M42club.com - Home of the BMW E30/E36 318i/iS
FAQ / REFERENCE => M42 Reference => Topic started by: ChItalian1027 on September 29, 2007, 05:55:15 PM
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hey guys i just read about this post about other bimmer owners dissin the m42 http://forums.bimmerforums.com/forum/showthread.php?t=838680
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Lol.
Nothing new there. Silly teenagers.
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That is why this site was formed.
Bimmerforums is full of 325 guys, and even more e36 guys.
I can agree with them on e36 318s, it was severely underpowered.
The e30 guys ragging on the m42, just have never driven them properly. Most that have, often wished they still had it.
The m42 hate has slowed some in the e30 section though due to us getting organized.
Most people only look at power, not power to weight ratios, or even actual numbers. Just seat of the pants, and if you drive a 318 like a 325, which is what many of them did when first driving one, of course it is slow.
That thread just oozes ignorance.
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I'm a "325" guy, and a "e36" guy.... owning both a heavily worked 2600lb m20b28 (233hp/238tq) e30 and a modded e36 M3.. and I find my e30 318iS just fine... its really quite peppy & respectable. That said I have driven many e30 and e36 m42/44's that were gawd awful slow, more so then they should be. I attribute that mostly to the fact that the demographic that daily drive those cars do not maintain them, let alone keep them in tune.
When you drive a car into the ground its not going to be a peak performer.
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Well I got my shits and giggles tonight with my puny little 1.8. 30 minute drive with a beautiful sunset interlude. No complaints here. I would love to see one of those fools keep up.
http://maps.google.com/maps?f=d&hl=en&geocode=&saddr=mill+valley,+ca&daddr=37.920368,-122.630424+to:fairfax,+ca&mrcr=0,1&mrsp=1&sz=12&mra=dpe&sll=37.932284,-122.584076&sspn=0.128897,0.233459&ie=UTF8&ll=37.948529,-122.590256&spn=0.128868,0.233459&t=h&z=12&om=1
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Well I got my shits and giggles tonight with my puny little 1.8. 30 minute drive with a beautiful sunset interlude. No complaints here. I would love to see one of those fools keep up.
http://maps.google.com/maps?f=d&hl=en&geocode=&saddr=mill+valley,+ca&daddr=37.920368,-122.630424+to:fairfax,+ca&mrcr=0,1&mrsp=1&sz=12&mra=dpe&sll=37.932284,-122.584076&sspn=0.128897,0.233459&ie=UTF8&ll=37.948529,-122.590256&spn=0.128868,0.233459&t=h&z=12&om=1
drooooooooool
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Just read that whole thread. The ignorance over at bimmerforums just astounds me. Alright our M42 may not have as much power as your average M3, 540, 850, "ITR", or something along that line, but that doesn't mean that the car isn't fun as hell. I've ridden in faster cars than mine, but still love my car. It was especially fun at the track last weekend where I kept up and then passed a race spec Miata. :D:D
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That is what is fun about this cars, you would not expect it to be fast.
several times I had people riding with me, and they say WTF is this a 1,8??
No it is not an M3, but you can take corners like no other stock cars whitin its price range.
Like a experienced track driver said, He was falling behind in the bend after a 318is when he drove an E36 M3 3,2
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i love my m42 thats all that matters....its like u n me arguing if we had twin girlfrends...i like the perky athletic one and u like the bustier but not as lively one..hehe...each to their own.
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Which one has big boobs? I want that one.
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I'll take the gymnast with no boobs. They can put themselves into positions I can barely imagine.
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wow, that thread is ghey and is pretty much why I don't cruise around bf.c (and lots of other forums). Honestly, any 4cyl sports car gets hate, and they take the right (cough...better) kind of people to love them.
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.......mmmm jessica alba vs jenna jamerson....m42 vs m20!my vote goes to jessica!!!wow!!!
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I love the discussion that has formed from this. Interesting tangent.
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Aren't they all just jelous out there on bimmerforums? They must know very well, that E30 M42 is really better handling than any other BMW car of that age and comparable price... I wouldn't change it for any other BMW - maybe M3 E30 if i could afford it ;)
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I love the discussion that has formed from this. Interesting tangent.
At least we're keeping it interesting right?
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I'll take the gymnast with no boobs. They can put themselves into positions I can barely imagine.
+1000
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Be careful over on BFc stirring shit. They will put you in TO for a week for calling a crackhead a crackhead.
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No matter how they put it.... to me an E30 is still a legend..so e30 with m42 will make it an immortal legend.. huhuhu.....
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I "upgraded" from a 95 318i to a 95 325is and the M42 wasn't as fast in a straight line, but it was a hell of a lot more fun to drive. I miss that car - don't miss the 325 at all.
Then I truly upgraded to an e30 M42. I'll take less weight and more HP in that order please.
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just some idiots . They dont know nothing about m42 there engines is big as they mouth as for the e36 m42's (i am a e36 guy) THEY HAVE KNOCK SENSORS AND 6mm VALVE STEAM! so RESPECT THEM! as you respect every m42 engine around . E30 m42 are faster? i dont think so..... maybe is lighter but not faster :D
VIVA LA M4x! (M42/M44)
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Having done the Oktoberfest DE in my 318is yesterday, I can vouch for how well balanced the car is. Sure it was lacking in the power department, compared to the mostly newer and I6's bimmers out in the track, but when it came to the tight turns that is where the lightness came into play. My instructor was amazed at how well the car handled.
Ripping through the track at red line almost the whole way, that is fun!
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Having done the Oktoberfest DE in my 318is yesterday, I can vouch for how well balanced the car is. Sure it was lacking in the power department, compared to the mostly newer and V6's bimmers out in the track, but when it came to the tight turns that is where the lightness came into play. My instructor was amazed at how well the car handled.
