S52 or just Mpower valve cover? Help.

[Skerch]

I was wondering if there was a way to tell a s52 apart from a 2.5L (I have a 1998 323is with "s52 conversion" that came with no paperwork, just a rebuilt title). Any help would be appreciated. I know when I did a oil change i used 7 quarts of oil. Anyway to tell what ecu I'm using and where it's located and how to tell its an M ecu. Motor "came from a 2000 M-coupe". Has a 5speed connected.

[e30'd much?]

it will be way way faster...always a good sign

[TXDakarM3]

Fill a cylinder with water and multiply it by 6.

[L3000C]

Fill a cylinder with water and multiply it by 6.



:lol






:shifty ur an asshole....



um...dude i dunno...that is def not a 325 engine though, unless they changed the valve cover. all m50 bassed engines have the oil fill up in the rear, and the m52 (also the s52) have it in the front...


i dunno....try to dyno it..look for ~200-~210 RWHP from a S52.

[llegos]

:lol






:shifty ur an asshole....



um...dude i dunno...that is def not a 325 engine though, unless they changed the valve cover. all m50 bassed engines have the oil fill up in the rear, and the m52 (also the s52) have it in the front...


i dunno....try to dyno it..look for ~200-~210 RWHP from a S52.

323's have M52's. You should be able to tell pretty easily. Either drive another real M, or have someone(with an M) drive your car.

[Tuff Guy]

its not an s52 look at the oil filter housing, thats specific to 323/328 engines and he didnt even change the oil cap, dead giveaways.

[noshowe36]

if i'm not mistaken the oil cap is different also.
http://i119.photobucket.com/albums/o130/taconasty/304987276_4e2b4bcc15_o.jpg

[racer m]

if i'm not mistaken the oil cap is different also.
http://i119.photobucket.com/albums/o130/taconasty/304987276_4e2b4bcc15_o.jpg
i noticed that as well

[G///ME]

put it up on a lift and look around on the block for engine numbers...do a search in here and google for "bmw engine numbers" then refine with E36 and S52...somewhere there should be a guide to the exact location or where to look for the engine numbers. also, you can take it to a dealer and have them "officially" verify the conversion or your unfortunate mistake.

also, just listen to the sound of the engine vs. other s52's that you can listen to on youtube or something...get creative if need be

good luck

-G

[vrooomm3]

if the car was an ///M, is these certain digits or code to look at the vin number to know that it is a m3. thnx for the help.

[Jrdeamicis]

if the car was an ///M, is these certain digits or code to look at the vin number to know that it is a m3. thnx for the help.

But we know his car isnt an M, he is checking the motor.

[EdirtySicks]

If it is from a mcoupe it might have the plastic oil filter housing.

Its an m52 or s52. Thats for sure.

Look at the intake manifold. Its the restrictive one (def. not the m50)

[giterdone]

i noticed teh oil cap was changed, didn't see the oil filter housing until someone mentioned it.

Does anyone know what the M coupes s52 had? Or was the s52 designed completely the same for the e36 m3 as well as the m coupe?

[M3Rob95]

its not an s52 look at the oil filter housing, thats specific to 323/328 engines and he didnt even change the oil cap, dead giveaways.

+1 :lol

[///M3Vader4dr]

oh noes :paranoid:

[ozbmw]

Definitely not an ///M engine , Motorsport engines should look like this:

http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a293/OZBMW/Eurodiary/M3Simota2.jpg









j/k

[Herb]

I have a regular cap on my s52.... As for the filter housing ??? M-coupe engine shot will answer that.

3.2l will be stamped on the block under the intake manifold, bright light and a mirror or just remove it an findout.

[L3000C]

Definitely not an ///M engine , Motorsport engines should look like this:

http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a293/OZBMW/Eurodiary/M3Simota2.jpg









j/k


:shifty


stfu......

[giterdone]

Definitely not an ///M engine , Motorsport engines should look like this:





j/k

:mad

[Dispatch20]

Definitely not an ///M engine , Motorsport engines should look like this:


j/k

Who wants an engine thats a LOT more expensive, and barely performs any better? Overrated ///M engines FTL. :stickoutt

[ozbmw]

Who wants an engine thats a LOT more expensive, and barely performs any better? Overrated ///M engines FTL. :stickoutt

I agree ..... can't for the life of me understand why guys are doing Euro swaps :):):):):):)

for those who did not see it > I had the mandatory "j/k" suffix on my post above.

Back to the OPs question, there must be a foolproof way to check other than the attached ancillaries like oilfilters etc. Check the engine number !

[giterdone]

I agree ..... can't for the life of me understand why guys are doing Euro swaps :):):):):):)

for those who did not see it > I had the mandatory "j/k" suffix on my post above.

Back to the OPs question, there must be a foolproof way to check other than the attached ancillaries like oilfilters etc. Check the engine number !

oh don't worry, i saw the j/k. I still just wanted to be angrified at you for having a better engine from the get go. :D

[Braymond141]

S52's DO NOT take 7 quarts of oil. S50's do.

http://ipccomputers.org/car/oil.jpg

[ozbmw]

You too can have one, with the new M3 out here the E36 and E46 prices have dropped again and your can get an Evolution S50B32 Coupe with less than 60K miles for about 25,000 USD in mint or near mint condition : you just need to migrate to Oz.

