Messages

1

How-To's / Re: '91 E30 m40 to E36 '96 m42 engine swap, EWS?

« on: July 06, 2016, 06:33:05 AM »

Do all the rewiring as threads on this forum describe and fit the early ecu, or buy a performance chip with EWS bypass so you can use the 95 ecu.   

2

M42 Reference / Re: Why is my E30 different? UPDATE

« on: December 15, 2014, 07:26:13 AM »

With no luck on the internet I decided to cut the plastic cover in half. After cutting along the top I cut a triangle section from each end and prized the front part free. The rear section was rotated over the fan covers and pulled out.  All this work was to replace the fan blower motor resister, so imagine my surprise when it turned out not to be there. After more searching I found the resistor in the drivers side foot well. Now at least I don't have to take the dash out.

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M42 Reference / Re: Why is my E30 different?

« on: November 24, 2014, 07:43:46 AM »

Thanks for the replies. The car was imported to Taiwan from the United States. I've search high and low trying to find another cover like this.  I went to a junkyard and saw 2 cars, just as they should be in the diagram above. I hope I can prize this cover off. I really don't want to take the dash out just to replace the resistor.

4

M42 Reference / Why is my E30 different?

« on: November 22, 2014, 02:45:43 AM »

My fan blower would only start on full speed and then I could slow it down. Finally it stopped  working all together. I discovered the fuse had melted and research led me to the fan resistor. Great, an easy fix, however when I removed the firewall panel my car is different. I am assuming the large black plastic is some kind of cover. It's well and truly solid. I'm guessing the next step involves a hammer unless anyone has seen this before.

5

Engine + Driveline / Re: Where did I go wrong M42 swap

« on: January 22, 2014, 07:08:17 PM »

PROBLEM SOLVED. Big thanks to Desktop Dave, and BMWConnect, The quick and definitive answer is there is no EWS bypass for the 0 261 203 590 DME.   I needed an earlier DME.  Pelican Parts has a good list of DME numbers with corresponding Bosch systems.  According to the list what I was looking for was 1994  0 261 203 282 unit the Bosch Motronic M1.7.2.  Luckily for me there was one on  a local auction site.  Bought it, plugged it in and the car started. Now I just have to finish fabricating the exhaust front pipe, shorten and tidy the wiring harness.  All in all the swap wasn't difficult. I'll post some photos when it's all finished.

6

General Topics / Re: My M30 Air Box Swap (Tons of Pics)

« on: January 12, 2014, 07:59:37 AM »

This is an awesome guide. I have the same idea to fit an original BMW air box in my E30 with an E36 m42.

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Engine + Driveline / Re: Where did I go wrong M42 swap

« on: January 12, 2014, 05:50:05 AM »

I'm not sure of those numbers. It's my understanding that there are only three M42 DMEs. There's the E30 version, 175, with no knock and no DISA. There's the non-EWS E36 (purple label?), and the EWS (silver label) version. Some DMEs have the Bosch part number in different places, so it can be difficult to tell which DME it actually is.

Did you try to PM Barrie about his DME delete chip? He's "BMWConnect" on the forum here, and over at 318ti.org as well. He should know exactly what you have, and should have a quick solution to make it work.

This looks fun too, not sure if it works:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1l26whvF-3k

Thanks Dave. I'll e-mail Barrie. It'll be great if I can get a performance/EWS bypass chip, or another quick fix. I'm doing the work on the car, but it's sitting in a local garage. I feel like it should be finished and out of there by now.

8

Engine + Driveline / Re: Anyone done an E36 serpentine belt setup?

« on: January 11, 2014, 09:15:08 AM »

Sorry for the picture quality. I'm still on with the install, the brackets are just some bits I found in my tool box. There is approx 6mm gap between the dipstick and the top hose.

9

Engine + Driveline / Re: Where did I go wrong M42 swap

« on: January 10, 2014, 11:02:56 PM »

Thanks for the replies.  I've been looking at EWS bypass chips, there is one here on Taiwan Ebay but Im not sure if it will work with my ECU. The numbers on my ECU are 0 261 203 590   and 1 743 250 001. I have asked the seller but he doesn't know if they are compatible. When I bought the engine I only got the complete engine harness and ecu. Can I use an earlier E36 Ecu?

10

Engine + Driveline / Where did I go wrong M42 swap

« on: January 09, 2014, 10:02:18 AM »

This is my first 4cyl BMW, I always had straight 6's before hence the lack of experience with this engine. I just fitted a 95 M42 engine into my E30 M40, complete with serpentine belt drive system, wiring loom and ECU. Everything fitted in fine, just had to shorten the M42's dipstick and mount it towards the front of the car. I rewired a spare C101 plug to the M42 harness. The engine is cranking over but there is no spark. I checked all the harness adaptation at the C101 and seem's all in order. I'm guessing from all I've read that it is an EWS issue. What is the best way around the problem? I read one member fitted all the E30 sensors to an M42 and simply used the original harness. Is there a quick fix to this problem ? 

11

Engine + Driveline / Re: Anyone done an E36 serpentine belt setup?

« on: January 09, 2014, 09:42:04 AM »

I've just fitted a 95 M42 into my E30 with A/c and P/s. The dipstick was a problem, so I cut approx 30mm off the bottom and fitted towards the front of the car. It's position is just in front of the top radiator hose. To stop it moving around fabricate a bracket to the head. It looks odd but it works.