[Terraphantm]

Originally Posted by hassmaschine

hah, yeah. I don't think it will be a problem in this case, there are definitely a couple larger unused pins I can switch the driver to.

I sent a lowball offer on an S54 actuator. I don't really need it right away but it was about 1/3 of the price that I usually see. I only have 3 bolts left to pull the head - those bastards are on there tight (not a bad thing). Ended up breaking my socket on the 3rd to last bolt. Doh.

Also one of the front aluminum "head" bolts was broken, but I think it might have been because I didn't undo them before I released the main bolts. I don't think it could have been broken before as it would have fallen inside the engine when we were manhandling it onto the stand. I might get a stainless helicoil set and replace those two bolts with steel, they are inside the engine after all and not easy to access.

I suppose once I have the head off it's not much additional work or cost to rebuild the bottom end so maybe i'll have something to put into my E30 by the end of this decade.. lol. FWIW I started working on a new engine build back in 2011!

If that deal falls through, I actually have a spare actuator at my parents' place. It has about 150k miles on it, but might be good enough for your efforts. I think it's still functional, but with my mileage it's probably not worth a whole lot.

Also regarding the intake ports, according to my notes: Intake ports on the S54 are 52mm wide and 33.5mm tall. N52 ports are 50.2mm wide and 30.2mm tall.

S54 TBs are supposedly port matched to the heads from the factory, so I'd expect the throttle body measurements to be pretty close to the intake port measurements. If you're making an adapter, maybe you can incorporate the taper right in the adapter.

[Hobbs64]

I'll have a N52 head free to compare in a week. I I have a couple of S54's. I have the adapter and a set of throttle bodies. If I have time, I'll mock it up this weekend.

[hassmaschine]

nice! My head tracking# said it would arrive today but I don't yet have throttles to test. I think the only real issue will be one bolt for the OFH, but that should be relatively simple to work around.

yeah, terra - duh. I should have asked you first I guess. Already paid for it unfortunately. The auction made it look like it was in bad shape but it looks like it's just a little bit of grime. I don't think age is much of an issue. The throttles though, I'm being more picky..

Got the last 3 bolts undone today on the head - haven't pulled it yet, don't have time to change into grimey clothes nor anywhere to put the head yet. I'm mainly curious to see what the bottom end looks like - once the head is off, pulling the rest apart will be pretty quick. I'm going to try and get this head flowbenched, maybe look and see if anything can be done to improve flow given the relatively low amount of lift we have available.

[hassmaschine]

Terra - didn't you modify your vacuum distribution tube on your M3 to accept a MAP sensor? It's sort of required on the N52 (especially with no MAF) - looks like Frank Smith sells one but it costs more than a real CSL rail (which is also ridiculously expensive now). Seems like it shouldn't cost too much to make a stainless flange and have it welded to the standard tube..

[Terraphantm]

Originally Posted by hassmaschine

Terra - didn't you modify your vacuum distribution tube on your M3 to accept a MAP sensor? It's sort of required on the N52 (especially with no MAF) - looks like Frank Smith sells one but it costs more than a real CSL rail (which is also ridiculously expensive now). Seems like it shouldn't cost too much to make a stainless flange and have it welded to the standard tube..

No, I bought the actual CSL idle rail. Maybe you can make an adapter that would fit where the idle control valve normally goes since you shouldn't need that for the N52

[bhenault]

This is motivating

[hassmaschine]

Originally Posted by Terraphantm

No, I bought the actual CSL idle rail. Maybe you can make an adapter that would fit where the idle control valve normally goes since you shouldn't need that for the N52

that seems like a reasonable approach. I don't think I want to blow $400 on a CSL rail, ugh.

my head shipment got delayed by the hurricanes - I'm safe and dry up here though so I can't complain too much. All the bolts are now out of my head, but it's pretty stuck on there.. I guess after 250,000 miles it doesn't want to come off, lol. I need to clean up the garage before I pull it off anyway.

[Hobbs64]

Hass, if you put the head on a flow bench will you please CC a combustion chamber. I am surprised, but that hasn't been done on a N52, by any of the major shops. I need to know the chamber volume to compare with a N54.

[hassmaschine]

I can probably do that at home - I've actually CC'd quite a few heads (although it's been years).

[hassmaschine]

This is mine now.

I figured I could sell the fuel rail/injectors and recoup some of the cost. Also, if you wanted to do 2-stage injection, this would be an easy way (probably not needed for an N52 though).

nice thing is I think all the hoses for the CCV/oil separator will plug right into the S54 throttles & airbox.

[Terraphantm]

Originally Posted by hassmaschine

that seems like a reasonable approach. I don't think I want to blow $400 on a CSL rail, ugh.

my head shipment got delayed by the hurricanes - I'm safe and dry up here though so I can't complain too much. All the bolts are now out of my head, but it's pretty stuck on there.. I guess after 250,000 miles it doesn't want to come off, lol. I need to clean up the garage before I pull it off anyway.

