Differences between the S50 and S54 cars

[imported_ascender]

As per topic. What were the differences between the 2 "different" models?

Also, how many of each were built and from what years?

Should be a nice easy subject we can fill quickly and make a sticky.

[c_w]

S50 is the E36 M3 EVO engine (S50B32) rated at 321bhp. 1998-2000

S54 is the E46 M3 engine but "detuned" and rated at 325bhp. S54 gets grey-faced dials and curved badges and darker "chrome shadow" wheels. 2000-2002?

[maahny]

S50 has no driver aids.

S54 has DSC.

[Trundler]

:oops: (not exactly technical, but...) S54 has chromed bonnet grilles, the S50's are black.
Are the headlights different:?:

[PhilT]

S54 headlights have chrome surround rings
S50 says MCoupe on speedo, S54 just has M badge
S54 has tyre pressure monitors, S50 doesn't

[MrMicko]

:oops: (not exactly technical, but...) S54 has chromed bonnet grilles, the S50's are black.
Are the headlights different:?:

You mean by chromed bonnet grilles the bmw "kidney" grilles?
Bmwmregistry says:
The following items were introduced or modified to the S50- and S52-powered M coupes beginning with April, 1999 production:
-Chrome slats added to front "kidney" grilles

http://bmwmregistry.com/model_faq.php?id=17

[Lee]

:oops: (not exactly technical, but...) S54 has chromed bonnet grilles, the S50's are black.
Are the headlights different:?:

S50 cars post 1999 had chromed bonnet grills and chromed headlight surrounds!

[c_w]

Mine is a 99 S50 with chrome gills and chrome-ringed headlights (both came in at same time I think).

S54 is drive-by-wire where the S50 uses a normal throttle cable which often gets stiff but is easy to replace.

[exdos]

The S54 has a much larger air plenum than the S50.

The S54 has a different (more reliable) double VANOS.

The S50 has a locking petrol cap whereas the lid over the petrol cap on S54 locks with the central locking.

The "scuff plate" emblems on the cills are different on S50 and S54 ( a real anorak point!)

[c_w]

The S50 has a locking petrol cap whereas the lid over the petrol cap on S54 locks with the central locking.



That must be another thing that was changed after a year or so of production, my S50 has a locking flap connected to central locking and the cap just twists off. I think when the facelifted Z3 roadsters came mid-99 out there were a few revisions across the board that were changed on the Coupe too (locking fuel flap, chrome headlights, chrome gills etc).

[MrMicko]

The S50 has a locking petrol cap whereas the lid over the petrol cap on S54 locks with the central locking.

From april 1999, so later S50 cars have this too.

[alexpalix]

Amazing what you can find on the net, here are some production numbers

RHD S50 821 from 8/98 - 6/00
RHD S54 168 from 2/01 - 5/02

http://www.answers.com/topic/bmw-m-coupe

I've got some questions on FAQ Buying an MCoupe (and the VANOS). If anyone can help or point me towards the answers I would be grateful.
Alex

[Spooks]

alexpalix - do you know if those RHD numbers were for Britain alone or was that World Wide ?? Im assuming world wide.

On that note mine was registered in Sept 2002 making it a '52 plate........are there any other S54 owners with one registered around this time as their cant have been many left at that point ??

[j1muv]

alexpalix - do you know if those RHD numbers were for Britain alone or was that World Wide ?? Im assuming world wide.

On that note mine was registered in Sept 2002 making it a '52 plate........are there any other S54 owners with one registered around this time as their cant have been many left at that point ??

Mine is April 02 I think. I'd be interested to know what number mine is of the 168...any idea how I could find out?

[alexpalix]

Here you go Spooks, the full production list

European left hand drive S50 engine: 2,178 built from 04/98 through 06/2000
European right hand drive S50 engine: 821 built from 08/98 through 06/2000
North America S52 engine: 2,180 built from 07/98 through 06/2000
European left hand drive S54 engine: 281 built from 02/2001 through 05/2002
European right hand drive S54 engine: 168 built from 02/2001 through 05/2002
North America S54 engine: 690 built from 02/2001 through 05/2002

Can anyone direct me to some definitive answers on the VANOS issue? I am really interested in getting an M Coupe but £3k seems a big risk and I dont know how to quantify the likelihood of it happening. Did you guys just take the plunge? Sorry to change the subject. I have put the question a different way on the thread 'Buying an MCoupe (and the VANOS)' if you want to answer there.

Is the VANOS more reliable on the S54 than the S50?

[Spooks]

Ahh, thanks very much !!

