Author Topic: Why do people give the M42 engine a hard time? (Read 15956 times)

Pac_Man · « **on:** April 06, 2009, 09:40:54 PM »

Why is it people seem to give the M42 engine such a hard time when in reality its a great little engine 140bhp in a small car like an E30 still puts a smile on your face.

I�m fairly new to experience the M42 having just purchased a 1990 IS and in all honestly if practicality was out the window I would love a 325 or above but the M42 engine fills a nice gap between the big thirsty motors and the 8 valve engines available.

A quick look at the figures (average figures crated using stats from various different sources)

E30 318is
BHP 140
0-60 � 9.7
Top Speed � 122
MPG � 27

E30 325i
BHP 170
0-60 - 7.6
Top Speed � 128
MPG � 21

Having owned an e36 325 I can safely say that 21 mpg in a 325 is only achievable if you drive incredibly sensibly and the slightest bit of lead foot and figures of 17-18 are much more like it, where as 27mpg from a 318 is totally achievable.

We all know the BMW 6 cylinder engine is reputed to be one of the best engines in its class but I think the M42 4 pot is still a cracking little motor,
by the time you have thrown a chip on and a few other choice mods your sitting at around 150-160bhp which is ample for a daily driver that�s fun to drive but at the same time very cost effective.

The legendary Vauxhall C20XE aka the Red Top 16v for those Burberry hatters amongst us has a massive following and in my mind is easily in the same league as a slightly fettled M42 lump

I�m no expert on tuning but due to the fact that the M3 shares the same engine as do some touring cars which push 300+ horse power it must be a very capable and tuneable engine.

Ok so a 325 is considerably faster 0-60 but I bet half of the everyday people who drive 325�s would get smoked by a 318is around the track with a more experienced driver behind the wheel.

Don�t get me wrong I�m not hating on 325�s at all and in an ideal world I would have one but once you take all the costs in to account a 325 is very costly to run with only small gains to be seen and I haven�t even brought road tax in to the argument!

One place the 325 wins hands down that I won�t even begin to defend is the engine sound. A high litre BMW 6 pot is one of the nicest sounds in the world
Sorry for the long winded post but I�m currently on a night shift and quite bored

dude8383 · « **Reply #1 on:** April 06, 2009, 10:08:00 PM »

Problem is that people consider the feeling of power over the feeling of balance. At least that's how it is across the pond.

I don't blame them, torque is a wonderful thing and the m42 most certainly lacks it.

I loved my m42 but in a city environment like NYC it just didn't have the "get up and go" from the start that you need in order to maneuver around town.

tjts1 · « **Reply #2 on:** April 06, 2009, 11:54:49 PM »

M42 doesn't have to be slow.
http://www.m42club.com/forums/showpost.php?p=64009&postcount=7

xwill112x · « **Reply #3 on:** April 07, 2009, 12:16:00 AM »

it's a better design than the m20 really, most people just don't want it because it doesn't put down as much power as a m20. the metric mechanic motors are mean as hell, search those on youtube, they are win. but in reality, when i see a 318i/is, im like damn, nice!
325's are cliche around here, even if they are clean, they don't impress like a 318 does.

Cloud · « **Reply #4 on:** April 07, 2009, 04:43:12 AM »

I use the M42 as my yardstick, when making comparisons about engines. It's got such a good output:displacement ratio, even better than a lot of modern engines. The M20 is lovely, smooth, and pulls nice, but if it were about torque, the M3 would have had six cylinders. The agility of the M42 is perfect for the E30.

ten2doyle102 · « **Reply #5 on:** April 07, 2009, 08:27:56 AM »

When I had my 318's, I never really experienced many problems with them. They are fun little motors for tooling around in the cities and get nice mileage and i miss that myself. Besides the lack of torque, alot of people complain about the reliability of the motor. Its a great motor but they've got some quirks like the profile gaskets, the bolts that fall out of the upper oil pan, etc. etc.. I like said, I have never had a problem with them, but I have heard that they can be a pain to work on.

I am sure that if Peerless come on, he'll have something to say about this.

JP 91iS · « **Reply #6 on:** April 07, 2009, 12:35:39 PM »

Quote from: ten2doyle102;69627

Its a great motor but they've got some quirks like the profile gaskets, the bolts that fall out of the upper oil pan, etc. etc.. I like said, I have never had a problem with them, but I have heard that they can be a pain to work on.