Ripping through the track at red line almost the whole way, that is fun!
a v6 bimmer- now that is something i would pay to see! i knew what you meant, though. ;)
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.......mmmm jessica alba vs jenna jamerson....m42 vs m20!my vote goes to jessica!!!wow!!!
Word
The M20 has rocker arms that break on the track....My M42 has 244 000km and I beat the shit out of it every time I go on the track and it has never let me down.
Jenna looks like a slut, Jessica looks nice.
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My M42 cruises at 205 mph and goes 0 to 60 in 2.8 seconds plus it can double as a submarine and was actually used by NASA as a lunar excursion vehicle. :p Thats why I bought it. :cool:
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a v6 bimmer- now that is something i would pay to see! i knew what you meant, though. ;)
Oops! (BTW, I fixed the original post)
That is what happens when your other bimmer has a V8 in it.
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the M42 has a way better hp per litre figure, its light, its noisy, its slow......but in the end; its hella fun to drive! wouldnt trade it for anything!
ps, ive never met a 325is owner that could "keep up" with me on some of the roads i live by, any takers?
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hp per litre
Is the most pointless number unless you are Honda trying to show how great you are.
Unless you live in a country where you pay taxes based on it, who cares. Higher Hp per liter just means you spend more on your engine development. It has no bearing on anything else, and in fact usually consumes more gas doing it.
A more useful number is HP per pound, hp vs overall dimensions or hp vs mpg.
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My M42 cruises at 205 mph and goes 0 to 60 in 2.8 seconds plus it can double as a submarine and was actually used by NASA as a lunar excursion vehicle. :p Thats why I bought it. :cool:
:D....so it's true u did travel to the moon and back with ur e30......:p
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To be fair, most people on the forum rightfully flamed the dumbass.
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Is the most pointless number unless you are Honda trying to show how great you are.
A more useful number is HP per pound, hp vs overall dimensions or hp vs mpg.
ya but doesnt hp per litre indicate an effiecient motor if it is a higher #? kindof like how BMW can get the same power out of a 4.4l, and it takes chevy (i dont have anything against chevy, just using them as an example) 6.3l to get the same power (sure the BMW engine cost WAY more.....but it shows you that it is more effeicient, it generates less heat but produces more power).
"the 318is....the Lotus of BMW's", was a quote i read on the MM website (of course that M42 had 200hp :rolleyes:).
......also, i like how on bimmerforums the where comparing Hondas "top-model" car (integra....actually Acura, and the SI). haha, they forgot one thing.......ITS STILL A HONDA, Bmw's got class, sure its 17 years old, it still has more class than a new Honda, wouldnt you agree?
And one more thing: Bmw's are momentum cars, not straight line cars (im sure im preaching to the choir), thats what makes them fun to drive.
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I agree that hp/liter is an indication of the overall quality of engineering that goes into an engine. But I believe BMW claimed that in 1991 when the M42 was released it had the highest hp/liter of any comparably sized engine. The integra came out that year and it had a 1.8L with 130hp, so most likely this is true. The following years VTEC was added to the Hondas and power went up to 160hp and up.
So IMHO if you look at comparable engines of the time, the M42 has very high hp/L. The only thing that kept it from competing with the later Hondas was the lack of variable valve timing which was essential for generating a lot of power in the high rpm bands without sacrificing driveability the lower rpms. A Vanos variant of the M42 would have been the next logical step for BMW, but they obviously didn't feel that 4 cylinders was where they wanted to focus their energies.
We've just gotten used to cars with high HP in an age when the typical accord is making around 200hp. But back in 91, 134hp was a lot. Even today when you look at the typical 1.8L in an inexpensive car, its making the same if not less than the M42. Hell my dad's 2003 Miata's 1.8L with variable intake timing only produced 140hp.
So I'm convinced that the M42 exhibits the best engineering you can expect to find in a production car. The only thing that kept it from competing in subsequent years was the fact that BMW was behind the Japanese on the technology curve, especially when it came to variable timing. But IMHO I like the fact that it doesn't use it. I like that its a traditional DOHC engine that you can easily tune to your liking.
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I know it's a bit perverse, but part of the fun, for me anyways, is seeing how high I can push the freeway mileage on my 200k mile M42. So far 31mpg, but I've done some work that might pay dividends on the next road trip.
I like the motor just fine. It's a wonderful complement to the M20 that I already have, and the M52 that I'll have next month.
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Guys!
Some time ago we've crossed whole germany doing 560km in 3hours and 5 minutes! We were driving there constantly above 200km/h and it gave us 183 of average speed during whole distance. We were driving 3 different cars comming back home one by one on the same road conditions and it gave us average fuel consumption of 11,3 ltr / 100km... Can You beat this with any M20 engine? I doubt it...
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Honda does amazing things with engines. Almost every racing series they have entered their engines in they have dominated within just a few years. The 2.0 liter Civic si motor is rated 197 HP. However, the regular Civic 1.8 is rated at 140 HP and 128 torque. That's M42 numbers from 17 years ago without the E30. The only reason to buy a Civic is fuel economy and price.
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ya but doesnt hp per litre indicate an effiecient motor if it is a higher #? kindof like how BMW can get the same power out of a 4.4l, and it takes chevy (i dont have anything against chevy, just using them as an example) 6.3l to get the same power (sure the BMW engine cost WAY more.....but it shows you that it is more effeicient, it generates less heat but produces more power).
How does it it show it is more efficient. Yes, you get more Hp from a smaller cylinder. HOWEVER, it takes more fuel to do so. You are looking at volumetric efficiency, not overall or even fuel efficiency. That is only one measurement of an engines efficiency.
