S54 Build Decisions: Turbo vs. High-Revving NA – Seeking Experienced Opinions

[CrisSilberGrau]

God damn, some of you guys are a tough crowd. Must it always come to this? The thread started off great and as you can see has ended in pure trash, what else is new though.

Lets reiterate the entire purpose of this thread and my inquiry since half of you clowns didn't read it in the first place, but came here to share your 100% unexperienced keyboard opinion...

I have an EXTRA operational S54 on an engine stand with a low mile 6spd transmission in my garage. My full intentions are to perform a rebuild on the engine from the ground up REGARDLESS of the route I take, before I started cracking into the rebuild, I was considering the different options that I have based on my end goal for the engine. I never effing said I was going to put it in my current E46M platform, or that I wanted to be a track superstar, or that your mom doesn't give that good of BJs. I just mentioned what I wanted to use the motor for boost or high RPM seeking real life experience from other alike gearheads.


I know every single thing that I need to know when I see a member with 5,000 post in 5 years slapping absolutely zero value. No life.

I mean, hash tag #internetlyfe, amirite? Go outside.


For those that added value and actual experience, I do appreciate you and your input.

You asked a question thats been asked an uncountable amount of times, in the most active E46 M3 forum on the planet? There will be some strong opinions. Even in the dick measuring posts there are lessons to be learned. Try not to add to the fire with school yard type commentary.

Go balls to the wall NA build. see what 13.5:1 compression can do, max cams, and vanos delete. This car has been done for 25 years... very rarely anything new happens, and its usually incremental.

There are parts in EU that are not available here, ie. P54 heads, and other unobtanium hiding in places. M3Cutters might be another source for info and advice.

PS: I second what 9kracing has said about Anri regarding builds

[01SG]

You asked a question thats been asked an uncountable amount of times, in the most active E46 M3 forum on the planet? There will be some strong opinions. Even in the dick measuring posts there are lessons to be learned. Try not to add to the fire with school yard type commentary.

Agreed. He comes asking these asinine questions and goes trashing valuable members of the community.

[JeremyJames]

You asked a question thats been asked an uncountable amount of times, in the most active E46 M3 forum on the planet? There will be some strong opinions. Even in the dick measuring posts there are lessons to be learned. Try not to add to the fire with school yard type commentary.

Go balls to the wall NA build. see what 13.5:1 compression can do, max cams, and vanos delete. This car has been done for 25 years... very rarely anything new happens, and its usually incremental.

There are parts in EU that are not available here, ie. P54 heads, and other unobtanium hiding in places. M3Cutters might be another source for info and advice.

PS: I second what 9kracing has said about Anri regarding builds

I performed a few searches before creating the thread here, there is a lot of information out there and I was more seeking personal experience and perhaps some guidence. I do not frequently monitor the forums on random subjects, so I really wouldn't have a clue that this has been discussed before. I created a thread asking questions that were not that wild or animated - truly inquisitive. I do not appreciate the sarcastic comments for no reason at all. Just because that particular member browses the forum so much that he "yet again" must read the same questions - I am sure that happens often.... Either way, added memes and sarcasm brings absolutely 0% of value to the topic. Agree?

I appreciate your input as well.

[oceansize]

One guy I know for sure on the board who is currently running turbo is nextelbuddy

[nextelbuddy]

lots of talking going on here, im not going to dive into the penis measuring contest of who knows the most about this or that.

all i can speak to is my experience with My S54 turbo setup.

i have a street setup making 530 whp at 11 psi on a bottom mount SPA cast manifold and Borg warner S366SXE turbo with a 1.0 AR on the exhaust side. i have a custom scavenge pump setup for my Oil drain as the turbo was a bit larger and hung low preventing a good gravity drain.

i have no engine work done, completely stock and was turbo charged when i had about 135k miles. i've put about 10k miles on the turbo setup now with no major issues.

i run no cats and just a 3 inch down pipe mated to a dual Y pipe into stock section 1 resonated and status gruppe non resonated section 2 and status gruppe SCZA section 3. my car is not loud and sounds like a stock turbo car and i love that part, no more screaming engine exhaust sound when pulling away in traffic which i hated, nothing like a loud ass car making so much noise and not going anywhere

the car is on a stock MSS54HP DME with a custom HTE turbo tune running E85 100% and the car drives and feels like a stock car just much much faster which was my goal ultimately.

could i track my car? perhaps but I dont run an aftermarket oil cooler, just a stock one and i have a stock cooling system (all updated from FCP but stock parts)

my oil temps on the street barely ever reach the middle mark compared to my S54 wagon which does exceed that mark on hot days but i am taking a guess that my turbo car runs e85 so engine runs a bit cooler, my custom oil drain setup also incorporates a small aluminum sump tank hanging off the turbo which probably also helps cool my oil along with the additional lines.



i also have an S54 SMG wagon with CSL airbox, euro headers, cat delete and stock section 2/3 and its just louder and its ok. definitely not as fun as the turbo car but for a daily driver its all i could ask for and exactly what i wanted.

let me know if you have any questions about my turbo setup specifically. or want to see or hear videos.


If you go turbo and stay stock compression, you need to run e85 to run more than 10 psi of boost. pump gas detonates and you need to run meth injection OR e85. running stock compression ration definitely makes good peppy power. you can run 9:1 but have to run more boost and need more tuning and you lose some of that low end spool and tq

my turbo car has unopened S54 stock everything with about 145k miles on it
my wagon has a rebuilt S54 with new rod bearings, HG and all new valve stem seals and every other gasket and seal replaced.

[Sharocks]

I have a fairly modified NA car and a decently modified SC car.

I don't have direct experience with a turbo S54 but I have friends with them.

My advice:

Aside from headers, intake, lightweight wheels (under 18 lbs a corner, no Apex bullshit), better brakes, decent coilovers, better seats, and a short shifter, I'd leave it alone.

If you're chasing some special engine, it's already a special engine. It's on the spectrum.