M42B18 Engine Swap Questions

[Noctesolis]

Alright guys new to the M42 forums and the whole BMW scene so try and not be too brutal on me.

So I'm doing an engine swap on my 95 318i (e36) since I bought the car for dirt cheap with a cracked head. Figured it would make for a fun project and for the price (600 bucks, body and interior in mint condition) I couldn't pass it up.

I am just swapping the engine with another M42B18 and I ended up getting one locally from a 93 318i for a hell of a deal (just the engine and wiring harness came with it, no accessories). Again me being a noob to the whole BMW scene I didn't realize that this wouldn't be a simple bolt on since there are a few things different even though they are both M42B18 engines. I would've bought another 95 if I knew there were going to be issues. The sad part is I bought it from the yard almost 2 months ago and I just now got around to doing something with it so I don't think they would take it back after 30 days for a 95 engine with higher miles so I'm looking for some advice.

The wiring harness is different from the original (95 engine) and the one I'm putting in (93 engine), the main difference being there are 4 extra connectors compared to the old one which is for the different ignition coils. The 95 has a single box ignition coil with one wire from the wire harness into it and the 93 seems to have the per cylinder coils with 4 wires from the wire harness. The fuel rail is also slightly different in the 2 engines. The belt routes also do not look the same so I am not sure if I will be able to use all of my old accessories.


Now my main question is will I be able to use my ignition coil and the computer from the original engine (95) on the 93 318i engine, I'm assuming it shouldn't be an issue with me taking original wire harness (95 engine) and using it on the 93 engine. The only difference in the harness visually is that I would have to cut the 3 wires into the fuel rail from the 95 engine and splice them into the 93 fuel rail to make it work. I would also be using the Ignition coil from the 95 since I would be using the 95 wire harness spliced into the 93 fuel rail. I am also not sure at this point if I'm going to be able to make the accessories work since the 93  engine seems to use a different type of belting than the 95 without doing some slight mods.

If this sounds crazy or if the 93 uses a different computer than the 95 can someone that possibly knows give me a heads up before I start cutting and splicing things. My main concern at this point is the computers in the two, I cant seem to find out if the 93 actually uses a different computer than mine.
Bosch DME 0 261 203 282 is what came on the 95.

I just don't want to have to fork over the extra money on buying a 93 computer and the ungodly expensive ignition coils if I don't have to. I know most of you are e30 people but everyone over at Bimmerforums seem to be a bunch of a-holes and told me to come here, that's how I found this gem of a site.

Also if anyone is in the St.Louis area and might want to take a look at it I wouldn't mind paying you for a small amount of time.

[colin86325]

What is the production month of the 1995 car?
The M44 engine was introduced in May 1995, but the M42 was still being used through December 1995.  

Have you thought about rebuilding the 95 engine and using only the 93 cylinder head?
That way all your accessories will work, along with your computer, etc.

[Noctesolis]

Colin,

They are both M42b18's. As far as production months on them I don't honestly have a clue.

Pretty much what I have done was just take everything from the 95 engine and swap it over to the 93 engine so I can use the ignition coil, same belt setup and computer with it from the original engine, the 95.

I have a few more pieces to put back on tomorrow but I just stripped the new engine down to the head and built it back up from there so there shouldn't be any issues. It's the same block, head etc there were just a few differences between the 93 and 95 M42b18's I'm guessing. The belts/ignition coils/fuel rail were the 3 main things that stuck out so I just swapped a few things out and hoping she kicks right over.

Tough to get any information from anyone concerning these, so I'm just winging it at this point. Almost makes me wish I just did a swap to a larger engine but I love a good ol' 4 banger, that's why I bought the car.