2lt turbo or 3.2lt NA?

2.0lt turbo or 3.0-3.2lt NA

  • 2.0lt turbo M42

    Votes: 5 9.8%
  • 3.0-3.2lt Normally Aspirated M52

    Votes: 46 90.2%

  • Total voters
    51

Gizmo

Banned
I have been giving a lot of thought to the future of my white E36 recently and can do with some fanatics opinions as to what route I should take.
Several years back I made the decision to turbo my custom 2044cc M42 motor and made the initial turbo and wastegate purchases, the turbo being a brand new Garrett GT30/76R AR.63 with a S/S Tial 3inch Vband exhaust housing and the wastegate being a brand new Turbonetics 45mm Hypergate Vband unit. Both have been sitting in their boxes for the last 4 years waiting for the rest of the motor to be built, sadly the car has taken a back seat to household, business and family commitments and I rarely drive it much these days due to turfing the aircon to make space for the turbo, wastegate and turbo manifold. I really miss my AC and the wife won't drive in it during summer either, so the car sits. Even though the AC compressor is small on the 4cyl motor its going to take up valuable space needed for the turbo stuff so the to-be-built S/S turbo manifold is going to be a PITA to fabricate while keeping the AC in place.
I also have many parts still to purchase to complete the turbo motor such as forged pistons and rods, ARP head studs, ARP mains, intercooler, boost pipes, Haltech ECU, turbo manifold+downpipe+3inch exhaust, exhaust cut-out valve, injectors, fuel pump and a few other odds and ends which is probably another R50k into the hole...

Now, I have this Techno Violet 1998 328i individual that I saved from a scrapyard and it would make the perfect donor vehicle to convert my 1993 316i to a 1998 328i+vat. This would also give me such things like AC, cruise control, check control, one-touch roll up windows, dual airbags, EWS security, better ABS, OEM remote central locking and of course a M52 which Im in the process of converting to 3.0lt or even 3.2lt depending on how much I bore out the cast iron block (84-86mm). Best thing of all is the only costs are the motor build and my time to swap everything over which is way under R50k. This conversion would allow me to drive the car way more often and have the added safety features and creature comforts to boot.
What are your thoughts fanatics?
 

e46monk3y

Events Organiser
I voted 3ltr

but which would be the more fuel efficient motor?
the 2ltr?

Unfortunately with the petrol price going up 90odd cents on Wednesday and more increases likely in the future I think this has to be a consideration too
 

Gizmo

Banned
Fuel efficiency doesn't exist on a indirect injection turbo motor, nor would my right foot allow it...
 

Nick

Honorary ///Member
3L is my choice, to many boosted 2.0L's sneezing all over the streets these days.

We need more i6's howling around the back roads!
 

ChefDJ

///Member
nick said:
3L is my choice, to many boosted 2.0L's sneezing all over the streets these days.

We need more i6's howling around the back roads!

+1

And it won't be daily, will it? So fuel efficiency shouldn't be a worry.

I can't imagine a car without an aircon anymore... Had enough of those days. My aircon is on permanently.
 

Doomsdaya

///Member
Personally I've driven both turbo and natural aspirated cars and I still prefer the latter. Knowing how pedantic you are, we both know what your heart is telling you to do :) and thats to go M52...
 

Gizmo

Banned
cOlDFuSiOn said:
I say strap the turbo to the 6pot :coolShake:
Although the turbo would work on the 3lt I would lose the ac again and be back to square one...


If the m52 sees boost it would come from a ESS twinscrew supercharger.


My touring is my daily.
 

Yuben

Senior Moderator
Staff member
Was never a fan of non 6cyl BMW motors, boosted or not. So u know where my vote will be.
:rollsmile:
 

Major

Active member
Well it sounds like you already have your mind made up, NA 3.0/3.2 so you can have AC and actually use the car instead of it being a paperweight! Normally I'd vote for the turbo, but you want some comforts. :)
 

Peter@AEW

BMWFanatics Advertiser
Official Advertiser
Turbo 4 pot in the white car.

3.0 or 3.2 I6 in the violet car

Then sell the violet car, thus recouping all costs.
 

DieselFan

Honorary ///Member
I say have a new mani made for the 3 litre engine. :D surely you can relocate the AC? Or maybe do a top mount turbo to keep the AC? I dunno. I'm a boost whore.
 

GPGrobler

///Member
I am a fan of the 4-cylinder motors, but if given the choice, I would go for the sixer, so you already know what my vote is :)
 

Gizmo

Banned
a1exander said:
Turbo 4 pot in the white car.

3.0 or 3.2 I6 in the violet car

Then sell the violet car, thus recouping all costs.

I would love to drive it more often, not just in the cooler months of the year.
You want to buy the violet car then?
 

Gizmo

Banned
There is zero space on the near side of the engine, I have considered that route already, no go.
 

moranor@axis

///Member
Official Advertiser
there should be enough space to mount the turbo in front of the engine then for the turbo because it is a 4 cyl?
 
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