Engine optimization

[CatalinCristian]

Hello, new owner of a m42 engine, soon to be mounted on a 318i which is being restored now. In the present the engine is in a stand  on a stand. I am replacing most of the gaskets and already started the mouting process althogh physicaly it will go on the car in ~ 1 month and few weeks. But i want it to be prepared.
The main wish is for the engine to run smooth, linear and hope with few more power.    For that i need some advices from you please. (i just made the account so didn't had the chance to read all the topics).

What upgrades i have in mind :
- the popular engine cip
- i have in plan to put m52 2.8l coils
- ? ? maybe there are some hoses that i can cancel ?

Thanks in advance.

[Darky]

Hi Cat

Look at the mess under the intake, there are quite a few hoses to get rid of especially if your car will never encounter snow!

Cop conversion (coil on plug) is a great mod rob does the plate you will need.

Engine chips you can get from here there always around for sale.

Is your car left or right hand drive?
If it's right hand drive your exhaust manifold will be very ordinary, but there are very few good rhd ones out there.

Cheers Rohan

[CatalinCristian]

Cop conversion (coil on plug) is a great mod rob does the plate you will need.

Is your car left or right hand drive?
If it's right hand drive your exhaust manifold will be very ordinary, but there are very few good rhd ones out there.

Cheers Rohan

Hi Rohan,
thanks for the reply. What do you mean by "a great mod rob does the plate i need" ?
It's a left hand.
(This was the car 3-4 weeks ago.)

[Darky]

Rob_e30 is the forum member that makes the plates you need for the cop conversion.

Lhd brilliant your exhaust manifold will be pretty good stock, you could also get a after market one easily too to gain a bit. Rhd ones are completely butchered to make way for the steering column.

Cheers Rohan

[Delta]

A good chip or custom tune and a lightweight flywheel at some point really wake the car up. Other than that, the only real "low hanging fruit" for gains would be a header back 2.25" exhaust with a high flow cat. The coils will be a nice addition. Another thing to consider is some different injectors, or having the stockers flow balanced. Either will be better than the old dirty ones.

If you havent done the mess under the intake that should be a priority, as well as fixing any and all fluid and vacuum leaks. Keep it simple and it will reward you with a fun and reliable car!

[CatalinCristian]

Yes, but if you put a lightflywheel, the "engine brake" will work as normal ? Because i guess that the inertia that switching from 4th gear to 3rd gear won't be the same and the "engine brake" will not do anything...when i would use it.

[Warsteiner]

CatalinCristian,

You don't want to use the engine as a brake. LOL Don't you think that brake pads are cheaper to replace than any clutch kit or transmission rebuild never mind mentioning a miss shift and kissing the pistons with your valves which in turn means at least a head rebuild if not pistons too? Ya I would use the brakes!!

The LWF will drop your revs much faster when shifting but it just takes a little getting used to. It does transform the car and wakes it up. You can always learn how to heel and toe on the street and then you'll be ready for the track

Everything Delta mentioned I agree with. Best smooth running engine will depend on your injectors, chip and coils if you choose to do them. But of course that's not having any cracked or dry rotted hoses to cause vacuum leaks. Stick with the basics. Keep it simple. Do the mess under the intake so you have peace of mind. Or get some ITB's and then the mess goes away by itself...Hahhahaa

Good Luck,

Cheers,
~Ralph

[CatalinCristian]

Hi Ralph, but we use often the engine brake here..i mean is common to do that, especially when you are on the mountain roads and there are tight turns or roads with higher inclination or even in the city..rather then put your car in neutral (on my other car) i often use the engine brake and let the revs smooth drop shifting into gears from 4th to 3rd and 2nd...I use the brakes also haha. Anyway i  will try to find a m20 flywheel, do the coils, do the cip and the mess under the intake, then i hope maybe in the end it will have close to 150 hp ? or i'm hoping to much ?

[Delta]

Engine braking works pretty much the same with a lightweight flywheel. The revs actually drop faster while coasting in gear and it turns out that I actually use my brakes a little less to slow down after the flywheel install. Going down steep grades may be slightly different as the lighter flywheel may not slow the car as much, in which case a slower speed and lower gear will still work very well.

I would think you can be close to the 150 crank hp mark after those mods. Looking to have my car on the dyno sometime this year to see where I'm at with those same mods.

[CatalinCristian]

Thursday i will go to to the tinsmith to see how much i still need to wait till it's done then off to the painting. hopefully in 2 months i will park it at my house

[Darky]

The lightweight flywheel from rhd engineering is really good and so light!

Engine breaking would work better with a lightweight flywheel, but I've only done that with a truck!