Is it possible to swap a s50 or s52 into a e46 body "330ci"?

If you have a 1998-1999 E46 its easier, but yes its possible in any car if you wanna do some modifications.

I'd suggest doing S54, which is ALMOST drop and go! YES its more money, but if you've got a M54B30 (3.0L) already... the S52 ain't gonna be MUCH better. The S54 is one hell of a motor and if your gonna have it out of the car, you can get somebody to built it up so it won't have any of the typical S54 problems. Do some research on pricing and get your pennies together, a S54 powered E46 4 door would be a sweet car! Don't forget the 6 speed manual tranny and LSD, which will be needed for the swap to be decent. Rogue Engineering has done this swap before in a wagon, bitchin' car!

what about putting a s50 or a s52 engine into a 01 325I with a remaped ecu think it would be worth it?

Still can't do it easily. 1999 and 2000 were the only two years of mechanical throttle. Its so not worth it too, the M54 330i motor has pretty much the same power and is pretty darn cheap + its a direct swap!

Did all 323i's have throttle cables? What about double vanos?

I'm wondering what complications I would run into putting a S52 into my 323iT that has the M52TU.

S50/S52 motors are single vanos, all E46 motors are double vanos. The S52 would bolt into the E46 chassis but nothing else would be compatable. The 3.0 M54 E46 motors are more plentyful and have almost the same output as the S52 plus the M54 is aluminium where the S52 is iron. Why go backwards in technology....

what about a s50/s52 in a 92 325i

If you have a 1998-1999 E46 its easier, but yes its possible in any car if you wanna do some modifications.

I'd suggest doing S54, which is ALMOST drop and go! YES its more money, but if you've got a M54B30 (3.0L) already... the S52 ain't gonna be MUCH better. The S54 is one hell of a motor and if your gonna have it out of the car, you can get somebody to built it up so it won't have any of the typical S54 problems. Do some research on pricing and get your pennies together, a S54 powered E46 4 door would be a sweet car! Don't forget the 6 speed manual tranny and LSD, which will be needed for the swap to be decent. Rogue Engineering has done this swap before in a wagon, bitchin' car!

they have but it was certainly NOT a drop and go setup. heavy work was done to have the car run properly.

Can't swap an OLDER engine into a NEWER car if it is going to be registered for street use.

Plenty of other racers have swapped S50/S52 variants into the E46, though. Makes for an interesting setup, but not really something for the street.

Can't swap an OLDER engine into a NEWER car if it is going to be registered for street use


wha??? not true. Period. :nono

wha??? not true. Period. :nono

Very true. Period. :)

wha??? not true. Period. :nono
speak not which you know nothing of. :nono

you cannot legally install the motor of an older car into a newer chassis if you intend to register it for street use.

speak not which you know nothing of. :nono

you cannot legally install the motor of an older car into a newer chassis if you intend to register it for street use.

You can if you live in the third world of the state of Florida :stickoutt. You can register a freakin box with wheels on it in Florida. The other day I saw a biker dude driving a trike he made out of a back-halfed minivan and front of Harley, the thing was so ghetto looking but it was registered for the street...

greetings people i live in the uk but this is the best forum for e46's ive found so far, im looking to put an s52 into my 1999 318(i know should have bought a 6 pot)ci e46 coupe because i have bought the engine dirt cheap is this possible or shall i find myself an e30 body for track use lol

greetings people i live in the uk but this is the best forum for e46's ive found so far, im looking to put an s52 into my 1999 318(i know should have bought a 6 pot)ci e46 coupe because i have bought the engine dirt cheap is this possible or shall i find myself an e30 body for track use lol
just curious...where did you find an S52 in europe? I thought this motor was only sold in North America.

just curious...where did you find an S52 in europe? I thought this motor was only sold in North America.

I was under the impression that there is US version S52 (Single Vanos 240HP) and world wide version S52 (Double Vanos W/ITB's 321 HP), am I wrong. What is the Euro E36 M3 engine called?

I was under the impression that there is US version S52 (Single Vanos 240HP) and world wide version S52 (Double Vanos W/ITB's 321 HP), am I wrong. What is the Euro E36 M3 engine called?
the world e36 M3 motors are the S50B30 (286 bhp) and S50B32* (321 bhp), both motors are obd-1.

the S50B30US is the North American single vanos 3.0 obd-1 and the S52B32 is the single vanos 3.2L obd-II motor.

*that's the motor that you're thinking of.

what about putting a s50 or a s52 engine into a 01 325I with a remaped ecu think it would be worth it?

what about putting a s50 or a s52 engine into a 01 325I with a remaped ecu think it would be worth it?
if that chassis is drive by wire then it'd be more logical to drop in an s54 unless you're looking for a cheaper motor to build up or boost later.

the world e36 M3 motors are the S50B30 (286 bhp) and S50B32* (321 bhp), both motors are obd-1.

the S50B30US is the North American single vanos 3.0 obd-1 and the S52B32 is the single vanos 3.2L obd-II motor.

*that's the motor that you're thinking of.


hmm im getting different opinions on this the engine is from a 98 m3 evo convertible and is uk spec, my 318ci is not drive by wire so what hassle is to be expected fitting it into my car, can i use e46 323 engine mounts? what boxes will bolt up?