Using an M42 from an e36

[marlon]

Just thought I'd give you guys who are thinking of using an e36 M42 for your 318iS a heads up.

We didn't get many pics taken as we were too busy bathing in oil, but here is a list of parts that you need to swap.

The sump and Oil pickup

The engine mounts

The induction system including manifold

The exhaust manifold

The power steering pump brackets

The bottom pulley

So far that's what we have had to swap, will update if needed as we put all the engine bits back on.

All these parts are easy to swap over. The sump is a little bit of a pain as it's a 2 part thing on the e30. You have to take off the front part with the sump plug to allow access to the front bolts that hold the main part of the sump on. And you'll need a thin extension bar and thin 10mm socket to get to one of the bolts hidden in there and also to remove the two longer bolts that are at the rear of the sump behind the flywheel.

Hope this is helpful.

Cheers

[jbh]

what i was told when i thought about this was if its from an early e36 it should be a straight fit but i do know a man thats used a latter e36 318is engine but not sure on the work involved

[6-Shooter]

M44's (which are M42's in later E36's and Z3's) are different to M42's further still.

[marlon]

The early ones use an M42 engine. But there are subtle differences. Like those I listed above and also the crankcase ventilation system is setup differently. You basically have to take the e36 M42 lump, rip everything off except the head and rocker cover, and then replace all the e36 stuff you removed with the stuff from the e30 engine.

Essentially, only the block, head and rocker cover are the same.

Dunno about the M44, but that's a 1.9 so I'd expect it to be even more different.

[6-Shooter]

Has a single belt for PAS, Alternator etc.

Slightly different sump and manifold / throttle area too.

[marlon]

The M42 from the e36 has the same differences...or is that what you're talking about ??

[Trise30rally]

so as i have a 316 that im looking to put a m42 engine into i need to find a e30 m42 engine or im boned??

[marlon]

I dunno.

Depends if the mounts on your engine are the same as the e30 version of the M42 lump (too many numbers here !!!)

You would need to replace the sump with the e30 version. Again, I dunno if the blocks for the engines are all the same. If so then you could probably use all the bits from your current engine.

Basically, using the list I posted above, I'd check to see if these parts are the same across all the e30 4 pot engines. If so then you are pretty much sorted for the parts you need to swap.

I think you might struggle to get an e30 M42 engine with all the bits seeing as most of these engines are replaced because they have been destroyed !!!

[6-Shooter]

The early ones use an M42 engine. But there are subtle differences. Like those I listed above and also the crankcase ventilation system is setup differently. You basically have to take the e36 M42 lump, rip everything off except the head and rocker cover, and then replace all the e36 stuff you removed with the stuff from the e30 engine.

Essentially, only the block, head and rocker cover are the same.

Dunno about the M44, but that's a 1.9 so I'd expect it to be even more different.

Same deal.

Except single belt set-up (unless E36 M42 is also single belt).

[uzdubmwe30]

the m40 sump and oil pick up pipe can be used on the e36 lump

[marlon]

The M42 on the e36 is a single belt, hence why I said you have to swap the bottom pulley ;)