MadaboutKitcars

Now that we've pushed the tuning potential of the BMW 2.8 to the limit using red paint and flower pots, it's probably worth looking elsewhere for gains.

Maximum power potential of the 2.8 was deliberately limited by BMW by fitting the inlet manifold from the 2 litre version. On this, the inlet tracts are much smaller in diameter and many people have found gains of 20bhp when fitting a manifold from the 2.5 litre motors, which have larger inlet tracts. In BMW terms, the M52 28 and M52 20 (2.8 and 2.0 litre motors) have the smaller manifolds, whilst the M50 25 - the earlier 2.5 litre motor - has the larger tracts.

Here's a power plot of a typical gain:



I bought a 2.5 manifold before buying my Z3 and then bought a facelift car with the M52TU motor meaning the manifold won't fit my car.- it only fits pre-facelift models- I bought it at a good price and I'm offering it for sale here at the same price I paid before putting on eBay at a higher price if it doesn't sell.
I'll add pics in a moment, but it's yours for £120 plus carriage at cost. You're welcome to collect from Port Talbot.
It's a straight forward swap except for some new vacuum pipes and fittings being needed - details in the next post.
The power potential of a remap is even greater with this fitted. The manifold, remap, CAI and exhaust is expected to gain 40bhp or more.

Larger inlet tracts of the 2.5 can be seen on the lower manifold



And on the right



Here's a detailed 'how to' write up
http://www.rmeuropean.com/bmw-m50-manifold.aspx

Boxed and ready to go

Let me check my engine when it stops raining. If it fits mine then I will have it.


Quick question. How can I tell if it will fit my engine? It is a 1999 registered car but various build stickers suggest a 1997 original build.

Is there an engine serial number or similar somewhere?

PayPal okay for payment?

If yours is twin vanos it won't fit

How do I tell?

Is there anything obvious to look at?

If you look on my video blog thread you can see what my engine looks like

The manifold fits single vanos motors which look like this, notice the single hump at the front of the cam cover, as only the inlet cam has vanos -



On the above, notice also that the inflect manifold tracts are smaller than the gaps between them. It's the other way around on the manifold I have - the tracts are larger, and therefore wider than the gaps between them.

On the other hand, it won't fit twin vanos motors in face lift cars which look like this. Note that both cams have vanos, and the cam cover is extended over both cams.

That's my engine which looks to me like the one in your top photo. I think that means the inlet tracts should fit, right?

If you can confirm this I will pm you to sort payment and shipping

Hi Nick
Yup, that's a single vanos motor so the manifold will fit.



The blue arrow points to the single vanos unit over the inlet cam, and the red arrow highlights inlet tracts that are smaller than the spaces between them

Cheers, Steve

The blue arrow points to the single vanos unit over the inlet cam, and the red arrow highlights that's the inlet tracts are smaller than the spaces between them

Hi Chaps
As there's only one of these for sale and many people who want one of the manifolds, this may help.
I use a great breaker who ONLY breaks BMW Z3's. His name is Pucko and hes a good guy. He posts out very quick. 07772282018.

Thanks for your interest and PMs. Item is sold and currently winging its way to its new owner.

You're right to mention that these are rare. They're not fitted to any UK Z3s as standard so if your contact only breaks this model he won't have one.
The manifold is only fitted to 1990s E34 525i and E36 325i fitted with the 2.5 litre M50 motor. Hence their value is increasing and prices are on the up.

P.S. I like the high quality builds you're doing on various Tributes

Waves and feels smug while waiting for a delivery :-)

I'm looking forward to your next video road test. Your car should become too fast for the limited length of test track, so driving, videoing and also avoiding the wall will be more or a challenge.
Should make for an exciting video
Perhaps we should open a book haha

I am thinking the extra power will mean I get up to speed more quickly so will have time to slow down.

This is in fact a SAFETY modification

:-)

I love your logic!! Good luck with that I believe that e46 330ci brakes are 330mm dia and will bolt on. I'm hunting for a set and will let you know how it goes. (17" wheels required)

Who needs brakes?

Just uprate the POWER, suspension and tyres!

:-)

You're right!!

WCA when you get fed up with red paint and flower pots, you could try

These from Jenvey

Very pretty but not exactly daily driver

They're gorgeous



I'm currently researching whether S50B32 or S54 throttle bodies will fit M52TU or M54 heads without adapters as a cheaper way forward. The cost may/will probably put me off when remapping is considered via a proprietary ECU on top of buying and fitting the throttle bodies.

now you've painted your engine red and put new manifolds on you might want to get even more power, how about a supercharger from these guys
https://www.google.co.uk/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=1&cad=rja&uact=8&ved=0CCEQFjAAahUKEwjm9KLrz8LHAhUM6RQKHcA1Bus&url=http%3A%2F%2Fvf-engineering.com%2Fz3-1997-02%2F&ei=T4fbVaaRDozSU8DrmNgO&usg=AFQjCNFYj4ZWhEw4jhRyV-buqiIB_uJrjA

My chiropractor drives a Z3 coupe with a V8 4.0 ltr stuffed in under the bonnet, you have to be careful about wanting more power in can lead to the dark side I've been there my bank balance took a long time to recover

Andy

Andy, I don't know how friendly you are with your chiropractor, but assuming his/her car has the BMW M60 v8 motor would you please ask him how the sump and oil pump were modified, and from where did he buy engine mounts. I trial fitted an M60 from my 540 into the Z but the deep sump well with integrated oil pump is at the front of the sump and it interferes with the crossmember so I put it back. Photos would be great!
Thanks
Steve

P.S. Alternatively, perhaps he'd consider selling?

WCA, to whet your whistle, the VF Engineering installation manual is here:

http://www.vacmotorsports.com/malloy/M52_S52%20E36%20instructions_V3.pdf

Should benefit from the new inlet manifold too