A week with my S50 ti...

[BimmerBum]

Alright... I have nearly had my S50 ti a week. It is not prefect and not exactly set up how I would like but it will get there. Some observations...

The car in general:

1) Rear head rests? Not sure I have ever seen them in a ti but I got em.
2) Needs door lock actuator in passenger door... very annoying.
3) M3 Vaders... they have 18,000 adjustment options...

Engine:

I spent some time this week chasing down fault codes and low end power issues. The car still has the stock (open) 3:46 diff so I should be able to smoke at least one tire in 1st gear... but it won't. After much go around and research I believe the engine has vanos problems. I ordered a new vanos unit, upper chain, rail, tensioner, plugs, and valve cover gasket. I will post more on this when the new unit goes in.

Suspension:

Bistein BTS kit... everything else is stock or worse. The control arms and bushings are shot. An M3 sway bar was used in order to clear the accessories on the engine but the stock ti mounting points were retained. Basically... I went from the active sway bar (25mm I think) to a 22mm front sway. The RSM's are also making noise. The handling has a ways to go! I got plans for this as well!

Brakes: E36 318/325/323/328 brakes... Will be switching to M3 units on the front.

So far...

New fuel filter
New air filter
X-Brace

[Marv17]

sounds like a working progress. i've noticed swaps are never easy. but they are worth it in the end once everything is done.

[tiFreak]

Originally Posted by BimmerBum

1) Rear head rests? Not sure I have ever seen them in a ti but I got em.

they were on the newer ones

[BimmerBum]

Originally Posted by tiFreak

they were on the newer ones

1/98 build date.

[thesk8nmidget]

yeah they became available at a later date.

they are neat looking.


you need to take some pictures of your progress and share it with us all!
hopefully soon enough she will be built to your liking and be turning on dimes!

[BimmerBum]

Originally Posted by thesk8nmidget

you need to take some pictures of your progress and share it with us all!
hopefully soon enough she will be built to your liking and be turning on dimes!

About that dime thing... this is what I am thinking...

E30 M3 Control Arms
M3 Control Arm Bushings
Dinan M Coupe Sways 4 way adjustable front and 22mm rear
Ireland trailing arm and sub frame bushings
My lightweight one piece front strut brace
M Coupe Diff Cover (Stiffer bushing)
Z3 2.8 Coupe Steering rack
Gound Control coil over set up that comes with front camber plates and rsm's

Throw some new tie rods in the mix with the M3 front brakes (hubs) then get an aliginment and corner balance.

[96cali]

FWIW I think someone here recently switced to e30 control arms and it did not make any difference. Not sure of the cost difference (esp w/ your connections) but thought you might like to know.

Originally Posted by BimmerBum

About that dime thing... this is what I am thinking...

E30 M3 Control Arms
M3 Control Arm Bushings
Dinan M Coupe Sways 4 way adjustable front and 22mm rear
Ireland trailing arm and sub frame bushings
My lightweight one piece front strut brace
M Coupe Diff Cover (Stiffer bushing)
Z3 2.8 Coupe Steering rack
Gound Control coil over set up that comes with front camber plates and rsm's

Throw some new tie rods in the mix with the M3 front brakes (hubs) then get an aliginment and corner balance.

[BimmerBum]

Originally Posted by 96cali

FWIW I think someone here recently switced to e30 control arms and it did not make any difference. Not sure of the cost difference (esp w/ your connections) but thought you might like to know.

Thanks! I will take all the light weight I can get with the 100 extra pounds my ti has over the nose. The ball joints are much improved in the E30 M3 units as well. Probably not a huge difference... but I'll take it.

[thesk8nmidget]

mallard did the swap and they are all metal bushing IIRC.

get alluminum ones and they will be a lot lighter

[dahamler]

Are you sure that this is an S50. My S52 had a bad vanos but I car still had no traction in first and second gear with and LSD. I would google Dr. Vanos for more info on the failing units. 8k is still a good price for that car good luck with fixing it and keep us updated.

[BimmerBum]

Originally Posted by dahamler

Are you sure that this is an S50. My S52 had a bad vanos but I car still had no traction in first and second gear with and LSD. I would google Dr. Vanos for more info on the failing units. 8k is still a good price for that car good luck with fixing it and keep us updated.

Yes... it is an S50. The problem is not lack of traction, the problem is that is does not make enough power in the low rpm to have a traction problem. I have a stage II Vanos kit on the way from Dr. Vanos already.

[Philly]

Originally Posted by tiFreak

they were on the newer ones

Originally Posted by BimmerBum

1/98 build date.

mine is 11/97... also have the headrests in the rear... i think they look wicked

[dahamler]

Originally Posted by BimmerBum

Yes... it is an S50. The problem is not lack of traction, the problem is that is does not make enough power in the low rpm to have a traction problem. I have a stage II Vanos kit on the way from Dr. Vanos already.

Yes I understand that but I am saying that any s motor with a bad vanos should be able to produce enough torque to spin on wheel. In fact I would say that any inline 6 should be able to do the same. If the clutch isn't fried I would look into the knock sensors.

This is an OBD I car correct?

[BimmerBum]

Originally Posted by dahamler

Yes I understand that but I am saying that any s motor with a bad vanos should be able to produce enough torque to spin on wheel. In fact I would say that any inline 6 should be able to do the same. If the clutch isn't fried I would look into the knock sensors.

This is an OBD I car correct?

Ah... sorry I misunderstood.

Yes it is an OBDI car... now. 1998 318ti.

If I dropped the clutch it would easily spin the tires, but I should be able to spin one tire from a roll in 1st gear.

The vanos unit is for sure making noise. The knock sensors could also be an issue. Before I cleared the fault codes it had a code for both knock sensors... when I rechecked, it after a drive, only tripped one.

I spoke with Mike (if I remember right) at Dr. Vanos and get said some cars get the noise and no power loss and others get it and lose a lot of power.

I plan to do the vanos unit, upper chain, rail and tensioner, plugs and valve cover gasket and see where I'm at. I am also thinking the rattling from the vanos migh be tripping the knock senors and retarding the timing.

[dahamler]

It seems that we had (have) the same problems.
My vanos always made noise before Dr. Vanos but I could still spin the wheels on a first gear roll. When I installed the new unit I did notice a huge increase in the midrange but not so much on the lower end. I think I have a good obd1 knock sensor that I could send you if just pay the shipping.

Also make sure the knock sensors are tight on the block, this is what triggered my knock code with the bad vanos (the vanos noise never triggered a knock code for me).