Installing S50 Camshafts In An M52 Engine

[@emmanuel5334]

i was doing research abt boosting my52 and came across an article saying that doing s50 camshaft with m50 intake manifold as well as a cold air intake could give me a good boost of power(240-250hp). i decided to look at how easy it would be to swap the camshafts and your video popped up first. very well explained and neatly done👍

[@JorMorera]

I immediately recognized your voice Gareth from FCP euro HEHEHE

[@GarethFoley]

That's me!

[@binkhalifa2004]

I made a blunder - when installing the exhaust cam, the crank was at TDC 😟. I forgot to turn the crank clockwise 45 degrees off TDC. I noticed this while installing E5 and E3 bolts. E3 bolts wouldn't bottom out and that's when I checked and found the crank at TDC. E5 had bottomed out. Have I damaged my engine??? I was replacing the valve stem seals.

[@sakuraFC3S]

Could I install that Hydraulic Chain Tensioner in my M50TU? If so, do you have a part number for reference?

[@Nicotrainz1]

M52 block with m50 head, s52/s50 cams and m50 manifold? Or m52 complete w s52/s50 cams and m50 manifold? Swapping my 92 325i and trying to figure out best combo for max factory output. Boost down the road btw.

[@VolvoTstage]

What is the difference between s50 cams and m50b25tu

[@rockers2rockers616]

Was it easy to source your replacement M3 camshaft's and could you tell me who you got them from if possible? I live in New Zealand and I'm not sure about availability of those cams here but it's good to have options. Thanks

[@GarethFoley]

I bought these cams from the guy who welded in my oil pan baffle. He owns a race shop that specializes in BMW's and naturally has a lot of spare parts laying around. I asked him if he had any S52 cams available but he didn't. In the end he made me a deal on the S50 cams I couldn't turn down. I was only able to source these cams through my personal connection/relationship with this shop owner. Truth be told, there is no good source for the US S50 or S52 cams. The common source is eBay but the price point is very high for these cams in general. Sometimes good deals come up on forums and places like that but it's hit or miss unfortunately. I have also seen an M54B30 cam modification which has the same lift and duration of the S52 intake cam but the VANOS gear needs to be cut down to make it work on a single VANOS engine. The M54B30 intake cams can be had cheaper so that could be an option.

[@pancake7408]

does this work on a M52TUB25?

[@CTRVe36]

Awesome video! I have questions and I’ll be happy if you can give me some advice. I have m52b28 euro in e36 and I’m thinking to put m3 camshafts. So can i use s50b32/30 euro camshafts on it like plug and play or i have to do modifications to fit it , or it’s not going to fit.. Thanks in advance!

[@GarethFoley]

Euro S50 cams are entirely different and will not fit in the standard M52 engine. You would need to either find US spec S50/S52 cams or find an M54B30 intake cam and modify the VANOS gear on the front so it is the same length as an M52 VANOS gear. The intake cam is what makes the biggest difference in power on the single VANOS engines. The M54B30 intake cam is the same lift/duration as the S52 intake cam.

[@CTRVe36]

Gareth Foley thanks for the fast reply and the info!

[@GarethFoley]

@@CTRVe36 No problem. Actually got a notification when someone commented for once. 😂

[@JeffBPereira]

This exhaust Cam number is 171888? And intake 178f?

[@DrEvil-os9dc]

Could you swap the m54 cams into the m52tub28? Or are they the same?

[@psychosocial2006]

only difference is the intake cam, 9.7mm lift from m54b30

[@DrEvil-os9dc]

@@psychosocial2006 would I have to swap to m54 lifters also or do they self adjust? New to bmw engines and trying to build a m52tub28. U.S. would like to stroke it

[@JensSchilstra]

Do you know if you can fit s50 cams in a m50 without vanos?

[@GarethFoley]

I don't believe the cams will physically fit as the cam trays are different. You're also going to need to remove the VANOS gear off the intake cam as well. Generally, I don't see anybody attempting to do this.

[@lucapmc9230]

How much power do you gain with S50 camshafts?

[@GarethFoley]

The cams alone won't do anything without a tune. Increased rev limit which is necessary to really get the most out of the higher duration/lift intake cam can reasonably get you to M54B30 power levels (220ish).

[@MicKsFamous]

I was told I need to clearance my head (m50) for s50 cams

[@GarethFoley]

Shouldn't have to as far as I know. You will need to replace the cam trays however. You need cam trays from a US S50, S52, or M52 engine to accommodate these cams.

[@vanystuart551]

Hallo do you can swap that in a m52tub28 double vanos to

[@GarethFoley]

No, won't work on dual VANOS engines. You could potentially get M54B30 cams but truth be told you're not going to see major power improvements on the M52TUB28 engine.

[@NM-gx5or]

Hey thanks for the video, in the process of buying US S50 cams to install into m52, some people on forums are saying it may not fit, is that true? Do I need any modification to fit the S50 cams into m52 head? Thanks

[@GarethFoley]

No modifications are required. The S50 shares the same cam trays as the M52/S52 because it also shares the same cylinder head. Only the M50 engine would need additional parts for installation of S50/S52 cams.

[@dironizareyes596]

@@GarethFoley hey Gareth what's up! What additional parts would I need to install s52 cams on m50?

[@dironizareyes596]

I mean s50 cams? Would s52 cams work on m50? And are the additional parts for the m50 the same for the s52

[@GarethFoley]

@@dironizareyes596 Pending you have an M50TU engine (single VANOS vs non VANOS) I believe all that is needed is the cam trays from a US S50, M52, or S52 engine.

[@mcjjordan]

Can these just pop straight into m52 without changing anything in head?

[@GarethFoley]

M52/S52 cylinder heads are exactly the same including cam trays and lifters. No modifications are required.

[@jose2x784]

engine must be removed?

[@GarethFoley]

No, the engine does not need to be removed in order to swap cams. This engine was removed for lots of other work where it made it easier for it to be out of the car.

[@jose2x784]

S50B30 euro cams will do the job?

[@GarethFoley]

Not likely. The Euro S50 is a double VANOS engine so the exhaust cam will definitely not fit without extensive modification. In addition, the cam trays ( or intermediate housing) is different than the cam trays used on the M50/M52 engines so I'm not even sure the Euro S50 cams even fit the stock cam trays or will work with the lifters for that matter. The US S50 and S52 engines are modified versions of the M50/M52 which is why the cams directly swap.

[@jose2x784]

@@GarethFoley thanks!! so US s50 and s52 are same? and I will have the same hp gain from them?

[@GarethFoley]

@@jose2x784 They are pretty much the same engine and then make roughly the same power. The cam profile on the US S50 is slightly different than the S52 but not enough to write home about. The S52 cams are more common because the engine was used from 1996-1999 while the US S50 was only used in 1995.

[@Gtbtdx]

No

[@lars98100]

S50 cams do not fit into m52/m50!! First the timingwheels are different, secound the screw Connection of cam into head are very different too!!! S50 duplex chain, m52 simplex! Your cams are from s52!!! S52 cams fit into m50/m52.

[@GarethFoley]

These are US spec S50 cams which is entirely based on the M50TU. US S50 and S52 cams are interchangeable on an M50TU or M52 engine with the correct cam trays. Cams from the real S50 with dual VANOS will of course not work.