Author Topic: forced into it (help) (Read 4858 times)

sha1234 · « **on:** February 04, 2007, 12:19:47 AM »

well from the looks of it a drunk driver may have killed the M42 engine currently in the car
i was driving along at 60 km... so reasonable, when a drunk driver (or VERY poor) swerved almost T boning me and forcing me of the road and down an enbankment
i thought for sure all was lost... however after checking steering and body all LOOKED good... no check engine lights, nothing
i thought maybe god was looking out for me and the car and was just giving us a warning... well he was looking after me and my gf for damn sure seeing as how we are fine just a lil sore in the coller bone and necks
but along the way home the car was rattling like what an exhaust rattle sounds like... i almost didnt look at the road coming home i was just staring at the temp gauge and making sure all the lights were off.... and they were so i just assumed maybe in the mishap we smashed the exhaust and bent it up against the body (truly thats what it sounded like)
however when i came to check it out in the light this morning to my horror i found about a litre of oil under the car and a dry dip stick. tommorow i will be heading down to BMW getting it towed to figure out what the damage is. who knows maybe ill be lucky and all i need is a new oil pan (there is a good size crack in it)
BUT... while beeing optimistic i also have to be real with myself... she doesnt sound good SO... i will most likely need to do an engine swap... my options... M42, M20, M50, M52 i had planned to do a M50 swap a while back but it never went though
which engine i choose will ride on which one i can pick up in vancouver BC, i dont want to ship cause that costs close to 500 easily
so here is the question
could some one go through each engine with me minus the M42 swapping process, i need the pros and cons to all the engine, a list of parts i will need, how hard each one is, and in general which one would be the cheapest and most cost effective
when im done i still want a car that i can rely on to start up each day.
so please help
i know a fair bit about the m50 swap but what i really want to know about is the M20. cause they are cheaper easier to find and lots of parts easy to find
the car is a 1991 318is 2 door
thanks

Tim

sheepdog · « **Reply #1 on:** February 04, 2007, 01:11:58 PM »

Glad you are ok.

BY FAR the cheapest way to go is to put another M42 in.
You can often find one for $200-$400.

An M20 will run you about the same for the motor, but all of the other little things, like different fuel lines, trans, computer, brackets, etc... all add up very fast, a simple swap could run you easily into the thousands. You also should replace the diff due to different gearing and higher strength.

An M50-52 will run you well over 5k by the time you are done. Some will tell you closer to 10k.

None will drive the same as your M42.

asubimmer · « **Reply #2 on:** February 04, 2007, 02:26:05 PM »

Quote from: sheepdog;18798

Glad you are ok.

BY FAR the cheapest way to go is to put another M42 in.
You can often find one for $200-$400.

An M20 will run you about the same for the motor, but all of the other little things, like different fuel lines, trans, computer, brackets, etc... all add up very fast, a simple swap could run you easily into the thousands. You also should replace the diff due to different gearing and higher strength.

An M50-52 will run you well over 5k by the time you are done. Some will tell you closer to 10k.

None will drive the same as your M42.

couldn't have said it better myself, +1 on all that. How many miles were on your engine? Have you gone down into it to see how bad it is?

sha1234 · « **Reply #3 on:** February 04, 2007, 03:48:28 PM »

yeah im hoping that not all is lost
maybe itll just require a re build which would give me an excuse to work on it
the engine has 140,xxx KM on it... so like.... nothing

kowalski · « **Reply #4 on:** February 05, 2007, 12:21:50 AM »

how long did you drive with very little oil-no oil in it? because i know when i wrecked my engine.. it was the 3rd time that it had the oil pan swiped off, and 3 months later it spun a bearing at 7,000prm and threw a rod through the block.

Alpine003 · « **Reply #5 on:** February 05, 2007, 10:41:54 AM »

This has been talked to death already but here's my $.02.

M42 replacement - If you're limited on funds/time

M20 - Antique motor and not worth the headaches

M50 - Not worth the gains for the hassle imo

M52 - This is a good way to go short of a S50 or S14 swap imo. Downside is you might have to convert to OBD1.

sheepdog · « **Reply #6 on:** February 05, 2007, 06:46:34 PM »

Personally, if I were to do a motor swap today, my choice would probably be a GM Ecotech.

Yeah, so shoot me...
Cheap and easy to get parts (especially here), tons of easily achieved and well documented power. No it is not an m42, but it also does not have M42 problems. Should not be all THAT difficult (still looking into it). Still going to run several grand by the time you are done though. At least it keeps it a 4 cyl.

300hp in a 4cyl. 318IS = a fun as hell daily driver.

By the way, if you like driving your car, do not do an S14, you will spend a lot maintaining it (time and money).

2002maniac · « **Reply #7 on:** February 05, 2007, 07:16:59 PM »

I would do an LS1 swap if a motor landed in my lap at the right price.

kowalski · « **Reply #8 on:** February 05, 2007, 08:13:59 PM »

Quote from: 2002maniac;18908

I would do an LS1 swap if a motor landed in my lap at the right price.

i was going to do a 350 swap, but the engine weighs too much, and i've never built a turbo motor before... I have a 350 in my garage built tho:D so i want to track down another e30 shell and build a 350 swap e30 too...

sha1234 · « **Reply #9 on:** February 06, 2007, 12:23:06 AM »

that would be pretty nuts...
i talked to the guys at BMW and from the looks of it they are pretty sure the motor will live WOAH... BMW not wanting to steal money... what is this...
but heres my plan....
still buy a spair M42... built it up, and turbo the piss out of it
so that would be the plan... but we will see how it all goes

kowalski · « **Reply #10 on:** February 06, 2007, 01:31:00 AM »

how about you buy another m42, give it to me and I will turbo the piss out of it:)

sha1234 · « **Reply #11 on:** February 06, 2007, 08:30:17 AM »

ehehhe
it still might be fucked... so you may still have yourself and engine...
but if i do this build up i would want it done by summer... so i think you could have my engine then... thats when you get back ne ways right?