m40-m42 converstion

[MaK-71]

Got one of the last tourers 318i on L plate.
Had the car 2 years now done eibach/bilstein drop, good disks/red dot pads ect its my pride and joy mauritus blue......however if I had done better reasearch as about these adorable motors yep U guessed it sack the M40.

So to my quest for more power and new lease of life what do I need to do?
Rumour has it Engine will bolt straight on to existing box but whole loom/ECU needs to be changed and slightly bigger rad.

What ratio LSD did the 18is have?

Did the E30 318is have better brake calipers?

Can you drop in E36 engine and loom/ECU?

Has any one done this or
is it just pure maddness to do?......Cheers Mak

[Demlotcrew]

Dont do the E36 mod.

It will bolt up to the Gearbox yes but then you might strugle getting it onto the engine mounts as the M42 has a different gearbox and a shorter propshaft so i would get all M42 parts.

It will be easy to change the loom just a few bolts and a socket connnectipn is all it takes. Ive done this to my car and it was all done in about 12 hours non stop. Some brakets need to be welded to the car to hold the coil packs but thats easy and they can be bought from BMW.

Andrew

[MaK-71]

Nice one Andrew...best keep me eyes peeled for a mint engined write off.

Did you do the diff/ brakes?

What about your insurance?...Cheers Mak

[Simon13]

if you want an lsd finding a sport 3.91 large case diff is your best bet. 318is samll case LSD's are soooooooooooooo rare!

Brakes to my knowledge are vented front and solid rear on your tourer? If so this is the same as 318is's and 325's have. Might be better if you want a bit more go to drop in a 2.5 engine,gearbox? thats if you don't mind paying a bit more in petrol

[MaK-71]

Aparently I read that at the time of purchasing a brand new E30 318is
you could have an optional LSD for Ԛ£250 most people went for the sunroof option instead, which aparently was nearly double the price of LSD,(that says quite a lot about brand new BMW buyers!!!!)

So is 3.91 large case diff as fitted to the sport the same ratio as the HENS TEETH 318is LSD?

Cheerzzzzzz....... MaK

[Geeman]

Andy, I thought the bottom end of the M40 and M42 were the same...? If this is the case, there shouldn't be too much trouble in doing the conversion... just the coil-packs that need locating as you say...

Better off doing the M20 2.5 conversion though... more power and extra torque, which is always useful for the extra weight of the Touring.

Giles.

[Karan]

i happened to have an iS with 60k miles on it and the best m42 ever, which is coming out as the shell is being used as a project.
Engine is smooth as!, starts straight away, and pulls strongly




call me on 07946 390067 if u r seriously interested

cheers
Karan

[Jimbob]

Aparently I read that at the time of purchasing a brand new E30 318is
you could have an optional LSD for Ԛ£250 most people went for the sunroof option instead, which aparently was nearly double the price of LSD,(that says quite a lot about brand new BMW buyers!!!!)

So is 3.91 large case diff as fitted to the sport the same ratio as the HENS TEETH 318is LSD?

Cheerzzzzzz....... MaK

Optional LSD was 400 quid at least I think, and at the time the iS was a #14,750 car, so I don't think the old-boy drivers had LSD sideways action in mind.
The iS LSD is 4.10 ratio. they're interchangable so a 3.91 diff would fit, regardless of it being large-case or small-case.
Hens teeth?
I don't recall seeing an iS on this forum with a factory-fitted diff, and the only other 4.10 LSD I've seen for sale is the one I bought..good luck!

Also, Karan is a genuine bloke and I recommend that if you're looking for an M42 lump then this is the best one that is available.

[Demlotcrew]

Andy, I thought the bottom end of the M40 and M42 were the same...? If this is the case, there shouldn't be too much trouble in doing the conversion... just the coil-packs that need locating as you say...

Better off doing the M20 2.5 conversion though... more power and extra torque, which is always useful for the extra weight of the Touring.

Giles.

Yes the block might be the same, but nothing else is, the M42 engine sits closer to the bulk head for better weight distribution and thus making the Gear box have a longer output flange to use with a 325i propshaft.

