help for identifying the location of the motor plate

[mabcs]

Good, I hope to find help here I have failed in my Portuguese language, and my apologies for my bad english ...

But let's get down to business, I have opportunity of buying an e36 318is 94-95 that has the tree damaged cams, do not know how, but that's what the owner told me, first question, where can I find the label with the engine their caracteristas (where is located) and how to read these data to realize the construction year of the engine, and even now visually distinguish one as a M42B18 M44B19?
from already thank you!

[deansweet]

M42 has the aluminium oil filter housing lid, M44 has the plastic one. Also M44 injectors have venturi pipes running off them, M42 does not.
M44 has plastic thermostat housing, M42 has aluminium thermostat housing.
M44 idle control valve is fitted to the side of the throttle body, M42 ICV sits underneath the intake manifold toward firewall.
M44 has a smaller airflow meter.

[DesktopDave]

You can also find the VIN on the rear of the cylinder head. Run it through one of the BMW decoders and you'll get the production date too.
http://www.bmwarchive.org/vin/bmw-vin-decoder.html