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Thread: E46 Wagon 3.0 turbo???

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    E46 Wagon 3.0 turbo???

    So I need a four door and have to sell my 95 M3turbo sucks...But I have to have a family friendly car...

    I found a E46Wagon. from what I found it looks like an M56 3.0 motor will bolt righ in and the ecu will just plug in from the M56 into the wagon...

    Anyone know if the M54/M56 uses the same exhaust manifold bolt pattern as an M50/M52 engine from what I found it looks the same. Just curious if anyone has test fit an M56 motor (might I add they are all aluminum)

    I may get a wagon for a turbo project. i think I figured out how to tune it unless Nick G can do it that be nice!

    goal if I do it ....M56 six speed turbo wagon
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    whats an m56?



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    Its the all aluminum 3.0 motor the 330i uses the 2.5 motor is called an m54
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    It goes M54 then M56, the M56 is as he says a aluminum block and head combo + it has emissions crap crammed into every location ever.

    I'd swap that S50 3.0L from the M3 into the wagon and save some money. I am guessing you have no emissions so no need to make the swap pretty or law bitting.

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    I was under the impression that the 3L e46 motor was the M54B30, and the 2.5 is the M54B25



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    M54s are the 2.5 and the 3.0s. M56 is a 2.5 SULEV engine. Only real differences in the engine is they have a metal valve cover instead of plastic, stainless fuel and vapor lines, and a few other minor differences. DMEs are different.

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    Quote Originally Posted by ProjectP View Post
    M54s are the 2.5 and the 3.0s. M56 is a 2.5 SULEV engine. Only real differences in the engine is they have a metal valve cover instead of plastic, stainless fuel and vapor lines, and a few other minor differences. DMEs are different.
    The M56 uses the same cam trays as an S52 and the head blank looks identical. the bore on the M56 is 84 mm vs the S52 87mm the crank is about the same as the S52. The N54 (335 turbo motor) is a derivative of the M56 motor. For a boosted application the extra 6mm of bore spacing makes the engine much more reliable. I am going to buy a head gasket for both and compare the heads my guess is the M56 long block will bolt to a S52 head with single vanos. Giving you a 3.0 aluminum motor...think 70 lbs out of the nose of your car....

    However for a wagon you can just drop the 56 and take the M54 out.

    The ECU is the same minus a diffrent tune. the part numbers are the same minus the last number, in BMW this normally means the only change is the program...

    So if I get a wagon I am going to try the M56 swap and turbo it with my six speed tranny and find a 3.46 lsd from a 325i auto...factory hot rod gearing..

    I even checked all the diff ratios available for an E46. HUGE! 2.93, 3.15, 3.38, 3.46, 3.64 all came in various E46 cars depending on the engine/tranny and option package the car had.

    I'm not sure if I am going to build a wagon or not but i just wanted to research it before I took the idea any farther. If I end up with the 94 325i when my wife gets a new car i will try and build a M56/M50 single vanos all aluminum motor for her car to turbo...

    Its intresting since a few guys have built hybrid motors already trying to get the smaller bore spacing for saftey
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    Why would you do an M56 swap into a car with an M54? If anything, swap in a bigger M54 or run it as is. The M54 is also an aluminum block.

    Different ECU part numbers means a different ECU (In this case MS43 vs. MS45.1). BMW changes the program without changing the part number if they're actually the same ECU. Note that the e46 330i (M54B30) and the e46 325i (M54B25) have the same ECU part numbers.

    And for the record, the bore spacing is the same on every BMW small 6 since the M20 (100mm? It's close to that). It's measured between the center of the bores. You're thinking of the distance between the edges of the cylinders... not sure of the technical term for that.
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    Quote Originally Posted by Matt View Post
    Why would you do an M56 swap into a car with an M54? If anything, swap in a bigger M54 or run it as is. The M54 is also an aluminum block.

    Different ECU part numbers means a different ECU (In this case MS43 vs. MS45.1). BMW changes the program without changing the part number if they're actually the same ECU. Note that the e46 330i (M54B30) and the e46 325i (M54B25) have the same ECU part numbers.

    And for the record, the bore spacing is the same on every BMW small 6 since the M20 (100mm? It's close to that). It's measured between the center of the bores. You're thinking of the distance between the edges of the cylinders... not sure of the technical term for that.
    The bore spacing might be the same but the bore is not. Big difference in 87 and 84 mm bores. I thought I looked up the 3.0 as an M56 not M54. The M54B25 to the M54b30 thats what I was talking about doing, swapping in a 3.0 motor and ECU.

    So you are saying all you need is an M54b30 and the ECu and its a plug and play? So to speak...

    I checked the ECU part numbers and they showed diffrent minus the last number. I assume it was programing change only betweenthe 2.5 and 3.0

    If i end up with the 94 325i I am going to try and build a motor using a M54b30 and an M50 head since the cam carriers are the same and the head casting looks idential. May or may not work i dont know anyone who has tried it yet. Knocking off 60-70lbs and then adding a turbo should make the car about like stock weight wise..

    I just like the E46 wagon they look nice whith some wheels and a ZHP front bumper

    we drove one this week that i may buy but they won't come off the price..I found another one that is much nicerin WA...800 to truck it down...Wife mobile..