[///M3Vader4dr]

Definitely not an ///M engine , Motorsport engines should look like this:

j/k


QFT

FML :(

[Nadroj]

S52's DO NOT take 7 quarts of oil. S50's do.

http://ipccomputers.org/car/oil.jpg
well it is obvious not an s50 because it has an s52 manifold and the oil filler is in the front of the engine


also just because the oil cap is not the M version doeesnt mean its not an M motor, the original owner of the engine could have lost the cap and replaced it with a regular one

[HBpredhunter]

its gonna have different color injectors. pink on m3's right? green on 32x? i forget.


the oil filter housing CAN be changed to the m engine, so dont condem that yet (althoguh its looking pretty bad)

[Braymond141]

well it is obvious not an s50 because it has an s52 manifold and the oil filler is in the front of the engine


also just because the oil cap is not the M version doeesnt mean its not an M motor, the original owner of the engine could have lost the cap and replaced it with a regular one

Sorry, I forgot to mention that my post had nothing to do with figuring out the engine type. I only posted that because so many people pour too much oil into their S52's because they cannot read.

[tEckniks]

3er oilcap, oil filter housing, pretty sure its a m52. sucks if they guy really thought it was a s52

[L3000C]

dude just dyno it.

that or find someoone that has a m3 next to u, and either race them, or ask them to drive it.

[Dispatch20]

Just get the VIN number off of the engine. I can't remember where it is, or how easy it is to find, but it's probably the easiest way.

[Skerch]

How would I go about checking the fuel injector? Do I need to take it all the way out or just check the electrical side? Also I don't have a license right now so I can't go dyno it or race it. Looking for a stationary way to check.

[racer m]

anybody in wa to help this guy.

[G///ME]

Just get the VIN number off of the engine. I can't remember where it is, or how easy it is to find, but it's probably the easiest way.

thank you! just as i had said before.

now, the exact location is yet to be identified.

the options include:
-dyno or race an M3
-take the top of the engine apart to find identifiable parts that may or may not have been replaced with other parts
-put the car on a lift and get the vin number off the engine block

i am anxious to find out the result

[Dispatch20]

thank you! just as i had said before.



:rolleyes

Yeah, you posted it and everybody ignored it so I figured I'd say it again. I guess I'll take the 2 minutes and search for a picture this time.

From pelicaparts, you can see the VIN stick above the bellhousing area:
http://www.pelicanparts.com/bmw/techarticles/E36-Clutch_Replace/pic61.jpg

A lift is nice, but isn't that much better than jacking up the car. I would think you may need a mirror or two and some lights to ever see that sticker though.

[95RedBMWe36M50]

That's definately an S52. The oil fill cap is up front (M50 motors are in the rear) and the intake a manifold is S52 OBDII. So yes, it's an S52.

[Tj Hunter]

That's definately an S52. The oil fill cap is up front (M50 motors are in the rear) and the intake a manifold is S52 OBDII. So yes, it's an S52.

Not unnecessarily, it could just have a motorsports valve cover on it...thats the main problem.

[Tone21g]

This should answer the question . . .

[smax]

This should answer the question . . .

The question isn't whether it's an S50 or an S52, the question is whether it's an M52 with an S52 cover or an actual S52. Read the thread.

It's looking a bit like an M52 to me at this point.

[madspeed]

lot of bullshit in this thread.... check the VIN# on the backside of the head near the firewall.

[noshowe36]

the vin on the block is the only way, if its a swap they might have used all the parts off the old m52. here's hoping the best. :drink1

[E30lolz]

I dont mean to deliver the deathblow....


http://img502.imageshack.us/img502/9958/3445915219234702328im10gz0.jpg
but it seems your chances of having an s52 have fallen very close to 0. I do not think the so called swap included a forgotten oil cap and oil filter housing switch... sorry

[ScotcH]

What does a 323 use for oil filter (too lazy to look)? Maybe they reused parts from the 323 ... very possible if they just bought the s52 block and head and reused everything else.

[Tone21g]

The question isn't whether it's an S50 or an S52, the question is whether it's an M52 with an S52 cover or an actual S52. Read the thread.

It's looking a bit like an M52 to me at this point.

Logic and reason are two things that seem to have missed you huh :confused. . . .By checking the if its actually a S52 the op would atleast know weather he got what he paid for or not :stickoutt.

[TheM3nsah]

take ur car to the 1/4 mile, if u run anything below 15.0 u dont have a 323 for sure

[m3jones]

Sorry, I forgot to mention that my post had nothing to do with figuring out the engine type. I only posted that because so many people pour too much oil into their S52's because they cannot read.

My '97 owners manual says 6.9 quarts (6.5 liters) if changing both oil and filter. I trust the manual over Bentley...

[fiveightandten]

My '97 owners manual says 6.9 quarts (6.5 liters) if changing both oil and filter. I trust the manual over Bentley...

