choosing the right engine. m10,m42 or m20 turbo

[Wobbzgurka]

hello boys and gals,

my name is robin and im from sweden, this is my 1st post on this forum!

i have been planning on turbochargeing an e30, but can't choose what engine to use.. i hav read alooooot of threads on loads of forums but can't figure out wich one to choose..

i like the m20's, u get the most hp for the money, but a 4pot would also be sweet, a little more space in the engine bay! also wondering about those W.A.R chips, do they work? or is a MS a better option? im not going to boost more than 0.8 bar, and will leave the bottom untouched =)

budget is around 2000£ will do all the work myself, including the welding. (i am working as a welder)

cheers!

[jimmyspeed]

Hi Wobbz , welcome to the zone. A turbo build is a good project especially for a welder. As for the engine what do you already have ? If it's a well looked after engine use that if the compressions low enough. If you choose to buy an engine you want low compression ideally for ease of tuning and the ability to run higher boost

There's always going to be advantages and disadvantage to every engine, with the m42 its newer forged crank and has 4 valves for better flow

M20 sounds great, more cylinders which helps drive the turbo , common? Getting a bit old

M10 boost well lots of builds to follow small and simple

It just depends what your after really

As for tuning I can't comment on the war chips but I'm guessing you have to buy a Miller maf as well to run it and that might put you in to standalone ecu territory. Where you can pick and choose your sensors and have control of boost etc

Hope that's of some use, you will find your designs/plan changes no matter how much you try and end up spending more due to upgrades but you will learn a lot along the way

[Wobbzgurka]

Hi Wobbz , welcome to the zone. A turbo build is a good project especially for a welder. As for the engine what do you already have ? If it's a well looked after engine use that if the compressions low enough. If you choose to buy an engine you want low compression ideally for ease of tuning and the ability to run higher boost

There's always going to be advantages and disadvantage to every engine, with the m42 its newer forged crank and has 4 valves for better flow

M20 sounds great, more cylinders which helps drive the turbo , common? Getting a bit old

M10 boost well lots of builds to follow small and simple

It just depends what your after really

As for tuning I can't comment on the war chips but I'm guessing you have to buy a Miller maf as well to run it and that might put you in to standalone ecu territory. Where you can pick and choose your sensors and have control of boost etc

Hope that's of some use, you will find your designs/plan changes no matter how much you try and end up spending more due to upgrades but you will learn a lot along the way

thanks for a great answer! =)

i dont have any e30 yet, (only a e36 320) and my plan is to buy one after i have decided what engine to use! =D

as you wrote, the m42 is a newer engine with 4 valves per cylinder, and also a very free flowing intakemanifold. but i wont get so much power for my budget as if i'd choose the m20b25. but horsepower isn't everything, with a 4pot i get a bit lighter car. haha this is such a hard decission .. ;) it's meant to go as a fun summer car with good power =)