M50 Manifold Swap for M52 Engines

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07-07-14, 09:55
Ketron

M50 Manifold Swap for M52 Engines

Hi all I'm going to be swap shortly and I'm wondering if anyone could give me info on conversion kits.

So far I've found:

http://m50manifold.com//index.php?option=&Itemid=51

There is also the Alpina527 kit but it works out a little expensive for what is supposed to be a cheap mod. But the benefit of it is that its plug and play.

Cant seem to fit any ebay kits or similar?

I know its possible to diy it, is it recommended or is it better to buy a purpose build kit?
07-07-14, 10:14
Steve320

RE: M50 Manifold Swap for M52 Engines

BMW entuaist on Facebook sells a kit its £65 he's based in Peterborough in the uk .
07-07-14, 10:17
Ketron

RE: M50 Manifold Swap for M52 Engines

Quote:

Originally Posted by Steve320

BMW entuaist on Facebook sells a kit its £65 he's based in Peterborough in the uk .

Sound :)

Have you used them or know anyone that has?
07-07-14, 10:21
Steve320

RE: M50 Manifold Swap for M52 Engines

He puts up photos of nearly all his work. This is the link to the kit if u want to take a look man
https://www.facebook.com/lthplumbing/media_set?set=a.397536173682003.1073741850.1000027 68718062&type=3

Hope this helps
07-07-14, 10:31
Ketron

RE: M50 Manifold Swap for M52 Engines

Quote:

Originally Posted by Steve320

He puts up photos of nearly all his work. This is the link to the kit if u want to take a look man
https://www.facebook.com/lthplumbing/media_set?set=a.397536173682003.1073741850.1000027 68718062&type=3

Hope this helps

Thanks man :) Have you come across any ebay(or similar) ones that include all the mounting brackets etc?
07-07-14, 10:37
Steve320

RE: M50 Manifold Swap for M52 Engines

Unfortunately not . I'm pretty sure it would be cheap enough if u got an engineering yard to cut one out with a laser cutter
07-07-14, 15:33
claude

RE: M50 Manifold Swap for M52 Engines

from my research into this get a good quality kit , you don't want air leaks of any sort
07-07-14, 15:47
Ketron

RE: M50 Manifold Swap for M52 Engines

Quote:

Originally Posted by claudio

from my research into this get a good quality kit , you don't want air leaks of any sort

Yeah was thinking that, but there doesn't seem to be much in a kit apart from this hose:

http://m50manifold.com/images/storie...0of%20hose.jpg

Which people seem to be making themselves, but with a messy DIY kit air leaks could be a strong possibility. Will seal the TB using a metal m52 -> m50 adapter I think, seem to be more reliable than rubber ones.

Have a week off the end of the month and wont be going anywhere so would be nice if I could get everything before then. Picking up a Manifold on Thursday evening and I'm chatting to a guy about getting a BBTB. Seems to be cheaper to get one from a guy who specialises in selling them rather than getting my current one machined in Ireland.
08-07-14, 11:17
Ketron

RE: M50 Manifold Swap for M52 Engines

This is very interesting:

Generally there are two ways of doing it, changing the M52 pipework so it'll fit the manifold (ebay kit) or the other is to change the M50 manifold so it is a direct replacement for the M52 original.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v1.../ansaug007.jpg

You can buy the plate from the bottom of the M52 manifold from BMW, and that will match all your original pipes as they are.

The M50 manifold gets a hole cut in the bottom, and the old idle control valve "input" filled (done here with some white gunky stuff)

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v1.../ansaug001.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v1.../ansaug002.jpg

Then get some nuts and bolts, nylock/thread lock them, and bolt the plate on, and it'll fit the M52 stuff, like the oil separator etc-

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v1.../ansaug006.jpg

http://bmwenthusiasts.co.uk/forum/viewtopic.php?f=58&t=3882#p44184
08-07-14, 11:51
Ketron

RE: M50 Manifold Swap for M52 Engines

I wonder if it would be unwise to follow this approach? Its apparently more common in germany when they do the conversion.

My main concern would be the filler that's used? What would be a permanent solution? And what would give the best seal?

If I could get a good permanent filler that would give a good seal I would get a new M52 manifold plate (rather than reuse my one) and take this approach. Lot of "ifs" though.