M42club.com - Home of the BMW E30/E36 318i/iS

DISCUSSION => General Topics => Topic started by: SonomaGTLN2 on May 22, 2007, 08:53:35 AM

Title: Looking to do an M42 Swap
Post by: SonomaGTLN2 on May 22, 2007, 08:53:35 AM

Hello everyone,
I have an E21 with an M10 motor that I plan on replacing (along with many other things). A few people have suggested I do either an s14 ($$$!) or do a custom M42 swap, which has led me here.  I did a search and didn't find anything here regarding anyone who has swapped an M42 into an E21, but have read that custom motor mounts are necessary. My biggest question is does the M42 share a common motor mount setup compared to the M20 in the E30s (i.e. do they use the same front subframe)? If that's the case, I think it would be easier if I used an M20 powered E21 subframe. Anyways, this forum looks like a good place for information!

Thanks,
AJ

Title: Looking to do an M42 Swap
Post by: FredK on May 22, 2007, 11:07:19 AM

They use the same front subframe and the engine mount points are identical. However, the mounts themselves are different. They might be offset differently. I've pulled an M42 and an M20 from two E30s, and I don't remember offhand if the mounts use different holes.

Title: Looking to do an M42 Swap
Post by: Febi Guibo on May 22, 2007, 01:57:25 PM

Please post pics of your car and project... you might very well be our only E21 on the board! welcome and congrats.

Title: Looking to do an M42 Swap
Post by: SonomaGTLN2 on May 22, 2007, 09:21:50 PM

Thanks for the replies guys. Yeah i thought it was kind of odd that there were no E21s on here. There's a guy on bimmerforums who's done the E21 swap and I've also gotten some info from him too. I figured this place would be an excellent place for M42 specific details. I won't be doing the project for a few months, but I am getting some research done to figure out what I'll have to put into it.