Author Topic: Metric MEchanic engine overview and price sheet now on their site (Read 7456 times)

sheepdog · « **on:** March 19, 2007, 11:21:03 AM »

Yep, they put up a guide to what all they do (more info than you can imagine) and included prices.

Very good reading for those trying to extract power from an M42 as it goes into why they have to do certain mods to make the motor last.

Look for "M42 & M44 Engines (New 11/12/06)" about midway down the page.
http://www.metricmechanic.com/

These guys do incredible work.

Gunni · « **Reply #1 on:** March 19, 2007, 12:03:24 PM »

That is some good stuff.
I�d like some cams and 8k revs

Nick_318is · « **Reply #2 on:** March 19, 2007, 10:26:28 PM »

I read most of that about a month ago and its very impressive, when my engine dies (hopefully years away) I hope I will have enough to go and visit them and get that treatment.

Tonyb · « **Reply #3 on:** March 20, 2007, 01:36:24 AM »

I would love one but it cost more than our car's are worth! I already have about 10g's+ in my car.

sheepdog · « **Reply #4 on:** March 20, 2007, 11:51:25 AM »

Quote from: Tonyb;21754

I would love one but it cost more than our car's are worth! I already have about 10g's+ in my car.

Actually, that will increase the value of your car so it is not a total loss.

e9nine · « **Reply #5 on:** March 20, 2007, 12:12:35 PM »

Quote from: sheepdog;21804

Actually, that will increase the value of your car so it is not a total loss.

It all depends on who wants to buy such a car. It's almost like buying a 2.5L m3. The cost of the build and the actual selling price never reflect the cost of a clean shell, stock running motor and the piece meal components and labor to building it up.

A decent amount of modified cars will sell at a high price but the person who builds the car most often barely breaks even or makes a profit unless they got very luck. Our motors are expensive to build, clean shells are pricey and we all know even with hook-up pricing there's so many other variables.

So basically you can get a MM screamer m42, a stock s14 2.3L or a swapped s50 e30 for almost the same amount of $$. Hmmm...at least we have options for when the time comes

RP Kennedy · « **Reply #6 on:** March 20, 2007, 12:25:29 PM »

As they say down south, "you ain't wrong." I had a (mostly stock) S14 2.3L M3, and started toying around with the idea of going to 2.5L. Whoa $$$.

Donkeyshins · « **Reply #7 on:** March 22, 2007, 05:15:15 PM »

One: an M42 is a much lower maintenance motor, even a built-up motor like the MM Rally 2100. The S14 requires a costly valve adjustment every 15k miles (costly in your time or your $$$, depending on how you ride). When the motor was first announced, BMW referred to it as a 'zero maintenance' motor (of course, there is some maintenance, but considerably less than other BMW mills).

Two: an M42 motor is a less-costly motor in terms of spare parts compared to an S14 motor. Let's face it, the expensive bits in Jim's motor are the crank (and how often do you break a crank?), the camshafts, the rods and the pistons. The rest are stock parts that have been modified. Heck, the crank is even a stock crank (albeit an M47N crank). S14 parts are extremely expensive - the stock joke is take a reasonable cost for a part and multiply it by 4 to get the M-part cost.

Three: you're running a 205HP M42. If that isn't sick and wrong, I don't know what is. Sick and wrong is always good.

Oh yeah, the M42 is lighter than the M50/2 and S50/2 and S14 motors. Lighter weight = HP (well, not really, but you get my drift).

-D

e9nine · « **Reply #8 on:** March 22, 2007, 06:11:51 PM »

the MM motor is an option just like the various others out there. Spending this same amount of money on an m10, m20, s14 will yield varying results as well.

A valve adjustment isn't as costly and it comes with the 190 odd hp STOCK from an s14. How many valve adjustments

Reliability is debatable. Any motor that isn't tracked hard isn't susceptible to the issues of those which are used on the track. I don't know how reliable a highly strung m42 is. All race motors eventually need a rebuild period. A street used s14 isn't the grenade it's made to seem like it is.

