Author Topic: Mounting M42 into an E34 (Read 9738 times)

BeamerIS · « **on:** June 09, 2009, 09:49:04 AM »

Hi again
as i posted in the member area my car is just totaly infected with rust.
Now i found a E34 518i without an engine.. so i was thinking about
taking the M42 of my E30 and mount it in the E34
Haven't done anything like this yet so i was hoping that i could
get some tips and advice from you guys.

Hodge · « **Reply #1 on:** June 09, 2009, 12:28:41 PM »

Would need all the E34 specific parts, like the oil pan, mount arms, dipstick, etc in order to swap it. I don't see much of a problem with doing that, as long as BMW didn't change anything major, which I doubt they did.

Deftones · « **Reply #2 on:** June 09, 2009, 12:59:50 PM »

there isn't stock e34 with m42 so you couldn't find engine supports or an oil pan made specifically for this purpose, just try with the e30 or the e36 oil pan and if it doesn't fits in both cases probably you couldn't do that swap

El-Kanal · « **Reply #3 on:** June 09, 2009, 03:35:39 PM »

Don't the M42 and M40 have the same bolt pattern on oilpans?

tjts1 · « **Reply #4 on:** June 09, 2009, 07:03:59 PM »

Quote from: El-Kanal;73332

Don't the M42 and M40 have the same bolt pattern on oilpans?

Yes. E34/M40. I don't get why they mounted the engine so far forward.

DesktopDave · « **Reply #5 on:** June 09, 2009, 07:52:52 PM »

Nice pic. I'll bet they did it so that the radiator venturi didn't have to be too long. Silly Bavarians. Maybe it was Chris Bangle's first great idea as an intern?

I thought my e34/m20 was slow...I can't imagine it with an m40. That car is built like a tank though...with reasonable styling and great aerodynamics. I wish the e30 had a few of the tweaks that the e34 had.

BeamerIS · « **Reply #6 on:** June 10, 2009, 04:08:01 AM »

thanks for all the replys
i think they mount the motor so much forward because the engine bay
is bigger then the E30...
Later this week i'll have the e34 here and i'll see what i can do
lets hope for the best

HaNasich · « **Reply #7 on:** June 10, 2009, 09:30:20 AM »

easy...
the M40 was fitted into the E34, so M42 can sit there as well.
u just need to follow the same way as you would with the E30 M40 to M42 swap, making sure that u have all the original M40 E34 parts (engine mounts, drive shaft etc)
u will need to make sure engine wiring is the same and all electricity works - as i recall E34 has some more electronics into it than the E30....

if u have any q's feel free to contact me.

Ron.
p.s. - i also think that the E34 deserve some beter torque and HP than what the M42 (even with DASC i.e.) can deliver.
My E30 is M42 DASC swapped (was first 316 with 1.6l M40 engine) and still it feels like it could use some more power...

my other two c.

ose30 · « **Reply #8 on:** June 24, 2009, 11:43:59 AM »

This is very easy swap to do. Will drop right in. 518I model was sold only in quite few european countries like Belgium, Finland etc.First E34 i test drive back in the late '80's was M40 518I. I was just terrible

.

e30guydownunder · « **Reply #9 on:** June 24, 2009, 06:37:26 PM »

with some minor fabrication you'd have enough room to use e36 mounts and an e36 sump, just looking at that picture. would move the engine back to where it should have been, but i guess with an m42 equipped e34 your hardly worried about having better weight sdistribution :p

tjts1 · « **Reply #10 on:** June 24, 2009, 07:02:39 PM »

Quote from: ose30;74176

This is very easy swap to do. Will drop right in. 518I model was sold only in quite few european countries like Belgium, Finland etc.First E34 i test drive back in the late '80's was M40 518I. I was just terrible .

But with all that room behind the engine, imagine the size of the turbo you could fit. You could even use a subaru style top mounted intercooler. WIN? I think so