Author Topic: m44 into an m42 model car (Read 2883 times)

Eric Happy Meal · « **on:** June 25, 2009, 12:38:50 AM »

ok, so i already know that the DME needs to be reprogramed. you have to use the M42 manifolds/upper timing chain cover/sprockets/sensor/oil pan/oil pickup. but we realized that the M44 has the dual crank sensor in the back of the engine, and that the M42 has the single sensor on the front. what do you have to do here to go around the problem. seems like in the threads about this more attention is paid to the cams/timing chain than the crank sensor. any help/info would be greatly appreciated (motors going in friday, would like to know already what the situation is with this while the M42 is already out and before the M44 goes in)

DesktopDave · « **Reply #1 on:** June 25, 2009, 07:02:13 AM »

Why not swap the harness and ECU as well? It's not much more work, I think the stock harnesses are the same. You'd have to study the pinouts, but I think the cars are pretty much wired the same way.

Eric Happy Meal · « **Reply #2 on:** June 25, 2009, 12:36:58 PM »

M44 intake manifold doesnt fit under the hood. and id ont want to worry about EWS.

Twenty · « **Reply #3 on:** July 21, 2009, 04:45:21 AM »

just been doing some research on this conversion as my m42 died and have come across a m44.

In relation to your saying the intake mani doesn't fit under the hood here is a link to a e30 on ebay for sale with a m44 with the m44 manifold.

http://cgi.ebay.com.au/E30-BMW-318i-M-technic-1988_W0QQitemZ300331993264QQcmdZViewItemQQptZAU_Cars?hash=item45ed2e88b0&_trksid=p3286.c0.m14&_trkparms=65%3A10%7C66%3A3%7C39%3A1%7C293%3A1%7C294%3A100

Other then the intake manifold what are the other problem areas for the conversion?

Thanks Glenn

DesktopDave · « **Reply #4 on:** July 22, 2009, 08:46:43 AM »

The M44 has different crank sensors and isn't built to the same specs as the M42 was. It also usually has that damnable EWS. But the M44 has slightly more displacement and makes a bit more torque. They're also much more common at the salvage yards. I was wondering if one could take all the M44 bits and adapt them to the M42. Knock sensing, COP, dual-length manifold, MAF and more reliable crank sensors would be great.

I'd suspect that the engine bolts right up. They're very similar externally. If I was doing it your way I'd basically swap the entire M44 donor into your car...harness, DME, relays, the entire front clip basically. You'd have to figure out how to disable/reprogram the EWS but I don't see why it wouldn't work.

From the earlier posts it seems you'd likely also need the M42 intake to clear the hood. I'm told the cam covers are different too.