A 205hp worked up m42 after $$$$ versus a stock motor hmm. I think I'd go with a stock motor for less.

There's many different ways to look at it no matter which way you take and no one option is better than the next.

Having a lighter engine isn't all it's made to be it certainly does aid in balance but there's more to the overall equation. There's a reason why the m42 was never officially campaigned. I mean there's more options for performance for an m10 for crying out loud.

The closest comparison is an s42 but even that is not sharing common components and not what you can consider a production motor or streetable.

No matter which way you look at it, it costs $$ to get hp and fun out of motors,pick the path you wish to travel and enjoy.

Depending on the track, you spend more effort staying ahead of the pack in an m42. Is it fun? Yes!

Do I wish I had more torque at times going up hill or when someone starts to pull away or I get caught up in traffic and loose all momentum :rolleyes: Yes!!

MarkD · « **Reply #9 on:** April 23, 2007, 10:34:14 PM »

Quote from: sheepdog;21658

Yep, they put up a guide to what all they do (more info than you can imagine) and included prices.

Very good reading for those trying to extract power from an M42 as it goes into why they have to do certain mods to make the motor last.

Look for "M42 & M44 Engines (New 11/12/06)" about midway down the page.
http://www.metricmechanic.com/

These guys do incredible work.

Hasn't the price list been on the site since sometime last year?

Yes they do great work, and have a really good Motronic tuner now also.

I was there for 7 days and just returned. I tuned the MM 3.2 M20 motor and added a MAF. There are some pictures of my trip here:

http://rides.webshots.com/album/558726438RfkIha

MarkD

sheepdog · « **Reply #10 on:** April 24, 2007, 11:25:47 AM »

Quote from: MarkD;24349

Hasn't the price list been on the site since sometime last year?

Yes they do great work, and have a really good Motronic tuner now also.

I was there for 7 days and just returned. I tuned the MM 3.2 M20 motor and added a MAF. There are some pictures of my trip here:

http://rides.webshots.com/album/558726438RfkIha

MarkD

Some of the stuff was up, but not everything.

Great bunch of guys there.

Jimmy Lewis · « **Reply #11 on:** April 24, 2007, 06:45:51 PM »

What a great read, thanks for posting that!

Frankie · « **Reply #12 on:** May 26, 2007, 11:57:15 AM »

Quote from: sheepdog;21804

Actually, that will increase the value of your car so it is not a total loss.

Well, its not a total loss, but nevertheless a major loss. I don't see any point to buy a motor which is 2 times of your car's price (atleast).

Just buy a more powerful car with the same money.

Boring attitude, I know

mgold · « **Reply #13 on:** May 26, 2007, 01:25:10 PM »

Quote from: Frankie;26623

Well, its not a total loss, but nevertheless a major loss. I don't see any point to buy a motor which is 2 times of your car's price (atleast).

Just buy a more powerful car with the same money.

Boring attitude, I know

It all depends on your take on it. If you are emotionally tied to the car (and have the finances to do it) then its worth it. I applaud MM for stepping up to the plate and making a true high performance upgrade for M42 enthusiasts. Before them, if you wanted 200bhp you had to shoehorn in an M50.

While an M50 is a good alternative, and enough of them have been done to make it an easier swap than a few years ago, its a big chunk of iron under the hood. The beauty of the MM M42 motor is that it keeps it stock looking under the hood, but more importantly, it helps maintain the excellent balance of the vehicle. In addition, it doesn't require any special parts to make it work with the 318i/is. Just drop it in and go.

That being said, several folks I know have done the M50 swap and (after parting out the donor car) it cost them almost nothing in the end.

christophbmw · « **Reply #14 on:** May 26, 2007, 01:49:23 PM »

Quote from: Frankie;26623

Well, its not a total loss, but nevertheless a major loss. I don't see any point to buy a motor which is 2 times of your car's price (atleast).

Just buy a more powerful car with the same money.

Boring attitude, I know

its an M42 thing, you wouldnt understand.

Author Topic: Metric MEchanic engine overview and price sheet now on their site (Read 7456 times)

RP Kennedy