OBD1 VS. OBD2 what's the difference and what is in my car?

[trpremote]

Ok so I have a 97 328 m52b28. I keep hearing about obd1 and obd2 and what years are in what. My car being the last year for the body line(cept for the M that went till 2000) there is a certain things that make me question what I have. Like what is obd1 and 2?what is the difference?what is in my car. For that matter double and single vanos? What cars have single which have double?what classifies when a car got the double vanos. So many questions

[bluptgm3]

1992 - 1995 E36s were OBDI.
The Feds mandated OBDII for all MY 1996 vehicles.
Your US 1997 E36 328 is OBII, single VaNos. US E36 328s were produced from 1996 into 1999 production.
Late E36 Z3s were fit with Dual VaNos 2.8 and 3.0 M52TU engines, OBDII.
E46 were fit with M54 Dual VaNos engines, OBDII.

Pretty good decoder -

http://www.tuningforbmws.com/?q=bmw-engine-types

You can determine your part number requirement by entering the last seven digits of your VIN (found in the dash and on the “B”
Pillar of the drivers door) into www.realoem.com (E36 is in the ‘classic’ catalog) and perusing the diagrams.

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[spyderg0d]

Eh.. Only late model e36 z3 were fitted with m52tu. Other than that no e36 had a m52tu.
99 to 02 e46 got the m52tu and then the m54 in 03.

[trpremote]

What does the "tu" in "m52tu" mean?

[JDStrickland]

What does the "tu" in "m52tu" mean?

TU means Technical Update. VANOS is the term for Variable Valve Timing, early implementations varied the timing of one cam, the TU varies the timing of both cams.

[trpremote]

Ok I got u,I knew what vanos meant. The tu threw me off,I had heard the term before but didn't put 2 and 2 together of technical update and tu. So the tu was dual vanos. One of the things that confused me cuz I have a 97 328. Heard in a video 96 and up got it,but it was model specific(z3 only). So u really cleared things up. Next question I see the term m54b30 and m54b32. Are they the same motor or is one a 3.0 and one a 3.2(did only the euros get a 3.2)

[spyderg0d]

On m50 (original no valve timing) the technical update was variable camshaft timing on just the intake camshaft. On m52(came standard with intake variable camshaft timing) the technical update was the addition of variable camshaft timing of the exhaust camshaft..

Im not sure on whether euro got a 3.2l m54... But that is the proper terminology from technical standpoint.

Technically they would be the same engine, but different displacement.

[trpremote]

Actually got it figured I think. The m54b30 is what was in the e46 m3 from 98-02. In 2003 that's when the s54b32 came out

[bluptgm3]

Actually got it figured I think. The m54b30 is what was in the e46 m3 from 98-02. In 2003 that's when the s54b32 came out

All E46 M3s came with S54B32.
Also fit into late Z3M production and Z4M.


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[bluptgm3]

On m50 (original no valve timing) the technical update was variable camshaft timing on just the intake camshaft.

The 1993-1995 M50TUB25 2.5L added single VaNos and replaced non-VaNos M50B25 introduced in 1990 (- 1992).

On m52(came standard with intake variable camshaft timing) the technical update was the addition of variable camshaft timing of the exhaust camshaft.

The M52 2.8L continues as Single VaNos with OBDII engine management.

I’m not sure on whether euro got a 3.2l m54... But that is the proper terminology from technical standpoint.

Technically they would be the same engine, but different displacement.

The Euro E36M3 got a dual VaNos and individual throttle body intake 3.0L S50B30 and 3.2L S50B32 Evo.

Technically the US E36M3 engine designation are S50B30US for 1995M3 3.0L and S52B32US for 1996+M3 3.2L, both are single VaNos.


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[JDStrickland]

You are asking a few questions here, but the title question is, OBDI and OBDII are two engine management schemes, OBDI was used for cars before the 1996 model years (in the USA), and OBD II was used from 1996 and later. OBDII is the better management/diagnostic system, it provides greater granularity into what the engine is doing. EU spec cars get different cut-in dates for the change to OBDII, but this is not important to your question since you're in the States. OBDI does not have a specification as to where or how the diagnostic equipment is connected, OBDII specifies the shape and location of the connection, and gives a specification as to the structure of the codes that are presented. For example, P0301 always means that Cylinder 1 is having a misfire. P0308 means that Cylinder 8 is having a misfire, but if your car does not have 8 cylinders it will never make this code. P0174 means that the air/fuel mixture is lean (too much air), but the causes of this condition might be different from one make/model of car to the next. The code means the same thing, the cause of the code might be different. OBDI also has a code for lean, but it can be different for all cars, the code and the cause can be different. As a practical matter, lean is pretty easy to chase down, but you have to know what the code is for the condition on the specific car that is being worked on. If you were a mechanic, you need to know the code for lean on dozens of different makes of automobile, and sometimes different models within the same make, but with OBDII, P0171 and P0174 always means lean, P0171 is for Bank 1, and P0174 is for Bank 4, OBDI does not differentiate Bank 1 or Bank 2. All other things being equal, OBD II is the better car to buy. Yes, you can find a cream puff OBDI and pile of shit OBDII, but this makes all other things unequal.

[bluptgm3]

That said a late model OBDII car will contain more of the ‘rolling’ updates that occurred over the life of E36 production. Digital climate control, updated grill/grill surround, side door air bags, 3-spoke steering wheel (for M-Technic and “M” cars.....)


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[Eric93se]

Goggle is your friend grasshopper. Also few the Wikipedia page for the e36.

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Goggle is your friend grasshopper. Also view the Wikipedia page for the e36.

[trpremote]

When I come onto here it is because I've been looking for the info on google without luck

[bluptgm3]

Goggle is your friend grasshopper. Also few the Wikipedia page for the e36.

