M50B25 vs M50TUB25 -> M50B30 stroker

[Mixzzz]

So I'm in the process of making my own e34. I bought an e34 525tds from Spain without rust but I don't like diesels so I'm going to swap the engine(ok, im pretty much disassembling the car completely to do a lot of stuff). For now I want a 2.5 liter M50 but I'm going to turn it in to 3 liter stroker but I'm not sure which one of the engines I should start off with - M50B25 or M50TUB25. I kind of like the idea of having Vanos due to earlier torque curve and Im going to be driving it daily after all but some say that NV is better for modding...Your input on this?

[zkd]

I would go for a M52B28, it's basically the same as M50B25 but with higher torque and aluminum block rather than cast iron. so it's lighter. it did make a lot of difference to me, and all the electronics and inlet manifold are M50B25.

[Mixzzz]

True but I rather have iron block because I may boost it in the future + m52b28 costs more and is usually in worse condition.

Sent from my SM-G900F using Tapatalk

[4dri4n]

True but I rather have iron block because I may boost it in the future + m52b28 costs more and is usually in worse condition.

Sent from my SM-G900F using Tapatalk

Yup thats true. But considering the work involved you could just swap an m52b28 and run like that for a while. Meanwhile you can spend time building the s50 clone... and still enjoy driving the e34.

Here we have m52's coming from e39's for 800€... that is not expensive.

- - - Updated - - -

I would go for a M52B28, it's basically the same as M50B25 but with higher torque and aluminum block rather than cast iron. so it's lighter. it did make a lot of difference to me, and all the electronics and inlet manifold are M50B25.

How was the difference before and after? Can you explain a little bit?

What Im missing about my m50 is a little bit more of pull at 2k rpms. Is a little bit gutless sometimes. If it had at 2K the same pull it has at 4K it would be great. Maybe Im asking for a lot, but well...
Considering the price of an m52, its not a bad choice at all. Of course I prefer the iron block of the m50 and stroke it but...

[Mixzzz]

800e in my country isn't a small sum at all I can get the full e34 m50 set with wires, gearbox for 400e

Sent from my SM-G900F using Tapatalk

[4dri4n]

800e in my country isn't a small sum at all I can get the full e34 m50 set with wires, gearbox for 400e

Sent from my SM-G900F using Tapatalk

Well, you said you bought it from Spain... A cheap TDS is about 1000/1500€... A cheap 525i here is about 2000€... a good exampl, M-tech and full of bits is about 4000€. I paid that for mine. An m50b25tu is about 700/800 € aswell, and a m54b30 is usually about twice as that. So considering that, 800€ for an m52 is cheap for me. Maybe I will go and search engines to your country cause I was specting to spend much more... >.<

[zkd]

How was the difference before and after? Can you explain a little bit?

What Im missing about my m50 is a little bit more of pull at 2k rpms. Is a little bit gutless sometimes. If it had at 2K the same pull it has at 4K it would be great. Maybe Im asking for a lot, but well...
Considering the price of an m52, its not a bad choice at all. Of course I prefer the iron block of the m50 and stroke it but...

Considering that I have an Automatic that little more pull (which is not that little believe me) made all the difference when pulling out. also there is less weight since a touring already weighs more than a sedan, and I got this one from a car that had 30K km on the clock, so it was virtually new. and I got it for $700.

I used all the electronics, wire harness, the valve cover and the inlet manifold of the M50.

[Mixzzz]

Well, you said you bought it from Spain... A cheap TDS is about 1000/1500€... A cheap 525i here is about 2000€... a good exampl, M-tech and full of bits is about 4000€. I paid that for mine. An m50b25tu is about 700/800 € aswell, and a m54b30 is usually about twice as that. So considering that, 800€ for an m52 is cheap for me. Maybe I will go and search engines to your country cause I was specting to spend much more... >.<

It was actually 500e It's missing front doors and trunk because the seller bought it to part it out - he had already sold the trunk and took the front doors for his 540i touring.

Sent from my SM-G900F using Tapatalk

[Mixzzz]

I would go for a M52B28, it's basically the same as M50B25 but with higher torque and aluminum block rather than cast iron. so it's lighter. it did make a lot of difference to me, and all the electronics and inlet manifold are M50B25.

