m40 tuning - any options

Post Fri Feb 11, 2005 2:13 pm

before i go spending large amounts of time, effort and money on replacement engines - do i have any options to tune my 1596 m40? anybody know of any stroker kits to take it out to 2 litres or more for example? does the is 16v head fit on the m40 block?

i have not seen any info on any of these possibilities but they could be out there for all i know.

paul

Post Fri Feb 11, 2005 5:57 pm

Sorry to hi jack but i'd like to know of any tuning options for my m40 too placey, but i fear all were gonna get is "just buy a 325" lol!!

Post Fri Feb 11, 2005 6:42 pm

16v head will not fit

to be honest mate, dont waste ure money on more than an exhaust and induction kit for that engine

internal changes will work out at shedloads 1000's!!!

stick a 2.5 in there-thats sufficient performance i think

Karan

Post Fri Feb 11, 2005 7:37 pm

i know what you're saying karan and the e-tech boys that i know well and know my car have told me that all i have to do is say the word and they'll build me an m20 to any spec i want. justin in particular keeps sidling up to me and saying '2 point 7 2 point 7' coz i know he loves them.

there are advantages to me keeping my current block though. it's 4 cylinders so less weight out front and to haul around. (let's face it the m20 is never the most fuel efficient engine now is it?) also it means not changing front springs and various other bits or registering a new engine number with the dvla. also i know and trust my block - it's never let me down and i know it's history from new. really i'd like to keep it. second choice would be an s14, 3rd an m20.

i guess i've come too far to worry about the cost tooooo much but i also know i'm not made of money. i just don't know what can be done with an m40. i guess anythings possible given enough money to throw at it...

paul

Post Fri Feb 11, 2005 7:56 pm

an s14 woulkd be awesome-and if u get hold of a good one then go for it!!

but before u spend money on the m40------ come for a spin in my 2.7 first at a meet or something-im sure i can convince you that m20s can still cut the mustard- a good one will dispose of a s14 with ease without u having to rev the nuts of it. plus if i remember correctly u dont do many miles so extra fuel usage is not a big deal.

i reckon doing the 2.7 will cost u half of the s14 and will be faster

the handling change from 4 - 6 pot is not that noticeable especially with good suspension

the world needs more 2.7s!!

Karan

Post Sat Feb 12, 2005 12:12 pm

hmm wise words there karan. someone at the imperial way meet very kindly let me drive their silver 2.7 and to say it accelerated well is a bit of an understatement. it went like the clappers (for a car).

i want to make the right decision on this and until i am sure which way to go i'll continue to sit tight and save. let's face it the more money i have to complete it the easier and better it should be.

paul

Post Sat Feb 12, 2005 12:17 pm

proper 2.7's rule. But with wise mods a 2.5 m20 can go very well indeed. Have you driven a 318is?

Post Sat Feb 12, 2005 12:26 pm

iS m42 conversion will not give the kind of power u r looking for, Ive had 2 and they are definitely not straight line stormers, just nippy, and fun to corner.

s14 or 2.7 it i say,

by the way who's 2.7 did u drive, was it one on the zone?

Karan

Post Sat Feb 12, 2005 12:31 pm

i don't know who it was. must have been a zone car coz it was a zone meet. simon13 might know coz he was there as we exchanged keys. it was a silver saloon, 2 door with black leather in reasonable condition... whoever it was i would like to extand a big thanks to.

paul

Post Sat Feb 12, 2005 12:31 pm

it was Nickp's Karan. M42 was just an idea for him. If you're that worried about economy an S14 will give 30mpg, i've been told this by several M3 owners

Post Sat Feb 12, 2005 12:34 pm

simon - no haven't driven an is, but i think karan is right about the power. it's worth bearing in mind that my modified 750 bike acceleration seems quite tame to me now (i'm sniffing around bigger bikes right now and waiting for a ride on the new speed triple) so anything i do in a car is relative.

Post Sat Feb 12, 2005 5:37 pm

yes forgot, bikes speed is a different league as my father tells me all the time!

Post Mon Feb 14, 2005 9:08 pm

I don't know if you can fit a 16v head, but you can fit the pistons, piston rods and crankshaft from a 318i (M40).
I'm not sure, but maybe you can also fit the pistons, piston rods and crackshaft from an M43 (Z3 1.9L)

Post Mon Feb 14, 2005 9:13 pm

gioris4 wrote:I don't know if you can fit a 16v head, but you can fit the pistons, piston rods and crankshaft from a 318i (M40).
I'm not sure, but maybe you can also fit the pistons, piston rods and crackshaft from an M43 (Z3 1.9L)

this is a waste of money
s14 or 2.7 or s50///M

Post Mon Feb 14, 2005 9:26 pm

you can fit the pistons, piston rods and crankshaft from a 318i

if this is correct then the block bores must be the same so how come the 16v head doesn't fit? are the oil/waterways different?

i'm surprised there's not a stroker kit that somebody knows about.

paul

Post Mon Feb 14, 2005 9:33 pm

I've kept my mouth shut about this until now, but I've got to say, I've never been that impressed with the is.

S14 is great on fuel if you drive conservatively, I drove from South Wales to North Wales and back yesterday, bear in mind that the route is across mountains and windy roads, and used just over half a tank of fuel...I was well impressed!
S14 is going to cost big bucks, all the ones I've seen for sale have been!

M20 2.7 is deffo the budget way forward for more power to the pound, but then as has been said, you've got to take into account the fuel costs, and the extra weight etc.

Post Mon Feb 14, 2005 9:45 pm

placey wrote:
if this is correct then the block bores must be the same so how come the 16v head doesn't fit? are the oil/waterways different?

Does it have some thing to do with the valve cut outs in the pistons 8v/16v ?

Post Mon Feb 14, 2005 10:08 pm

yep there is a combustion chamber as well as oil and waterway issues

plus the m42 is chain, but m40 is belt

its impossible basically!

may i just point out that a tuned 2.7 feels a lot faster than a stock s14, but can and map and airbox a s14 and its pretty much game over for the 2.7

Karan

Post Tue Feb 15, 2005 12:29 am

hello Placey. I too dont want to believe that there is no tuning potential for the m40 engine. In my search so far I have seen a stroker kit and a turbo charging kit offered by a company called Torque development. http://www.tdi-plc.com/bmwE30316_318.html

Seloc uses the 1.8 for racing too although there no internal mods allowed, I am sure the racer have tweaks that they do within the rules.

I am thinking about the e36 engines, maybe the 318 ti, e36 318is engine. Still researching that possibility. I too like the balance offered by the lightweight of the 4 cylinder engine

Peace