- - - Updated - - -

Goggle is your friend grasshopper. Also view the Wikipedia page for the e36.

Missed it twice - www.google.com…


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[MParallel]

And for the record, every EU spec E36 is OBDI. We never got OBDII.

M54B32 is an engine that does not exist.

The M50 with vanos, M52(tu) and M54 (and S50B30US, S52B32) have 2-step variable vanos unit.

Only the EU E36 M3 3.0 and 3.2 have stepless variable vanos. With the 3.2 being the first BMW to have double vanos.

[spyderg0d]

What do you mean by stepless?

[gdavid]

What do you mean by stepless?

The vanos on the s50US, s52, m50tub25 and m52 engines are all or nothing, it changes by the full 22 degrees. The later vanos systems can adjust partially. I don't know if this changed at the same time as dual vanos or when they went from m52tu to m54.

[MParallel]

What do you mean by stepless?

The non EU M/S5* designation engines have 2-position vanos units. At rpm x it rotates the cam(s) and at rpm y it moves the cam(s) back. So no in-between position from full ratard to full advanced and at set rpm's.

On the EU M3 units, the cam(s) can be set at any given rpm, at any given angle between full retard and full advanced.

That's why specially the 3.2 with its double vanos is a 2-faced powerplant. It has the power up, while at the same time, being a very tractable town commuter.

It makes 350nm @ 3250rpm, with 300nm available from 2600-6200rpm. More power and torque at any given rpm compared to any other E36 model.

[MParallel]

The vanos on the s50US, s52, m50tub25 and m52 engines are all or nothing, it changes by the full 22 degrees. The later vanos systems can adjust partially. I don't know if this changed at the same time as dual vanos or when they went from m52tu to m54.

It changed to 'infinite' variable vanos with the EU E36 M3 32's S50B32.

And for non M3 models, with the M52TU unit.

(my other post is incorrect, the M52TU and M54 vanos are infinitely variable double VANOS.

I was mistaked with high vs low pressure units, which the S50B32 is (high pressure).

So to answer your question: both is true.

[trpremote]

Ok so I know clearly know the difference. But I have other questions from things I've seen. From my understand(and I'm prob wrong) a obd1 management system is a better system for adding chips(good chip not shit from ebay for 40 bux) and manually tune ur car. Where obd2 are better for diagnosing problems with the engine but harder so do the modifications to. Is this correct. I dont have engine plans later for this car. Small turbo(nothing major just want a lil pep in my step),m50 intake ,and all this will b going on either a rebuilt stroked block or in a perfect world s54b32 or m52b30. So what system is better when looking to do extensive work like that

[R.Thomas]

Your 1997 328 is already OBD2 so I see no need to convert to OBD1, which would require you to change the entire engine harness. OBD1 was preferred for tuning in the early 2000's since it was "easier" and cheaper at the time. Now most tuners prefer OBD2 for tuning the stock DME (computer).

[JDStrickland]

Ok so I know clearly know the difference. But I have other questions from things I've seen. From my understand(and I'm prob wrong) a obd1 management system is a better system for adding chips(good chip not shit from ebay for 40 bux) and manually tune ur car. Where obd2 are better for diagnosing problems with the engine but harder so do the modifications to. Is this correct. I dont have engine plans later for this car. Small turbo(nothing major just want a lil pep in my step),m50 intake ,and all this will b going on either a rebuilt stroked block or in a perfect world s54b32 or m52b30. So what system is better when looking to do extensive work like that

I think you are mistaken on tuning OBD1 vs OBD2. It may have been true once upon a time, but OBD2 has been around for 20+ years, I'm certain any drawbacks it once had have been resolved. Since you have an OBD 2 car, you cannot make it into an OBD 1 and still get past the smog station when they tell you to. You have the M52 engine now, so you really want to keep it for no other reason than making your own personal Frankenstein will drive you crazy some day.

[trpremote]

I think you are mistaken on tuning OBD1 vs OBD2. It may have been true once upon a time, but OBD2 has been around for 20+ years, I'm certain any drawbacks it once had have been resolved. Since you have an OBD 2 car, you cannot make it into an OBD 1 and still get past the smog station when they tell you to. You have the M52 engine now, so you really want to keep it for no other reason than making your own personal Frankenstein will drive you crazy some day.

So are u saying for sanity sake stroke out a m52 over buying a m54b32 swap. I just dont know if I can know there is a 330hp NA out there that will fit with doing it

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Your 1997 328 is already OBD2 so I see no need to convert to OBD1, which would require you to change the entire engine harness. OBD1 was preferred for tuning in the early 2000's since it was "easier" and cheaper at the time. Now most tuners prefer OBD2 for tuning the stock DME (computer).

Thank u.u answered EXACTLY what I needed

[JDStrickland]

So are u saying for sanity sake stroke out a m52 over buying a m54b32 swap.

I did not say that at all. What I said was that you don't want to make your OBD2 engine into OBD1.

The M52 is also a cast iron block, the M54 is aluminum. You can get a crank that's longer from the main bearing to the to the connecting rod journals, then get shorter connecting rods and pistons with the wrist pins in a different place, and easily pick up 0.2L, pushing your 3.0L motor to 3.2L or more, and not have to do any machine work. You get a 3.2L motor that takes all of the original sensors and computer programming. The crank and rods will increase the stroke to give more displacement. At the top of the stroke, the longer crank will make the pistons higher, but the the shorter rods will keep the pistons at the same place, the crank will pull the pistons down further and the shorter rods will make the down stroke longer. Together you get increased displacement. They make kits for this, you do not have to reinvent the wheel here.

I just dont know if I can know there is a 330hp NA out there that will fit with doing it

I don't even know what that means. It's not a complete sentence, and it's a different topic than what you asked about.