Actually according to mywikimotors.com the weight difference is 23-33kg imo thats not much. What got me thinking today is that m54b30 has aluminum block and Im going to use those internals to stroke the m50. But I'm not sure about the piston rings. You see - m54 piston rings are for aluminum block and I feel like they might wear down fast in the M50 but I cant use the m50 rings because theyre 1.5-1.5-2mm thick but m54 has 1.2-1.5-2mm. I also watched some video today stating that m54 oil scraping ring is shit due 2in1 design. He used m52 ring instead of the m54 which lasts longer. Now Im not sure about anything anymore lol

[4dri4n]

Actually according to mywikimotors.com the weight difference is 23-33kg imo thats not much. What got me thinking today is that m54b30 has aluminum block and Im going to use those internals to stroke the m50. But I'm not sure about the piston rings. You see - m54 piston rings are for aluminum block and I feel like they might wear down fast in the M50 but I cant use the m50 rings because theyre 1.5-1.5-2mm thick but m54 has 1.2-1.5-2mm. I also watched some video today stating that m54 oil scraping ring is shit due 2in1 design. He used m52 ring instead of the m54 which lasts longer. Now Im not sure about anything anymore lol

M54 has iron liners despite beeing an aluminum block so you will have no problem with it. M52 however, in Europe, have nikasil cylinder coating so it wil not work with the m50 block.

You should have picked up a 520i instead. You would have spent maybe 500 € more with it, but you would have the whole car not just half of it. And a good base for a direct swap.

Good luck with it! Im hoping you finish it!

[Mixzzz]

M54 has iron liners despite beeing an aluminum block so you will have no problem with it. M52 however, in Europe, have nikasil cylinder coating so it wil not work with the m50 block.

You should have picked up a 520i instead. You would have spent maybe 500 € more with it, but you would have the whole car not just half of it. And a good base for a direct swap.

Good luck with it! Im hoping you finish it!

It was a one time chance really. I didn't buy the car from Spain directly. Some guy already had it here is Latvia And most of the cars here have major rust issues due to salt on the roads in winter. buying the car from Spain myself probably would have cost a lot more

[4dri4n]

It was a one time chance really. I didn't buy the car from Spain directly. Some guy already had it here is Latvia And most of the cars here have major rust issues due to salt on the roads in winter. buying the car from Spain myself probably would have cost a lot more

Yeah thats true... lots of people people come here to Spain from Europe to purchase classic cars because of that. A friend of mine recently sold a mini cooper 1.3 mpi for 15K € to a French guy. Great deal.
My e34 was from the south of Spain and it is totally rust free. Thats a major thing when it comes to value.

[Mixzzz]

Yeah thats true... lots of people people come here to Spain from Europe to purchase classic cars because of that. A friend of mine recently sold a mini cooper 1.3 mpi for 15K € to a French guy. Great deal.
My e34 was from the south of Spain and it is totally rust free. Thats a major thing when it comes to value.

It seems that I'm picking up a e36 328i for 500e I could get a quite good engine from 528iA for 400e but then I need to get the gearbox, flywheel and clutch kit which would be out of my budget in the end.

Also if I would have gotten a 520i, it wouldn't have made any difference because it would still have the low speedo and the weaker rear subframe and it would have required the same amount of work almost

Which ECU do you think I should use? 413 or MS41? Currently the 328i has ms40.1 because originally it was 320i...

Sent from my SM-G900F using Tapatalk

[4dri4n]

It seems that I'm picking up a e36 328i for 500e I could get a quite good engine from 528iA for 400e but then I need to get the gearbox, flywheel and clutch kit which would be out of my budget in the end.

Also if I would have gotten a 520i, it wouldn't have made any difference because it would still have the low speedo and the weaker rear subframe and it would have required the same amount of work almost

Which ECU do you think I should use? 413 or MS41? Currently the 328i has ms40.1 because originally it was 320i...

Sent from my SM-G900F using Tapatalk

An m52b28 is a very good choice!

However I like the m50 block better because is made from cast iron and well... its better. Aluminum blocks have expiracy date. Iron blocks can withstand many new honing processes and overbore pistons without problem.
However, while I build my M50 block, I think it is a good idea to get the m52b28 to work with ms41 and so.
Cheap stuff over there... I will have to spend tons of money to get my car to look and drive how I really want...

[Mixzzz]

An m52b28 is a very good choice!

However I like the m50 block better because is made from cast iron and well... its better. Aluminum blocks have expiracy date. Iron blocks can withstand many new honing processes and overbore pistons without problem.
However, while I build my M50 block, I think it is a good idea to get the m52b28 to work with ms41 and so.
Cheap stuff over there... I will have to spend tons of money to get my car to look and drive how I really want...

We earn a lot less as well... I think I might pickup a m50b20 block when I'm going to do the b30 stroker just because you can bore it to the exact piston size

Sent from my SM-G900F using Tapatalk

[4dri4n]

We earn a lot less as well... I think I might pickup a m50b20 block when I'm going to do the b30 stroker just because you can bore it to the exact piston size

Sent from my SM-G900F using Tapatalk

Yup thats true! In fact actually I was thinking a few days ago, it would be a great deal to pick up some trashed m52b28tu (which are made from aluminum), and use crank and rods to increase displacement of m50b20 blocks and sell them as refurbished units for b25 users or people who want to go a step further with their e30 or 320i e36 or so...

I think they would be sold quite well...