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DISCUSSION => Engine + Driveline => Topic started by: StreetSpec_iS on July 24, 2006, 09:33:37 AM

Title: Let's talk M44 swap
Post by: StreetSpec_iS on July 24, 2006, 09:33:37 AM
Why do people say it is so hard?

Surely it is just a matter of obtaining a complete engine, and swapping it in.

Some people act like it is the hardest swap out there. Surely it must be easier that m/s50.

Ok, so fitment. In theory, this should be a direct swap over, right.

Wiring. With complete harness ecu, in theory, this should also be a straight swap.

Which leaves, OBD2. So what is necessary to overcome this? Converting to OBD1. What is necessary?

What the hell else is missing?
Title: Easy as can be?
Post by: D. Clay on July 24, 2006, 01:03:03 PM
Australian and US models are different in a lot of little ways. Most commonly, the M44 is used as an engine assembly with the M42, intake, electricals, and accessories, etc. This is the low cost method. The M44 serpentine belt accessories increases the cost. Most used engines do not come with the accessories. Alternators, A/C compressors, PS pumps, flywheels, etc. are sold separately. It's pretty much hit or miss depending on the source. Swapping over to OBDII is the same as you would need to do with an S50. The cheap way is the only option if you need a motor to put in yourself with 75-100K miles for less than $1K
Title: Let's talk M44 swap
Post by: ///Motorsport on July 24, 2006, 04:22:58 PM
im sorry, but what is the m44?  advantages? in what models?  if i did a swap i would surely want to get some displacement out of it...
Title: Let's talk M44 swap
Post by: mgold on July 24, 2006, 05:18:30 PM
The M44 was an updated version of the M42.  I believe it implemented OBDII.
Title: It's a bigger motor!
Post by: D. Clay on July 24, 2006, 05:19:08 PM
Quote from: ///Motorsport
im sorry, but what is the m44?  advantages? in what models?  if i did a swap i would surely want to get some displacement out of it...
It's the 4 cylinder in later model 318's. The intake and electronics are different and it has a serpentine belt for the engine accessories. If you want a displacement boost, it may be 1.9 as opposed to the current 1.8 (stop it, I'm cracking myself up)
Title: Let's talk M44 swap
Post by: e9nine on July 24, 2006, 05:23:13 PM
ROFL @ D.Clay..

For more info on the m44 - http://www.318ti.org/ You should just visit any e36 or bimmer dedicated site for the breakdown on the little things of variation. I may be the only one who thinks it's not worth to swap to an m44 unless ur m42 shits the bed and u get an m44 for cheap (they can be had for cheap) as a nalmost parallel replacement.
Title: Let's talk M44 swap
Post by: doigal on July 24, 2006, 09:41:35 PM
If you had a donor front cut then i cant see it being any harder than any other swap. If you only got the engine though, then it would be a royal pain in the ass. The advantages of the m44 over the m42 is that 0.1L of displacment and a bit more torque. OBD2 is meant to be a pain to mod as well, but theres a lot of info on generic OBD2 systems out there...
Title: A big reason.
Post by: D. Clay on July 24, 2006, 10:07:51 PM
The main reason for using an M44 is that good, used, low mile M42's are getting scarce.
Title: Let's talk M44 swap
Post by: StreetSpec_iS on July 25, 2006, 12:25:02 AM
^ thats what i was thinking.

Plus, an overbored m44, could be placing you up around near 2.0, when taking into account the slightly longer stroke.
Title: Let's talk M44 swap
Post by: StreetSpec_iS on July 25, 2006, 12:26:29 AM
Quote from: D. Clay
Australian and US models are different in a lot of little ways. Most commonly, the M44 is used as an engine assembly with the M42, intake, electricals, and accessories, etc. This is the low cost method.


this is what i have asked people before but never got a definite answer.

So, essentially, we can use the m44 block + head etc, to obtain the 1.9 (lol) litres of fury, but maintain our "intake, electricals, and accessories, etc" as you say?
Title: Let's talk M44 swap
Post by: silverblades181 on July 25, 2006, 10:33:57 AM
I see no advantage in swapping an M44. M42 has forged internals, M44 doesn't. It has a weirdo intake that gives low end torque but you lose high end power (from what I've been told) and 0.1L increase in displacement is not much. Chip your M42 and voila, you've got more power then the M44. My 2 cents.
Title: Let's talk M44 swap
Post by: asubimmer on July 25, 2006, 12:26:49 PM
what about if you used the m44 block to bore instead of the m42 block.  I am probly going to put s50 pistons in next summer but w/ an extra .1L to start w/ I could bore it slightly bigger without risking falures.  I don't know if the m42 head will work on a m44 block though.
Title: Let's talk M44 swap
Post by: nickmpower on July 25, 2006, 12:37:09 PM
ive heard that given equal bores, there is the same amount of cly wall on both blocks
Title: Let's talk M44 swap
Post by: asubimmer on July 25, 2006, 01:17:44 PM
haha nevermind then
Title: Let's talk M44 swap
Post by: ///Motorsport on July 25, 2006, 04:20:36 PM
sounds good.  if i did a swap, i would still want to get somethign big out of it... whether it be an s-something or a turboed 4, etc...
Title: Let's talk M44 swap
Post by: StreetSpec_iS on July 25, 2006, 10:13:14 PM
Quote from: silverblades181
I see no advantage in swapping an M44. M42 has forged internals, M44 doesn't.


the advantage being that you get a block already fitted with the 83.5mm crank instead of 81mm. Sure it's not much, but larger displacement is larger displacement. :D :rolleyes:

On the topic of forged internals. Being that i am talking about over boring the m44 to increase displacement again, the pistons would be replaced by forgies. On the topic of the crank not being up to standard, i think the number of m44s running DASC setups with no crank issues says something about its 'apparent weakness'.

Keep in mind, im not talking of replacing an m42 with an m44, im talking about replacing an m42 with a modded m44. Part of the reason being availability and mileage, as stated above.
Title: Let's talk M44 swap
Post by: doigal on July 26, 2006, 12:11:31 AM
Jake, is this going into the e30? Very keen on following this..
Title: Let's talk M44 swap
Post by: StreetSpec_iS on July 26, 2006, 03:55:36 AM
of course, of course.

just preliminary thoughts now. I hate having options, grrrrr.
Title: Let's talk M44 swap
Post by: 2002maniac on July 26, 2006, 05:54:19 AM
The M44 pistons and rods are forged.   The crank is the only "weak link" but i've never heard of a failure :confused:

For this reason I ordered a M44 crank yesterday from Bav auto recycling.

Does the M44 have piston squirters?  That is a nice feature of the M42.