How to tell an S50 from an M50?

[Glucas21]

How can you visually tell the difference between an M50 engine, and an S50, besides the plastic engine cover? Are there numbers easily visible on the block? And if so, where should I look and what designates an S50?

[caracas_e30]

m50's have a plastic oil filter housing...s50 has the aluminium housing.....i think its aluminimium anyways. Thats the easiest way to tell apart s or m motors in my opinion

[tbreihan]

If I am not mistaken, the switch to the plastic oil filter housing occured with the M54 engine in the E46. I could be wrong, but if memory serves me, both M50s and M52s, as well as S50s and S52s, have the aluminum housing.

At the very least, I know that the M50TUB25 in my '93 has an aluminum oil filter housing.

Originally Posted by caracas_e30

m50's have a plastic oil filter housing...s50 has the aluminium housing.....i think its aluminimium anyways. Thats the easiest way to tell apart s or m motors in my opinion

[Active Alpine]

my 325i(m50)'s oil filter housing is metal, no plastic

[ct323i]

Originally Posted by Glucas21

How can you visually tell the difference between an M50 engine, and an S50, besides the plastic engine cover? Are there numbers easily visible on the block? And if so, where should I look and what designates an S50?

Visually? you can stomp on the gas pedal and then look out the window to see how fast objects move towards you. Fast = M50, VERY fast = S50.

[MARKSDIDDY92]

Originally Posted by Active Alpine

my 325i(m50)'s oil filter housing is metal, no plastic

Thats correct!

[carstereopro]

Originally Posted by ct323i

Visually? you can stomp on the gas pedal and then look out the window to see how fast objects move towards you. Fast = M50, VERY fast = S50.

He's right tho.

[the afro guy]

individual throttle bodies anyone? are we talking when the engine is in or out of the car?

[tbreihan]

Originally Posted by the afro guy

individual throttle bodies anyone? are we talking when the engine is in or out of the car?

I think he was referring to the U.S. versions of the S50.

Nice E30. I love the look of the M-Tech I kit.

[Glucas21]

I was talking about a US S50 while it is in the car. I tried the gas pedle trick, but with this snow all I get is wheel spin and I good view of where I just came from. So when it melts I will find out.

[the afro guy]

Originally Posted by tbreihan

I think he was referring to the U.S. versions of the S50.

Nice E30. I love the look of the M-Tech I kit.

did the us versions seriously not come with itb's? wow. never knew that.
btw cheers for the comments but its not an mtech 1 kit. its hartge. looks fairly similar to the mtech 1 kit though so i'll give you that one

[ct323i]

Originally Posted by Glucas21

I was talking about a US S50 while it is in the car. I tried the gas pedle trick, but with this snow all I get is wheel spin and I good view of where I just came from. So when it melts I will find out.

[BeeEmDubAU]

Originally Posted by the afro guy

did the us versions seriously not come with itb's? wow. never knew that.

Yup, we got screwed.

[the afro guy]

yeah i knew you guys got done over pretty badly with the m engines but i didn't realise it was that bad. sucks to be you!

[tbreihan]

Originally Posted by the afro guy

did the us versions seriously not come with itb's? wow. never knew that.
btw cheers for the comments but its not an mtech 1 kit. its hartge. looks fairly similar to the mtech 1 kit though so i'll give you that one

Yep, upon closer examination it appears as though your brake cooling duct inlets are somewhat different than the M-Tech I spoiler. Otherwise, it looks almost identical.

In fact, I think the Hartge kit looks better (at least the front valence does.)