Green with envy

[ratcat77]

I recently purchased a Ruby red sports car and there are not many on the road, Porches are common compared to these. Anyway SWIM was green with envy - I wouldn't really call him a friend just an acquaintance but he hates it if I have anything better than him, all of a sudden two weeks later SWIM says "Oh I just found out that my 98 320i has an 'M' engine - seems suspicious to me, he says that according to the engine number its an 'M' Anyone know how to tell if it is?

[slocar]

While it is entirely possible that it was swapped, I'd say that his car likely has a ... m52b20 (where M stands for ... motor).

Either way, I wouldn't worry about that kind of people. You know what you have, be happy with that. I know plenty of people who have nicer cars and brag about them, and in a lot of cases I know I have far more money than they ever will ... I just prefer not to spend it all on my cars, in a pissing contest against them.

[323i E30]

Ask him for that number and check in here: http://www.ge39.com/files/zeigeinfo.pdf
The 'S' engines are the M-car engines. The 'M' engines are the regulars, if that makes sense...

I'd expect it to be what Slocar said though.

[BimmerBreaker]

Who cares

Let him enjoy his delusion

Quick way to tell though, just FWIW, is the oil filter housing is metal on the S52/S50 and black plastic on the M52/M50



S52 above, M52 below



Don't trust the valve cover, the oil filter housing is a more definitive way to tell, but still not definitive by any means. The only real way to check is to get underneath and either read the VIN - looking for it to start with "WBS" vs "WBA" or look for the engine code on the lower side of the engine

[slocar]

There is no such thing as a s52 in Australia ... and a m52 and the real s50 look worlds apart.

[vaderTT76]

Quick way to tell though, just FWIW, is the oil filter housing is metal on the S52/S50 and black plastic on the M52/M50 trust the valve cover, the oil filter housing is a more definitive way to tell, but still not definitive by any means.

#Trudat, my m50 has a metal housing/top also.



- - - Updated - - -
Old pic from 2010

[BimmerBreaker]

There is no such thing as a s52 in Australia ... and a m52 and the real s50 look worlds apart.

Did not realize he was in Australia, good catch

As you say the M engines over there and the non-M engines look completely different!

And after thinking about I think all M50 came the metal filter housing. I don't deal with a lot of M50's so not super familiar with that engine.

[vaderTT76]

Yeah, m52 is the only plastic cover IIRC, but I agree that the only definitive way is to check the VIN.

[Reizvoll]

Who cares

Let him enjoy his delusion

Quick way to tell though, just FWIW, is the oil filter housing is metal on the S52/S50 and black plastic on the M52/M50



S52 above, M52 below



Don't trust the valve cover, the oil filter housing is a more definitive way to tell, but still not definitive by any means. The only real way to check is to get underneath and either read the VIN - looking for it to start with "WBS" vs "WBA" or look for the engine code on the lower side of the engine

Not true.. my 1995 325i has an M50 with a metal oil filter housing..

[BimmerBreaker]

Not true.. my 1995 325i has an M50 with a metal oil filter housing..

Great. Thats what I said like 2 posts later.

[montaillou]

If I were you, OP, I'd just leave it alone even if you do confirm that it's not an M engine. I drive a bmw, my friend drives a Hyundai Sonata, and according him, the Sonata is a better car - it's certainly better for him. And so what, one thing you'll find in life is...there's always something better.

[ratcat77]

If I were you, OP, I'd just leave it alone even if you do confirm that it's not an M engine. I drive a bmw, my friend drives a Hyundai Sonata, and according him, the Sonata is a better car - it's certainly better for him. And so what, one thing you'll find in life is...there's always something better.

That's true - I suggested he get one of those M striped badges off eBay and he just went quiet. I'm not competitive, its just this one person who always goes on about how much he has in the bank and his $8K watch etc (I wonder if it has anything to do with his stutter) - He drives a Peugeot wagon of some sort - diesel and says it would beat my X5 in a race. My V8 against his family wagon pfffff!

[323i E30]

That's true - I suggested he get one of those M striped badges off eBay and he just went quiet. I'm not competitive, its just this one person who always goes on about how much he has in the bank and his $8K watch etc (I wonder if it has anything to do with his stutter) - He drives a Peugeot wagon of some sort - diesel and says it would beat my X5 in a race. My V8 against his family wagon pfffff!

I'll race his Peugeot by foot and still win.

[vaderTT76]

Great. Thats what I said like 2 posts later.

And I said it one post before you, lol......with a pic.

[montaillou]

...(I wonder if it has anything to do with his stutter)...

Take the high road in your next conversation. If someone always needs to feel like they've won...let them. As you say, you're not competitive.