E30 Zone

How much of the loom needs to be changed. I have the sump pan from the m40 changed onto the m42 engine because it was in the way of the cross member, e30 engine mounts put on and also fitting an E36 steering rack . The only thing i am having trouble with is the wiring , how much do i have to change.

Any ideas or advice

Thanks Colm

Thought about doing this conversion a couple of times, since I have the chance of E36 M42 engines occassionaly. Inteesting to know about the sump and engine mounts.
Since the E36 has a seperate self contained engine loom like the E30, I should imagine it's just a question of removing the plug on the E36 loom and replacing it with the C101 plug from the E30 engine loom, just the same as for an M50 conversion.
If you post the wire colours and pin numbers of the C101 equivalent on the M42 loom, I'll match them to the E30 plug for you.

Brian seems to have all the answers you need, Demlotcrew has done this conversion, so I'm sure he will have something to add.

Thanks brian, I will get those colours and codes over the weekend and send you a pm as soon as i can

Thanks Colm

I have been talking to my BMW mechanic about the wiring and he siad that after ''93 BMW instaled a immobiliser into the e36 318is therefore I will have to re-do all the wiring loom including ignition and clocks etc

Brianmoooore wrote:Thought about doing this conversion a couple of times, since I have the chance of E36 M42 engines occassionaly. Inteesting to know about the sump and engine mounts.
Since the E36 has a seperate self contained engine loom like the E30, I should imagine it's just a question of removing the plug on the E36 loom and replacing it with the C101 plug from the E30 engine loom, just the same as for an M50 conversion.
If you post the wire colours and pin numbers of the C101 equivalent on the M42 loom, I'll match them to the E30 plug for you.

Can you do this on a 3.5 engine

e30symphony, if you give us some more info i might be able to help. what year m42 have you bought? i don't know what year EWS (bmw security) came onto the m42, or if it did at all. i know the m44 has it, but wouldn't have thought an m42 would, unless its one of the well late ones which have lots of m44 bits (timing gear, crank pulleys) on them. if the e36 loom is a no-go, you should be able to get your existing m40 loom to work (with e30 m42 ecu or mb the e36 one - i don't know if they fit) or if not you could get an e30 m42 loom. this should work fine with your engine. i can't think of any difference between m40 engine electrics and m42 engine electrics other than ecu and different cam position sensor (different length). the temp sensors, afm, idle valve etc are all shared between m40 and m42. i'd pull out your m40 loom and compare.

forgot to mention, the m40 ecu might even be ok, probably just needs a new chip in it. if nec you can let me know the bosch no of the ecu and i'll tell you if its the same.