E30 M42 swap infomation
Moderator: martauto
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rix313
- E30 Zone Team Member
- Posts: 4968
- Joined: Fri Oct 31, 2008 11:00 pm
- Location: Silverstone
Yes so as you say at the end, the E36 M42/44 lo needs the same adaption as an M5X swap for the C101.
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cubix
- E30 Zone Newbie
- Posts: 3
- Joined: Fri Mar 25, 2005 11:00 pm
Wow, it's been a very long time since I logged into my E30Zone account!
I bought my mint E30 318i Lux in 2019 (brilliant red) which now has just 67000 miles on it and a seemingly healthy M40. The car is completely original, but my dream car has always been a 318is.
I mulled over converting mine into an M42 'is for a while and didn't want to butcher it, but have finally decided (mainly because of current silly 318is prices) to bite the bullet and start planning it.
Just bought myself an M42 with all ancillaries from an E36. This thread has given most of the info I need on what I need to make this work in an E30. My plan - given how mint my car is - is to convert it into as close to a factory fresh 318is as possible. This means I plan to fully rebuild the M42 from scratch with as many new parts as I can find. As a starter, I still need to source an uncut E30 318is loom, E30 inlet manifold, coil pack & bracket, radiator & rear trailing arms with discs etc. I will also be swapping out the steering rack for either a club sport or Z3 rack. Interior-wise the main thing I need are 2x M Sport front seats that I'll get re-trimmed before they go in. Exterior-wise my car is a Lux, so it has the rear IS lip spoiler and basketweaves already. The only thing missing is the front lip spoiler. If anyone knows of one going, let me know!
If anyone sees this post and fancies messaging me if they have any of these items they want to sell, let me know. Better still, if anyone has suggestions on who could take on the engine rebuild would be great.
I bought my mint E30 318i Lux in 2019 (brilliant red) which now has just 67000 miles on it and a seemingly healthy M40. The car is completely original, but my dream car has always been a 318is.
I mulled over converting mine into an M42 'is for a while and didn't want to butcher it, but have finally decided (mainly because of current silly 318is prices) to bite the bullet and start planning it.
Just bought myself an M42 with all ancillaries from an E36. This thread has given most of the info I need on what I need to make this work in an E30. My plan - given how mint my car is - is to convert it into as close to a factory fresh 318is as possible. This means I plan to fully rebuild the M42 from scratch with as many new parts as I can find. As a starter, I still need to source an uncut E30 318is loom, E30 inlet manifold, coil pack & bracket, radiator & rear trailing arms with discs etc. I will also be swapping out the steering rack for either a club sport or Z3 rack. Interior-wise the main thing I need are 2x M Sport front seats that I'll get re-trimmed before they go in. Exterior-wise my car is a Lux, so it has the rear IS lip spoiler and basketweaves already. The only thing missing is the front lip spoiler. If anyone knows of one going, let me know!
If anyone sees this post and fancies messaging me if they have any of these items they want to sell, let me know. Better still, if anyone has suggestions on who could take on the engine rebuild would be great.
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Scottlaw
- E30 Zone Newbie
- Posts: 22
- Joined: Mon Oct 11, 2010 11:00 pm
- Location: Belfast, Northern Ireland
Crazy, I just completed the exact same thing as you have mentioned. I have a brilliant red 318i lux which I placed a m42 into. I also bought sport seats and retrimmed it all before I put it in. I’ll have a look at the parts I have here and send you a message!
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rix313
- E30 Zone Team Member
- Posts: 4968
- Joined: Fri Oct 31, 2008 11:00 pm
- Location: Silverstone
So glad this is still useful so many years later. Check with Cotswold BMW as you could get new iS lips from them. The prices and availabilty fluctuate but it's worth asking. You can convert the E36 engine loom to connect to the E30 chassis. It is relatively straight forward to do.
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Andyboy
- Alpina Colada
- Posts: 12582
- Joined: Mon Sep 11, 2006 11:00 pm
- Location: Notts
I run an M42 in a 1994 318ti and would suggest the days of the M42 are running out.
Firstly, they're getting hard to find as they stopped making them 31 years ago. Many of them are shagged out and crank end float is a problem now, requiring a new crank. Parts are getting hard to find - the crank front pulley is now BMW only and nearly £400 with VAT. The rubber bonding between the hub and outer pulley fails resulting in the engine stopping dead. The E30 one with the V belt is the same as the M40 but again, they're not easy to find and ££££ new. E36 pulleys use the six 13mm bolt to fit to the crank hub but you can use an M44 pulley - like the M43 1600/1800 these have the TDC timing cut out even though the M44 doesn't use it.