Couple great examples to counter...
Older Ford Explorer V8 = 20mpg
Older Toyota 4runner = 4 or 6, it still struggles to even get 14mpg
Newer Corvette - 400+hp - 28mpg
Newer Camry - 20mpg.
Chevy V8 has won numerous awards for overall efficiency.
It makes more power per amount of fuel than most other engines.
Yes, it is big volumetrically, but that is why it does what it does. Funny thing is that externally, it is rather small. Weight-wise, it is rather light. Pretty efficient package if you ask me.
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BMW seems to win just as many awards for their motors as Honda
And it's probably for the best that BMW has such a great competitor.
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If only all of those great engines were wrapped in a lighter, stiffer-sprung, smaller vehicle. Surely a company like BMW could get by with a lower production small, light car with no electronics and the 255hp 3 liter NA six... (I think the number is n54, but all of the new numbers are confusing me)...Think a M2 or something (M1 is forever taken :) )
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If only all of those great engines were wrapped in a lighter, stiffer-sprung, smaller vehicle. Surely a company like BMW could get by with a lower production small, light car with no electronics and the 255hp 3 liter NA six... (I think the number is n54, but all of the new numbers are confusing me)...Think a M2 or something (M1 is forever taken :) )
Bmw cares little about low production number cars. They want to appeal to the masses and compete with Toyota. More money in it.
They forgot where they came from. The ultimate driving machine is now just a catch phrase, not a statement about how the car drives. I am not saying they drive bad, but it is hard to see what makes a BMW special these days compared to equivalents.
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I'll take the gymnast with no boobs. They can put themselves into positions I can barely imagine.
my ex :D:eek:
(http://img217.imageshack.us/img217/3580/cvetims6.png)
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wow....the m42 hard at work.....lets see an m20 do that!hah!
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I just read most of the BF post. Wow, some real... let me think... unqualified people on that thread. I know P/W ratio is very important, and an impressive number is one that a buddy of mine told me a few months ago. He owned a Lancer Evo 8 (not a Lancer with OZ rims and a spoiler, a true super-sedan). He mentioned that with our stock motor (he has a 318is as well) and an Atlanta Downing S/C, the P/W ratio would be the same as his EVO 8 was. I tell you what, that thing was FAST. On the Dragon (US hwy 129 here in TN) sport bikes couldn't pass him, he'd pass them. His avg speed was 85 (never wrecked either).
Also, speaking of the age of our cars. I was chatting with an old neighbor that had a 2004 Celica GT-s and when I told them (his wife was with him, it's her car) how old it was their mouths just dropped. For 17, done right, it can be a VERY eye catching automobile.
M42 Forever.
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i had a chance to drive an 87 e30 eta and my 91 318is back to back when i first got my bimmer. i liked the overall feel of the 318 much more than the eta. the torque in the eta was undeniable, however the car didnt feel as nimble as the 318. So yeah, there is my totally objective opinion on 6cyl and 4cyl e30's. i think the e30 318is is a purist car and much cheaper than the m3.
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a v6 bimmer- now that is something i would pay to see! i knew what you meant, though. ;)
slightly off topic, but that'll be £10 please.
http://www.e30zone.net/modules.php?name=Forums&file=viewtopic&t=62058&postdays=0&postorder=asc&start=0
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Little dicks equals m42 bash, just like super high trucks....
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its pretty funny to read the thread on BF! i mean.. i know that a 4 cyl 1,8l engine with no turbo is not the engine to win the 1/4 mile in 10s...! but dont forget! 130hp/1100kg or 260hp/2000kg is quite the same!or not? my car will have 180-190hp and 950-1000kg...!!!
as a big tire company said "fun is not a straight line"
and this thread shows again.. its not the quantitiy... its the quality!
IT IS A DIFFERENT DRIVING AND A DIFFERENT KIND OF FUN IN AN E30 318IS
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i have owned every version of the e30, except the super eta and m3. i would way rather have my m42 over an eta or a m20b25 any day. the m42 revs quicker, is super nimble, and if just flat out fun to drive. my stock 318 with springs and shocks left my friends 325is like it was sitting still in the canyon here, and he has some computer work and exhaust done.
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I own an E36 318is and I love the car! I really want an E30 though...drool...I don't plan on getting rid of this 318 for anything at the moment. I enjoy it ya it's a little slow...but i'm usually riding around with a friend that is boosted and runs around 12-13 second quarter mile times. I am really starting to hate bf.c because of all the crap that is thrown around to the guys with 318's all because they own an 325 or higher. I'm glad I found this place...seems to be peaceful for a guy that owns a 318 :D!
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hehe... the stock 318is e30 isnt as slow as some guys are thinking!! ;-)
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I've learned to not really care much about the opinions of BfC'rs. I mean afterall I switched from a 325is to a "lesser" 318i. :-)
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I own a M42 E30 and an early 1.6L Miata for the exact reason. Fantastic lightweight chassis with good suspension and steering and a happy to rev engine.
There is a saying in the Miata world that "if you can not drive a 90HP car fast, 900 will not help you". Pretty much sums the situation perfectly.
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You know what i see all these guys with power and should be faster cars but let me tell you the few times I have had my 318is on track it has surprised more then one person of being as capable as it is and that is something I really love about this car, it can be a tremendous sleeper.
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QUOTE=swiss318is;42642]hehe... the stock 318is e30 isnt as slow as some guys are thinking!! ;-)[/QUOTE]
Now I like this car! Dang she looks sweet!
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my mtech1 e30 was a 6pot as well as my M50 e36, but i swear, this 4banger is much more fun.
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ayay... a bigger engine alone doesnt make cars faster...!!
