M40 engine compatibility E30/E36

Post Sun Feb 19, 2006 6:52 pm

Hi folks

Wondered if anyone can help... - I am the doting owner of a 1990 318i (E30) which until recently harboured a nice, reliable M40 engine under it's bonnet. Unfortunately, last Thursday the engine suddenly transformed into a half ton of useless metal. I took off the cylinder head to see what had happened, cried for a while at the devastation, then set about trying to find a replacement engine - this'll be the first time I've attempted an engine swap, so I'm gonna keep it simple and stick in another M40 1.8 so that I don't have to mess about with different wiring looms, etc. Which brings me to my question: - from what I hear, the M40 318i engine was used in the E30 facelift models, and also the early E36 318i. I'm just wondering how identical the engines are...? Is it worth removing an M40 engine from an E36 (which would probably be younger/less miles) or would there be differences that would make the transplant harder (different mounting points/transmission compatibility?)

Any help would be great

Post Sun Feb 19, 2006 6:56 pm

Welcome to the zone!

I think it will make things more difficult as I suspect that the sumps are different and the wireing and possibly more.

However, if these components are still OK on your old engine, it wouldn't be that hard to cahnge over.

But how many e36 m40's are there? are most of them not M44 or something...

You could always swap it for something completly different....

Post Sun Feb 19, 2006 7:28 pm

whats wrong with your old engine ?
i have a complete 1.6 engine (M40) if your interested.
where do you live?

Post Sun Feb 19, 2006 10:40 pm

Thanks for the help folks, think I'm gonna go for the cowardly straght swap with another M40 318i from an E30... If I had a bit more time and money (and confidence in my mechanical skills!), I'd maybe try a cheeky wee conversion to a nice chunky M50..

For anyone thats interested, the pic shows my car, and a few images of my trashed engine!

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Post Mon Feb 20, 2006 12:17 pm

just checked on the etk for you and the cyl head part nos are the same, as are the cranks, but the block part nos are different because they use different brands of piston. i would put a fair bit of money on you being able to use the e36 engine with no probs.
the engine will def physically fit and mate up to your transmission/flywheel fine.
the e36 used the m40 until end of 1994 manufacture date, and i think it would be a sensible swap to go for a newer engine. you would have to change exh manifold, inlet manifold, engine mounts etc though. and the e36 will prob have a serpentine belt for the ancilliaries, so you could use the more up to date ancilliaries or swap the crank pulley and use e30 ancilliaries.

you could always put an m42 16v engine in if you wanted a few more ponies but to keep cheap insurance and good fuel economy?
hth
tim

Post Mon Feb 20, 2006 12:22 pm

Hi there, ive got a 1.8 M40 with 108,000 miles on it going very cheap if you want it? Im based in Kent, are you local by any chance?

Post Tue Feb 21, 2006 12:29 am

Thanks for the info and engine offers, I'm well impressed with the knowledge and good intentions here! I'm up in Edinburgh, and the car is currently in Dunfermline (yup, even further north!), but after a bit of internet probing I think I've managed to source a replacement M40 318i engine from a breakers near Liverpool - I'm told the engine has only done 42K, comes with a 6 month warranty and they'll deliver it for free... too good to be true? Don't suppose I'll know for sure until that magic/tragic moment when I turn the key!