Pre 9/1993 engines use the toothed idler gear for the timing chain. The gear doesn't fail, it it just breaks away from the front timing case. You can't use a later M42 case unless converting to the later set up (recommended) - or the M44 case as it doesn't have the mounting for the TDC sensor. Engines after 9/93 used the much better curved rail chain guide and these engines all have the later ribbed alternator belt and sprung tensioner
Air flow meters are NLA new as Bosch discontinued them years ago. There might be some Chinese crap on eBay and good luck with those.
All E36's after 12/94 have EWS.
The M44 is a much better idea. It has more torque and is more pleasant to drive - the E36 and Z3 runs a 3.45 diff with the later Getrag 250G gearbox. This has a direct drive 5th gear (same as 4th in an E30 box) and much closer ratios, plus they're worth f*ck all.
The M44 uses a MAF that Bosch still make plus things like cam and crank sensors are readily available. You can buy a good running M44 for around £300* as there is no demand for them, yet. That will change soon enough. There are plenty of rusty Z3's about as donors.
M44's have the odd issue - the cam cover incorporates an oil spray bar for the cams and there is an O ring between the head and cam cover that isn't included in any gasket sets. If that fails you'll lose a lot of oil pressure. Some can have a slightly ragged idle, and the official fix was to retard the inlet cam timing a couple of degrees.
An M44 with an E30 M40 sump and mounts, EWS delete, M40 flywheel , gearbox (they are more than strong enough) and prop plus some wiring and it's good to go. The 318iS used an E34 518i gearbox until mid/late 1990, only because the M40 box would rattle at idle with the aircon engaged. Later M40 ones were improved
*I just happen to have one
Firstly, they're getting hard to find as they stopped making them 31 years ago. Many of them are shagged out and crank end float is a problem now, requiring a new crank. Parts are getting hard to find - the crank front pulley is now BMW only and nearly £400 with VAT. The rubber bonding between the hub and outer pulley fails resulting in the engine stopping dead. The E30 one with the V belt is the same as the M40 but again, they're not easy to find and ££££ new. E36 pulleys use the six 13mm bolt to fit to the crank hub but you can use an M44 pulley - like the M43 1600/1800 these have the TDC timing cut out even though the M44 doesn't use it.
Pre 9/1993 engines use the toothed idler gear for the timing chain. The gear doesn't fail, it it just breaks away from the front timing case. You can't use a later M42 case unless converting to the later set up (recommended) - or the M44 case as it doesn't have the mounting for the TDC sensor. Engines after 9/93 used the much better curved rail chain guide and these engines all have the later ribbed alternator belt and sprung tensioner
Air flow meters are NLA new as Bosch discontinued them years ago. There might be some Chinese crap on eBay and good luck with those.
All E36's after 12/94 have EWS.
The M44 is a much better idea. It has more torque and is more pleasant to drive - the E36 and Z3 runs a 3.45 diff with the later Getrag 250G gearbox. This has a direct drive 5th gear (same as 4th in an E30 box) and much closer ratios, plus they're worth f*ck all.
The M44 uses a MAF that Bosch still make plus things like cam and crank sensors are readily available. You can buy a good running M44 for around £300* as there is no demand for them, yet. That will change soon enough. There are plenty of rusty Z3's about as donors.
M44's have the odd issue - the cam cover incorporates an oil spray bar for the cams and there is an O ring between the head and cam cover that isn't included in any gasket sets. If that fails you'll lose a lot of oil pressure. Some can have a slightly ragged idle, and the official fix was to retard the inlet cam timing a couple of degrees.
An M44 with an E30 M40 sump and mounts, EWS delete, M40 flywheel , gearbox (they are more than strong enough) and prop plus some wiring and it's good to go. The 318iS used an E34 518i gearbox until mid/late 1990, only because the M40 box would rattle at idle with the aircon engaged. Later M40 ones were improved
*I just happen to have one
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Brianmoooore
- E30 Zone Team Member
- Posts: 49360
- Joined: Mon Jan 10, 2005 11:00 pm
Good too see Mr Everett an his extensive knowledge of BMWs are still around on here. Some very useful information in the above post.