BMW Euro M3 Evo engine

[m3f_white-hot]

^I think Alex has been using a non-OE ECU for all his swaps, and not ODBII. I would have to go back and read his posts on the subject but that was my understanding.

[m3f_hencini]

Pretty sure Alex's cars are not OBDII compliant.

[m3f_Sharocks]

Pretty sure Alex's cars are not OBDII compliant.

Well Steve's car is so it's possible. The engine was offered in NA so it can't be a problem, unlike the Euro motors which had no ODBII system at all.

[m3f_Alex Lipowich]

You guys are spot on....



Cars in the US that need to have a plug in OBDII test done will never pass with a S50B3X Euro transplant.



It should be possible to transplant an S54 into an OBDII car and get it to pass.



(whether it actually has all the emissions equipment in place and functioning is another issue, but I believe the flashing of the Dme for the S 54 has gotten to the point where they can illegally turn off flags or whatever, and pass emissions. An inspector might find fault though?)



My S54 solutions are not compliant with OBDII as they are standalone based.



Confusion I think stems from a photo on my website where I show an "OBDII harness" for DTA.



It should be revised. The harness is from an OBDII car, so it will plug into the three plugs near the fuse box (vs one plug for OBDI), and reach the B+ terminal for the chafe post on the fender wall.....so it's a cosmetic match for an OBDII chassis, not an electrical solution with DTA that passes OBDII emissions testing.

[m3f_enderw88]

Once again: advantage 95! I don't need no steenking OBDII!

[m3f_white-hot]

^



Thanks for the clarification Alex. Honestly I can not see a reason, beyond being an accurate engine for the E36 chassis, why you would want to use the euro engine. The dearth of locally (US) available parts and the cost to have shipped from overseas would take it right past being worth it compared to the S54.

[m3f_Alex Lipowich]

Honestly I can not see a reason, beyond being an accurate engine for the E36 chassis, why you would want to use the euro engine.

Well.....



There are some reasons, but they may not appeal to everyone.



Dropping either Euro motor into an E36 does result in a package that any dealership should be able to diagnose easily if they have someone that understands how to work with vanos, and read the BMW technical documents.



From an appearance standpoint, (and of course, this is pure bias and subject to the individual's opinion.....) the S50B30 or B32 are beautiful engines, the 3.0 even more so than the 3.2 version. They have a raw, exposed look, the classic motorsport black crackle finish, and a direct visual connection to the roots of BMW Motorsport. The S54?



"I just want to say one word to you. Just one word.

(Yes, sir.)

Are you listening?

(Yes, I am.)

Plastics."





I think the E36 is a modern enough design that the S54 doesn't look too out of place in the bay, but in an E30 for example, there is a certain "rightness" about the engine sitting there that you don't get from an S54.



I think if I had a choice of a low mileage E36 garage queen sporting an equally low mileage Euro engine, vs the same car with an equally low mileage S54, I'd pick the euro version...its just cooler looking, and won't be that far off of a stock S54 if you're doing the B32.



Now, there are tons of reasons to pick an S54 too, parts availability, familiarity of the techs, but some issues are downside too, cost is nearly a break even with S54 engines 3-4 thou, and management 1-6 thou depending on flash vs standalone....



But I could go on and on about this....obviously finding low mileage Euro's is not easy anymore.....



There is room for both to coexist, different strokes, different folks

[m3f_hencini]

"I just want to say one word to you. Just one word.

(Yes, sir.)

Are you listening?

(Yes, I am.)

Plastics."

Brilliant.