E30 M42 swap infomation
Moderator: martauto
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: 19
- 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: 4946
- Joined: Fri Oct 31, 2008 11:00 pm
- Location: Silverstone
- Contact:
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.