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Thread: Official Cam Comparison Thread M52 vs S52

  1. #1
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    Official Cam Comparison Thread M52 vs S52

    So at my shop Im often swapping cams and such around and had an issue telling the difference between M52 and a set of S52 cams i had purchased from a motor. I did this comparison to verify that these were in fact S52 cams i had purchased to go into my customers motor.

    Three cams shown. A used scored to hell M3 cam from my motor is on the left, a M52 cam from a customer motor is in the center, and a better condition cam i just purchased for another customers motor is on the right always...

    Some things to note:
    -You can see the major differences between the lobes.
    -notice the high scoring sets of journals on each cam. All three cams have concentrated wear on only a few journals.
    -Wear is always significantly worse on the exhaust cam.
    -Note the TDC stamping differences on the cam block squares. The M52 is apart and the two S52s are together and offset to one side on both cams.
    -Part Number stamping is of absolutely no significance. The M52 intake cam and the new S52 intake cam both have the same part number stamped on them in the same place where as my old intake cam(S52) has a different number stamped elsewhere
    -Note the two different "BMW" stampings between my cam and the M52 and S52 cam
    -All three appear to be from the exact same casting IE no differences between the balance cutouts and the wrench flat section
    -The S52 Cams' squares' for the cam blocks appear trapezoidal, where as the M52 cam's is very square
    -The stamping on the intake cam is in the same location for all three, but this time the two S52 part numbers match, including the letter("178F","890G","178F")
    -All three intake cams have BMW stamped in the same location
    -The stamping on the intake cams near the block squares is different for all three("R1","R4","R2")
    -Also lastly notice the color differences between the three, the M52 cam is "bronzer" than the rest. This is prob caused by engine temps/oil choice between the motors and the fact that the bronze one was reciently run where as the other two have been sitting for a while

    More Pictures:
    http://picasaweb.google.com/davewmar...CamComparison#


    Exhaust















    Intake:














    460whp/515wtq wifes MMW tuned 335i

  2. #2
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    so that's how that works

  3. #3
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    nice Grassroots sitcker


    thread is full of win

    thanks!
    -Rich-


  4. #4
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    How much lift do the different cams make and any way to measure duration?
    1997 Byzanz M3 4 door 5 speed. (1 of 37 factory 5 speeds, 1 of 88 total produced)
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  5. #5
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    Planned on doing that tonight when I can steal a set of mics and a dial gauge
    460whp/515wtq wifes MMW tuned 335i

  6. #6
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    Quote Originally Posted by das borgen View Post
    nice Grassroots sitcker


    thread is full of win

    thanks!
    I think it's an a$$rot motorports sticker lol.

    OP, thanks for the great comparison shots!

  7. #7
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    dang those are so similar. hard to tell

  8. #8
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    Quote Originally Posted by 328iJunkie View Post
    -Note the TDC stamping differences on the cam block squares. The M52 is apart on the exhaust cam and together/offset on the intake cam, while the S52's are together/offset on the exhaust cam and apart on the intake cam.
    Fixed for ya.

    Very interesting stuff... thanks for documenting this.
    Last edited by turbosporttsi; 11-17-2010 at 07:23 PM.

  9. #9
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    Just got some schricks in. Will be taking some more pictures!
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  10. #10
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    ^^^^^^

    interested in seeing that.

  11. #11
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    Hopefully i can pick up another set of S52 cams to compare to in the next week or so, all i have sitting around right now are M52's
    460whp/515wtq wifes MMW tuned 335i

  12. #12
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    Quote Originally Posted by 328iJunkie View Post
    Planned on doing that tonight when I can steal a set of mics and a dial gauge
    awaiting this


  13. #13
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    Lobe shape looks like S52s have more duration (which makes sense).

  14. #14
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    would these happen to be familiar with me? lol

  15. #15
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    haha Yes the M52s are
    460whp/515wtq wifes MMW tuned 335i

  16. #16
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    you ever get a chance to compare the schricks and S52's?

  17. #17
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    In the process of installing a set of S52 cams in a customers motor and decided to finally update this thread:
    Big box o cams:


    M52->S52-->Schrick:












    Realshiz:

    Buncha Cams:
    460whp/515wtq wifes MMW tuned 335i

  18. #18
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    great to see this going strong. thanks OP.


    not enough people do this kind of stuff around here.

  19. #19
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    Is the ODB I and ODB II S52 cams the same? I notice a gear on the end for the Vanos system. Can this be removed and re-installed?

    I bought a set of S52 and just notice the gear attached to my M52 cam, but not on the S52.

    Thanks, Tim
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  20. #20
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    Its removable, and all S52 cams are OBD2
    460whp/515wtq wifes MMW tuned 335i

  21. #21
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    I've always wondered something but never really found info on it, maybe someone around here will answer...

    What about using a Schrick intake cam with the OEM intake cam in the exhaust spot?



  22. #22
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    s52 looks like more lift and duration than m52. schrick is even bigger. definitely the BMW cams are similar, the schrick looks substantially different.

  23. #23
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    me love my schrick's long time.


    that's a very interesting comparison to see, thanks for taking the time!

  24. #24
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    Any chance of dyno testing each set ??

  25. #25
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    Dave,
    Those lazy bastards at TDC finally uploaded the dyno charts on their website. Check it out and let me know what would benefit me getting the most power out of mine. I changed the plugs yesterday, and they looked like they hadn't been changed in 60k miles. (BKR6Es were put in 20k miles ago) Now, I wish I had changed 'em before taking the car to the dyno cuz car feels significantly smoother, and faster than before. Let me know when you have my parts in, and are ready to work on it.

    Later.

    http://tdcauto.6.forumer.com/viewtopic.php?t=3307

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