E30 Zone

What's the problems with fitting the M44 into an E30?

I know its been done with M42 loom, inlet, ECU etc etc, but I don't have any M42 bits, so would like to just use the M44 complete. (I have the sump to fit E30)

I know this has been asked numerous times, but in all the threads I found through the search function, the answers all seem to say wiring is a nightmare, so its best avoided, but no real explanations.

Is it a change of loom plugs as per the M50/52 conversions? Or is there other headaches? Im not worried about EWS, been there done that.

Hopefully someone can shed some light?

Cheers

Bump


Anyone?

I remember this thread..

http://www.e30zone.net/modules.php?name ... 98&start=0

Thanks dude. I missed that thread in my searches
Still, all Andyboy says is that's its difficult. 10yrs ago, people told me wiring the S50 into an E30 wasn't possible... A couple years later, mine was all wired up.

I've read threads on M42club, and it seems the M44 loom etc can be used (although I'm cautious of info from US sites due to car/model differences), so I'm wondering if its similar to wiring in an M50/52 etc, or if there is something that really won't work.

in my opinion it's not worth the effort.

UweM3 wrote:in my opinion it's not worth the effort.

Could you please explain why? And what the issues are?

I know an M42 drops straight in, but I don't have an M42. I do however have access to a complete M44 if I want to drive and pick it up.
If the only issue is wiring, is it similar to the wiring issues of the M5*/S50 conversions?

jmc330i wrote:

UweM3 wrote:in my opinion it's not worth the effort.

Could you please explain why? And what the issues are?

I know an M42 drops straight in, but I don't have an M42. I do however have access to a complete M44 if I want to drive and pick it up.
If the only issue is wiring, is it similar to the wiring issues of the M5*/S50 conversions?

ignore my comment, I was wrong.

Ok, thanks

I was hoping one of the Zone tech experts could explain what's such a nightmare with using the complete M44, but it seems nobody knows

I remember seeing this ages ago, I don't know if its an M44 or M42:-

http://www.e30zone.net/modules.php?name ... highlight=

Thanks dude

I think that's the E36 M42, and from what the op says, he did the wring just like I did one of my 24v conversions, so I'd think the M44 can't be to much different.

Think I might take a drive with the trailer in tow...

I'll love to see it happen, I'm about to M42 my Touring, maybe this could be one for the future.

I was looking for an M42 for my touring, but my brothers in-laws have offered me the M44 from their crash damaged car. All I got to do is drive over, pull it out and bring it home, so it would be rude not to really!
I was just hoping someone could point out the problems as its a long way to drive to pick it up for something that might not work. It seems the wiring could be as per the 24v conversions, so not something I'm particularly worried about.

Although, if I wasn't getting it for free I'd still be looking for an M42.

Hi,I have just fitted an M44 in my 318 M40 touring.fitting is same as M42 ie sump,oil pick up.engine mounts.I used my M40 flywheel and clutch.
I used the e36 318is engine loom.the wiring is fairly straightforward, in the x20 plug you just remove the wires needed and match them up in the c101 plug.there are several wires not needed which can be cut out.I have wired in the EWS which is easy as long as you have all the necessary parts.
The other issues are the steering coupling,i used one of danthe steering shafts onto an E46 rack and adjusted the pipes on the M44 manifold with a little help with a gas torch and a hammer(not ideal i know but it did the job).If you mount the rack in the forward holes on the crossmember there is plenty of clearance,however this may need the crossmember reinforcing!
I have used the E36 exhaust front pipe which i had to modify as it fouls the front wishbone bush and also the cat and centre pipe which i have joined to my standard backbox.
I have used the E36 air box with slight modification.The radiator,hoses,viscous fan and fan housing from the M40 all fit.
The brake fluid reservoir fouls the DISA , i am planning to fit a remote reservoir.
I am currently trying to sort out the temp gauge wiring with the dual temp sensor.i have the car running and driven it in the yard at work and it sounds great but the car is on sorn so not been up the road yet so can,t comment on performance as yet.
It is an ongoing project so i will post any other problems as they appear.hope this helps!

