M50 Manifold Conversion - HELP!

[Rob J]

Hello,

After a bit of searching on the forums, as far as I can see, every post about completing an M50 manifold conversion on an E36 328i (the parts required, where to source the parts and how to complete the conversion) seems to transpire into a frenetic debate about the pros and cons of doing the conversion, rather than addressing the above points.

(Though please correct me if I am wrong and point me in the right direction)

Having weighed the pros and cons I have decided to go ahead, so would like to start a thread focusing ONLY on details of undertaking the conversion.

If anyone has a comprehensive list of the parts required, where best to source them and how to fit, I will be eternally indebted. I understand that there are some well thought of suppliers offering conversion kits with everything needed. Again, it would be great if someone could point me in the right direction

Thanks in advance

Rob

[nosuchuser]

Alpina527 is the guy to speak to, pm him on e36coupe.com. You could probably diy it cheaper but his kit is supposed to very good. I'll be taking my 328 to him to fit his manifold conversion and bbtb (asc) at some point.

[Rob J]

Thanks for your help - I have been trying to register on E36 coupe for a few weeks but there seems to be some sort of technical error with the website and it won't allow me (there are some threads on PH with others having the same problem!)

Do you have an e-mail / phone number for Alpina527 so I can contact direct?

Cheers

[HerrSchnell]

Ian's available through a few forums, M3cutters would be the next option after e36coupe.

http://forums.m3cutters.co.uk/member.php?u=140

I used his kit on my old 328 about ten years ago and it was more or less a straight bolt on but had comprehensive instructions included for the few little tweaks which needed doing.

[vsonix]

I don't know if Alpina527 is still active on the scene these days. Or Dave F who everyone used to see as the 'king of induction kits' haha.
However this dude will do you a decent kit for around £50-60. He also supplies ready mapped ECUs that work great with the M50 conversion and also does quite a lot of other popular stuff like auto-manual conversions that a lot of non-specialists won't touch.

The conversion itself is pretty straight forward however one thing you must make sure to do is USE THE ORIGINAL 2.8 AIR INTAKE TEMP SENSOR. A lot of how-to guides seem to gloss over this part. If your manifold comes with the M50 sensor still in it, it will connect straight to the 2.8 loom, the engine will run fine cold and then as soon as it's up to temperature, behave as if there is a huge vacuum leak. I believe this error to be the root of 95% of the "I did the M50 conversion and it made the car run like st/M50 conversion lost me power" threads you find out there on the net.

Edited by vsonix on Monday 20th March 19:30

[matty13]

I done this mod years ago and Ian (alpine) kits are the way to go if he's still about

[Rob J]

Hi all, thanks for you replies (though there still seems to be no info available on full parts list)

I would really like to get in touch with Alpina527 but can't register on e36 coupe.com because of an error on the website and I have tried to register on m3cutters but have been waiting for over a week for an administrator to authorise my registration...very frustrating!!

Does anyone have an e-mail or phone number for Alpina527 so I can contact direct? Or ask him on one of these forums if you have access if I am able to contact direct?

Thanks again - all help appreciated

[vsonix]

did you not try the guys I linked to?

[nosuchuser]

Rob J said:

Hi all, thanks for you replies (though there still seems to be no info available on full parts list)

I would really like to get in touch with Alpina527 but can't register on e36 coupe.com because of an error on the website and I have tried to register on m3cutters but have been waiting for over a week for an administrator to authorise my registration...very frustrating!!

Does anyone have an e-mail or phone number for Alpina527 so I can contact direct? Or ask him on one of these forums if you have access if I am able to contact direct?

Thanks again - all help appreciated

Sorry, I've been away. I can't currently login to e36coupe for some reason. When I can I'll pm you his details..