WANT TO BUILD 250hp M42....

[shayne_bermudez]

i have a 1991 318i ....the 140hp the m42 put out was fun for the first week now it feels so slow lol so i want to spark it up...im looking to make around 250hp. i just want to know what i can do to my engine to get to this amount of power??? is there any build thread? or can some one give me like a quick summary of a parts list/prices?

thanks guys

[i8ur911]

How much $ do you plan on spending? The search feature is your friend. There are LOTS of build threads if you look :-)

[shayne_bermudez]

between 800-1400$ sorry highschool budget:p i have a 5.0 swap comeing in my other 91 soon

[thebrelon]

you won't make it for that amount of money.  even a M3 S52 swap would be more expensive.

[shayne_bermudez]

what i if just make a turbo kit ?? i have a lot of turbo shit laying around my shop

[i8ur911]

You won't hit 250hp with just slapping a turbo on it. You'll need to run at least 15lbs of boost to get near your target. Doing that without doing any other engine works means you'll blow the motor up.

What are you using the car for?

[DesktopDave]

I hate to rain on your parade too - the M42 isn't a good choice for your situation. It wasn't all that quick even when it was new - 25 years later it's even slower. My advice is to keep it stock, enjoy the high fuel mileage.

Wait for your 5.0 swap to be done...then have your cake and eat it too. What motor? LS1? Ford DOHC V8? Post some pics!

[Beeker1972]

Could do a SR20DET swap or V8 swap of some kind would better off ... if its your daily I would stick with a stock then find a car for modding ...

[bmwman91]

Even the $12k Metric Mechanic M42 does not make 250HP, and it is basically the most power you will reliably get from an NA M42 while still having a nice smooth powerband. Your budget will not get you a turbo setup that makes that much power for more than about 5 minutes.

Sorry, the M42 is an aging platform that just doesn't have budget-friendly mod potential. A reputable chip and 11lb flywheel do wonders, but it will still not be a drag champ. They are fun older cars with a (generally) older enthusiast base than a lot of other cars. The same could probably be said for E30's in general, but the 318iS seems to attract older people that are looking for a fun ride, not a "blast your girlfriend's shirt off" car. I mean, I am still ALL for that and all, but the 318iS isn't the machine for it.

[Beeker1972]

It is possible to get 250 HP out of a M42, but is the HP per Dollar worth it?  I would suggest doing a bare long block M54B30 swap using M50B25 dressings.  That could be cheaper, and get close to your 250 HP with little tuning.  It would be still drivable as a daily, and give you descent MPG.