Author Topic: M42 vs S14? (Read 20127 times)

no1_jazz · « **on:** June 04, 2008, 03:42:45 PM »

Rite guys we all obviously know that the S14 has it all the way stock in comparison to the m42 stock.

1. Now is it worth spending the money on the M42 just so it can compete or better yet piss on the s14??

2. How much would one have to spend to achieve this goal?

3. What modifications would need to be done? I.e. bigger cams, pistons, supercharger, turbo etc..

All help and advice is much appreciated

Many Thanks
Jazz

Febi Guibo · « **Reply #1 on:** June 04, 2008, 04:30:23 PM »

If you can get an S14 it's probably cheaper straight up...

the major differences are: bore and stroke, individual throttle bodies, flywheel, and probably the cams.

If you factor in the cost of buying, and then rebuilding an S14, vs. an aggressive rebuild on an M42, the costs get a little closer.

I would try to find an E30 M3 in your area and see if you can take it for a spin.

cecotto · « **Reply #2 on:** June 04, 2008, 04:56:24 PM »

i'd say you have to spend quite a few monies to just have the m42 compete with the stock s14.

If yore after reliability, i'd go for the stock S14 (Yet expensive)

If yore after a tuning project i'd go for the M42, you probberly have the engine so you only need to get the parts and the job done.

A tuned S14 will drain your funds pretty fast.

I have them both, and i tell you the extra 0.5 liter makes a difference. But the S14 is not scary fast anyway. But on my usual backroad fast route the M3 can get you in trouble pretty quick. It gains speed at a considerably faster rate. So often i'm braking before bends i'm taking flat out in the is.

futron.sim · « **Reply #3 on:** June 04, 2008, 09:08:13 PM »

You can build a M42 to perform as good as the S14 but the price tag is going to be insane (just look at how much MM rally engines cost).

IMHO, the most cost effective route is to go FI. A M62 supercharger will be enough for you to match the S14, not to mention a strong low end torque as well.

tony92ic · « **Reply #4 on:** June 04, 2008, 09:59:50 PM »

Assuming your M42 is strong, the DA supercharger kit is about $3,500 and will turn out around 200hp with a few hours of work. It would be tough to buy and transplant an S14 for that and a stock S14 would have 10 less hp. Plus you could replace the M42 all day long for a few hundred bucks. S14s are expensive and rebuilds even more so. Way cool engines though.

To attempt to do it with a normally aspirated M42 would be a money pit and difficult. You could go to Metric Mechanics, but the S14 would be cheaper.

ose30 · « **Reply #5 on:** June 05, 2008, 06:07:29 AM »

320IS model for portuguese and italian market was basically a 318IS with 2.0L S14 engine.
Both 320IS and 318IS have suspension, brakes and all other undergarriage parts directly from 325I model.
320IS 2-door models had M-tech II body and BBS style BMW wheels as a standard. Also 4-door version was available without any spoilers; it also had 14" bottlecap wheels.

here's pictures of one italian (from South Tirol) example i almost bought last summer:

Here's few 320IS examples for sale in Italy:

http://www.autoscout24.it/Details.aspx?id=135776878
http://www.autoscout24.it/Details.aspx?id=134654520
http://www.autoscout24.it/Details.aspx?id=134839273
http://www.autoscout24.it/Details.aspx?id=135596123
http://www.autoscout24.it/Details.aspx?id=135813209

swiss318is · « **Reply #6 on:** June 05, 2008, 06:38:52 AM »

go and have a look!!
http://www.autoscout24.it/Details.aspx?id=135899799
its a m42 engine with ITB from a 320is... how did he do that!!??

no1_jazz · « **Reply #7 on:** June 05, 2008, 03:22:24 PM »

Hi guys I appreciate all the help and advice guys but I still don’t know what to do I love the IS but I don’t like the top end speed I’m getting out of her what can I do to get 20 - 30mph more out of here?

This is for sure a hard one its seems I loose both ways because buying a s14 will make and leave a massive hole in my bank and also doing up the IS will also do the same thing!!!!

Dammn guys are there any good six pots out there?

Appreciate all the help guys

Nice 1
Jazz

batsbats · « **Reply #8 on:** June 05, 2008, 04:42:21 PM »

drop the M42 and plug in a M/S50/52 US line motor.

Easy as that.

haha I wish..

colin86325 · « **Reply #9 on:** June 05, 2008, 06:19:39 PM »

There are 2 ways to increase top speed: more power and better aerodynamics.

It's easier to add power by swapping the engine.

You can improve aero by lowering the car, removing sideview mirrors and windshield wiper arms (neither recommended for a car that sees street duty), using hood seals like those on the Evo 3 M3 and sealing any other "parting line" on the front silhouette, adding a flat tray to the underside of the car, etc.

But at the end of the day our cars are still bricks. The E30 M3 achieved a cd of .33, which is an improvement over the regular E30 cd of .35, but it's still a lot higher than today's cars.

wanganstyle · « **Reply #10 on:** June 05, 2008, 11:11:58 PM »

in this case, a s52 swap is quite possibly cheaper than s14.

s52 will be more reliable and get better gas milage swapped into an e30 as well

swiss318is · « **Reply #11 on:** June 06, 2008, 02:36:46 AM »

why everybody wants only increase hp/torque?? biggest engine and as much more hp as possible, by 0.- investment? why not lowering the wheight by removing useless things? its easier and cheaper! and 10kg are +/- 1hp.. on my new street car i am planning 900kg.. -220kg= +/- 22hp

Febi Guibo · « **Reply #12 on:** June 06, 2008, 10:05:53 AM »

if its top speed (eg, WOT in 5th gear) you want try a different diff... you can calculate the max speed of a different diff (say, a 3.73) here: http://www.f-body.org/gears/

futron.sim · « **Reply #13 on:** June 06, 2008, 08:32:40 PM »

Quote from: wanganstyle;50712

in this case, a s52 swap is quite possibly cheaper than s14.

s52 will be more reliable and get better gas milage swapped into an e30 as well

S52 may be more powerful but its definitely not as prestigious compared to the S14.

Afterall, the E30 M3 is one of the most successful racer BMW has ever build. Thus the S14 is pretty much a racing engine. Imagine revving at 8K RPM down the streets....Its going to be awesome.

Perhaps that is why the S14 still csot so much today despite being such an old engine. Seriously, I would love to have one in my car. Sadly, I can't afford it....

no1_jazz · « **Reply #14 on:** June 07, 2008, 07:24:11 AM »

Guys so what shall I do I’m looking to achieve a really good handling car which is quick in every gear and that also has a reasonably high top end i.e. 140 - 150mph? I understand a lot of money is going to be involved to achieve this target of mine but I just don’t know which way to go the M42 way or the S14.

I guess it would be easy to start of with what I have already which is the M42 but then there is only so much I can get out of it……..and if I decide to go the S14 way ……. Well its hard to get hold of a good one these days and also will cost a lot.

How good is the S52 give me more information I mean why the S52 out of all other BMW engines? I believe it’s a 6-pot?

Appreciate all the help guys
Jazz