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Old 09-16-2020, 03:46 PM   #3081
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Now I find myself wanting an S50/S52 swapped E30 2-door. Thanks guys.
Or what about an R1?

https://bringatrailer.com/listing/1993-mazda-rx-7-118/
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Old 09-16-2020, 03:51 PM   #3082
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I don't understand why you wouldn't go S54? All the electrical issues are easily solved and you'd enjoy building the chassis harness. And the cost delta isn't that much either.

Edit: I only did the S50 because I wanted the car on the road because it was time, and I had the engine sitting around. It was probably around a $500 swap, which I'll recoup when I sell the bits.
Basically because 1) I don't like the S54. It sounds like garbage.

S54 fanbois: "but but but with the right headers and header-back exhaust and the carbon plenum and the right cam timing it sounds great! Here is a video!"

Mmm, better, but no.

But also 2) I already have a car that is nutty bonkers absurd fast and it also has a chassis that can handle that power. The E30 platform is already overpowered with S50/52 levels of power. As a street car I think it'd be more fun with that powerplant.
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Old 09-16-2020, 03:54 PM   #3083
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Beautiful. That's gonna go for big money.
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Old 09-16-2020, 03:58 PM   #3084
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Unfortunately, the real problem is that you probably don't want to buy an E30 cabrio and park it outside. That's probably not going to go that well.
How come? Because of the window? Or is there something else specific to them?
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Old 09-16-2020, 05:25 PM   #3085
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I had one of those but not the R1 ... very cool car ... I'm with John, that is going to get some big bucks !!
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Old 09-16-2020, 05:40 PM   #3086
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How come? Because of the window? Or is there something else specific to them?
Old car soft tops and outdoor storage usually result in work required.
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Old 09-16-2020, 07:05 PM   #3087
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I can't imagine an e30 chassis needs s54 level of power. I guess if you build an Franken-e30.

I have to agree with JV. Mine only had the Dinan muffler which helped, but I had my eye on resonators to quiet a certain portion and then it was going to be an airbox and then a tune and on and on... While I've missed out on upside by selling instead of holding on, I've also stopped spending time & money on that car (that also needed a suspension refresh that I was not willing to deal with). I can't say I miss the m3 engine and chassis like crazy.

I do miss laguna seca blue, the design in and out as well as an overall concept that teetered between modern and retro. Also a rare combination of sport and practicality.
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Old 09-17-2020, 07:28 AM   #3088
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I can't imagine an e30 chassis needs s54 level of power. I guess if you build an Franken-e30.

I have to agree with JV. Mine only had the Dinan muffler which helped, but I had my eye on resonators to quiet a certain portion and then it was going to be an airbox and then a tune and on and on... While I've missed out on upside by selling instead of holding on, I've also stopped spending time & money on that car (that also needed a suspension refresh that I was not willing to deal with). I can't say I miss the m3 engine and chassis like crazy.

I do miss laguna seca blue, the design in and out as well as an overall concept that teetered between modern and retro. Also a rare combination of sport and practicality.
If you’re starting from scratch, the cost delta isn’t much, the resale value is way higher, and the quality of donor motor is way higher.

Also, notwithstanding their reputation, S54s are more durable when used hard than an S50/S52.

Real world S54 power output is 300-350whp in an E30, basically depending on tune and how aggressive your exhaust is. (The high end of that range requires cams, but 100% stock internal S54s are doing 325rwhp all the time.)

You can’t compare a totally stock S54 to what they are like even mildly uncorked. BMW shipped them bottled up so they made way less power than the motor is capable of, and programmed the throttle to be either weirdly non-responsive, or undrivably on/off.
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Old 09-17-2020, 07:32 AM   #3089
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Basically because 1) I don't like the S54. It sounds like garbage.

S54 fanbois: "but but but with the right headers and header-back exhaust and the carbon plenum and the right cam timing it sounds great! Here is a video!"

Mmm, better, but no.

But also 2) I already have a car that is nutty bonkers absurd fast and it also has a chassis that can handle that power. The E30 platform is already overpowered with S50/52 levels of power. As a street car I think it'd be more fun with that powerplant.
Eh. The E30 can handle a lot more power than people think it can. The bad reputation comes from worn suspensions and pep boys tires. I could put down WOT in second gear with the euro motor in the wet. 205 tires.

Given how crappy most of the S50/52 engines are, and how expensive the nice ones are, it’s a way less interesting swap than it used to be.
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Old 09-17-2020, 07:33 AM   #3090
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Of course, I’ve pretty much always liked the way that the S54 sounds.
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