M44 into E30 and EWS

[IlovM42]

Hi people.
I have bought a complete M44 from an E36, but I have read that they have EWS do they all have it?
if they don't, i'm thinking into using the M44 ECU and wiring into the E30 for two simple reasons, M44 have AFM and knock sensors stock.

Is there any issues using the M44 wiring and ECU (of course if there is no EWS :mad:) into th eE30? Guess is more or less the same thing than putting an S50 into an E30, messing with the OBDI an OBDII things.

Thanks in advance

[IlovM42]

Well it seems that there is no economic way to make the M44 DME work in an E30 without having the rest of the EWS system.

i will keep the M42 OBDI system and see later how to make knock sensors and MAF working.

[bmwconnect]

Im working on a solution to remove ews in the DME software . Should be ready by April I hope

[DesktopDave]

I'd definitely recommend waiting for Barrie's tune along with the EWS delete - it'll be a great resource for M4x drivers.

I'm no expert (so take this with a big grain of salt), but I've been looking into something like this for a while.  The biggest hurdle is the OBDII EWS system is a lot harder to tamper with than the OBDI M42 was.  It's not a DIY job, that's for sure.  The M44 electronics are not compatible with the M42, especially the crank angle sensor.  Worse, since the M42 never had an OBDII version, it can't be easily upgraded to the later hardware.  

That does give me an idea...the later E36 M42 (~1995) did have most of the later M44 goodies - so a early/late hybrid might give some advantages.  The updated timing chain components, serpentine belt and DISA manifold should all swap over to the earlier E30 motor.  You'd have knock sensors too, though still have the earlier MAF.  That's not a bad trade-off IMHO.  I have heard that the DISA manifold might not fit, and that the DISA valve gives occasional problems.  The later manifold also has different injectors and IIRC two O2 sensors.  Just details, but important ones, eh?

Alternatively, until Barrie releases the EWS delete, can't you install the whole M44 with the EWS system into the E30?  Just tape the E36 key to the EWS antenna and leave it in the dash somewhere.  The wiring harnesses can't be all that different, can they?  It'll just need power, ground, starter signal, fuel pump enable, etc.  I'll bet there's a C101 diagram out there somewhere, given the number of M5x swaps into E30s.

[DesktopDave]

Found this thread, slightly on-topic.  HaNasich swapped a late M42 into his E30.

[IlovM42]

well at the moment i'm waiting the reply of someone who is normal capable of deleting the EWS from the DME.

I will explain a little more my situation, I have bought a M44 with all the ancillaries and the harness/DME but I don't have the EWS module/key/etc

I'm not in a hurry as engine will be modified, planning to bore it out and use M42 head with M42 E30 intake (delete the DISA)

I'm just starting into thinking about the wiring/management of the engine and looking if it's possible to reuse the M44 management as I guess it must have been improved since M42.

so two solutions,
first I can ditch the EWS on the M44 DME, and only think is to adapt the M44 harness into the E30
second it's not possible (or too expensive) to ditch the EWS so I might use an E36 harness and management and adapt it on the M44, still have knock sensor working but will need to do MAF conversion

thanks for the infos, i think a lot of people will be interrested in this men named barrie results

[HaNasich]

There is a M42 DME that supports knock sensors that has no AWS in it.
im not sure if it is OBDII, i think it doesnt.
you should look for DME model that came on BMW cars wirh DISA M42 engines, in the years of 1993-1994
there are also 1995 DME's like this, but in this year there were with and w/o AWS, and i think its not worth the chance.


In my car i have 1996 M42 engine, with E30 DME, but as the engine supports knock sensors, my next upgrade would be moving to new M42 DME with knock sensors.

[IlovM42]

yeah I know that some later E36 M42 powered come with knowk sensor so the DME can handle them, but it still with an AFM instead of a MAF airmeter  this is why I want to keep the M44 DME and engine loom, also because M44 look so much simplier than M42 

[DesktopDave]

I'd figure the M44 would be a pretty decent straight swap.  No need for the M42 block at all.  I'd tape the E36 key to the EWS antenna & tape it up in the dash somewhere.  That'll handle EWS...then splice the E36 harness into the E30 ignition switch to send the starter signal to the DME.

If you desperately want the M42 forged internals, I'd consider swapping them over, or even finding an M47 crank to do the 2.0 upgrade.  The M44 head does have some improvements, I'd figure that's your easiest option.

[IlovM42]

I actually have one M42 (from the E30) one M44 and an M47 crank, but still don't know what to do.
I have a lighweight e30 so no need to have huge torque, so my plan is to go with the M44 crank, rod and S50b30 (euro) pistons with M42 head, as what to rev at least as high as a stock M42.

M44 into E30 look quite easy if you can dish the EWS and reuse the entire loom and ECU, only issue is with the temp gauge but it can be resolve quite easily from what i've saw