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Thats hilarious, When I was at the dyno this evening a guy in a 92 535 e34 with a bunch of work done to it came in after me. I think his name was Hari. Nice guy.
He asked me if I ever hit bimmerforums. I said "No, It's full of assholes who think they know everything, They wouldnt know fast if it hit them in the head with a shovel.
I pulled 123 Hp out of my sisy little 318 e36, and he pulled 188 out of his built to the hilt 3.5.
I know who would wax who on a autocross course OR in the GA mountains.
My e36 would kill em. Out turn em, out brake em....
Cheers and beers
Hodge
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Thats hilarious, When I was at the dyno this evening a guy in a 92 535 e34 with a bunch of work done to it came in after me. I think his name was Hari. Nice guy.
He asked me if I ever hit bimmerforums. I said "No, It's full of assholes who think they know everything, They wouldnt know fast if it hit them in the head with a shovel.
I pulled 123 Hp out of my sisy little 318 e36, and he pulled 188 out of his built to the hilt 3.5.
I know who would wax who on a autocross course OR in the GA mountains.
My e36 would kill em. Out turn em, out brake em....
Cheers and beers
Hodge
werd
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I used to look down on 4 cylinder BMW cars. After I bought an e36 318is (rather a last choice as I couldn't find any 320/325is).
I originally wanted to rip out that M42 and threw in a M3 engine. However, as time passes, I began to actually like the M42. It may not be as powerful as 6 bangers but its a fun car to drive.
The engine is not exactly weak though. MM created a 2.0L motor that could hit over 200HP over 200NM of torque. Remember that this is done w/o VANOS (Honda has VTEC while Toyota has VVTi). There is also Gizmo's M42 monster which easily puts 2/2.5L 6 bangers to shame.
Right now, I am working on spercharging my M42 (heading towards dual charging).
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You can tell by my signiture where my feelings lie.. and by my stance in that thread.
Yes, I am over here now.
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i dont really care bout bf.c they always rip on us m42/44 guys but w/e bigger engine dont mean crap
m42 for life ive done amazing things with this car and the end the ending result is more gratifiying (i cant spell for shit)
im new here but this place has been more respectful then bf.c will ever be
m42 FTMFW!!
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Hi all. I am new to this forum. I decided on an E36 318IS after testing out 320i and 325i (it has a 2.8L M52 engine) sedan. I also did tested out a 318i runing the M40 motor with a unichip inside.
I have say that an 318IS is in no way inferior compared to a 320 or 325. Talking about power, the 318IS smokes the 320i with ease. Even the 318i with the unichip beats the 320 in terms of acceleration.... A SOHC 4 banger smokes a DOHC 6 banger...lol....
The 325i with the 2.8L M52 engine has lots of low end power but top end wise, I have to say I still prefer the M42 motor. If both goes head to head, the 6 banger will have an edge on the low end but at higher revs, the 318IS will have the advantage. The M42 just loves to rev.
Seriously, I have no idea why some pple out there looked down on the 4 bangers and claim they aren't real BMW engines. Whats the point of having 6 cylinders inside you car if its out run by a 4 cylinder? If they are so fascinated with having more cylinders, might as well throw in a M62 4L V8? Then they can go around bragging about it....
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M42 FTW!
yeah, mazda made two types of 4-cylinders for the first gen protege's. One was a 16-valve SOHC, and the second being a 16-valve DOHC. The SOHC actually had more peak torque sooner, but lacked about 15hp. I advanced the timing by 15degrees, and I could actually keep up in initial acceleration, if not pull a little bit, with the DOHC guys. The SOHC also had a diff gearbox that had longer gears. it was actually a very strong engine that mazda made. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mazda_B_engine
The BPT was actually used in their rally cars and would withstand 2.1bar in stock trim. 2.2 was pushing it, and you couldn't do it for very long. It's a beefy, undersquare 4-cylinder.
.o(I still need to get my NA that I was building up back from my old machinist. :/)
Toda racing made a wicked BP NA engine. I still want to see someone slap a whipple on one. The miata SC kit was rather weak.
Anyways... Back to BMW stuffs. I love watching this vid:
http://youtube.com/watch?v=NE-V3TaNGss
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Anyways... Back to BMW stuffs. I love watching this vid:
http://youtube.com/watch?v=NE-V3TaNGss
one of my favorite videos on youtube! that S14 sound is beautiful
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Yeah, funny how the bf.c guys act like 4 cylinder cars are not bmw's, when the most successful car bmw ever made was a 4 cylinder-the real m3! :D
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Yeah, funny how the bf.c guys act like 4 cylinder cars are not bmw's, when the most successful car bmw ever made was a 4 cylinder-the real m3! :D
Not to mention the M42 derived racing engine. If it was available in a detuned version as a production model (not just an homologation special) it would rewrite the book.
When the Ferrari F40 came out I was showing an article about it to my wife. Her response was, "There's something wrong about a $250,000 car that doesn't have carpet or windows you can roll down." Imagine a 1 series with rubber mats, no sound proofing, solid mounts and a 225 HP S42. Where do I sign up?
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http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/BMW_Headquarters
BMW's headquarters in Germany is literally four cylinders, it was designed to pay homage to the engine that saved the company, the m10 four cylinder.
Yeah, funny how the bf.c guys act like 4 cylinder cars are not bmw's, when the most successful car bmw ever made was a 4 cylinder-the real m3! :D
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This thread needs to continue. I've owned an m20 e34, an e30 m10/m20/m42, and an e36 m50 all with work done except the m42. To tell you the truth none of them, as fast as they were or as well as I made them handle, met up to the challenge of the nimble and agile e30 318is. Long live the M42!!!!:D
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My e36 318is is such a pleasure to drive out on track and at autox events. Friggin bullet proof engine that's so much cheaper to maintain than a 6cyl.