Like Jim says it would be interesting to know if you can find out what number it was off the production line or even which of the 168 it is..........

[alexpalix]

Spooks

See you upgraded. What makes the S54 worth the upgradde?

Alex

[Spooks]

Alex,

well my upgrage was kind of forced after me and the S50 slid down an icy bank at about 50mph resulting in it being written off........ouch. (Actually its being put back on the road as I was contacted by its new owner recently)

I then moved onto the S54 after having the opportunity to buy the car at a great price. There is not a huge difference as you have seen but all the additional bits make it a better car and dont take anything away. The traction control is great on slippery/icy roads or when just half asleep on the drive to work when being abit heavy footed out of islands.........and you can switch it off when you like. I also prefer the darker alloys too, make it that little bit different.

If there is anything specific you would like to know let me know.

Ian

[UK_M_Coupe]

Hi M Coupe guru types
Can anyone tell me whats available in the US M Coupe wise?
Thanks in advance.
Any input / advice would be much appreciated.
Regards
Jon Tribe

[Greenbat]

Hi M Coupe guru types
Can anyone tell me whats available in the US M Coupe wise?
Thanks in advance.
Any input / advice would be much appreciated.
Regards
Jon Tribe

This should help

http://bmwmregistry.com/model_faq.php?id=17

http://www.368s.com/

Cheers

Greenbat

[RogerRally]

Wheres the best place to look to buy unabused, but not sill money examples for sale?.
Ive looked on Petrol heads, and auto trader, but most independant traders dont know wether is a 50/54.
Thanks, from a potential newbie

[c_w]

Wheres the best place to look to buy unabused, but not sill money examples for sale?.
Ive looked on Petrol heads, and auto trader, but most independant traders dont know wether is a 50/54.
Thanks, from a potential newbie

Where you've looked already and on here are the best/only places to look.

98-2000 are S50s (S up to X-reg?)
2001-2003 are S54s (Y-reg on?) but there may be some overlap betwen the x/y plates.

Easiest to ask what it says on top of the engine ("BMW M Power" = S50, just an "///M" logo = S54)

[Trundler]

Mods - Can this thread be made a 'Sticky'?
:thumbsup:

[MGR]

S54 cars require servicing every 15,000 miles

S50 cars require servicing every 8,000 miles

Also later cars have a diagnostic port (not sure if some late S50s have this)

[BEN]

Also later cars have a diagnostic port (not sure if some late S50s have this)

its under the bonnet on earlier cars which is obdI
S54's are obdII

[c_w]

Some S50s should have an OBDII port too (under the dash) as this became EU "law" in 2000 (W/X-reg?).

[wfarrell]

Only the S54 engine is EU "Stage III" compliant, not the S50

Stage III compliance was one of the S54's objectives (in addition to increased power, improved fuel economy, improved reliability, greater service intervals etc).

EU Stage III required (amongst other things):
-- OBDII (HEGO 1&2 , catalyst, fuel and circuit continuity monitiors)
-- reduced tailpipe emissions (CO, HC, and NOx)
-- Reduced CO2 production (manufacturer fleet average - local market tax incentives)
-- Emissions robustness to 150k (or more?) km's
-- Fuel tank vapour purge and HC emissivity limits

Obviously this level of performance required not only an improved engine hardware, but also increased catalyst efficiency, diagnostic circuitry, further ECU software enhancements, and considerable system integration and validation testing -- et voila; the S54 was born !!

[c_w]

Ah right it must have been 2001 then!

[MGR]

The colours that the M coupe was availiable in changed between S50 and S54.

The colours follow what was available on the E36 / E46 M3's to some extent although largely the selection remained the same.

For example you couldn't get an S50 in pheonix yellow. The black is also different on later cars apparantly.

I notice though you could still get an S54 in estoril blue so its not quite following the E46 M3 coulour range.

[sday12]

Th
I notice though you could still get an S54 in estoril blue so its not quite following the E46 M3 coulour range.

Probably because it was such a popular colour?

[MGR]

Probably because it was such a popular colour?

Thats what I thought as well

[c_w]

Yea could be, also it was an "E36"/8 era colour and when the S54 came out they probably just added the newer colours to the range but kept the popular ///M old colours (Dakar Yellow also?)

S50 Cosmos black changed to Sapphire Black which is a blacker black vs the Cosmos which can look more metallicy/graphite in sunlight (if that makes sense!!)

