Help needed! E36 engines into E30

Thu Oct 22, 2009 9:27 pm

hi guys.

due to my m40 blowing a hole in the side of the block (it got waterlogged and we though we fixed it) i now need a new engine. now my local breakers want 300 quid just for an M40!!

i am now looking to fit an E36 M40 engine into it because it is cheaper and i need it quickly! how hard and what would i need to do to do this engine swap? plus how much harder is an M42?

p.s i am only 18 so no 6 CYL suggestions...i wish

Thu Oct 22, 2009 9:34 pm

The E36 isn't a straight swap cos the sump bulge is in the wrong place.

There was an M42 set-up for a sale a short while ago on here...look in the parts for sale section.

Found it...
http://www.e30zone.net/modules.php?name ... c&t=149657

Thu Oct 22, 2009 9:35 pm

yeh i did speak with the guy he wants 250 quid for it? is that a good price? sounds very steep to me but im used to buying cheap things

Thu Oct 22, 2009 9:39 pm

Where are you based?

Thu Oct 22, 2009 9:40 pm

kent? i tried our breakers at charing i buy all the kit car parts from and they have nothing...

Thu Oct 22, 2009 9:41 pm

If it was the ad i've just given you,he now only wants £200.

With what he's offering,as long as the engine is good,i'd say that's a fair price.

You can always sell the gearbox on cos it's the same as the one you've already got

Thu Oct 22, 2009 9:42 pm

that is the same one i rang him last week offered him 200 quid and he werent intrested so i walked away after a bit of thought...

Thu Oct 22, 2009 9:44 pm

so your local breakers want £300 for an m40 on its own and you think £250 is very steep for an m42 and gearbox and prop ecu airbox coil packs exhaust manifold etc etc ... hmmm and the engine is a goodun i got it off spadge

Thu Oct 22, 2009 9:46 pm

felix27 wrote:kent? i tried our breakers at charing i buy all the kit car parts from and they have nothing...

If you don't buy the M42 (which in my oppinion is a bargain) then i know of an M40 1.8 in London that will be for sale very soon at around 100-150.

Thu Oct 22, 2009 9:47 pm

yes i not doubting that its just 250 quid was a bit more than i was will to spend when its not my main project.... just got to get the old girl moving again so i can move my rally car parts around..

Thu Oct 22, 2009 10:13 pm

The E36 M40 engine is the same, but swap over your manifolds, loom, sump, oil pick up pipe, and something else at the front think it was the dipstick or something around the oil filter housing, cant remember been a while since I did one. Just see what looks different when you have them both side by side. The M42 set up above is a very good deal if you have the facilities/time/know how/inclination to do a conversion. If it was closer would be mine by now, still half talking myself into the drive up to get it just to have it as a spare.

Thu Oct 22, 2009 10:21 pm

is there no difference in the e36 m40 belt drive and chain drive apart from the obvious.

so he can use say a p reg instead of a k reg?

Thu Oct 22, 2009 10:26 pm

The chain driven 318i E36 is an M43 engine.

Thu Oct 22, 2009 10:34 pm

Messenjah wrote:so your local breakers want £300 for an m40 on its own and you think £250 is very steep for an m42 and gearbox and prop ecu airbox coil packs exhaust manifold etc etc ... hmmm and the engine is a goodun i got it off spadge

Madness, even fitting a £100 M40 engine is a stupid idea when he can have a complete M42 package for £200!!

Thu Oct 22, 2009 10:39 pm

Shame you're not up in York, local scrapyard called U-Pull-it charge £100 for an engine and there are at least 5 M40 donks in cars up there

Fri Oct 23, 2009 12:40 am

SPADGE wrote:
felix27 wrote:kent? i tried our breakers at charing i buy all the kit car parts from and they have nothing...
If you don't buy the M42 (which in my oppinion is a bargain) then i know of an M40 1.8 in London that will be for sale very soon at around 100-150.

how good is this engine,only the unknown mileage is obviously an issue/query?

Fri Oct 23, 2009 12:45 am

sihooker wrote:The chain driven 318i E36 is an M43 engine.

still shite

Fri Oct 23, 2009 8:30 am

As said earlier get the IS motor bought and chuck it in job done

Fri Oct 23, 2009 11:08 am

If you can get to Worksop (M1 J30, East of Sheffield) there's a really good E36 M40 1.8 going for £75 - it had a new cam etc and was an excellent runner. PM me for details if you want it. You will need to swap the E30 sump, flywheel and engine loom over, not rocket science.

It's a good 200 miles each way but it'll cost you £60 in petrol and once the manifolds are off will go in the boot of most cars.