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      01-10-2016, 10:41 AM   #59
pokeybritches
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Drives: ESS/G-Power Z4M, VF Z4, 996tt
Join Date: Sep 2009
Location: Los Angeles

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2006 BMW Z4M  [10.00]
2006 BMW Z4M  [8.50]
2003 BMW Z4 3.0i  [9.00]
Quote:
Originally Posted by Westersund
Quote:
Originally Posted by pokeybritches View Post
Many of the guys that build the highest horsepower cars prefer the M50/M52 iron block. The S52 and S54 don't have as much material, and the S54 can crack around the 700-800 whp mark if not sleeved (shops don't advertise this). A local shop owner has a 900 whp Z3 running the 2.8 (bored to 2.9 liter) built engine. I looked at trying to swap the M54 head onto the iron block for a high horsepower turbo, but the project was more ambitious (read: expensive) than I wanted to take on.
You don't think that have more to do with availability and cost and not reliability? A M50 block is dirt cheap compared to a S54 block, both are cast iron after all. Several 1000+ hp S54's are runing in Sweden, but the M50's are more common but cost almost nothing. M50's are most bang for the buck no doubt.
Not on a 1000 hp car. The cost of the block is nothing compared to the rest of the build.

There are other factors, like tuning, and the S54 sacrifices low end for a higher redline and better flow up top.
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