E30 Zone

Hello folks,
I'm not looking to do this until the summer (when I've finnished my bike engined mini) But I've been looking at all the engine conversions and this looks like a very cheap and simple way of eventually getting 150bhp+.
I'm looking to put a 318is engine into my 318i touring, but need a definitive parts list from people in the know. I've used the forum search facilty and found some very interesting reading, but I'm left with a few questions: Plus any advise about this would be great. So here it goes:

I know I'm gonna need Engine, exhaust manifold & downpipe, coolant pipes, coil pack, alternator starter, FULL engine loom and AFM/airbox. But I've come up with two scenarios, do I buy engine from e30 318is or an e36 318is and have a bunch of questions for each. so here it goes:

1) If I source engine from E30 318is will it bolt to my current gearbox? If no and I need 318is gearbox, will that bolt to my propshaft or will I need that too?
Will the ECU be plug and play?
2)Can I use later engine e36 engine as they are apparently the same only some are 1.9 with a bit more oomph, and lower mileage cheap ones are widely available. If so can I use my gearbox & prop or not? and again Will the ECu plug and play.

Any help will be greatly appreciated as I'm keeping half an eye out for bits and pieces for the conversion as of now.

PS I've been doing lots of reading into m20 and m30 conversions and have decided that this is what I want to do for the time being, so please can we keep this '318is conversion specific.'
Thanks

2) the e36 came with both 1.8 and 1.9 variations. The 1.8 is the one to go for not the 1.9 as this is different.

Sorry I can be of no more help

Anyone esle in the know?

If you fit an e30 m42 engine its pretty much plug and play and with them being almost the same block you can use your exsisting gearbox,

Upto 1994 the m42 1.8 16v didnt change much although the later style engines got rid of the extra guide cog on the timing chain which was upgraded to a slide rail, pllus they werent so bad with profile gasket failure, if your fitting one of these youll need the engine wiring loom all the way upto the ecu plug and ecu.

After 1994 they changed into the m44 which is a 1.9 which has a longer crank throw and slightly different internals, but these use the bmw ews security system which is similar to chip and key so youll need the loom, ecu, transponder unit and ring, and god knows what. (I dont know a lot about these,

So basically 1) yes, and ecu plug and play but youd be better off with the full loom,

2) yes but unless you know what your doing I wouldnt bother as you wont notice the difference anyway.

I think thats somewhere along the lines of the truth (outcome the anal m42 geeks)

Over and out

matt

Cheers matt I'm very tempted by an M42 I can get hold of for £200ish with everything required, but got no cash and a mini project to finish, so we'll see how much I can get for my girlfriend down the pub. - two birds with one stone - less time waisted 'talking' and rubbish stuff like that and getting paid for the priveledge!

So going with an early e36 M42 1.8 - what propshafts can I use? Can I use the one I've got?

Alburglar wrote:Cheers matt I'm very tempted by an M42 I can get hold of for £200ish with everything required, but got no cash and a mini project to finish, so we'll see how much I can get for my girlfriend down the pub. - two birds with one stone - less time waisted 'talking' and rubbish stuff like that and getting paid for the priveledge!

So going with an early e36 M42 1.8 - what propshafts can I use? Can I use the one I've got?

well technically you'll just be left with a stone if your flogging the woman

well I got one from a late 1994 car and its got the slider mechanism on the chain instead of the cog, parts are cheap its just chain replacement that is the stinger as you'll need, 2 sprockets, 2 guides, chain, tensioner and gaskets, if your changing it anyway.

You can use your standard prop if your using your box but if you get an e36 is box i think you need a prop although I have heard someone on about the props being extendable, dont quote me on that though

Think e36 boxes use a different final drive ratio that would top out to early check first

Ok, ta everyone. So basically doesn't sound like there is any major issues with this.
I think I'll just wait till the summer, buy the later lump/box and bits and figure out anything else as I come across it.

Cheers

The iS rad is bigger than the M40 one. Might need to change this too

UPDATE
Just bought M42 Engine and box (1.8 twin cam 16valve) from Nreg e36 with 93k. Comes complete with:
"manifolds pipes coil pack alternator starter gearbox ETC, also included is the FULL engine loom and AFM and downpipe so ready to drop into your E36,"

-Edit E30!!!!!!!!!!!!

I know I said not yet, but this was the perfect package and a bargian. So watch this space!

Good lad, ready for summer?????
