    Or we may end up with two wagons if I get the other five speeder I was looking at THAT would then be the new track/daily driver toy...be kinda funny hauling around road atlanta in a turbo wagon
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    Get the headgaskets and I think you'll see why it won't work. I know I've seen this discussed before and someone told us why it won't work.

    The M54 B30/B25 swap should be cake. The same ECU, just needs a re-flash. Or swap ECUs and re-align the EWS.

    I would probably just get the wagon and get a NickG turbo kit and call it a day.

    IMHO, e46 wagons are not that fun to drive. Great for hauling stuff (3 M10 motors at once one time...) not so great to drive fast.
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    Unfortunatly at this point in life I have to "haul stuff" So I need the hauler. It sucks going to the grocery store with a baby, stroller, wife and a e36 325..not much space left to stack crap.

    Yeah I thought about the Nick G kit

    I talked to james Clay about the track Wagon he told me he has 900lb rear springs.
    Gary Gray



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    Gary, I'm not quite sure I'm following about the engine/ECU swap that you're talking about.

    All 3.0 E46 engines were of the M54 variety. The M56 was a 2.5L SULEV emissions variant. The 3.0 M54, whether using the MS43 or MS45 computer system, is very much turbocharger capable

    Furthermore, the M52TU/M54 and M50/M52/S50/S52 cylinder heads are completely incompatible. Don't bother wasting your money buying head gaskets, as the mating surface between head and block on the M52TU/M54 vs M50-family is different.
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    Quote Originally Posted by NickG View Post
    Gary, I'm not quite sure I'm following about the engine/ECU swap that you're talking about.

    All 3.0 E46 engines were of the M54 variety. The M56 was a 2.5L SULEV emissions variant. The 3.0 M54, whether using the MS43 or MS45 computer system, is very much turbocharger capable

    Furthermore, the M52TU/M54 and M50/M52/S50/S52 cylinder heads are completely incompatible. Don't bother wasting your money buying head gaskets, as the mating surface between head and block on the M52TU/M54 vs M50-family is different.
    Yeah I got the motors confused...Bummer I could see a singel vanos all aluminum motor..

    If I get a wagon more than likely I will turbo it...something about a turbo six speed wagon sounds cool...

    The one I made an offer on is a perfect car. NO sunroof (Gary's head won't hit the headliner) highhhhh miler 250k I offerd the guy trade for it 4500 I figure he won't take it...

    When are you going tohave the E46 turbo kits ready? And how much power do they make?
    Gary Gray



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    If you want a single vanos all aluminum just get an M52 from a Z3 and do whatever you want to make the displacement. s52 crank with 84mm bore will do a little over 3 liters. Then you'd have an all aluminum single vanos 3 liter. I'd sleeve it though, for rigidity and reliability, personally. But then you're talking getting into a pretty serious engine build.

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    Quote Originally Posted by 5mall5nail5 View Post
    If you want a single vanos all aluminum just get an M52 from a Z3 and do whatever you want to make the displacement. s52 crank with 84mm bore will do a little over 3 liters. Then you'd have an all aluminum single vanos 3 liter. I'd sleeve it though, for rigidity and reliability, personally. But then you're talking getting into a pretty serious engine build.
    yeah I already know about that set up. I saw one back in 1999 at Gateway tech Pete Mchenry had one there. the block looked amazing it had all kind of reinforcments inside and a grank girdle to stiffen the bottom end. I think they are already sleeved.

    I may build one for the E36 325 if I end up with it..

    Right now I really don't know what car I am going to end up with. If I get the wagon I won't have the E36 If I don't get the wagonI'll have the E36 and the wife will have a wagon....

    Personally I'd like both but it doesn't work that way...I have to cut the fleet down to a managable number... oh well...
    Gary Gray



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    Quote Originally Posted by GGray View Post
    yeah I already know about that set up. I saw one back in 1999 at Gateway tech Pete Mchenry had one there. the block looked amazing it had all kind of reinforcments inside and a grank girdle to stiffen the bottom end. I think they are already sleeved.

    I may build one for the E36 325 if I end up with it..

    Right now I really don't know what car I am going to end up with. If I get the wagon I won't have the E36 If I don't get the wagonI'll have the E36 and the wife will have a wagon....

    Personally I'd like both but it doesn't work that way...I have to cut the fleet down to a managable number... oh well...
    This may sound like blasphemy, but what about a WRX turbo wagon? I miss my Outback Sport

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    Quote Originally Posted by kendogg View Post
    This may sound like blasphemy, but what about a WRX turbo wagon? I miss my Outback Sport

    ALthough I like subaru, my dad has a Legacy wagon. ANd I have hot rodded a few WRX's for buddies...

    I just can't bear to drive one, they just don't drive the same... I am a hardcore BMW guy. Occasionally I stray and buy a Miata to play with but other than that it has to have a roundel on the hood

    Good choice though a WRX wagon is a neat car.
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    Would a m54 from a 530i just bolt on to an e46 that has an m56 in it?

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    Wow....that is an impressive 11 year old thread bump!

    The M54 and M56 are the same engine, but with different valve cover, emissions system, and fuel pump control.

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