[MGR]

I have summarised the above with all the main points. Some of the points are pasted together from different posts and by different people so might not read that well but at least here is a list all in one place and the same topics are together. Hopefully this will provide a quick (and fairly comprehensive) list for any potential buyers/owners so they can understand what they are buying. I hope nobody minds their comments being taken out of context but its all there in the above thread anyway I just thought a summary would be good :thumbsup:



S50 is the E36 M3 EVO engine (S50B32) rated at 321bhp. 1998-2000
S54 is the E46 M3 engine but "detuned" and rated at 325bhp. S54 gets grey-faced dials and curved badges and darker "chrome shadow" wheels. 2000-2002

S50 has no driver aids.
S54 has DSC.

S54 has chromed bonnet grilles, the S50's are black.

S54 headlights have chrome surround rings, S50 cars post 1999 had chromed bonnet grills and chromed headlight surrounds.
S50 says MCoupe on speedo, S54 just has M badge
S54 has tyre pressure monitors, S50 doesn't

S54 is drive-by-wire where the S50 uses a normal throttle cable.

S54 has a much larger air plenum than the S50.

The S54 has a different (more reliable) double VANOS.

The S50 has a locking petrol cap whereas the lid over the petrol cap on S54 locks with the central locking. I think when the facelifted Z3 roadsters came mid-99 out there were a few revisions across the board that were changed on the Coupe too (locking fuel flap, chrome headlights, chrome gills etc)

The "scuff plate" emblems on the cills are different on S50 and S54

S54 cars require servicing every 15,000 miles
S50 cars require servicing every 8,000 miles

Only the S54 engine is EU "Stage III" compliant, not the S50

The colours that the M coupe was availiable in changed between S50 and S54. The colours follow what was available on the E36 / E46 M3's to some extent although largely the selection remained the same. For example you couldn't get an S50 in pheonix yellow. The black is also different on later cars apparantly. I notice though you could still get an S54 in estoril blue so its not quite following the E46 M3 coulour range. S50 Cosmos black changed to Sapphire Black which is a blacker black vs the Cosmos which can look more metallicy/graphite in sunlight

here are some production numbers:
RHD S50 821 from 8/98 - 6/00
RHD S54 168 from 2/01 - 5/02

full production list

European left hand drive S50 engine: 2,178 built from 04/98 through 06/2000
European right hand drive S50 engine: 821 built from 08/98 through 06/2000
North America S52 engine: 2,180 built from 07/98 through 06/2000
European left hand drive S54 engine: 281 built from 02/2001 through 05/2002
European right hand drive S54 engine: 168 built from 02/2001 through 05/2002
North America S54 engine: 690 built from 02/2001 through 05/2002

[Trundler]

perfect - just need to get this made as 'sticky' now....
:thumbsup:

[c_w]

The Chrome Gills, locking fuel flap etc came on the 1999 S50 cars. The black gills and locking cap were only on the S-plates and early T-plates.

I think at this time there may have been a change to the alarm fob? It changed to a 3-buttoned keyfob instead of a seperate key and alarm fob.

[PhilT]

I think at this time there may have been a change to the alarm fob? It changed to a 3-buttoned keyfob instead of a seperate key and alarm fob.

MY first MC was a 1998 'S' and it had the same 3 button keyfob that my 2002 one has.

[c_w]

Ic, scrap that bit then :D I'm sure I've seen some with seperate keys and alarm fobs.

[MGR]

the VDO guages in the center console are different. On S54 they are grey and have less lines marked on them than the S50, plus the S54 have a outside temp gauge in the center and the S50 have a volt gauge I think instead.

[dalecan]

the VDO guages in the center console are different. On S54 they are grey and have less lines marked on them than the S50, plus the S54 have a outside temp gauge in the center and the S50 have a volt gauge I think instead.


My S50 (99) has an outside temp gauge and not a volt gauge!

[MGR]

My S50 (99) has an outside temp gauge and not a volt gauge!

Hmm ok then it says that in the evo car buyers review and so I thought I would add it in here as I was reading it.

the differences i can see are that they are a different colour and have more lines on them eg on the clock between the hours, just assumed the volt gauge thing was correct as it was in the buyers guide.


Ok ignore that, i've just looked at the autocar review thats been posted (first drive) and there is an outside temp gauge so looks like the evo buyers guide is wrong

[fastdrive]

my 2 cents.
The s54 have an stronger subframe..
Anyway the difference is really few to compared it..
in italy the s50 are priced around 22-25k euros,the s54 is really rare to find in italy and germany and cost around 8-10k to much...
If you find an good s54 at an good price buy whitout think it,but buyed an s54 for 35k euros to me seems really to much,because now better cars stay in this price range.