If we get one that is

Am I right in saying the sump is different on the E36 lump?
Got a feeling the bulge in the sump is at the wrong end and you need a 5-series sump...?

i thought the manifold was different as well
e30-e36

Should have a manifold sorted from an e30.
As for Sump can anyone confirm or ellaborate on this?

Hope to do the swap asap because my car needs a new clutch anyway, which I have bought already, so hopefully that will fit the new lump too.

2 clutches
dual mass and normal, but your 318 clutch should fit
you putting this in the touring?

YEP. Can't wait for all my bits to arrive!

he he i got a 318is in a touring for sale
with goodies on it as well
want £750 no offers for whole csr
jan 2009 mot, chipped M42 engine made 136bhp on rollers last month, sat in garage since!!!
lowered h&r springs, strut brace, clifford full closer alarm, tow bar, speakers and cd player, 15"bbs motorsports, loads of dents and private plate
would break for more but im now fitting an S50 into my 1602 hence the car being for saletrouble is im in cornwall

oh yea and its got a tech 2 wheel and gear knob
power steering, remote central locking, eletric front windows

Shame.
Did you need a different sump? If so what please?
And what did you do for exhaust manifold?
cheers Ali

bolt for bolt fit
using all e30 stuff
i bought the car done as i wanted the running gear but when i took it to the rolling road and it made 136bhp i was a bit disapionted as this was the full potential the engine had (thought it would be better tuned, new plugs, etc) so when a m3 came up cheap i bought it and am now selling the 318is touring
might have to change my user name now!!!!

2002is wrote:bolt for bolt fit
using all e30 stuff
i:

Throw me bone...
..So do I use an e30 m42 sump or can I use the M40 sump. Do I need to change the oil pick up pipe?

use all e30 m42 stuff not e36
dont have a clue about e36 or m40 all i know is the m42 e30 stuff FELL IN according to the seller of the car i bought
he didnt change the crossmember, sump, pick up pipe he just changed bolt for bolt m42 e30 full engine, loom, ecu bla bla bla

oh I see. Ta

yes you will have to use the early m40 or m42 sump which is the same on the e30 8v and 16v models, so get hold of an 8v m40 sump and use the oil pick up pipe aswell.

How you pay for yours, i got mine exactly the same as yours for £150, did have to travel to norwich for it mind

oh yeah and while your doing the swap its the perfect time to put an e36 steering rack on to just to compliment the engine.

matt

whats good about a e36 rack?

Less turns lock to lock, than the row row row your boat e30 steering rack, I think the z3 racks are 2.7 turns lock to lock, now if you cant catch the oversteer with that you need to take off your boxing gloves whilst driving.

matt

£185 + a pallet courier is delivering it for £50. www.etsltd.co.uk which is great cos I'm in Dover and the engine is in west yorkshire.

um didnt know about the e36 rack that sounds good
£50 for a pallet sounds even better

I am currently in the process of putting an e36 rack in my car. Heard nothing but good things. You will need an M42 manifold. the exhaust system is different on the e36 to the e30 so would try to get a e30 one. Don't think the manifolds are interchangeable

thinking of doing a similer conversion do i need a full m42 loom or will the m40 loom work? the engine im lookin at buying has had the loom cut at the bulkhead!

M42 loom, different ecu and sensors on M40

£185 all in. plus £50 for pallet delivery. Turned up today and I split engine and box but look at these wires, he's just cut straight through them! Gonna take some head scratching to sort it. Any one got a list/diagram of what colour wire does what on an E36 M42 engine???

Would all that lot normally go to a plug? Ie can I go the breakers, find an e36 and un-plug a replacement section of wires, or would this lot go to the fuse box???

sat down and figured out all the cut wiring today, it was nothing too taxing, just a couple of sensors, TPS, alternator, starter, and the intact e36 loom that came with replaces all the cut wires...Happy Days!
But not for long, I hit a few probs. firstly after partially fitting the loom I tried to plug it into the 'ecu' just to make sure and the plug looked similar it was too long for the hole in the 'ecu' and it didn't take too long to realise that I didn't have the correct ecu, in fact it is not an ecu at all, it's a bloody ABS module.

So I ring the bloke I got the engine off and am getting the distinct feeling I'm gonna get the run around! So I go see a garage that's breaking an e36 318is to rob some bits and notice a e30 318is in the corner. The bloke is pretty helpful and and lets me nose round the two and whoever posted before (which seems to have disappeared?) is right. The wiring and plugs etc are so different from an e30 to an e36 M42 lump that it just isn't worth starting with the e36 lump, especially if you're a novice to beamers like I am.
So I'm gonna flog it and buy the stuff out off the e30.