S54 into E36 M3

[POPS M3]

This past weekend I finished my last track event for the season at Mid-Ohio (and still smiling). Am looking at a couple winter project options.

a) cams, injectors, HFM+CAI, software, along with a head freshen and studs. I would think this would get me about 250-255 RWHP +/- And maybe a lower final drive too.

OR

b) S54 transplant and sell my S52 stuff. S54 should get about 280-285 RWHP with a good one. But kind of costly for 25 HP over above S52 option. Plus this can be a little technically challenging.

I really like the S54 idea but cannot find a link to a successful swap. I am sure somebody has done a high quality swap on this.

Thought about a Chevy LSx swap but --- no.

So any links to a S54 swap??


Thanks in advance for help,

Ken

[alanilil]

It can be done with stand alone engine management, but you aren't going to have the full performance of the engine without the E46 M3 ECU running the engine.

I have seen a project where an S54 MZ3 motor, harness and ECU were swapped into an E36 race car.

So it's been done, but good luck finding an S54 MZ3 donor car inexpensively and you aren't going to have the driveability or performance of an E46 M3 if you do stand alone engine management.


Edit: I stand corrected, there is dual vanos standalone engine management for the S54.

[Brent 930]

Its been done and posted on the forum.

Search

[Chokingdogs]

Originally Posted by Brent 930

Its been done and posted on the forum.

Search

Rob Levinson did it, or one of them, right?

I seem to recall reading a lengthy thread on that subject.

[Mad Dog 20/20]

Its been done. I think BW has a swap kit available for about $3k.

Although peak output is somewhat similar, a stock S54 is clearly superior to a 265whp S52 on the track (trq curve and redline), and there is headroom for 300+whp.

Its a serious monetary commitment, though.
Euro motor may be a more cost-effective option.

[xsport652]

some very useful info in this thread on the S54 swap.

http://m3forum.net/m3forum/showthread.php?t=282021

[Badgtho is back]

^^^Joe^^^

how's it going?

[wheresmym3]

Originally Posted by xsport652

some very useful info in this thread on the S54 swap.

http://m3forum.net/m3forum/showthread.php?t=282021

I was going to mention Rob's build as well. I stopped following it because to me it became a wiring/fabrication nightmare. This is amazing news though if a P&P harness adapter and his bracket to delete the E-TB does come out!

[hinzm3]

Eh, for that type of money I would rather go FI.
I wanted to go to Mid-O for the October event but couldn't make it Love that track

[ScotcH]

Originally Posted by alanilil

It can be done with stand alone engine management, but you aren't going to have the full performance of the engine without the E46 M3 ECU running the engine.

Lol wut? Standalone can be tuned better than BMW software, especially if you start adding bolt ons. It's far from cheap (we're talking 3-5k just for the computer), but it's certainly not inferior to a BMW computer.

[NeilM]

Originally Posted by ScotcH

Standalone can be tuned better than BMW software, especially if you start adding bolt ons.

Including double VANOS control?

Neil

[Eric98Sedan]

I personally just don't see how anyone could ever, under any circumstances, even begin to justify either the expense or hassle of this project..... for relatively little gains. The S54 is a great motor but it isn't that great and the S52 actually is a pretty darn stout motor if done right.

But yeah, for that kind of money/hassle/headache..... not a chance in hell if you ask me.

Originally Posted by NeilM

Including double VANOS control?

Neil

Yes, but those are the 3k++ units.

[Chromisdesigns]

Why not rebuild and turbo the existing motor? Probably cheaper and certainly a lot easier!

[kineticimpulse]

Contact Alex Lipowich by either visiting his site abloriginalparts.com or pm'ing him here at his handle M3 Euro LTW. He will be able to help you with all your questions concerning an S54 transplant into an E36 chassis.

[ProspectM]

Originally Posted by ScotcH

Lol wut? Standalone can be tuned better than BMW software, especially if you start adding bolt ons. It's far from cheap (we're talking 3-5k just for the computer), but it's certainly not inferior to a BMW computer.

And which EMS's are these?

[E36BMW3series]

I would look into a supercharge setup if I were you. Some may disagree, but I feel that it gives you a smoother curve which is good especially for autocrossing. I think with the right kit cams, injectors, etc you should be able to be around 300whp without much of a problem. My goal when I do it will be 400-500whp, but I will be upgrading internals to forged.

I also think it is a more reliable option. If you have time to kill and know what your doing it may not be a bad idea to just completely tear the whole thing apart. There is a ceramic coating that you can put on internals that helps dissipate heat better. You'd have to do some research on that though. Also you could add the thing in the oil pan that allows for better oil pickup. (I forget the technical term) an oil cooler and some other stuff.

[Serious]

Personally I would go with Cam kit+headers+exhaust and go with e46 m3 oil cooler/oil pump setup on the s52.

The s54 is fantastic out of the box and actually gains a bunch of power with correct exhaust design... but the swap is a complete bitch from an electronics standpoint so you're going to want to go full standalone and then if you want to control vanos you're looking at a motec. BIG $$$.

Prepare for $10,000 unless you have a source for free motor or have a huge hookup/can do standalone yourself.

[REHaas]

Alex Lipowich for S54 swap kit hands down.

LS1 *will* be cheaper to swap in and maintain.

I'd just do a full cam kit or FI.

The S54 swap is expensive and will be difficult.

LS1 is cheap, but it's gonna knock you out of almost every racing class imaginable.

[MIMI1]

s50b32 built or blown

[Badgtho is back]

Originally Posted by REHaas

LS1 is cheap, but it's gonna knock you out of almost every racing class imaginable.

fcuk racing.

[Hetzle]

Having done your first idea (cams and such) I would go with that. The cams really liven up the car, tied with a LTW flywheel the car winds like a top and never stops pulling all the way til redline. S54 seems like too much hassle for not enough gain, like the other guys said, go FI if you're gonna drop that kind of money. For now, I'd go with the cams and see how you like it, I fell in love with it and I'm sure you will too.

[DavidsM3]

Turbo(or sc) or LS swap. Everything else for more power isnt worth it.

[m3ltw98]

Originally Posted by ProspectM

And which EMS's are these?

Motec M400,600,800 and the pectel SQ6/SQ6M can all handle the dual vanos and dbw found on the S54 motor. I run the motec m800 with my s54 swap with the dual vanos and the driveability is perfect.

The pectel sq6 seems to be the hot new ECU as its 3900-4k and can handle the cam control off the bat (500-600 enabled option on the motecs). The only upgrade available for the pectel is the dbw. apexspeedtech.com out west has installed/tuned the the pectel on street cars and have retained all the functions on a street car with the exception of cruise control. If you're going to go the S54 route, don't dick around with inferior stand alones like AEM, tec3r. They'll lead to headaches and won't be able to control the features that make the s54 so desirable.

[Mr Estoril]

Rob hasn't shared any details about his successful swap but it shows it can be done on a stock S54 harness while retaining full use of all the cars features. You mentioned only a 25 HP gain and yes that is true but if you're willing to pay, you'd also be allotting yourself the potential for more HP in the future with additional mods getting you to a level you couldn't do with an S52 as reliably.

If you're considering it, talk to Alex about his project.

[REHaas]

Originally Posted by Mr Estoril

Rob hasn't shared any details about his successful swap but it shows it can be done on a stock S54 harness while retaining full use of all the cars features.

Really? If he hasn't shared any details, how do you know it's successful? and how do you know it actually retains all of the cars features?

I've seen a lot of posts about it, but no proof.