M10 engines, info please!

Post Mon Apr 10, 2006 3:40 pm

Hi Chapps,

Being a bit of a bmw newbie, I'm wondering what is so great about the M10 power plant?

I know a place that has a 200ish hp M10 lump for sale with TB's etc. Are they any good?

Ta.

Post Mon Apr 10, 2006 3:43 pm

think they are pretty bombproof at the bottom end, not sure if i've read correctly about problems with the dizzy on them once you start revving the fanny off them.

I believe they respond nicely to turbo power too.

Someone like Ant may be able to give a more useful list of comments though.

Post Mon Apr 10, 2006 3:55 pm

its old old skool tech, running carbs etc, and in stock form not much to talk about. But as mentioned can be turboed to hell and back, but then asta la vista fuel economy...
oh but there is a zoner or two on here with a m10 engines doing some amazing work.

Post Mon Apr 10, 2006 4:07 pm

oh check this trend out, might make up your mind.
http://www.e30zone.co.uk/modules.php?na ... hlight=m10

Post Mon Apr 10, 2006 4:26 pm

Hyperion wrote:its old old skool tech, running carbs etc, and in stock form not much to talk about. But as mentioned can be turboed to hell and back, but then asta la vista fuel economy...
oh but there is a zoner or two on here with a m10 engines doing some amazing work.

Well, that's not quite true, most M10s have fuel injection. The block is the same block as BMW F1 engines in the 70s, albeit minus several turbos and uprated engine compnents.

It's got a cam chain instead of belt, making it literally indestructable and it will run on any petrol.

They can start to use a bit of oil, but nothing serious and can cover HUGE mileage without trouble. And by huge I mean 250k miles plus!

It's the most tuneable BMW engine, and it's dead easy to do it. Fritz's bits consider themselves experts in doing so!

I've owned two M10s (E28 and now E30) now and the only weakness is the cold start, which never seems to work properly. It's very reliant on having not even the tiniest vacuum leak, which can be a nightmare to achieve.

I love them

Stewart

Post Mon Apr 10, 2006 4:47 pm

Hi guys,

Lorrie @ Ajec has one they took out of one of their track cars when they upgraded it.

Not too sure of the spec, but I know it's had some work, is on TB's and he said pushing low 200hp.

I thought it might be an ideal upgrade from the sluggish m20 2.0i I currently have. Waiting for a call tomorrow on the spec and price of it.

Cheers!

Post Mon Apr 10, 2006 5:07 pm

stranter wrote:
Hyperion wrote:its old old skool tech, running carbs etc, and in stock form not much to talk about. But as mentioned can be turboed to hell and back, but then asta la vista fuel economy...
oh but there is a zoner or two on here with a m10 engines doing some amazing work.
Well, that's not quite true, most M10s have fuel injection. The block is the same block as BMW F1 engines in the 70s, albeit minus several turbos and uprated engine compnents.

It's got a cam chain instead of belt, making it literally indestructable and it will run on any petrol.

They can start to use a bit of oil, but nothing serious and can cover HUGE mileage without trouble. And by huge I mean 250k miles plus!

It's the most tuneable BMW engine, and it's dead easy to do it. Fritz's bits consider themselves experts in doing so!

I've owned two M10s (E28 and now E30) now and the only weakness is the cold start, which never seems to work properly. It's very reliant on having not even the tiniest vacuum leak, which can be a nightmare to achieve.

I love them

Stewart

AH , learn something new everyday, happly corrected