $8K. And of course, i wanna keep mine as a sleeper also, so that option tends to work out for me.

[craigmo]

I agree, not out there, Ive looked. My solution will be to turbo with a t3/t4 that will push around 20+ lbs and you will get the drastic improvement you need for a LOT less expensive. Combined with a few upgrades that I (and most owners) already have, I should pass the 315 of a US S38 swap that would be around $8K. And of course, i wanna keep mine as a sleeper also, so that option tends to work out for me.


I'm interested. Can you elaborate a bit on the t3/t4 turbo? Manufacturer? Where to buy? Ballpark $$$? Forgive my ignorance as I don't have the mechanical wrenching skills to do my own work.

[steely]

I'm interested. Can you elaborate a bit on the t3/t4 turbo? Manufacturer? Where to buy? Ballpark $$$? Forgive my ignorance as I don't have the mechanical wrenching skills to do my own work.

I was actually going to do it myself, but as for as premaid kits... They are out there but few and far between from what Ive found. With the help of these guys here, and searching on my own, Ive decided on turbo rather than s/c due to throwing a belt and also you can have more control over boosting with a turbo (just little things, I look at). Ive found more kits for the E36 M50 , which is same motor and will have to adapt to E34. But as for T3/T4 would probably be the biggest size turbo you'd wanna use, that is usually the size of turbos say as a porsche 944 turbo for example but pretty big and will push a boost of around 28 lbs safely. That equals approx (depending on mods to motor, etc) around 100+ engine horsepower. Just to give relation of size, and eclipse turbo will be a TD025 turbo and push , at most, 18-20 lbs of boost and turbine is physically smaller. I can always tell you what exact pieces im planning on using, just email me ... steely123@hotmail.com.

[steely]

I'm interested. Can you elaborate a bit on the t3/t4 turbo? Manufacturer? Where to buy? Ballpark $$$? Forgive my ignorance as I don't have the mechanical wrenching skills to do my own work.

I didnt answer the other questions, I appologize. The turbo is pretty universal, a kit is available for about $5K through kormanfastturbo.com . But that is without installation and would probably take about 12-15 labor hrs to be installed by a shop.

[xatlas0]

I agree, not out there, Ive looked. My solution will be to turbo with a t3/t4 that will push around 20+ lbs and you will get the drastic improvement you need for a LOT less expensive. Combined with a few upgrades that I (and most owners) already have, I should pass the 315 of a US S38 swap that would be around $8K. And of course, i wanna keep mine as a sleeper also, so that option tends to work out for me.

Who is doing your tuning? 20 psi seems like quite a bit; I imagine you already did ARP studs and a cometic gasket. 20 psi right now, on cardcounter's rig, is pushing 400-600hp, and he's snapping driveshafts and halfshafts all over the place.

[steely]

Who is doing your tuning? 20 psi seems like quite a bit; I imagine you already did ARP studs and a cometic gasket. 20 psi right now, on cardcounter's rig, is pushing 400-600hp, and he's snapping driveshafts and halfshafts all over the place.

although I have no access to a dyno, but I didnt think that setup with just a T3/T4 would push 500!! That's great if so, but to answer, yes already did ARP studs and metal head gasket, etc. The thing I have been beating myself to find is 400+ hp CV joints, etc. Driveshaft is going to be from a e34 M5, not on yet though. Any suggestions for the CV joints, and halfshafts?

[steely]

Who is doing your tuning? 20 psi seems like quite a bit; I imagine you already did ARP studs and a cometic gasket. 20 psi right now, on cardcounter's rig, is pushing 400-600hp, and he's snapping driveshafts and halfshafts all over the place.

I will do the tuning along with BMW shop here in Austin. Although I have no access to a dyno, but I didnt think that setup with just a T3/T4 would push 500!! That's great if so, but to answer, yes already did ARP studs and metal head gasket, etc. The thing I have been beating myself to find is 400+ hp CV joints, etc. Driveshaft is going to be from a e34 M5, not on yet though. Any suggestions for the CV joints, and halfshafts?

[xatlas0]

I will do the tuning along with BMW shop here in Austin. Although I have no access to a dyno, but I didnt think that setup with just a T3/T4 would push 500!! That's great if so, but to answer, yes already did ARP studs and metal head gasket, etc. The thing I have been beating myself to find is 400+ hp CV joints, etc. Driveshaft is going to be from a e34 M5, not on yet though. Any suggestions for the CV joints, and halfshafts?

PM cardcounter, or run a search for him in the FI section of the board. He is making quite the splash. Your power will depend on the specific turbo, of course.

As for other components, I would not think the e34 driveshaft sufficient for the power produed. An E39 M5 driveshaft would probably work with some cutting, along with an E39 M5 guibo. I think your halfshafts will have to be custom. This is what happens when you shunt triple the design torque through things.

Plus, I would imagine your dyno will look like a roller coaster starting at around 4k.

If you lowered your boost to say, 10psi, you would still be pushing 300, easy. I just do not think the car will be very driveable with that quantity of boost.

I applaud your effort, though.

[steely]

PM cardcounter, or run a search for him in the FI section of the board. He is making quite the splash. Your power will depend on the specific turbo, of course.

As for other components, I would not think the e34 driveshaft sufficient for the power produed. An E39 M5 driveshaft would probably work with some cutting, along with an E39 M5 guibo. I think your halfshafts will have to be custom. This is what happens when you shunt triple the design torque through things.

Plus, I would imagine your dyno will look like a roller coaster starting at around 4k.

If you lowered your boost to say, 10psi, you would still be pushing 300, easy. I just do not think the car will be very driveable with that quantity of boost.

I applaud your effort, though.

Will and E39 axle fit an E34? if so, I could get the rear end set up of an E39 M5, but then also, just buy an E39 M5, huh?

[xatlas0]

Will and E39 axle fit an E34? if so, I could get the rear end set up of an E39 M5, but then also, just buy an E39 M5, huh?

You shouldn't need the whole rear end, actually, as the diffs seem to be suprisingly hardy. (usually) The E39 M5 driveshaft should be fine, as you can weld whatever ends you want on it to make it E34 compliant.

Wish I could help you more, but you are getting into drag turbo territory, where lots of stuff breaks. The FI board can help you far more than I can.

An E34 540 diff and associated parts would probably be a good starting point, though, as they are designed to accept a lot more torque than the M50 stuff.