M42club.com - Home of the BMW E30/E36 318i/iS
FAQ / REFERENCE => How-To's => Topic started by: Febi Guibo on April 26, 2006, 02:55:13 PM
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hey, there are a couple of threads re: putting the later model M42 or M44 engines in our cars.
While I'm not recommending renaming the forum M42/44Club.com, D. Clay pointed out that this would make a great topic for a writeup.
I know at least of a couple of you good folks have done it, at least with the E36 M42... anyone care to take a few minutes and write it up?
Even if it's only an outline with some notes, it would be real nice to see.
As I am woefully ignorant of all things OBDII, the M44 issues might be interesting also.
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Years ago I replaced an engine in my first BMW...which was a 318is...glass sunroof, is spoiler...for some reason i sold it, i was young and stupid and now I want it back.
I swaped the intake, valve cover, oil pan/pickup from the old to new engine. It was pretty simple swap.
I was also wondering about using the full e36 m42. Is there a way to convert the 1.9 m42 to obdI and get more...out of it?
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Will be watching this thread with great interest...
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Swapping to the 1994-1995 m42 head (or just valvetrani parts) is not a bad thing. It uses 1mm shorter valve stems for reduced inertia.
A long time ago on Bimmerforums there was a guy somewhere in Europe who had a crazy turbo M42 in an E30, but it was actualy either an E36 M42, or an M44 I cannot remember. I think it was the M44, which baffled me as its valvetrain is not as stout as the M42's (although it does have significantly less friction).
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Years ago I replaced an engine in my first BMW...which was a 318is...glass sunroof, is spoiler...for some reason i sold it, i was young and stupid and now I want it back.
I swaped the intake, valve cover, oil pan/pickup from the old to new engine. It was pretty simple swap.
I was also wondering about using the full e36 m42. Is there a way to convert the 1.9 m42 to obdI and get more...out of it?
which computer did you use?
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I lurk around a yard here in Austin that has been into everything from stock cars, road racing, and even built the Lowrider Magazine "Truck of the Year" a while back. I also know junk. Motors are usually sold on an exchange basis. Something to watch for is that yards cut lines, hoses, etc. that they figure you will use off of your present engine. In plain English they use side cutters and the torch a lot.
I would suggest trying to get a complete motor that was taken out by unplugging harnesses and disconnecting hoses and hardware properly. Motors are usually sold without accessories such A/C compressors, alternators, PS pumps, etc. It's easy to see where I'm going here as E36 M42's are serpentine belt and OBD1. Something to keep in mind when sourcing parts. Of course you could stick all of your E30 stuff on there, too.
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I've read that you can use an E36 variable intake manifold on our E30 M42's, but you cannot use E30 M42 intakes on E36's because it will not clear the hood.
If the E36 intake manifold is strictly vacuum operated and not an electrical switchover, maybe it can be used on our E30's?
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Its electrical. You have to use a dme with that feature built in.
Its called a DISA.
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just curious.....why would you go through all the trouble for just a few more horespower (and torque)? some people do it for the DASC system but that can easily be retrofitted to the E30 m42. please enlighten me so i dont feel like an idiot on the subject, thanks.
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availability. condition. newer motor in general. ra ra ra.
but you're right, it's not a mind blowing performance swap.
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just curious.....why would you go through all the trouble for just a few more horespower (and torque)? some people do it for the DASC system but that can easily be retrofitted to the E30 m42. please enlighten me so i dont feel like an idiot on the subject, thanks.
If you want to turbocharge the M42, it's a lot safer with a knock-sensor equipped late model M42. It also has a serpentine belt setup, which I'm not even sure is compatible with an E30...
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This place is great! I will one day be faced with who, what, where and when. Until then I will read and learn from the exchange here. My thoughts are, when the time comes I want to put an M3 engine in mine. See the latest Roundel!
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If I am not mistaken bmw four bangers are available to this day in europe, what other options do we have there? What about a engine from the new euro 320si? Its probly not worth the expense.
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so what all is needed in order to do this swap such as parts fromt he old engine computers, wires, relay all that type of good stuff
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I don't know about the previous guys but I'm trying to fit the 95ti m42 into my e30. why? the car at present has an m40 in it. that may be the reason for there efforts.There are some obvious differences outside the engine, such as oil sump the bump is at the opposite end so that needs to be changed.I'm not sure that the m40 sump will fit.It may as the lower end only has minor changes.there is no fixing for the spark igniter's that fit onto the right guard and the loom is different as the computer sits on the other side of the car to the m40 which is under the steering wheel ( on a right hand drive car).Things remedied are there any other things that will hinder its progress?The running of the engine with its internal differences surely should not be a problem should it? Any one got any further advise?
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i was wondering if i could put the m42 head on the m44 such as the 325e and 325i head conversion??
