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View Full Version : A question Regarding M42 Engines

halcron
07-03-2008, 10:27 PM
I can't help but kept wondering if the BMW engineers purposely castrate the M42 engine in order to make it inferior (in terms of power) to the M20 and M50.

I was looking thru the specs of these engines and found that the M50B20 is just slightly more powerful than the M42 despite being a 6 cylinder (~10HP and 15Nm more only). The weight of the M50 alone would literally offset all that difference in engine power.

It appears that to me that the M42 has so much potential for mods (eg. MM rally engines) and built to be literally bullet proof (forged parts and iron block etc) yet so weak at stock.
vonkamp
07-03-2008, 10:37 PM
Word...

That has been talked about here in other threads. I am doing some quick & cheap mods this weekend. Cold air intake, COP's & muffler. From what I have read here, it should make quite a difference.
halcron
07-03-2008, 11:42 PM
Word...

That has been talked about here in other threads. I am doing some quick & cheap mods this weekend. Cold air intake, COP's & muffler. From what I have read here, it should make quite a difference.

Sorry, I should have search for those threads before posting.
EN318isPDX
07-04-2008, 12:28 AM
The M42 is better engineered than the M20 IMHO
KenCopperwheat
07-04-2008, 01:21 AM
Word...

That has been talked about here in other threads. I am doing some quick & cheap mods this weekend. Cold air intake, COP's & muffler. From what I have read here, it should make quite a difference.

I wouldn't count on those doing much more than making noise.

Mark D chip is the best bang for the buck.
kenika65
07-05-2008, 03:20 PM
Here is your M42 easy performance info.

http://www.r3vlimited.com/tech/318is/318is.htm
vonkamp
07-06-2008, 11:07 AM
Sorry, I should have search for those threads before posting.

No need to apologize, I was just agreeing with you. :)

A Mark D chip is definatley in my near future but I need to spend the bucks on a muffler first. I do think that getting more airflow thru the engine via cold air intake and a free'er flowing exhaust has got to boost performance a little...I hope.
john318isau
07-08-2008, 08:40 AM
If you compare the M42 with other engines from the same time then it's specific power and torque figures are actually very impressive.

And if you compare power and torque per capacity to the M20 then I'm sure the M42 comes out on top.
EN318isPDX
07-08-2008, 12:38 PM
If you compare the M42 with other engines from the same time then it's specific power and torque figures are actually very impressive.

And if you compare power and torque per capacity to the M20 then I'm sure the M42 comes out on top.

Hell ya! with the price of gas its all about performance per liter.. screw dropping small blocks in cars anymore, lets just drop turbos!