At the last San Diego autox, there was this silver e30 318 that was smokin fast. Suspension certainly wasn't anything crazy, running Victoracer r-comps and doing 88-89 second runs beating a bunch of 6cyl-mod and M-mod class cars. It was sick!
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yeah.... dont listen to the hate. My M42 feels lightning quick after driving my civic hatch (auto). lol
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My M42 cruises at 205 mph and goes 0 to 60 in 2.8 seconds plus it can double as a submarine and was actually used by NASA as a lunar excursion vehicle. :p Thats why I bought it. :cool:
what? I thought i was the only one that NASA tested with?
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I have a turbo 97 M3 and I LOVE putzing around in my, new to me, 91 318i!
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Had some fun on the way to the lab yesterday. I was first car at the next to last light before the turn I take to get to work and there was about 3/4 mile of empty divided 4-lane beteen the two. Behind me pulls up a coworker buddy in his E36 328i (5spd) - a sweet car. The light goes green and I set off as rapidly as possible without abusing the machinery (no 5K clutch dumps for me; shifts at 6.2K). He pulls to the left in an attempt to pass and decides that he couldn't quite make it safely in the space we had, so he fell in behind. While walking through the lot, he told me that he probably could have made the pass, but he was surprised at how well my little white sedan pulled and that he would have had to really want it to do it. Some day I'll toss him the keys :).
The car is certainly no dragster, but it's not bad for its age and size.
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google jgtc supra 4 cylinder...funny how that motor gets some amount of abuse like our beloved M42...but then it kicks back coz they still finish in top 5!!!!!balance control!!
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Hi...I'm the original owner of a '92 E-36 318is that currently has accumulated 205+k wonderful miles. The car has seen coast to coast, minus XX degrees F. and plus XX degrees F, driven through blizzards, cyclones and many wonderful and sunny days!
Really like this engine. I'm also the former owner of a '72 tii and have a soft spot for bmw 4 pots. On two lane blacktop...weeks ago...turned 38.6mpg, and on Interstates routinely get 33-36mpg. And I do go rather quickly at that.
It's nice to be amongst those who "get it" when it comes to the M-42.
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hehe... the stock 318is e30 isnt as slow as some guys are thinking!! ;-)
People don't realize that M42's are freakin old! High tech but used and abused.. With alittle TLC an M42 can smoke most other imports. i'd guess M42's take twice the abuse from drivers than M20s. We need more enthusiasts! I think more M20 people should realize that torque < MPG.
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lol ive out ran eclipses, integra gsr's, mustang 4cyls & v6's, and the average everyday idiot who trys to pass anyone and everyone in there way.
its funny when ppl are like "wtf is the 20 yr old bimmer doin!?!?"
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lol ive out ran eclipses, integra gsr's, mustang 4cyls & v6's, and the average everyday idiot who trys to pass anyone and everyone in there way.
its funny when ppl are like "wtf is the 20 yr old bimmer doin!?!?"
lol i am pretty sure its V6 V8.. but that would be funny if a mustang had a "gas sipping" 4 cylinder
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Some mustangs did come with a 4 cylinder engine, actually it has to be my favorite, they came 4 cylinder NA and turbo!!! 2 spark plugs per cylinder, i believe it was in the early 80s.
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Some mustangs did come with a 4 cylinder engine, actually it has to be my favorite, they came 4 cylinder NA and turbo!!! 2 spark plugs per cylinder, i believe it was in the early 80s.
He speaks the truf. I think they were called super coupes for the turbos or something like that. And there is also a regular 4 pot fox body coupe, though I wouldn't put it in the same class as the m42. LOL they weren't all that great.
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He speaks the truf. I think they were called super coupes for the turbos or something like that. And there is also a regular 4 pot fox body coupe, though I wouldn't put it in the same class as the m42. LOL they weren't all that great.
LOL crazy, i never thought ford would catch on. Only makes sense its inferior :D
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lol i am pretty sure its V6 V8.. but that would be funny if a mustang had a "gas sipping" 4 cylinder
foxbodys had 2.3L 4cyl.
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I've had my 91 318i since nov 07... by the numbers it has less power than my old car that i used to run on road courses and the autocross events. i spent around 3500 on upgrading the suspension on my old car just so it can handle the way i want. My m42 other than the body roll handles just as good STOCK as my old car did fully set up. mind you i'm also on pizza cutter steelies. The some things that i have noticed trough out the years of racing is that..
power vs weight
weight balance
handling
the m42 has it all.. a great baseline to start with only little is needed to make it great
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This is all I have to say.....this is a quote from a Corvette Z06 owner over in the hawaii Section of BFC in regaurds to our last Auto-X event this past sunday, agust 31st.
on a side note- i rode with jarod in his E30 318is...WOW...i was impressed...i couldnt give him any pointers at all...very smooth and aggressive driving...took all the lines well and balanced the car perfectly...if that little engine had a little more horsies (or zebras) to pull itself outta the corners, it'd be one great contender...
And we all know how high and mighty those guys are....
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I love my 318i.
Great car. Engine is a blast to rev, especially after the lightweight flywheel (11.5#), and E34M5 clutch. I daily the car, and it lacks torque down low, but once you get to around 3k it perks up nicely. Car is a blast to drive, and corners like nothing else I have ever driven. 6-cylinder guys always look down upon what they don't understand....
That being said, my M42 is definitely alot more fun than my M20B25 E30, even though the E30 is signifigantly faster from a light. Not that that stuff matters anyway.
