BMW S50B32 engine

S50 engine specifications

Production	Munich Plant
Engine brand	S50
Release years	1995-2000
Block material	cast iron
Supply system	injector
Type	in-line
Number of cylinders	6
Valves per cylinder	4
Piston stroke, mm	91
Cylinder diameter, mm	86.4
Compression ratio	11.3
Engine volume, cc	3201
Engine power, hp / rpm	321/7400 310/7400
Torque, Nm/rpm	350/3250 340/3250
Maximum revolutions, rpm	7600
Fuel	95
Environmental regulations	Euro 2
Engine weight, kg	154
Fuel consumption, l/100 km (for E36 M3) - city - track - mixed.	16.9 7.5 11.0
Oil consumption, g/1000 km	up to 1000
Engine oil	0W-30 0W-40 5W-30 5W-40 10W-40 15W-40
How much oil is in the engine, l	5.5
Oil change is carried out, km	7000-10000
Operating temperature of the engine, hail.	~90
Engine resource, thousand km - according to the plant - on practice	- 400+
Tuning, HP - potential - no loss of resource	1000+ n.a.
The engine was installed	BMW M3 E36 BMW Z3M
checkpoint - 6MKPP - SMG I	Getrag 420G Getrag 420G
gear ratios	1 - 4.23 2 - 2.51 3 - 1.67 4 - 1.23 5 - 1.00 6 - 0.83
Main couple - 6MKPP - SMG I	3.23 3.23

Reliability, problems and repair of the BMW S50 B32 engine

Progress does not stand still and in 1995 it was time to refine the good 6-cylinder S50B30 engine to raise its output to a new level and make the BMW M3 E36 even faster and more dynamic. The new engine was named S50B32 and became the most powerful in the M50 series (which also included M50B20, M50B24, M50B25 and S50B30). Looking at the name of the new power unit, it is easy to guess its displacement and to get 3.2 liters, a forged crankshaft with a stroke of 91 mm was installed in the S50B30 cylinder block, and the cylinder diameter was increased to 86.4 mm. At the same time, graphite-coated connecting rods with a length of 139 mm were used, lightweight pistons with a compression height of 32.3 mm, the compression ratio increased from 10.8 to 11.3 units.

The S50B32 cylinder head has been improved: for the first time on BMW engines, a system of continuous variable valve timing on the intake and exhaust shafts - Double-VANOS was used, the valves have changed(the intake diameter was increased to 35 mm, the exhaust diameter remained the same, the thickness of the valve stem decreased from 7 mm to 6 mm). The dual-mass flywheel and exhaust system have also undergone changes, and the intake has become thicker and shorter.
Control system S50B32 - Siemens MSS50.
All these innovations made it possible for the serial urban BMW to overcome the bar of 100 hp. from 1 liter of working volume, atmospheric version. Accordingly, the 3.2-liter engine showed 321 hp. at 7400 rpm, and the torque reached 350 Nm at 3250 rpm.

A modification was also produced for South Africa, it differed in pistons for a compression ratio of 10.5. The power of such an M3 was 310 hp. at 7400 rpm, and a torque of 340 Nm at 3250 rpm.

The S50B32 engine was not installed in cars destined for the North American market, instead the S52B32 was used in the BMW M3 E36.

This power unit was used on BMW M3 E36 and Z3M cars.
In 2000, the S50B32 was discontinued and in the next generation of the M3 E46, its successor, the S54B32, was already used.

Problems and disadvantages of BMW S50B32 engines

The underlying diseases of S50B32 are similar to and no different from S50. You can learn more about them.

BMW S50B32 engine tuning

Camshafts. Turbo

Tuning the S50B32 is similar to tuning the S50B30: you need to buy a cold air inlet, Schrick 284 cams with springs, a full sport exhaust and chip tuning. As a result, you will get about 360+ hp. BMore power will be obtained by removing VANOS, by purchasing the appropriate kit, then buying Schrick 316/308 camshafts with pushers and springs. Lightweight connecting rods and pistons for a compression ratio of 13+ units, enlarged valves, as well as cylinder head porting, airbox, 500 cc nozzles will be needed. These mods will allow you to unscrew the engine for 9000 rpm and develop under 400 hp.
In addition to atmospheric horses, based on the S50, you can build a BMW M3 turbo on the Vi-PEC V88, with a power of 500-600 or more hp. Process description .

Especially for the sports BMW M3, Bavarian engineers based on the 2.5-liter M50 made a new S50 engine, which gave rise to a whole series of modifications of excellent engines that are still in demand. Despite its more than respectable age and many thousands of miles, the S50 is a welcome purchase for car tuning fans. With relatively affordable investments, they spin up to 9000 rpm with an increase in power to 450 “horses”.

S50 engine specifications

The first motor of the S50B30 series appears in 1992. This is the standard 6-cylinder version with slightly larger bores, a cast iron crankshaft, lighter pistons and 10.8 compression. The result was an excellent 3-liter engine with a VANOS system, a sports exhaust and a Bosch Motronic M3.3 control system. The base unit produced 286 hp. at 7000 rpm with a torque of 320 Nm (at 3600 rpm).

In 1995, the engine received a significant upgrade with an increase in displacement to 3201 cm², so the S50B32 engine appeared. This is the most powerful engine in the M50 family - at 7400 rpm it produces 321 hp, has a torque of 350 Nm. How did you manage to achieve such impressive results?

The motor received a forged crankshaft (stroke 91 mm), cylinders increased to 86.4 mm and connecting rods coated with graphite up to 139 mm. The compression ratio has increased to 11.3, and the pistons have become even lighter. For the first time, the Double-VANOS gas distribution system was installed on the cylinder head with an increase in intake diameter, which became thicker and shorter. The motor is now controlled by Siemens MSS50.

Both the B30 and B32 had many modifications. So, for South Africa, BMWs were produced for 310 “horses” with a compression of 10.5, especially for the USA and Canada with higher standards, the Bavarians installed engines with the US index (243 hp, 305 Nm) on their cars. There was also a GT version of the B30 engine with 295 “horses”, and the most powerful unit was installed on Australian BMW M3 E36 cars - 324 hp. Discontinued B30 in 1995 and B32 in 2000.

Problems with S50 motors

Regardless of whether you want to buy the S50B32 engine or its predecessor, the problems with used units will be similar and typical for the entire series.

• These engines overheat, so you need to keep an eye on the thermostat and pump, the air in the cooling and the radiator.
• The motor often troit, which is most often associated with ignition coils, candles or nozzles.
• Used S50s can have revs fluctuating. This is often a KXX, lambda probe, throttle or temperature sensor.
• Vanos rattling with a drop in power is characteristic. It is treated with a repair kit.

You can not focus on oil consumption and its leakage - this is well known. But in general, if you remove the inevitable age and mileage, the S50 is a real "millionaire" with a large margin of safety.

Where to buy the S50B30 engine

Only we will be able to pick up a B30 engine of this series in good condition with a guarantee that it has a resource and will still serve. Buying an S50 B32 used is much easier, as it is younger than 7 years.

But we scrupulously check the condition of each motor, diagnose it on the stand and manually, make sure that there are no damages and characteristic “sores”. If necessary, we will bring any modification to order, and quickly and inexpensively.