I've been with BMW a long time and all the hate for the M42 did not start until BMW launched the 318ti in the US. It was purposely built to compete with the Honda Civic as an entry level vehicle for potential new and and as an affordable alternative. Most BMW 3 series sold in the US prior to the E36 were 5 speed. Once the E36 came into the picture, all the "so-called yuppies", didn't and still don't know how to drive a manual gear shift. BMW and dealers answered the call by ordering more automatics. The US spec 318i, 318is, and 318ti were heavier vehicles than the E30's and everyone was expecting the same offline performance of the 325i. It was so under powered for these power hungry brats, that BMW discontinued the M42 in the US when they launched the E46 in 1999. BMW still to this day offers the 4 cylinder engine in Europe, but will never reintroduce it here, because of all the bad complaints of the E36's power. The average E30 318i can smoke a E36 318i like a cheap cigar because of the wheelbase and weight difference alone. I've owned a 325ic, 328ic, 328is, M Roadster, 330i and two E30 325ic's. Most people that own a 5 speed do not realize that it has several advantages over any automatic and the key to it is knowing how to shift the gears to get the real hp and torque. My current BMW E30 318i is a 5 speed with the M42 engine. Sure it is not going to come close to smoking anything off the line, but by the time I shift it to third gear I'm on your ass!!! Then once she gets to fifth gear I'm with you all the way and you won't be laughing if she passes you by!!!
