P54B32 race engine

[Mike R]

https://racecarsdirect.com/Advert/Details/64110/bmw-s54p54-b32-m3-motorsport-race-engine

What are the exact specs of these - anyone know?

[khooni]

wouldn't you also need a motec ecu to run this engine?

should be awesome but pricey

[Mike R]

The loom could soon be swapped for a standard one :).

[khooni]

then you wouldn't be able to make the gains and use the engine appropriately i think

[Mike R]

Standard ECU can be live mapped in the same way as the Motec, just not as easily :). How do you thing all these companies flash the ECUs for various tunes to suit flowed heads, hiked compressions, exhausts and cam upgrades :blalalala: ?

[alexk]

Mike hi.

It's a brilliant engine with a lot of torque (more than a CSL) and 420 true PS.

I could be wrong but I think the P54s run with BMW MS ECUs and not Motec.
Why is he offering a Motec ECU ?
Surely the BMW MS map for the special vanos unit must be better than a custom made ?

The engine life is very limited and the parts are extremely expensive (I find the prices quoted in the invoice low).
The special vanos unit is ~ 10k euros.

I would have gone for a P54 but I cannot afford a 15-20k bill every 4k km or so.
That's too expensive for my car budget.
Assuming it's an original P54B32, I think you should not purchase this engine unless you will run a race car and have a lot of money to throw on maintaining it.

[Mike R]

Thanks for posting Alex, I was actually interested in knowing the precise specs of the engine (as in what they do to achieve the power).

I was hoping that someone could give info on:
Crank size / spec (standard or modified)
Rod size / spec (standard or modified)
Piston size / spec (standard or modified)
What the actual differences in the P54 vanos are
Valve sizes
Cam profiles
Compression ratio

Basically EVERY single comparative difference between the two engines.

I can't seem to be able to find anything definitive.

[alexk]

Let me dig out some info when at home.

If you are trying to replicate it... you will fail unless you pay top money for the BMW MS parts.

[Mike R]

Let me dig out some info when at home.

If you are trying to replicate it... you will fail unless you pay top money for the BMW MS parts.

I'm mainly interested in seeing how far removed the P54 is from the S54 :).

[alexk]

I'm mainly interested in seeing how far removed the P54 is from the S54 :).

I have an example, the vanos unit is a different beast.
It would not make the power and torque without it.
Cost of it 10 or more thousand EUR.
Says a lot about the cost of all the components.

[Mike R]

I have an example, the vanos unit is a different beast.
It would not make the power and torque without it.
Cost of it 10 or more thousand EUR.
Says a lot about the cost of all the components.

But HOW is it different :)? I have seen the above said many a time, but without any further explanation. What is so special about it?

[khooni]

also u may have trouble mating it to the smg.

anyway, i dun know if the std ecu is adaptable enough to handle a race engine. maybe it is, i got no specs either?

too bad, i am looking for a second hand spare engine to be built up with enhanced parts.

[NZ_M3]

Go and look for the Z4 2008 Motorsport catalogue - the full spec is in there just by looking at the parts used.

From a quick glance I think the cams are intake 304' (or 316' in EVO spec) and exhaust is 298'

I've seen photos of the valves and they are almost identical to the CSL item in shap and angle cut, it is simply lighter and a different material from memory.

The vanos unit does seem to have a different part number but that could just be because the standard item is sold with the solenoid and the motorsport item sold with a different solenoid (one capable of being used with Motec) - I've seen one for sale in the past and it looks identical to the stock item mechanical wise, just the solenoid is different.

Short of bragging rights and having that genuine heritage, I'd just build a motor for much cheaper - surely 420hp is quite attainable nowdays with all the knowledge out there??

[Mike R]

Go and look for the Z4 2008 Motorsport catalogue - the full spec is in there just by looking at the parts used.

From a quick glance I think the cams are intake 304' (or 316' in EVO spec) and exhaust is 298'

I've seen photos of the valves and they are almost identical to the CSL item in shap and angle cut, it is simply lighter and a different material from memory.

The vanos unit does seem to have a different part number but that could just be because the standard item is sold with the solenoid and the motorsport item sold with a different solenoid (one capable of being used with Motec) - I've seen one for sale in the past and it looks identical to the stock item mechanical wise, just the solenoid is different.

Short of bragging rights and having that genuine heritage, I'd just build a motor for much cheaper - surely 420hp is quite attainable nowdays with all the knowledge out there??


That was my thinking, but I was just trying to look at how BMW went about it :). Seems odd that they charge all that money for the VANOS if just the solenoid is different? Is the valve-train also uprated to support the different cams? Is the lift any greater than the CSL or is it just the duration that is different?