Cool, exactly what I was hoping to hear
I figured the wiring couldn't be too different from the 24v conversions.

What's the deal with temp sensor? I can't find the thread on here now that explained the difference.

How much clearance is needed for the brake fluid reservoir and DISA? Would a different shape/size reservoir be any good?

Hi,the M40 has two seperate sensors for the DME and temp gauge,the M44 has a duel sensor ie one sensor with four wires to it. two go to the DME and the other two both go to the instrument cluster for the gauge.on the e30 there is one wire directly from the gauge to the sensor which earths through it to the block.
On the E36 wiring diagram one wire comes from the gauge down to the sensor,the other wire goes back to the cluster and earths internally in the cluster.i have tried earthing this wire directly but the gauge still does not work,however i may have a faulty sensor which i havn,t got round to testing yet.i will update you when i get round to it
as for the reservoir it just rubs against the DISA.i read on another site that someone shaved some plastic off the DISA and there was sufficient clearance.
you could fit a different reservoir.
i forgot to say i used an E46 320d power steering pipes with a little bit of adjustment to get them to fit so you can retain the poly belt.

Ah yes, I remember about the temp sensor now, I was getting confused with my 24v conversion.
If you could let me know how you get on with the sensor, that would be great. Of the two wires from the sensor to the cluster, is one definitely an earth?

I used a VW Golf brake fluid reservoir on my S50 conversion, its taller and shorter than the E30 one if that makes sense. I'm not sure what clearance you have, so it might not be of any use.

yes but it earths inside the cluster,if you have access to an E36 wiring diagram you will see what i mean.
i will have a look at the golf reservoir,cheers

I've only got the E36 M3 wiring from memory, I'll try to find the iS diagrams.

I can't remember which golf the reservoir came from now sorry.

Tested my temp sensor today and the guage side was open circuit!
Got a new one coming from bmw so hopefully this is the problem.
I will try and get some pictures up of the install.

Update on the temp sensor issue.new one fitted but still not working!!!!
Checked the resistance of m40 sensor and m44 sensor.m40 is 1.34 k ohms
m44 9.8 k ohms,so not much difference.still trying to suss out problem.
Anyone got any ideas?
As a temporary measure i have put the m40 sensor in the block drain hole and used
the spare connector plug for the e36 reverse light switch to connect to the gauge.
The gauge moves now but only just off the blue as the sensor is so low down.

wellard wrote: Checked the resistance of m40 sensor and m44 sensor.m40 is 1.34 k ohms
m44 9.8 k ohms,so not much difference.still trying to suss out problem.

That is a massive difference, and the reasoon that the M44 sensor won't work. There's a spare tapping on a M52 alongside the dual sensor, where an E30 brown sensor can be fitted, using this and abandoning the temp. gauge section of the dual sensor.
I'm not familiar enough with the M44 to say if there's a suitable place to fit an additional sensor, but it wouldn't be too difficult, with a transistor and a few resistors, to produce a circuit that will drive an E30 gauge from the M44 sensor.

Hi Brian,
There isn,t a spare tapping on the M44 head for the sensor,only the block drain which is obviously too low down to get a proper reading.
Have you any ideas on your suggestion with resistors to get this working as it is an unsolved problem with this conversion.
Thanks,Kevin.

Thanks guys. At least now I understand the issue

Hopefully Brian can shed some more light, but if it isn't possible to use the M44 sensor for the guage, would an aftermarket 'in hose' sensor be any good?

Temp gauge update.
Bought an e36 instument cluster off ebay and took it apart.there is a block of electronics inside that control all the gauges.i have wired up the temp gauge and identified which wires are
needed to get the gauge working,basically five wires, the two to the sensor, one permanant live, an ignition live and an earth.
So i now have a working temp gauge on a second instrument cluster!
The next task is how to incorperate it into my car!
Ps is there an idiots guide to getting pictures up on this thread.

Spiyda do a gadget that can match senders to guages

Good read