Fun factor does not always = big HP
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enjoy my slow ass E36 318iS..6/92 build....compared to my 1985 Mercedes 2.0 Non-turbo Diesel it's a freaking Rocket.....my BMW is actually quite reliable...only negative was replacing the waterpump and leaking valve cover gasket.:mad::mad:...Love my new Racing Dynamics Bilstein struts/shocks and HR springs..car handles incredible with those and 225/45/17 Kumhos....I just let everyone pass me , but when the road gets twisty they can't compete...:D:D
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I am quickly losing my desire to pay any attention to E30tech or bimmerforums and most certainly not R3V. All the children there are more concerned with bling and rooster chesting than actually working on cars and enjoying the experience.
It is really a lot of the reason I got out of cars in the first place. Then when I was 2 wheels only for a number of years, I got out of sport bikes based on the silly children there.
Now I do Adventure Riding to places where most people go just to get away. On ADV you are not judged by your farkles, but by where you've been and good you are at riding.
As far as E30 content, I REALLY miss the E30 network. Now THAT was a good source for info/content.
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4 cylinder cars handle better and you can work them really hard, nothing like the kick after 5k to the rev limiter and they sound mint over 7k ;)
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i honestly hated the performance of my car till it got turbod, e36 pre lci 318i really was the bottom of the shitter. super slow and dead ugly unmodded
http://www.meinekarre.de/cars/BMW_E36_318i_manolo.jpg i mean really?
e30s could pass on their iconic look and light weight for respect coupled with the fact that M styling wasnt as dramatic a diff
e36 M3 is by far best looking bmw IMHO coupled with the performance it had in europe
some of the smack talk the e36's get is justified
that said i love getting 40+ mpg at 70mph
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I've been with BMW a long time and all the hate for the M42 did not start until BMW launched the 318ti in the US. It was purposely built to compete with the Honda Civic as an entry level vehicle for potential new and and as an affordable alternative. Most BMW 3 series sold in the US prior to the E36 were 5 speed. Once the E36 came into the picture, all the "so-called yuppies", didn't and still don't know how to drive a manual gear shift. BMW and dealers answered the call by ordering more automatics. The US spec 318i, 318is, and 318ti were heavier vehicles than the E30's and everyone was expecting the same offline performance of the 325i. It was so under powered for these power hungry brats, that BMW discontinued the M42 in the US when they launched the E46 in 1999. BMW still to this day offers the 4 cylinder engine in Europe, but will never reintroduce it here, because of all the bad complaints of the E36's power. The average E30 318i can smoke a E36 318i like a cheap cigar because of the wheelbase and weight difference alone. I've owned a 325ic, 328ic, 328is, M Roadster, 330i and two E30 325ic's. Most people that own a 5 speed do not realize that it has several advantages over any automatic and the key to it is knowing how to shift the gears to get the real hp and torque. My current BMW E30 318i is a 5 speed with the M42 engine. Sure it is not going to come close to smoking anything off the line, but by the time I shift it to third gear I'm on your ass!!! Then once she gets to fifth gear I'm with you all the way and you won't be laughing if she passes you by!!!
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foxbodys had 2.3L 4cyl.
Don't I know it...learned to drive on a Mustang 2.3 3-speed auto! It was so out of tune the gas pedal was more like an on/off switch. The 'stang would idle & go full bore but stall anywhere else. I also drove a fox body Fairmont for a while...with the inline six. Terrible car.
The Mustang SVO, Merkur XR4Ti (Sierra XR4), Thunderbird Turbo Coupe and Cougar XR7 all carried the Ford 2.3 turbo. Excellent engine, based on the old Pinto block. Drive a 5-speed before you condemn it, they're surprisingly fun. Very advanced cars in 1985, look at the competition...the M10 318i? The Merkur in particular is a very underrated car. Easy 200hp with a few little things. The Europe-only cars were even better, especially the AWD Cosworth.
Cars that ugly have an appeal all their own.
Anyone who seriously wants to go fast understands that weight is king. That's what the M42 is all about. Brag that you have less! What would Colin Chapman do?
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People are always asking me about my 318i since I had it repainted last summer. Whenever I go to the gas station off the New Jersey Turnpike or I95, people are blown away that it's a four cylinder. Keep in mind these are the same people that want to tailgate you and challenge you on the highway. Then when they pull into the gas station behind you they have that deer in the headlight look in their eyes once they understand they were smoked by a small BMW engine. Americans have always under estimated German four cylinder engines. When I came back from Germany in 1986, all the local city police departments in North Carolina were using 5 speed Volkswagon Rabbits for speeders inside the city limits. At first everyone laughed, but none of the so-called American muscle cars were laughing when they found out they could not out run or out manuveur the Rabbits. It's all about the timing in shifting and knowing when the right time is to shift.
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You'll all have to share your driving secrets with me. I can't outrun a UPS truck.
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LOL!!! That's so funny!!! I was going to replace the engine with an S52 when I first bought it. I've been very lucky with this engine. It was already in good shape when I bought the car, but it leaked from everywhere. I've replaced practically every seal and gasket, power steering pump, a K&N air filter in air box, new belts, water pump, hoses, new radiator, and had the fuel injectors cleaned. Once I did all that, she runs like a new car now. It's like night and day now from how it used to be two years ago, plus I have no problem passing UPS or Fed Ex!!!
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Im getting old, so my driving desires are not what they used to be. I am happy wiht sport springs and billy sports, etc, dont need to go full race or turbo.
Ive been driving and twisting wrenches on eurpean cars since the 60's. Iv owned jags, triumps, mg, healeys, ricers, big block american stuff, a 67 shelby clone. I used to race triumphs and used to road race ricer motorcycles in the 70's ( marlborro, summit point, the glenn, daytona, and got to drive on , but not race , on the "ring")
but I have to say, that right now, my 91 318ic is one of the best I have owned. it is modded, but it is reliable, fun to drive, nice balance,good power and curve for a 4 banger, comfortable, and good gas milage too. On a nice day, with the top down on a nice twisty road as the idiots fade into the mirrors, I feel young again
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Couldn't have said it better myself. Hard to find a car that's this much fun for this little money. Too bad BMW stopped making them. I'm not planning on "trading up" to a newer BMW; they won't make a car like this again.
