Author Topic: m42 vs s14 (Read 7198 times)

StreetSpec_iS · « **on:** January 28, 2007, 07:23:16 PM »

so, at the moment im contemplating motors.

i think i have narrowed it down to the final two.

modded m42 (ie stroker) vs a stockish 2.3 s14. price wise, im guessing they would be on par.

the one thing that keeps me thinking s14, is the ability to upgrade in the future. a modded m42 will be putting out about as much power as the 2.3, but with thta, it will be at the end of it's modability. if i get bored of the s14, there is always a 2.5 conversion etc etc.

so i guess im asking, in all honesty, which motor would be preferable. the only thing holding me back in regards to the s14, is maintenance costs, but i mean, maintenace costs on a 'custom' m42 wouldnt be that much different. i'm sure you know what i mean.

i'd be interested to hear from m42b21 and m3 ppls on this please.

oh, and no, i can't turbo the m42, for legal reasons. otherwise i'd be all over that.

Febi Guibo · « **Reply #1 on:** January 28, 2007, 08:36:58 PM »

the biggest issues for me were:

- high cost of kinda iffy S14 engines (check those heads)
- upkeep on a built-up M42 is (so far, god willing) pretty much same as stock
- cost of all the other related stuff (tranny, driveline) etc.

but, that's just me!

asubimmer · « **Reply #2 on:** January 28, 2007, 09:39:20 PM »

yeah I think that the s14 would end up costing a LOT more than building the m42. You also have to think about the cost of the swap as well as maintance.

2002maniac · « **Reply #3 on:** January 28, 2007, 11:11:56 PM »

The S14 would would be better out of the box, but the advantage to building an M42 is that you know the motor is fresh.

With a used S14, you will have to rebuild it eventually and that gets very expensive

StreetSpec_iS · « **Reply #4 on:** January 28, 2007, 11:32:48 PM »

yeah, its a tough decision. the other problem is that the s14 was never available locally. so sourcing parts could be tough.

Cheers for the input fellas.

Quote from: 2002maniac;18353

The S14 would would be better out of the box, but the advantage to building an M42 is that you know the motor is fresh.

jaja. speaking of which, hos is the 2 litre going?

Gunni · « **Reply #5 on:** January 29, 2007, 03:29:28 AM »

What you might and will run into is that a 2.5 conversion is not cheap in any sense of the word on a S14, you�ve seen the $10-15k prices http://www.s14.net people are paying with smiling faces I might add,

the problem with the M42 is it�s size if BMW had designed it with bigger cylender spacing things would have been very very diffrent, wich also would have meant the M50 family would have grown into 3.5�s easily.
3.5 M50 is as large as they come ( custom crank, slight modding of the block where the crank would otherwise hit it, boring of it and so on)
same math on a M42 says 2333cc is the largest possible,

I�d be sure a 2.3 M42 would easily brake 200hp without wild cams

doigal · « **Reply #6 on:** January 29, 2007, 06:22:54 AM »

A decent S14 would be good jake, but every single part is going to be a pain to get. Is there much in the way of S14 stuff over in SA?

tim_s · « **Reply #7 on:** January 29, 2007, 09:56:42 AM »

S14s are very cool. would be a load less ball-ache. i went m42 as i fancied a unique project and had wanted to do an m42 for ages. both options are good, s14 is probably the more sensible.

e9nine · « **Reply #8 on:** January 29, 2007, 10:53:47 AM »

Depends on the big picture. How much resources do you have?

You can put a m42 kit together to make some power; do you have anyone to burn you a custom chip, will u fit megasquirt to it etc? After buttoning it all up, you still have to penny up to finalize everything as there's no official map to use per se for tuning due to the varying offerings.

S14 - tried and proven recipe for power. Even a 2.3 can be made to do some nice #s. Get an oil pan baffle and you can even enjoy a stock motor in the car. Just get prepared for the accompanying price tag for parts and maintenance.

Given a set amount of $ - I'd say it comes down to "if you have an s14 readily available for a known amount versus an engine builder to put an m42 together for you at an agreed upon price.

Whatever you do - please don't penny pinch. Pay up and get it done right once and for all. It's sad to see many turbo and other n/a projects that never run right because people were trying to cut corners/didn't have experience or underestimated the knowlege behind the engineering put into their cars. Power addition is not an investment and is painful till you wear the smile of success in most cases.

I'd do an s14 personally :cool:

RED IS 91 · « **Reply #9 on:** January 29, 2007, 11:11:03 AM »

some interesting reading on the s14

http://www.bmwworld.com/engines/s14.htm

Froos · « **Reply #10 on:** January 29, 2007, 01:01:01 PM »

Quote from: Gunni;18367

the problem with the M42 is it�s size if BMW had designed it with bigger cylender spacing things would have been very very diffrent, wich also would have meant the M50 family would have grown into 3.5�s easily.
3.5 M50 is as large as they come ( custom crank, slight modding of the block where the crank would otherwise hit it, boring of it and so on)
same math on a M42 says 2333cc is the largest possible,

I�d be sure a 2.3 M42 would easily brake 200hp without wild cams

Ok that very interesting, so which pistons could be used to reach 2300cm? If I would use the 96 m3 pistons (diam 86,4) i`d reach 2134. M1 pistons (diam 93,4) would give 2300cm but prob have an older design. Not to mention gudeon position etc. If I decide to increase capacity I would rather get 2200cm or more.

2002maniac · « **Reply #11 on:** January 29, 2007, 01:14:48 PM »

Quote from: Froos;18385

M1 pistons (diam 93,4) would give 2300cm but prob have an older design.

That wouldnt work out so well with a 91mm bore spacing.

2002maniac · « **Reply #12 on:** January 29, 2007, 01:15:57 PM »

Quote from: StreetSpec_iS;18355

jaja. speaking of which, hos is the 2 litre going?

quite well actually. Just need to find some rods, get the bottom end balanced, and then focus on the head.

I want to have the project done by July.

e9nine · « **Reply #13 on:** January 29, 2007, 03:19:44 PM »

Quote from: 2002maniac;18388

quite well actually. Just need to find some rods, get the bottom end balanced, and then focus on the head.

I want to have the project done by July.

A tad bit O/T but Jake started it so I follow suit...

IIRC you have cams and headwork?Are you running software via Mark D as well? I think I read s/where that your car is as fast as your bros m20 (stock?) up until 60mph or so?

kowalski · « **Reply #14 on:** January 29, 2007, 03:44:25 PM »

my m42 has cams chip headwork and injectors, and its as fast as my buddies chipped m20.