318i M42 swap

[mrjezza]

Hey everyone,

I'm an Aussie with a 10/89 built 318i, had the M40, but now its got an M42 in it.  Only completed the swap a few weeks ago and I absolutely love the engine; couldn't believe that with 5 people in the car it would still pull in 4th!

My mechanic (and long time family friend) says the engine came out of a wrecked E36 318iS, as well as a few suspension components and other bits.  

According to numerous online VIN decoders, the VIN number on the ECU (which I can confirm came from the wrecked car) indicates the car was a 1990 E30 318iS, production date 04/90.  The ECU# is the 0 261 200 175 which is the E30 ECU.

This leaves a couple of possibilities:
1. The engine is the E30 M42 and it was swapped into the E36 aftermarket
2. The engine is the E36 M42 but its using an E30 ECU
3. Australian delivered E36 318iS were using E30 M42 engines... the production date of 04/1990 doesn't make sense tho.
 
Heres the next puzzling factor, according to what I've read online there was no euro spec 318iS using an M42, and the locally delivered cars are all euro spec as I understand it.

I've been trying to look up info about the differing intake on the E36 engine but I can't find pictures that help me.  If its not too much trouble, could someone post a photo of the E36 intake (if it is cosmetically different to the E30 inlet) as the one I'm currently using looks nigh identical to the E30 intake.

The knock sensor is different too understand... could I check if the engine has a knock sensor without opening it up, ie check for the presence of a signal wire running from the engine.  It wouldn't be hooked up as the E30 ECU doesn't support a knock sensor correct?

I only just realised the discrepancy when I looked up the ECU# and I can't get in touch with my mechanic until the weekend; yes, I know he's the best person to be talking to having done the swap but I'm impatient lol.

Sorry for the long spiel but now I'm just plain confused and the collective knowledge of this forum is quite impressive
If anyone can suggest ideas for ways for me to figure out exactly what I'm running it would be much appreciated.

Thanks in advance for any help,
Jezza

[doigal]

Hey mate

looking at doing that exact same swap soon - m40 e30 to m42 e36 (was hoping for m44 but that looks to be too much hassle with electrics)

Do you have any info on the swap itself? Did you need a new transmission in the end?

As for working out what engine it is, the two big differences between e30/e36 m42s that i know of are the belts and the knock sensors. I'd suggest that you get your hands on the bently manual (its here as a pdf) and look for the knock sensor there... best case is that you've got the e30 ecu!

[jbuttenshaw]

it sounds like its an e30 engine, the e36 manifold is very different, the knock sensors are between cylinders 1&2 and 3&4 they are a black cylinder type socket with a nut through the back of them, they have short wires about 20cm long and a three pinned plug on the end.

[mrjezza]

Thanks very much for the input.

Doigal, I'll find out for you what was done regarding the transmission when I see him next.

Jbuttenshaw, I couldn't find the knock sensors, although I don't really know where to look lol.

Here are a couple of pics of the intake, maybe this would help.





Jezza

[StreetSpec_iS]

defo e30 mani.

[jbuttenshaw]

yeah definately think its an e30 engine, has the e30 coil pack too, sound like your mech got it wrong.

[doigal]

heres a pic from a 93 318is from carpoint (aussie based car selling site) - but i have no idea if this is the late m42 or not....

[mrjezza]

I'm pretty sure the miscommunication was my dad's fault... I'm guessing when my mechanic (who is a close friend of the family and has never done us wrong before) told him it was a 1990 318iS my dad just assumed (wrongly) it was an E36 and told me that.

I was surprised when he told me suspension from the parts car was going onto mine because, although I never looked into it, I wouldn't have thought the E36 suspension would go on an E30.  Diff was changed over too.

I guess this explains why I never saw an E36 at his house when we visited; :confused: and also why there was an E30 with a cover on it

Doesn't the E30 M42 have 3kw more than the 92-95 E36 M42? Either way I'm not chuffed