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I am an old guy also (62) & have owned over 30 cars & trucks, 2 motorcycles & and a self made experimental airplane. For pure adrenalin rush my airplane wins hands down. For spirited driving, my 1993 318is 5sp is the best car, considering all compromises, that I have ever driven. I got a new 318i 5sp in 95 for my wife. She would not let me touch it....so I never really explored it. She owned it 11 years. In December, my neighbor "gave me" his 1993 318is. He had owned it for 17 years. The car had/has a lot of problems….the interior & non working windows mainly. Still It needs ignition wires, left front wheel bearing & clutch slave cylinder but...it still runs good (176,000 miles now) All the problems have not been fixed yet but the car is drivable...after new struts/shocks & front end work. I have owned (5) Fiats...mostly Spiders & 1 Sport Coupe, great fun cars. The 318is 5sp is way better than the Fiats. Fiat is an old design that goes back to 1966. It was the first production car with a belt driven over head cams. The Japanese stole the technology & look at all the belt driven motors out since then. I also like my 318is 5sp better than my friend's 2nd generation Miata (with many mods)
Comments on my M42 5Sp & other 4 cylinder BMW
The first thing I did after the car was given to me was immerse myself into the internet to try to find out everything about my car. I joined every BMW forum that I could find. Then I started to go over every thread that covered the non working window problems, the door panel problems, struts, engine…everything. The internet is the greatest information tool ever created. There is one thing one must have in order to be successful getting the correct information from the internet …a very accurate “BS meter” Without this meter you will be totally lost. The bimmerforum & Bimmerfest forums can be very helpful but are very frustrating. On those forums, whenever I asked a question, there was a whole series of shotgun answers & many answers did not make any sense. Thus the importance of the “BS meter” Bimmerfest is better but still frustrating. Once the members of those forums found out that my car was a 4 cylinder, many of them just dismissed me as somewhat of a “lesser being” After much frustration & reading through hundreds of post & asking questions, I could not find out how to fix my windows. After a week, I found an article on the net somebody had written (not in those 2 forums) detailing how to fix the windows. This article chronicled the problem & the solution with detailed step by step instructions with pictures. My windows work now.
I found the M42club.com site later. For me, this site is great for engine, clutch & transmission related information. On this site one does not get hounded & belittled for driving a 4 cylinder. It is much easier to find/get clear & detailed information. Also, the members on this site must be, on average, a little older than the other sites. There is nothing wrong with being young…it is just that younger members sometimes are more interested in bling , looks & 20” wheels. We need young people more but…hey don’t forget about us old farts… we want to have fun too. You should see the cars & motorcycles we had to work with back in our day.
After a while, one starts to believe the “Sixers” & finds oneself feeling as a second class 4 cylinder citizen. Who wants a bunch of people saying that our car is somewhat less worthy because it has 4 not 6 cylinders & it's actually a “piece of crap”? Anyway our cars, driven correctly, yield plenty of performance. Keep the RPM’s above 3,500 & they scoots. The handling of the 4 cylinder is better than most 6. Driving the twisties, not drag racing, is where it’s at. This car loves to go around curves. One can have a lot of fun without pushing the envelope too. Wiping out & ending in the middle of a cow pasture is no fun…ask me how I know.
Coming soon…COP ignition, Mark D chip, CAI, fix the mess under the intake, thermostat & the interior (little by little)……last but not least, paint.
Anyway, these 4cylinder BMW’s (all of them) are a lot of fun to drive & work on. Some of them are well meaning but don’t let the “Sixers” get you down.
Ivan from Sugar Land, Texas.
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After a while, one starts to believe the “Sixers” & finds oneself feeling as a second class 4 cylinder citizen. Who wants a bunch of people saying that our car is somewhat less worthy because it has 4 not 6 cylinders & it's actually a “piece of crap”? Anyway our cars, driven correctly, yield plenty of performance. Keep the RPM’s above 3,500 & they scoots.
I've owned many four cylinders. They just seem to have more soul than the bigger cars.
Here's a good example...my long-lost SAAB 900. The car was unique. Not fun to maintain, but it has gobs of personality. What about the newer GM-built ones? Better cars? Absolutely...more reliable, cheaper to run, easier to work on, much faster. But just not any fun at all.
The 2002 was a fabulous car. People pay far more for them than they cost new. Was the e21 323i more fun? No way, it's just not as raw and honest as the '02.
The VW GTI was really a great car until they put that VR6 in it. Sure the VR6 is faster, but the four-banger was a better car. Happily you can get that 1.8 turbo now.
The Honda CB750 is as close to the perfect motorcycle in its day as anyone has ever built. How about a CBX? Sure it's faster...but better? No way.
Speaking of Honda...what have they run in the Civic Si since day one? Yup...the inline four. Let's hope they never ruin that one!
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I just wish teh 4 cyl had teh torque of a 6. thats all .
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Of all the motors I'm jealous of, the GM 3800 is the oddest. That's right, the eternal 90deg V6 bastardized small block... Every time I drive one I'm impressed by the power, torque & fuel efficiency. It's heavy at 400 pounds (nearly twice as much as our M42/M44). Unfortunately it's always stuck in a Pontiac minivan or something. It also has the red line of a truck.
The turbo & supercharged versions easily do 300HP with a few hop-up parts. Twice the weight, twice the power...I'd figure that'd make a great engine swap. I wouldn't give up an M42 for it, but imagine that motor in an old 5-series or a broken 750iL...the newer BMWs alrady carry GM trannys, what could be easier?
