S50 cams in M50 - United Bimmer Community

**E36Bimmer** · 05-19-2005, 10:29 AM

I have an opportunity to pick up a set of used S50 cams for a few hundred. I know I will need the upgraded conforti chip, but is there anything else I would need to complete the swap?

**catalyst** · 05-19-2005, 02:15 PM

Injectors are recommended, not required i dont think.

If you decide not to buy them, lemme kno.

OT- where are you in NE?

**Rooz** · 05-19-2005, 02:31 PM

I know someone from here or 328i.org or bimmerwerkz just did this recently and had a rather hard time adjusting everything to the new cams, I can't remember who it was.....

**E36Bimmer** · 05-19-2005, 03:26 PM

From south west CT. I heard that tuning them will be a b*tch and it may cause a rough idle regardless.. Also heard you can get a 25-30 HP & torque gain. Not bad if I can get this done for around a G total. Does the M3 have bigger injectors than a M50?

**tomctx** · 05-19-2005, 04:04 PM

I've heard you need special tools to change the cams, but not sure what kind of tools.Never heard anything about injectors, but the software would be helpful.

**catalyst** · 05-19-2005, 06:34 PM

m50 and s50 injectors are both 17#. s52 injectors are 21.5.

If your not doing them yourself, you should take it to a well known bmw shop, that either has the equipment to remove the stock cams, or uses the pelican DIY method.

You dont need new injectors, but if you want to get the most out of the cams, you should next upgrade fuel delivery to get better gains..

Youll need a custom chip with the cams, the tms chip is the best bet.. they have one programmed to get the most out of a stock 2.5L engine with s50 cams. Youll be able to have your conforti chip reburnt by them if its a tms chip.. otherwise get rady to shell out 250 for a new one.

**E36Bimmer** · 05-20-2005, 12:29 PM

I doubt i'll do this..it requires extensive work and I cant even find a shop that can do it. let alone exceed my standards to perform the job.. im just going to look for an M instead

**catalyst** · 05-20-2005, 01:45 PM

Can you point me towards the cams then?

how much were they going for exactly?

**E36Bimmer** · 05-20-2005, 02:15 PM

$250, real cheap..they had like 120K on em tho.. if interested still i'll check if they are still available

**catalyst** · 05-20-2005, 03:24 PM

Wow, yea i really am interested.. god damnit, i should really be doing my suspension, i cant pass these up though.

PM me the info, if its not to much trouble. Where did you find them? online?

**B_w.** · 05-21-2005, 10:43 PM

as far as i know you should only need the cam software. install for my cams was about $500CDN. i did not need to upgrade the injectors but the 328 has better ones than the 325.

**BMW328is** · 05-24-2005, 12:20 AM

All this info is based from dozens of peoples experiences on another BMW forum.

Software is not needed right away. The car's DME will adjust to the cams and run pretty well. A torque loss in the low range will be felt, but the higher in the rpm band you go the more the motor will scream! The ruff idle is just for the first few minutes. The car might also be hard to start and might need some feathering of the gas peddle to keep it running.

You need to get uprated springs or spring retainers if you plan to hit 7000 rpm often.

It seems that the average cost of professional installation is $400-600. Used cams go for $300-500. Software is $675 I believe.

Worth it? TOTALLY!!!

My car is bone stock except for disconnecting the muffler flap and debaffeling the airbox. M3 cams will be the first mod I do once I have the money for it.

**catalyst** · 05-24-2005, 08:59 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BMW328is

You need to get uprated springs or spring retainers if you plan to hit 7000 rpm often.

I did not know that. It looks like im going to have to rebuild my head if i want to do this, seeing as i am above 5k rpms ALOT.

**BMW328is** · 05-24-2005, 12:05 PM

I think its more of a peace of mind issue, but I will check around to make sure.

I did discuss this with a very well known builder of BMW race motors. I believe he said to use M3 spring retainers.

**catalyst** · 05-24-2005, 09:09 PM

Well ive decided what im doing, im going to stay with the stock internals for now.. and focus on suspension.

I plan on going all out after junior year and building a (possibly high revving) 2.9L M50.