E36 M42 engines how to quickly tell them apart

[wannam42]

I'm visiting an shop that imports BMW engines from Japan. They've got late model M42s which is great news for me but I need to be able to tell them apart.

There are (2) versions of the cylinder head cover:
-09/93
http://www.realoem.com/bmw/showparts.do?model=BE61&mospid=47425&btnr=11_1271&hg=11&fg=15

09/93-
http://www.realoem.com/bmw/showparts.do?model=BE61&mospid=47425&btnr=11_1408&hg=11&fg=15

And there are three (3) versions of the intake manifold:
-09/93
http://www.realoem.com/bmw/showparts.do?model=BE61&mospid=47425&btnr=11_1159&hg=11&fg=40

09/93-01/94
http://www.realoem.com/bmw/showparts.do?model=BE61&mospid=47425&btnr=11_1403&hg=11&fg=40

01/94-
http://www.realoem.com/bmw/showparts.do?model=BE61&mospid=47425&btnr=11_1405&hg=11&fg=40

It's easy to spot the older and newer cylinder head covers... but the differences between the intake manifolds are subtle (from the diagrams, the shackle - part 16/17 in other MYs is missing).

Is there a more reliable way to tell them apart? Thanks!

[Haraise]

Do any of these intake manifolds make more power than the E30 version? /hijack

[nicknikolovski]

wannam42 - Look closing in between the upper & lower manifolds - the difference is the -09/93 has no breather system. It just goes from the valve cover to the throttle body. The 09/93-01/94 has a breather valve in between the manifolds and then 01/94-manifold has an updated version of this. I would personally go for the -09/93 manifold as the breather valve in the other manifolds stuffs up alot.

And Haraise - the E36 manifold along with the E36 camshafts help produce slightly more power and torque over the E30 but I don't think this manifold will clear the E30 bonnet.

[wannam42]

nicknikolovski, are you referring to the Intake Manifold Warm-up Plate (the part named FLANGE in the diagrams)?

The E36 manifold will clear the E30 bonnet but the E30 manifold will not clear the E36 bonnet. Other members have confirmed this fact.

I'm beginning to think I'm approaching this all wrong because I'll be looking at engines that are already out of the car. I'll need a simpler way to tell them apart.

[nicknikolovski]

No I am referring to this valve http://www.realoem.com/bmw/showparts.do?model=BE61&mospid=47425&btnr=11_1408&hg=11&fg=15
Part no. 11

And the warm plate is different.

And my apologises for the E36 manifold into E30 issue. I knew it was one or other but wasn't sure.

[wannam42]

Ah, I see now. I didn't even notice that. The first thing I noticed was the vent hose (part number 10) - it's located nearer the oil fill cap for -09/93. For 09/93-, it's further away. That's an easy tell.

What's tough to tell apart are the 09/93-01/94 and 01/94-.

09/95- cars had longer oil filter elements: http://www.realoem.com/bmw/showparts.do?model=BE61&mospid=47425&btnr=11_1568&hg=11&fg=30

[nicknikolovski]

Yeah they changed over to the plastic oil filter housing cover compared to the aluminium one. I think it was for safety as the metal one can get really hot.

Yeah the period between 09/93-01/94 & 01/94- was just some very minor things, but I would say they are virtually identical, apart from the different warm up plate.

[Cristian G in Oz]

Also check the cam position sensor.
On the E30 and early E36 they were on the inlet side of the exhaust cam.  Then they moved them to the inlet cam.
The M44 also had them on the inlet cam.
Make sure you get the sensors as well. They are slightly different in size, but an adaptor can be made to fit early sensors to a late engine.

[wannam42]

Thanks for the tip Cristian. I'll see if I can post a realoem link...