Z3M Coupe engine

[Zigs]

Hi All,

Is it possible to swap the S50 for a S54 engine? I am thinking that if I were to buy a S50 engined car as a keeper and as the VANOS issued appeared over time, I could simply swap engines. Why do this over just buying an S54? Well, how many black, RHD S54 cars were shipped to the UK and in what condition are they in? I would rather buy on total condition of car and upgrade if possible.

I have never heard of or seen this and as such I am assuming it is:

A) Not possible
B) Nobody does it
C) It is damn expensive

Does anybody know specifics?

[Philrose]

In total there were 168 S54 engined coupes but I dont know how many were black

[Disco_Biscuit]

A - Yeah its possible

B - No body does it just buy a S54

C - Probably very expensive due to looms manifolds etc

Get yourself over to http://www.z3mcoupe.com/ your answers will be there

Edited by Disco_Biscuit on Wednesday 26th March 21:59

[Cliffv8]

buy an S50, look after it, they don't go wrong as often as you think, if I was going to upgrade it I'd make it worth my while and put a 5.0L M5 V8 in it

Edited by Cliffv8 on Wednesday 26th March 22:04

[MANSFA]

Have you driven an S50 ZM Coupe? They are very quick! Quicker than most things in a stright line on the last trackday I went to...

S54 engined cars dont have an LSD do they?

[900T-R]

MANSFA said:

S54 engined cars dont have an LSD do they?

Indeed. That, and there's only 4 bhp between the two as installed in the Z3M with engine characteristics similar to the point of being darn near identical - what's the point? if the vanos issue ever comes up, just get it sorted (£2K max?) and continue to enjoy the thing...

[Rags]

Not many people actually have proper Vanos issues and S50's tend to be pretty reliable.

Plus the cost of conversion from S50 - S54 would probably cost the same as a few vanos units.

Remember, bearing shell failure is a complaint of the S54 plus it fly by wire and I would imagine its not just a case of dropping the engine in.

[ASBO]

Zigs said:

Hi All,

Is it possible to swap the S50 for a S54 engine? I am thinking that if I were to buy a S50 engined car as a keeper and as the VANOS issued appeared over time, I could simply swap engines. Why do this over just buying an S54? Well, how many black, RHD S54 cars were shipped to the UK and in what condition are they in? I would rather buy on total condition of car and upgrade if possible.

I have never heard of or seen this and as such I am assuming it is:

A) Not possible
B) Nobody does it
C) It is damn expensive

Does anybody know specifics?

Sir, I fear you are yet another victim of internet heresy. The S50 is as tough as old boots if looked after properly. The VANOS issue is so over-hyped it's untrue. My mechanic spent 5 years at BMW during the late nineties/early naughties and only ever so one M3 Evo come back with a knackered VANOS - owner suspected of driving the car like he stole it. Everywhere. Conversely, he did see a number of early S54's with knackered bearing shells...

Anyway, what's your budget? If you've got a bottomless pit, the world is your oyster. However, I've read that it is extremely difficult to retorfit the S54 into anything as it has a drive by wire throttle for one thing.

Moreover, as was stated above, the S54 in the Z-M aint that powerful compared to the S50. At my last track day, I out sprinted one in my Evo (only minor mods) and was quite surprised to find that the car was an S54.

Bottom line, is that it's not worth it. If you do it (assuming you can find someone willing), you'll devalue the car you put it into. and for bugger all gain IMO.

HTH

[900T-R]

Forgot to mention that my bro has a moon mileage (for the sort of car it is) early Z3M; it's been totally viceless so far - and then to think his missus takes it to work 1.1 miles down the road. Unsurprisingly their biggest 'problem' is how to keep the battery topped up

[ASBO]

Of course the other thing to remeber, is that an unscrupulous dealer or 'specialist' may well replace the VANOS on account that customer says it's noisy, but may actually be perfectly fine.

I've noted recently that many of the higher mileage S50's in the classifieds have had a new VANOS - most probably why they are for sale, but I do wonder how many have actually needed it

[rassi]

MANSFA said:

S54 engined cars dont have an LSD do they?

All Z3 Ms have a LSD (in fact, all M cars do)

[Olf]

Wouldn't it be cheaper to repray a nasty coloured S54 car?

[900T-R]

rassi said:

MANSFA said:

S54 engined cars dont have an LSD do they?

All Z3 Ms have a LSD (in fact, all M cars do)

I think it was Evo's buying guide mentioning that later ones with the S54 engine and DSC don't - which did admittedly surprise me as I always thought that M = LSD, too.

[AM-BM]

Manufacturers are using the DSC/ PASM/ ESP to act like an LSD! Modulating the slip to each wheel.
I know the new Boxster S and 335i don't have them, amongst others!
Shame!

Edited by AM-BM on Thursday 27th March 13:25

[Zigs]

Cliffv8 said:

buy an S50, look after it, they don't go wrong as often as you think, if I was going to upgrade it I'd make it worth my while and put a 5.0L M5 V8 in it

Edited by Cliffv8 on Wednesday 26th March 22:04

and that would cost ...

[Disco_Biscuit]

AM-BM said:

Manufacturers are using the DSC/ PASM/ ESP to act like an LSD! Modulating the slip to each wheel.
I know the new Boxster S and 335i don't have them, amongst others!
Shame!

Edited by AM-BM on Thursday 27th March 13:25

The S54 has DSC and an LSD just turn the DSC off great sideways action !

[smartie]

just had a Vanos and main bearing shells done in our 65K S50!! Are we the unluckiest owners out there?

LOL - mind you, feels like a new one now! (Total cost was just shy of £2K btw)

[Rags]

£2k is not a bad price for Vanos and Bearing Shells.

Out of interest, was it the Vanos Solenoids you had replaced or Vanos Gears?

[smartie]

gears

[ASBO]

smartie said:

gears

Very unfortunate and uncommon. What were the symptoms and who did it?