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Thread: S54 transplant - any issues beyond the S52?

  1. #1
    Join Date
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    S54 transplant - any issues beyond the S52?

    I’m looking to do an engine conversion on my 1998 318ti, (factory M suspension, California Sunroof) which has great sentimental value to me. I'll be converting from the L4 1.9L with Getrag 5 speed to a M3 engine transplant. I’ve been considering the M3 S52B32 3.2L engine produced from 1994-2000 which is the well-travelled path described in detail in this most-excellent post, 240 HP, 236 ft-lb.

    However, has anyone had any experience converting the 318ti to a 2000-2006 3.2L S54B32 M3 engine rated at 333 HP, 262 ft-lb? Will the existing engine mounts be in the right places, will the Getrag manual transmission from the 318ti bolt up with appropriate clutch/flywheel updates, will the engine oil sump fit over the undercarriage parts, and are there any unusual conversion issues if I want to go with the higher horsepower engine? I understand the S54 also has an electronic throttle which means I would have to get that from the donor car. Online postings are focused on S50 and S52 engines, so I’m wondering if there is an issue with the S54. I realize I may have to get an M3 transmission before its over with that much power, but I want to do it in steps.

    I will also bring along with the transplant engine the wiring harness, intake and exhaust manifolds, ECU/DME, cruise control actuator from the M3 and 6 cylinder tach from a wrecked car. A new exhaust will also be in the mix.

    Why settle for 240 HP and 236 ft lb if I can get 333 HP and 262 ft lb since I'm going to all the trouble? Would appreciate some insight if anyone has already been down this path!

  2. #2
    Join Date
    Apr 2015
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    An S52 swap will cost around $2000-2500. An S54 swap will cost around $10-12k or maybe even more.

    For the cost of an S54 swap you could have a built S52 turbo

    Sent from my VS987 using Tapatalk
    Last edited by XnWarden; 09-01-2018 at 09:09 PM.

  3. #3
    Join Date
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    I agree with the financial analysis. S52 turbo will give you 500 rwhp and 500 lbs rwtq no problem on 93 pump with stock ECU tuned. Been turbo 8 years. Modded N/A S52 will give 240 rwhp for $2k or 270 rwhp for $4k. Turbo is bang for the buck.

  4. #4
    Join Date
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    S54 E36 M3, E32 740il
    Quote Originally Posted by pbonsalb View Post
    I agree with the financial analysis. S52 turbo will give you 500 rwhp and 500 lbs rwtq no problem on 93 pump with stock ECU tuned. Been turbo 8 years. Modded N/A S52 will give 240 rwhp for $2k or 270 rwhp for $4k. Turbo is bang for the buck.
    What has your experience with turbos been? My major hangup is heat soak. I daily my car, but occasionally do a DE as well, and I have major reservations about heat management - especially considering I live in Texas.

    I don't know if I'm more worried about running on track at 100 degrees or sitting idle in traffic at 115, but the heat is what's always stopped me from even thinking about it.

  5. #5
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    I have no heat issues but don’t track. Much cooler than my intercooled supercharger was. I don’t even run an oil cooler. You’d have to ask a track guy. Chikinhed has about 650 rwhp and tracks his. It is true the throttle response with a turbo is not linear and is less predictable than NA. An S54 would be easier to drive. For the money you are thinking about dumping in a 20-25 year old E36, you could add a little and buy an E46M3 or E92 M3. I have an E90M3 and it’s throttle certainly is predictable—but boring compared to the turbo E36M3.

    If money is not the issue and you love your E36, do the S54. It is a great engine for the chassis.
    Last edited by pbonsalb; 09-03-2018 at 02:24 PM.

  6. #6
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    I'd go the s52 route cheaper and more hp upgrade options available, supercharger, turbo ect. Currently doing a s52 swap on a 318Ti for a customer, as of now everything pretty much bolts up and harness plugs in like stock so not too bad. Only real issue I see is the rear subframe/ body ripping out as it wasn't meant for the extra hp from the s52 or even a s54, the stock 318 diff wont hold either. My friend did the same s52 swap on his 318Ti but he's an engineer so made a custom rear subframe that's welded to the chassis rails and now uses a e36 m3 differential a bit overkill but he's had no issues since then (would definitely need this if going the s54 route or boosted s52) . Feel free to PM me if you have any questions on the s52 Ti swap.. As for the s54 it is a bit more expensive and has a bit more work to it, also maintenance is a bit more pricy (vanos unit, valve adjustments, ect)

  7. #7
    Join Date
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    S54 E36 M3, E32 740il
    Quote Originally Posted by pbonsalb View Post
    I have no heat issues but don’t track. Much cooler than my intercooled supercharger was. I don’t even run an oil cooler. You’d have to ask a track guy. Chikinhed has about 650 rwhp and tracks his. It is true the throttle response with a turbo is not linear and is less predictable than NA. An S54 would be easier to drive. For the money you are thinking about dumping in a 20-25 year old E36, you could add a little and buy an E46M3 or E92 M3. I have an E90M3 and it’s throttle certainly is predictable—but boring compared to the turbo E36M3.