Regardless...we should be checking the oil level, not blindly dumping X amount of oil in the car. You'll always have a bit left behind. I usually let mine drain for at least an hour, and it never quite drains fully. I'll dump 5 in, and add incrementally as I check it to be sure i'm not overfilling.

Not to mention, i'm sure a lot of people just jack the front end up when doing oil changes...you get a good amount of oil stuck in the back of the pan that way.


And to the OP...check the tag and report back already! The suspense is killing us! ;)

-Nick

[giterdone]

Regardless...we should be checking the oil level, not blindly dumping X amount of oil in the car. You'll always have a bit left behind. I usually let mine drain for at least an hour, and it never quite drains fully. I'll dump 5 in, and add incrementally as I check it to be sure i'm not overfilling.

Not to mention, i'm sure a lot of people just jack the front end up when doing oil changes...you get a good amount of oil stuck in the back of the pan that way.


And to the OP...check the tag and report back already! The suspense is killing us! ;)

-Nick
use the top side changer. My buddy always got 1/2 quart more using hte top side, than jacking up the front (shows that oil pools in the back).

[fiveightandten]

use the top side changer. My buddy always got 1/2 quart more using hte top side, than jacking up the front (shows that oil pools in the back).
Top side changer?

I put my car up at all four corners. Is there a better way to be doing it?

-Nick

[giterdone]

Top side changer?

I put my car up at all four corners. Is there a better way to be doing it?

-Nick

I got mine form bmp design. Some of the purists say to do it the "old fashioned way".

http://www.bmpdesign.com/product-exec/product_id/251/category_id/16/search_year/1997/search_model/38

There are others out there, but this one was made for bimmers (bmp design is a forum sponsor).

I love these things. Make changing my oil and filter take 20 mins, 30 mins tops.

[fiveightandten]

I got mine form bmp design. Some of the purists say to do it the "old fashioned way".

http://www.bmpdesign.com/product-exec/product_id/251/category_id/16/search_year/1997/search_model/38

There are others out there, but this one was made for bimmers (bmp design is a forum sponsor).

I love these things. Make changing my oil and filter take 20 mins, 30 mins tops.
Wow...i've never seen one of those. That's actually a real good idea.

I'm trying to think of a reason why it wouldn't be a good idea...maybe cross contaminating, or it leaving oil behind. How can you be sure it's getting everything out of there?

I may have to pick one of these up. It's at least worth it for the winter. I can't stand working out in the cold.

-Nick

[giterdone]

Wow...i've never seen one of those. That's actually a real good idea.

I'm trying to think of a reason why it wouldn't be a good idea...maybe cross contaminating, or it leaving oil behind. How can you be sure it's getting everything out of there?

I may have to pick one of these up. It's at least worth it for the winter. I can't stand working out in the cold.

-Nick

i was skeptical, but my buddy who got one before me. Regularly he would get 6.5qts out when he jacked up (the front) his car and drained underneath. He pulled the full 7 quarts with the top side changer. That was enough for me to think it worked. YOu have to repeatedly pump it, to get more suction, but you can hear it sucking out the last bit (think of teh sound when you drink a soda through a straw, and you are sucking hte last few drops at the bottom of the cup).

[fiveightandten]

i was skeptical, but my buddy who got one before me. Regularly he would get 6.5qts out when he jacked up (the front) his car and drained underneath. He pulled the full 7 quarts with the top side changer. That was enough for me to think it worked. YOu have to repeatedly pump it, to get more suction, but you can hear it sucking out the last bit (think of teh sound when you drink a soda through a straw, and you are sucking hte last few drops at the bottom of the cup).
Interesting. Seems like you'd want to lift the passenger side of our cars slightly, if i'm remembering where the dipstick goes down correctly.

The only 2 things that i'm debating now are:
1) Magnetic drain plug. It should get cleaned off at some point.
2) Will any gunk get left at the bottom of the pan over time?

But it's not THAT expensive. Seems worth it to me, even if you only use it half the time, in cold weather, or something like that.

Thanks for posting that, BTW.

-Nick

[giterdone]

Interesting. Seems like you'd want to lift the passenger side of our cars slightly, if i'm remembering where the dipstick goes down correctly.

The only 2 things that i'm debating now are:
1) Magnetic drain plug. It should get cleaned off at some point.
2) Will any gunk get left at the bottom of the pan over time?

But it's not THAT expensive. Seems worth it to me, even if you only use it half the time, in cold weather, or something like that.

Thanks for posting that, BTW.

-Nick

perhaps stuff gets left at the bottom, so every now and then you might wnat to do it the old way to get any remnants left over at the bottom, but no reason you can't use it most of the time, to save yourself alot of time. :)

[Ace M3]

Id do it the old fashioned way every year or so...Maybe every 2 years, depending on how it looks the first time around

[Volcom8190]

check the midpipe, and amount of front and rear o2 sensors if you have 1 of each you have a 323 motor, 2 of each and you probably have an s52 or a 328 motor. The s52 and 328 motor do not work with the stock 323 wiring harness

[sisomphonE]

let me drive it, ill tell you what it has

[Jrdeamicis]

So what is it?

[Tj Hunter]

So what is it?

+1

[EdirtySicks]

????????????????????????????????