Cheers
M42 swap
Moderator: martauto
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Racer75
- E30 Zone Newbie

- Posts: 60
- Joined: Sun Nov 16, 2008 11:00 pm
- Location: Motherwell, Scotland
Hi all, looking at replacments for the M40B18 which just expired and a serious contender is an M42 from a 318iS. Will this be a straight swap from the M40 or are there other issues (Props, wiring loom etc.)?
Cheers
Cheers
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Jim320i
- E30 Zone News / COTM Team

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- Location: Leicestershire
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TPS
- E30 Zone Team Member

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- Joined: Fri Mar 06, 2009 11:00 pm
- Location: Hampshire
I've done the swap recently & its well worth it, more power, better MPG, any help you need, please get in touch.

1991 325i Touring Alpine White II
1994 318i Touring Sterling Silver
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magpie
- Old Skooler

- Posts: 28035
- Joined: Sun Jun 29, 2008 11:00 pm
- Location: Consett,Durham.
i've done this swap about 5 times now,you can use many of the m40 parts inc g/box prop,rad,afm,alt,starter,p/s pump .
you need to use m42 loom,coil packs,ecu and exhaust ,fantastic little fizz bomb the m42
you need to use m42 loom,coil packs,ecu and exhaust ,fantastic little fizz bomb the m42

m52 b30 stroker 6-speed 318is Galvanizer
m42 touring
+ a yard full of scrap turds
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Grrrmachine
- E30 Zone Wiki / Team Member

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- Location: Warsaw, Poland
Bloody hell Jim, you were in there like a whippet!
Full M42 swap is explained here:
http://www.e30zone.net/e30zonewiki/inde ... Swap_-_M42
Full M42 swap is explained here:
http://www.e30zone.net/e30zonewiki/inde ... Swap_-_M42
'89 325i Touring | Touring Resto Thread | In-Dash Screen install
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Racer75
- E30 Zone Newbie

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- Location: Motherwell, Scotland
How hard is it to change from the 40 to the 42 loom?
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TPS
- E30 Zone Team Member

- Posts: 13119
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- Location: Hampshire
Not very hard at all

1991 325i Touring Alpine White II
1994 318i Touring Sterling Silver
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Brianmoooore
- E30 Zone Team Member

- Posts: 49360
- Joined: Mon Jan 10, 2005 11:00 pm
The looms should remain attached to their respective engines all the time, and be removed/fitted with them.Racer75 wrote:How hard is it to change from the 40 to the 42 loom?
The only connections between the engine loom and the car are the two battery connections and the 20 pin circular plug and socket next to the fusebox.
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Racer75
- E30 Zone Newbie

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- Joined: Sun Nov 16, 2008 11:00 pm
- Location: Motherwell, Scotland
Think i forgot to mention the car is running with an Auto box, i would like to fit a manual, does this complicate things?
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Brianmoooore
- E30 Zone Team Member

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- Joined: Mon Jan 10, 2005 11:00 pm
Racer75 wrote:Think i forgot to mention the car is running with an Auto box, i would like to fit a manual, does this complicate things?
Not as long as you get the prop shaft from the iS, and all the other bits such as pedal box, etc. from any E30.
Starter inhibitor is dealt with by joining together a plug and socket with black/yellow wires behind the glovebox.
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Grrrmachine
- E30 Zone Wiki / Team Member

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- Location: Warsaw, Poland
Alongside the engine swap, there's also a documented guide to converting from Auto to Manual:
http://www.e30zone.net/e30zonewiki/inde ... _To_Manual
That'll give you some clue of what's needed.
http://www.e30zone.net/e30zonewiki/inde ... _To_Manual
That'll give you some clue of what's needed.
'89 325i Touring | Touring Resto Thread | In-Dash Screen install