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I have to admit the GM 3800 engine is very impressive. It is in practically every Buick, Pontiac, and Cheverolet. You cannot kill that engine, extremely reliable, and it gets very impressive power and fuel economy. GM also had another V6 they discontinued, the 4.3 V6 that was in the Sonoma and S10. Gm went to the inline 5 with the Canyon and Colorado which was a big mistake. It had less power, fuel economy, and towing capaciity. Toyota and Nissian saw their mistake and capitalized big time on small truck sales world wide. If GM ever gets rid of their 3800, they will never survive in the auto industry period. That engine is what has kept them alive and their customers loyal. I saw on a Barret Jackson Auto Auction a E36 M3 with an LS1 Corvette engine conversion and it sold for $20,000.00 I would be impressed to see a supercharged 3800 in an E30 BMW.
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Hey People,
What is the curb weight of the e30 318is?
Is it that much lighter then the e36?
My 1993 318is seems pretty zippy to me, and corners incredibly. I also have a 1999 e36 323i vert that seems very front end heavy after driving the 318, though it does accelerate faster.
140 HP in my little 318 seems pretty nice, and driving from Maryland to Florida I averages 36.5 MPG at 75 to 80 mph.
The 17 gallon tank let me make the trip of 960 miles with only one stop for gas.
You gotta' love this car.
(Though right now I am not as happy with it because I am in the middle of replacing the timing case profile gasket. This is a tough and complex job. I hope it runs again when I am done. I would hate to trash a car with only 56,000 miles on it.)
P
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Of all the motors I'm jealous of, the GM 3800 is the oddest. That's right, the eternal 90deg V6 bastardized small block... Every time I drive one I'm impressed by the power, torque & fuel efficiency. It's heavy at 400 pounds (nearly twice as much as our M42/M44). Unfortunately it's always stuck in a Pontiac minivan or something. It also has the red line of a truck.
The turbo & supercharged versions easily do 300HP with a few hop-up parts. Twice the weight, twice the power...I'd figure that'd make a great engine swap. I wouldn't give up an M42 for it, but imagine that motor in an old 5-series or a broken 750iL...the newer BMWs alrady carry GM trannys, what could be easier?
the gm 4.3 is another goodie. basicly a 350 with the back 2 cylinders choped off. there is a guy that drag races a chevy luv with a superchared 4.3 in it with a power glide behind it. its stupid fast.
my fav non bmw engines are the 6bt 12v cummins and the 4bt 8v 4pot cummins. ive got a 4bt out of a bread truck id like to put in a 325 body haha
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Yeah the 4.3 is an extremely good engine. I had a 2001 GMC Sonoma that had a 4.3 V6. It was a strong engine with a lot of low end torque and decent power when I towed something 6000 lbs. or less.
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The 2002, and the M10 engine (which was eventually modified to produce 1500hp, reliably!) put BMW on the fucking map. It had perfect weight distribution, was a blast to drive, and had FOUR CYLINDERS. You'd have to be a REAL BMW fan to understand the beauty of the M42 powered e30.
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The 2002, and the M10 engine (which was eventually modified to produce 1500hp, reliably!) put BMW on the fucking map. It had perfect weight distribution, was a blast to drive, and had FOUR CYLINDERS. You'd have to be a REAL BMW fan to understand the beauty of the M42 powered e30.
i started out in a 2002. it was a red 77 model fitted with 4 side draft webers. hood and fenders were miss matched and so were the doors. i drove that thing untill it wouldnt pass inspection. the m10 is still in my shop. ive got another m10 build going now. fuel injected m10 from a e21 320i. its going in a 84/5 318i 2 door.
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the M10 kicks ass.
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i like the m10 and the m42. one day im gonna get around to putting a s14 or a m42 in a 02
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just read some pages...wooo
ive driven some fast cars like: 36 m3, e46 m3, neon srt4 and ive owned an e30 325i and a 89 cabrio 325i...i gotta say they were fast but definitely not as fun as my m42 powered little light 318is i love the high rpms. also handling is way better than my older 325's
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i wonder why theres so much hate on them...and yet many people want one....theya re becoming more rare
glad i have one :) planning on keeping it for a while
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People hate what they can't have...it's been scientifically proven.
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My M42 has well over 207,000 miles on it. I've owned two previous 325 E30's and they were not as much fun to drive as the M42 318i I have now. Plus, I don't have to worry about the timing belt every 60,000 miles.
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Ah, let them have their heavy 6 pots, we'll take all the M42's off them cheap and make them into 2L turbos :D
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m42.. So very under-appreciated until driven. Pity really..
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Even my wife is impressed with the stamina of my M42. We recently had a roadtrip to Rhode Island and she was following me with my 01 330i. She could not believe how that "Old BM" she calls it, was making it hard for her to keep up when we were going over 80-85 mph. Needless to say, she doesn't call it that "Old BM" anymore.
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I drove the "dragon" near where I live with another guy in a 325i. I kept up with him through the twisties no problem! He even had a full lowered suspension with good shocks/springs etc... mines just bone stock except for offset m3 CABs. The little M42 stayed above 4K the whole time but did great! You never go much faster than about 40mpg on that road. I was very pleased that the little M42 did so well. The lightness and good handling of the 318 really shone through on that drive.
http://2wheeltuesday.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/02/dragon-at-deals-gap.jpg
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People hate what they can't have...it's been scientifically proven.
i dont think a 318i is out of the realms of possibility for an m3 owner. Our engines are great work horses and can be abused like no other in the bmw line up but without modification the engine and car arent really even comparable to their bigger brothers