so im debating going with an s54 with top half done or s52 SC on a 98 4 door i just picked up. I've searched and read all the relevant prior threads. My question is has anyone gone s54 route and then wished they had gone s52 SC or vice versa?
the car will be used 100% as a daily driver and never on the track. The goal is to get as much reliable HP as possible.
i'll be doing a 6 speed either way.
thanks
Just go turbo;
https://www.bimmerforums.com/forum/s...Turbo-Part-Out
Yes, go turbo over supercharger on the S52. I'd go S54 only if you don't want that much power, want it to come in very predictably and slowly, and like to row the gears.
thanks. not sure turbo makes sense for me as i dont care much to get in the 400s for hp given the potential headaches/effort.
I was debating the same issue.... but felt I would be limited with a supercharger. So I decided to s54 swap which I bought the engine for it a month back and have been accumulating parts. I figured once I got used to the power I can supercharge the s54 and I'd be way ahead of a s52 supercharge.
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
()()===[][]===()()
I have had better reliability with the turbo than the supercharger but I was pushing the limits of the supercharger. What seems like a lot of power now may change after you get used to it. 400-500 rwhp turbo with cutring and spacer is the way to go.
Also consider buying a faster car. E90 335i with N54 are findable at $10k. E46M3 can be bought for $15k. E90M3 can be had for $25k.
I'll let you know on the S54 in about a month. But this totally depends on what kind of engine you prefer.
S54: High revving NA, race inspired technological beast. Instant power the moment the 6 ITB's are slapped open. 375 bhp easily attainable, more with cams and custom tuning etc.
Turbo: Awesome sounds, TORQUE, more HP potential. Less reliable than NA. Delay between gas pedal and what you feel.
SC: Kinda a hybrid mix of the 2 above, seems to be slightly less reliable than turbo from reading forums...?
Thanks - looking forward to hearing your feedback on the s54. Im an NA fan when it comes to my m3. I know there are faster cars to choose from but i have an emotional connection to the e36 m3
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
If money is no object and you want 8000 rpm and mild torque spend $10k on a modded S54 conversion. It's not the most bang for the buck but it's closest to the way the car was built in its best form -- obd2 Euro. I have a modded NA 08M3 limited at 8600 rpm and a turbo 99M3 limited at 7200 and I take the 99M3 whenever I can because the torque is so much fun -- it will run away from the 08M3. I drive each about 8k per year and put snows on both in winter.
Yeh ive always wanted a euro e36 so maybe worked s54 gets me to that
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
I bought my cars to drive. If I am not driving them, I am not enjoying them. I know some buy cars just to own and drive on special occasions while they drive a Honda or SUV most of the time, but that is not how I enjoy them. And when I get my Porsche 991TT, it will get snows as well in winter.
We have a couple of antiques -- a modded 2002 and a modded Bavaria that are not driven in winter. They aren't really driven at all any more and are waiting for someone to work on them but I don't have much interest.
Nice! I would like to see your classics one day especially the Bavaria! Back in the day Bob Marley and my Uncle both had Bavarias. I should ask my uncle if he still have it and also his e28 535M. Those cars are probably still at the garage rotting down to nothing like my dads 70's Mach 1. Lol.
Btw, sorry to jack the thread!
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
THE TIME DRAWS NEAR!
Having owned a modded s54 e36 m3(346whp/264wtq), sc'd m3(389whp/316wtq), and turbo'd m3(636whp/584wtq). The s54 had the most usable powerband if you like being able to have the car do everything from trackdays, drag racing, or just driving it to pick up groceries. Its not a cheap swap, but the least amount of issues when done right.
GG///M3, What was modified on the S54 engine to get those #s, airbox/cams/exhaust? Which cams did you use and was the exhaust custom or off the shelf parts? Thanks.
If you want a fun, fast, enjoyable car, and track classing/reliability is not a priority, go with S52 + FI. Especially if you live where smog laws aren't a major concern.
If track use is a priority, as is reliable constant power for your entire 30min on track, then S54. Or, S52 without FI, and treat yourself to $10k worth of track time/beer/whatever it is.
The basic theme here is that unless you just gotta have an S54 or the killer combo for your specific race class requires one, don't do it.
"Fear disturbs your concentration" -Sabine Schmit
1995 BMW M3/2/5-- S54 + Mk60 DSC, California Smog Legal (Build Thread)
1998 BMW M3/4/5 Alpine/Modena, Z3 Rack, otherwise stock-- DD without burbles
2017 Chevy SS, Orange Blast Metallic, 6MT -- DD with burbles
GG is doing a highly modded S52 E36 now. We will have to see where that slots in. Probably favorably on costs, but offering the least performance.
I don't agree. My turbo 99M3 has great response and great power in normal driving ranges. A properly set up system can make 200 lbs rwtq by about 2000 rpm, which is about the same torque as the peak torque of a stock S52. I have attached a dyno of one such car.
I do agree that throttle response with a turbo is not as measured as with natural aspiration, but the tremendous torque makes that OK with me. I have an 08M3 with 6MT as well that has a very nice naturally aspirated motor that revs to 8600, but I think its response is pretty slow in normal driving ranges. You have to beat the crap out of it and really work the gears to drive it fast and mine is modded to about 400 rwhp. Maybe some of you consider 5500-8500 rpm to be normal driving range, but I can drive my turbo 99M3 around in the 2500-4500 rpm range and make more power. I drive them each about 8k miles per year.
“If liberty means anything at all, it means the right to tell people what they do not want to hear.”
― George Orwell
Last edited by GG///M3; 10-24-2017 at 10:32 PM.
“If liberty means anything at all, it means the right to tell people what they do not want to hear.”
― George Orwell
Bookmarks