    If money is not the issue and you love your E36, do the S54. It is a great engine for the chassis.
    I just finished pulling the heads and replacing the lifters and HGs in my Escalade, and I'm just trying to decide what I want to do with my car next. I love it, and I have mixed feelings about adding power. I'm fairly certain I'd rather keep the e36 and upgrade it than get a newer, heavier, more complicated car.

    I can go modest and finish the bolt-on process with the S52 (need cams, injectors, and 3.5" MAF - and would probably do the RHD ITBs also at some point) and be relatively close to a Euro motor without all the headaches.

    An S54 is a lot of work, and close to $10k when all is said and done - for only around 80 more hp (and being optimistic).

    Or I can do an LS3 for similar (or less) money, work, weight - and almost double the power. I looked into all the options when I was afraid I'd have to open the bottom end on the Escalade, and a 600 hp cam is about $120 and a weekend to install. You can change valve springs and roller rockers in an hour or two. And you don't have rod bearing and vanos issues, or even a valve adjustment you have to do.

    Every time I think about it I feel sorry the Europeans are taxed on displacement (and feel a little sorry for myself, too!).

    I've never really had turbo on the table, but for the cost / hassle it's certainly attractive.

    And at the end of the day, as it stands I can rip at full throttle through 1st and most of second quickly enough it's still fun and without getting myself thrown in jail. I'd have to exercise a lot more constraint if I did some of these things, and I don't know that I'd be any happier than I am right now.

    -Josh: 1998 S54 E36 M3/4/6 with most of the easy stuff and most of the hard stuff. At least twice. 271k miles. 1994 E32 740il with nothing but some MPars. 93k miles.

  8. #8
    Join Date
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    Best bang for the buck would be an M52B28 with some tuning done to it.. It would already make a big difference to the 318ti. And lots of fun.
    Next, $1000-1500 more expensive, the S50 and S52.. And like written above, the S54 a lot more expensive and more complex to install (electronics).

    Every time I think about it I feel sorry the Europeans are taxed on displacement (and feel a little sorry for myself, too!).
    Bit off topic:
    I think during the time E36s were produced in Germany, the cars were taxed on horses, which is (one of the reasons) why the 323i and 328i were so downtuned.
    In Spain and France it's based on fiscal horsepower, which in the end comes down to displacement. For Italy, at the end of the eighties, BMW developed the E30 320is (2000cc M3, same horses) because they had a major fiscal threshold at 2000cc.
    In the Netherlands, it's based on weight and type of fuel.. My E36 323i would cost like 500-600 euro a year in road tax, while my ex E34 525i costed like 900 euro a year. With a diesel you can almost double the tax (for example E34 525tds, or E39 525d), so about 1800 euro a year. In the Scandinavian countries, (very socialist countries) it's even (a lot) worse, and they tax you excessively for driving fast cars. And then we're not talking about the gasoline prices yet ;-) (1.80 euro a liter currently in the Netherlands).

    Here in Spain I only pay 130-150 euro a year (up to 2800cc cars; depends a bit on the town you live in), so that's acceptable. And a 318is would probably only cost 60-80 euro. Euro M3 300-350 euro or more. Here on the island (Spanish Canary islands which have some fiscal freedom and low taxes on fuel) gasoline is 1.00 euro per liter (used to be 0.80 per liter a year ago).
    Last edited by ed323i; 09-05-2018 at 08:46 PM.


    1997 E36 BMW 323i
    (European) 275k km (171k miles), with following small mods:

  9. #9
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    Thanks for your reply and all the others who chimed in. I had a line on a well-maintained S54 motor in a wrecked car for not much more than the S52, but someone else beat me to it. Just as well, as the S52 route does seem to be a better match for a decent HP boost without a lot of complications, and less cost but still some good options for boost later. I have a very nice 318ti and the S52 meets my needs. Now on the hunt for the donor motor. Will report back when the swap occurs.

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