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thanks strypt ima keep your info handy
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E36 M42 to e30 m42 swap
Should be straightforward.
Use the long block assembly and everything should work except possibly the water temp sensor (see below).
Pulleys need to remain the e30 ones as it uses serpentine, but you could use the parts to switch to serpentine if you want. The balancer and pulleys are separate, so there is no concern there.
I have been looking into the M44 swap.
This is not thorough, but should get someone started on the right track.
I have been considering this swap and then adding a roots blower.
I will try and add to this as I find out more.
From what I can tell...
You can basically use the long block assembly. This is a bolt in affair.
You need to swap all the accessories, computer and ignition.
Problems....
Sensors for water temp, we use 2. Supposedly there is dual temp sensor available, some people have used 2 by placing a second in the head, another put one in the water neck (use this one for the cluster, head mounted for the computer. Another person installed a "T" and ran both in the stock location, though this is not the most accurate, it seemed to work fine.
You may be able to use the intake, but there is speculation ours is better. Using ours means you may need a reprogramming due to less fuel.
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Pulleys need to remain the e30 ones as it uses serpentine, but you could use the parts to switch to serpentine if you want. The balancer and pulleys are separate, so there is no concern there.
Do you need to install an idler pulley just like the m44?
I'm kind of curious about this serpentine conversion...has anyone converted to it before (besides GRM)??
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strypt
Well you need to have the M44 as the M42 E30 is, which means you'll need to change the oil pan, engine mounts and you'll probably want to use the M42 E30 harness and in that case you need to use M42 intake and valve cover. M44 is also using a different temp sensor in the head while M42 uses two, so you'll need to place one sensor somewhere as the M44 head only have a hole for one of the sensors. I put mine in the plastic pipe under the head. Another thing is that the pilot bearing in the end of the crankshaft has a bigger diameter than the M42 E30, which means that you either have to change to a E30 bearing or use a E36 gearbox. Hope this helps.
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Well you need to have the M44 as the M42 E30 is, which means you'll need to change the oil pan, engine mounts and you'll probably want to use the M42 E30 harness and in that case you need to use M42 intake and valve cover. M44 is also using a different temp sensor in the head while M42 uses two, so you'll need to place one sensor somewhere as the M44 head only have a hole for one of the sensors. I put mine in the plastic pipe under the head. Another thing is that the pilot bearing in the end of the crankshaft has a bigger diameter than the M42 E30, which means that you either have to change to a E30 bearing or use a E36 gearbox. Hope this helps.
You should change the pilot bearing anyhow.
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Do you need to install an idler pulley just like the m44?
I'm kind of curious about this serpentine conversion...has anyone converted to it before (besides GRM)??
The idler pulley is built into the A/C bracket, similar, but not the same as the e30. Not sure but I would guess you would need to change the A/C pump and the bracket in order to go serpentine.
I have heard of guys switching to the e36 serpentine setup when converting to R134. Pretty straightforward swap. Not sure I would bother unless I was changing compressors though.
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ok so right now all we know is that it takes most of the stuff from the m42 to m44 such as oil pans ignition manifolds,manifolds valve cover and wiring which isnt that bad considering we have all of the parts needed as long as we have the m44. No we would also need to fit the other temp sensor to an outside pipe under the head. and change the crankshaft pilot bearing as well.
now also there is a possiblility of serpentine idler pulley conversion and i was wondering on a head conversion
i guess a clutch upgrade would be a plus while you have the engine out to thats what i plan on doin. what are some possible maintenance things to do on the m44 as far as common problems. I know that they blow head gaskets a lot what could fix that
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No we would also need to fit the other temp sensor to an outside pipe under the head.
I know that they blow head gaskets a lot what could fix that
Well I just put the sensor there as a quick and easy fix, (was pretty annoyed and in a hurry at that time) ;) the water in that pipe is cooler than in the head so the temp gauge wont show the proper temp. Probably better to try to fit it on that pipe coming out of the head. You'll also have to attach a grounded cable to that sensor as it won't ground if you put it in a plastic pipe.
Is blowing head gaskets really a common problem on M44? Have never heard of it.
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hehe someone just told me that the head gaskets blow a lot on them. but idk if its true
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i wanna change my heads though cause i think my m44 one could be warped. would that give me anymore horsepower
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hehe someone just told me that the head gaskets blow a lot on them. but idk if its true
I have not heard of this problem.
Should not be difficult to fix though.
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would there be any benefit out of switching the heads??
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then i would call mine m42 hehe Yes!!!!
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hhmmmm hhhmmmm
Well... im taking pictures, and hopefully, in the following few weeks we'll have a write-up about putting an E36 M42 with DISA into an E30 (http://www.m42club.com/forums/showthread.php?t=4414) (originally equipped with M40 1.6 litre engine)
off course, since im far from being anywhere close to "know-all" a little help from my friends would be always welcome
Ron.