[Toby_Unna]

karan you slacker is that 4 pot still in there?

[Demlotcrew]

Toby do you need a door pod?

andrew

[Karan]

karan you slacker is that 4 pot still in there?

my hoist arrived today, but i have exams coming up and i dont have the time at the moment, hoepfully will have the iS stripped soon. just been so busy at uni recently, and with me being in bristol and the car being in london, weekends are my only real chance, although my dad will be working on it regularly probably.

the real work begins soon though

ive had some ineterest in the m42 anchor so leaving it in til the last min so prosepctive buyeers can hear it running. the m42 literally only takes couple hrs to remove anyway once u know how too.

i will be keeping a log on the site address in my sig anyway of how its going. only real hurdles are the inl and exh manifolds, and fitting of a remote brake servo, wiring is sorted thanks to ian haynes.

cant wait to take her for a spin, and lookin forward to seein ures on saturday, im thinkin of something similar for a drift/track car im planning to build after the e30m5 thing is done. At the moment im pretty happy caning around in my sport

Karan

[Toby_Unna]

Toby do you need a door pod?

Yes! i have one for the drivers door but not the passenger door (the kit was cheap!). i was just going to leave it without door pods for the time being, but if you had or could get one... that would be superb!

im thinkin of something similar for a drift/track car im planning to build after the e30m5 thing is done

what, gold with pink skirts?

nah, sounds excellent dude. what's the deal with the ex manifold - is the standard one tubular? is it going to hit the steering?

[Karan]

yeh standard one is tubular and huuge and very twisty, may hit steering and possibly even round subframe area, may onlly need minor mods, but will only find out when i trial fit it

[Demlotcrew]

Toby do you need a door pod?

Yes! i have one for the drivers door but not the passenger door (the kit was cheap!). i was just going to leave it without door pods for the time being, but if you had or could get one... that would be superb!

im thinkin of something similar for a drift/track car im planning to build after the e30m5 thing is done

what, gold with pink skirts?

nah, sounds excellent dude. what's the deal with the ex manifold - is the standard one tubular? is it going to hit the steering?

Mate i could do you one for Ԛ£20 and ill bring it to Stevenage with me? This week end?

Andrew

[Toby_Unna]

yes. that would be grand! genuine or copy?

can paypal you now if you need it? or obviously just give you cash there and then.

just to confirm - passenger door pod for 2dr is what i'm missing.

cheers andy!

[Demlotcrew]

~yes mate its a gen one and its passenger two door, for the door. I dont have a paypal account so ill see you on saturday instead?

Andrew

[Toby_Unna]

excellent, thanks again andy i thought i might spend ages looking for that bit!

[Andy335Touring]

How's the painting going mate ?

[Toby_Unna]

andy all the bits from the sides are hanging on string on my cellar, i'm going to start at 11 when they've finished drying!

got the sills drilled and trial mounted everything today, looks good. it's all rubbed down so i'll get it all primered tonight / tomorrow then i'm taking it round to a friend's who has a spray gun and compressor to do the colour and laquer.

not the rear valance though, haven't mended the crack yet so can't paint it!

i must be mad!

[Toby_Unna]

when i say drying i mean they're all rubbed down and washed but not started painting yet

[Andy335Touring]

Good luck with the color match mate.As you know my old E34 was the same color and it fades slightly with age so the new paint might look a bit more bronzy ?

Talking of my old car i saw it's twin today,as much as i love my 335 i still miss my old E34

[Toby_Unna]

yeah i'll just have to see. the shop i use match the colour to the car itself then mix the paint, and the match on that lip spoiler looked good... but it's hard to tell with such a small part.

i hate spraying metallic paint because how much laquer you put on affects the final shade you get

[AndyTouring]

Why's it best to avoid the more common E36 M42?

I believe there's the sump well issue but are there any other reasons?

[Toby_Unna]

that 6 absolutely rocks! think it's my favourite bmw shape!

[Simon13]

i don't think you do have to avoid e36 m42's the only difference is the manifold, but i will stand corrected! My old 318is had a replacement head from an e36 M42 engined car, this was put on before i bought it