Euro s52b30 head?

[Revshift]

ive searched for this info but i cant really find anything. basically, i have read that the american s52b32 block is the same as the euro s52b30 block aside from the cylinder bore. my question is this: can i get a euro b30 head and put it on my b32 short block? what is the parts interchangeability of the two engines? my understanding is that the american b32 has less power than the b30 mainly because of the differences in the cylinder head. obviously, compression ratios can be a factor but that can be corrected with machining and other little tricks. i basically want to get 320+ hp out of my s52b32 without boliting on non-bmw engine parts. a cylinder head swap seems like the most likely thing to do here. im not talking about exhaust or the typical stuff, im strictly referring to the engine. i dont want to swap a euro motor in because i would like to retain the 3.2 liters and i dont want to spend 10 grand on a new motor when i have a perfectly working one already. any information you guys can provide will be greatly appreciated.

[Caligula]

Nonono, there is nothing interchangeable about the heads on the Euro spec S50B32 and the US spec S52. Double VANOS, completely different valvetrains and port dimensions, intake manifold and fuel injection system. Except for the hardware, there is nothing you can swap on those engines.

[Revshift]

i see, so what is the main differences that make the b30 produce 310 hp and the b32 produce 240 hp? as far as i know in the euro b30 its the larger intake manifold runners, the slightly larger cams, larger ports in the head, and a slightly higher compression ratio. is this correct or have i been misinformed?

[Jrock]

The individual throttle bodies and that intake manifold are pretty hardcore gains over the US models, somethin like 25 or 30 hp. It kinda sucks that the US e36 m-engines are the only m-engines that don't have that. There are even some people that do not believe the US e36 m3 to be a "real M-car" because of this. But anyway other than that everything adds up ya know. No cats, better headers, hotter cams, double vanos, Not nearly as strict emissions laws make a huge difference in the way you can tune a car.

[Revshift]

wow, considering all of that it kind of makes sense to just do a euro engine swap. but last i checked it usually costs about 10k to do it properly. and that is if you do all the work yourself. i could be wrong though.

[Caligula]

i see, so what is the main differences that make the b30 produce 310 hp and the b32 produce 240 hp? as far as i know in the euro b30 its the larger intake manifold runners, the slightly larger cams, larger ports in the head, and a slightly higher compression ratio. is this correct or have i been misinformed?

The US S50 and S52 are simply beefed up versions of the M50 and M52, both produce 240hp and 225 and 240ftlb of torque respectively. The S50B30 and S50B32, are completely different and produce 286 and 321hp respectively.

Read this more more info:
http://www.bmwmregistry.com/model_faq.php?id=14

[Revshift]

so basically the US s52 sucks and i should just get on England's ebay and buy a s50 3.2 liter evo engine? i think this might be the best way to go about it since i can get them for about $1600 euros and then all i have to do is freshen it up and install it. mmm, itb's...

sorry about my mislabeling, i now realize that the two euro motors are s50's.

[Jrock]

I wouldn't say it sucks. In the way of maintenance it is less costly and also an easier car to work on. The US cars are still super fun to drive. They are definitely not as fast as their euro brothers though. The euro's might be a bit more agile as well (in stock forms any way). Man a full euro conversion would be crazy expensive. You could get a descent turbo setup on your car for cheaper than the cost of the euro setup AND you would have a faster car! Or you might as well just get an e46 m3 (that would do it)!

[Revshift]

just a euro motor. my trans will bolt up, i will probably need the euro ecu and harness. everything else should be fine, im a fabricator so if i need to make my own brackets and mounts its no problem. i would make my own headers and intake plumbing. am i missing anything major?

i do not want to turbo my M3, i have done too many turbo builds and i just want a nice strong reliable naturally aspirated fun car that i can take up to the store or go out racing around with on the weekend.

[Jrock]

A complete euro m3 motor for 1600 euros? That seems really cheap. If you can get one for that I'd say do it.

[Revshift]

there are a few of them on ebay.co.uk right now. of course shipping to the US would be a good amount of money but im thinking i could get one for 2000 to 2500 euros shipped which would be roughly $2800 - $3500 american.

[Jrock]

Man! Now you got me thinkin about gettin one! Damn it...

[Volfinator]

If you can pull that off you'll be in business!