Hmm, it was a good bit cheaper when I bought it. They stopped making the OE MAP sensor anyway (superseded it to a Peugeot sensor with some sort of bracket), so there isn't much point anymore for M3 owners.

[hassmaschine]

heh that's funny. I guess the production run was far too small to keep making one-off parts. I wonder how many CSL parts they ended up selling to non-CSL owners.. I'd bet far more than the original production.

[Terraphantm]

Originally Posted by hassmaschine

heh that's funny. I guess the production run was far too small to keep making one-off parts. I wonder how many CSL parts they ended up selling to non-CSL owners.. I'd bet far more than the original production.

Yeah, definitely a lot of parts went to non-CSL owners. Some parts they have no problems making -- they recently restarted production of the CSL trunks (and I should probably get myself one of those while they're still cheaper than the aftermarket crap). And they started manufacturing the airboxes in house instead of outsourcing it to Die Wiethje.

I think in this case it was more Bosch that was the issue than BMW. The new part looks more hacked together than a lot of the DIY solutions.

[tlow98]

I don't remember my CSL air rail costing $400. It's been a couple years but I seem to remember something ~$290(?).

Give a shout out to flipm3, aka, performance eurowerks. Great knowledgeable shop. Alex is a diamond. He might have some out-of-the-box solutions for you.

[Terraphantm]

Originally Posted by tlow98

I don't remember my CSL air rail costing $400. It's been a couple years but I seem to remember something ~$290(?).

Give a shout out to flipm3, aka, performance eurowerks. Great knowledgeable shop. Alex is a diamond. He might have some out-of-the-box solutions for you.

Just checked my records, I paid $237 in July 2014, and that was with ECS' markup (was higher back then). They're listing it at $355 now

Another option for him might be to just use a different differential pressure sensor and tap one port into a vacuum line.

[tlow98]

Originally Posted by Terraphantm

Just checked my records, I paid $237 in July 2014, and that was with ECS' markup (was higher back then). They're listing it at $355 now

Another option for him might be to just use a different differential pressure sensor and tap one port into a vacuum line.

That sounds more like it. I seemed to remember with the MAP all in was only $3xx for the bits needed to make the evolve box work.

Good idea on the vacuum tho I know nothing about how that could work with what part 😃 - you guys are way beyond me.

[hassmaschine]

https://***************************/...luminum-flange

Wonder if they could make a custom one with a tapered port (maybe if we could get more people interested?). Also, we need the gaskets on both sides (it's on the head on the S54, and on the manifold on the N52). I figure the bolt pattern itself I can do on my own.

edit: Oh fuck this site. just search on google for "BMW n54 intake manifold flange" and it's on the first page of results. The N54 version is only $84 so not bad really, maybe a custom one would be double?

[Noir]

Originally Posted by hassmaschine

https://***************************/...luminum-flange

Wonder if they could make a custom one with a tapered port (maybe if we could get more people interested?). Also, we need the gaskets on both sides (it's on the head on the S54, and on the manifold on the N52). I figure the bolt pattern itself I can do on my own.

edit: Oh fuck this site. just search on google for "BMW n54 intake manifold flange" and it's on the first page of results. The N54 version is only $84 so not bad really, maybe a custom one would be double?

Gimme

[hassmaschine]

Some stuff to figure out first - primarily, can I make the S54 throttles clear the OFH without having to modify the flange on cyl #1 (it will be close). Hooking up the MAP sensor and making a bracket for the actuator are also necessary but not terribly difficult.

[CobraMarty]

What is the bore of the ITB?

I picked up one of the alumn flanges. Nicely machined piece. Reasonable price.

Specs- 0.063" thick, ports 1.99" x 1.14" (50.5mm x 29.0mm)

Later today I will set it on the N52 head and IM and see how close it aligns up.

[hassmaschine]

Originally Posted by CobraMarty

What is the bore of the ITB?

I picked up one of the alumn flanges. Nicely machined piece. Reasonable price.

Specs- 0.063" thick, ports 1.99" x 1.14" (50.5mm x 29.0mm)

Later today I will set it on the N52 head and IM and see how close it aligns up.

I believe the throttles themselves are 50mm diameter.

Originally Posted by Terraphantm

Also regarding the intake ports, according to my notes: Intake ports on the S54 are 52mm wide and 33.5mm tall. N52 ports are 50.2mm wide and 30.2mm tall.

sounds like there's room in the N54 flange to machine it a bit more.

[CobraMarty]

The aluminum flange is only 44.5mm (1.75") tall. It is machined scalloped out for the mounting bolt holes. Need to check mounting clearance and make flange not scalloped but straight across above and below the mounting holes.