But with all this community sharing it makes DIY repairs a snap. That leaves the best M42s in the hands of loving enthusiasts.

Pac_Man · « **Reply #7 on:** April 07, 2009, 12:36:04 PM »

I just found this on wiki lol

The M42 is forged on the thighs of a thousand virgins, of shavings from the gates of Hades. Zeus himself is responsible for the design, which its self is the result of Venus and Saturn having interplanetary sex. Many m42s were melted down and used by Saddam Hussein as WMD's. Indeed the Ark of The Covenant, which brought down the walls of Jericho, contained an M42. The Challenger shuttle was the only shuttle not to be powered by the m42, we all know how that ended. The magnetic wobble, experienced by Earth every few centuries is the result of some halfwit stalling a 318is. The 318is is galvanised with the skin of Jesus himself, making it impervious to friction, wind resistance and aerodynamic drag. When Jesus walked on water, he was actually driving a 318is.

There. The concise history of all things m42.

batsbats · « **Reply #8 on:** April 07, 2009, 03:13:51 PM »

Quote from: Pac_Man;69641

I just found this on wiki lol

The M42 is forged on the thighs of a thousand virgins, of shavings from the gates of Hades. Zeus himself is responsible for the design, which its self is the result of Venus and Saturn having interplanetary sex. Many m42s were melted down and used by Saddam Hussein as WMD's. Indeed the Ark of The Covenant, which brought down the walls of Jericho, contained an M42. The Challenger shuttle was the only shuttle not to be powered by the m42, we all know how that ended. The magnetic wobble, experienced by Earth every few centuries is the result of some halfwit stalling a 318is. The 318is is galvanised with the skin of Jesus himself, making it impervious to friction, wind resistance and aerodynamic drag. When Jesus walked on water, he was actually driving a 318is.

There. The concise history of all things m42.

:rofl

AcSchnitzer318is · « **Reply #9 on:** April 07, 2009, 05:40:49 PM »

If it's pure power you're after than yes the m20 cars are nicer. I prefer reliability and ease of repairs. I find it MUCH easier to work on the m42 than my m20. LOL in fact my m20 just bit the dust because the timing belt failed. I HATE that there is an internal belt controlling timing, which is probably why I didn't replace it. Now I'm looking for a motor to put into it

I'm thinking an m52 coupled with an e46 m3 6spd.

woofster · « **Reply #10 on:** April 11, 2009, 03:23:35 PM »

Quote from: Pac_Man;69641

...
The M42 is forged on the thighs of a thousand virgins, of shavings from the gates of Hades. Zeus himself is responsible for the design, which its self is the result of Venus and Saturn having interplanetary sex. Many m42s were melted down and used by Saddam Hussein as WMD's. Indeed the Ark of The Covenant, which brought down the walls of Jericho, contained an M42. The Challenger shuttle was the only shuttle not to be powered by the m42, we all know how that ended. The magnetic wobble, experienced by Earth every few centuries is the result of some halfwit stalling a 318is. The 318is is galvanised with the skin of Jesus himself, making it impervious to friction, wind resistance and aerodynamic drag. When Jesus walked on water, he was actually driving a 318is.
...

LOL, jokes.

John W · « **Reply #11 on:** April 11, 2009, 10:43:54 PM »

It's a fairly nice engine that likes to rev and complements the chassis well, but a little more finicky in terms of durability compared to the m20 when the mileage passes the 120k or so mark. The six cylinder cars definitely do have their charms in terms of driveability as well.

kurtf114 · « **Reply #12 on:** April 12, 2009, 01:06:54 AM »

I never drove an m42 in a e30, but I imagine it being a better motor for the lighter e30 than the heavier e36. My only complaint about the m42 in my e36 is that its too slow, otherwise its been a bullet proof motor.

Bunta · « **Reply #13 on:** April 12, 2009, 12:02:54 PM »

I've owned a m20b25 and m20b27 e30 and driven every other e30 model . besides the m3 I like the 318 m42 best. The 6 is smooth and sounds great but ringing the m42s neck is so fun. 24v swap cars are great too but for me boost on my m42 will be perfect.

Hunter

littleboyblues · « **Reply #14 on:** May 14, 2009, 05:36:42 PM »

In terms of power, the m42 and m20 should be compared if they have the same or close displacement.

m42b18 vs m20b20....lol
or a 2.5L m42 and a m20b25