318is Engine Questions

Post Mon Oct 30, 2006 9:45 pm

I am soon about to acquire a 1989 318is which has had a bottom end failure. The rest of the car is in good condition but before seeing it I am presuming that the engine is fairly damaged (I am hoping that this may not be the case and that it might be repairable), which points to a replacement engine being the most cost effective option rather than a costly rebuild.

I have looked at replacement engines and for ease want to keep with the 318is set up, however my knowledge of 4 pot E30s is quite limited and I was wondering if anyone could help answer my queries: -

My engine is the standard M42B18 1796cc 136bhp engine on Bosch M1.7.

1) How easy is this to upgrade to the M42B18 1796cc 140bhp engine on Bosch M1.7as fitted to the E36 318is? Would I need a differnet gearbox or are the blocks identical?
2) Could I do a direct bolt in swap for a M44B19 1895 with Bosch M5.2?

Any help or advice would be much appreciated.

Thanks in advance,

I have moved this from the engine swaps forum as I thought this forum was more appropriate. Sorry for any hassle.

Post Mon Oct 30, 2006 10:08 pm

both of these are possible. as far as i know, the M42 blocks and the M44 blocks are the same, its just the internals that are different

the Bosch management fitted to the LATER E36, has MAF and i believe it also has coil-per-cylinder arrangement, as does the M44 setup

as long as you have the engine, looms and the ECU's, then the swap wont be a problem

Post Mon Oct 30, 2006 10:10 pm

Try and get holed of a bloke called "TIM_S" he knows all about the m42/44 engines and is a top bloke. i think thr m44 and m42 are the same on the outside so if you had the loom and ecu you should be able to swop it over, check with tim though.

Post Mon Oct 30, 2006 10:11 pm

must have wrote that at the same time! lol

Post Mon Oct 30, 2006 11:58 pm

Thanks appletree. I have pm'd him

Post Tue Oct 31, 2006 8:58 am

M44 and M42 blocks are not the same, infact nothing is the same except for maybe the chain/guids and tensioner.

Andrew

Post Tue Oct 31, 2006 11:06 am

So it would not bolt directly in?

Post Tue Oct 31, 2006 11:10 am

it might bolt in but it wont run! the loom are way diff. if you get a later one i think it also has EWS1 and it becomes a headache. speak to tim or demlot

Post Tue Oct 31, 2006 11:26 am

From what Tim has said I think I will go for the easier option of the E36 M42 unit.

Post Wed Nov 08, 2006 1:31 pm

An E36 318iS engine will go in once you've swapped the sump, manifolds etc etc..........or you could just put another E30 iS engine in! There's nothing to be gained from an E36 1.8 engine except possibly lower mileage.
The 1.9 is a totally different engine and nothing is the same. The head and cams are all different too as they have roller rockers. I guess it's vaguely possibly to adapt the E30 manifolds and ancils but it's too much work for 100cc. I've yet to drive a 1.9 M44 that feels much better than an old M42.

Post Sat Nov 11, 2006 1:29 pm

Thanks for the help Andyboy.

Checked the engine over now I have the car and it will probably need new rings although the biggest problem I have come across is that the car rolls when in gear.

I suspect that although the engine maybe worn the problem may lie between the gearbox and engine. Maybe a broken input shaft to the gearbox. I will carry on dismantling.

Post Sat Nov 11, 2006 10:02 pm

Andyboy wrote:An E36 318iS engine will go in once you've swapped the sump, manifolds etc etc..........or you could just put another E30 iS engine in! There's nothing to be gained from an E36 1.8 engine except possibly lower mileage.

There are lots of small things to gain from a late M42 from an E36, worth considering imo.

The 1.9 is a totally different engine and nothing is the same. The head and cams are all different too as they have roller rockers. I guess it's vaguely possibly to adapt the E30 manifolds and ancils but it's too much work for 100cc.

e30 manifolds are same fitment, dont need adapting.

I've yet to drive a 1.9 M44 that feels much better than an old M42.

an e36 M44 will stick with an e30 M42 and they weigh a good few hundred kgs more. also a smoother engine with much better fuel injection and MAF.

Post Thu Nov 16, 2006 7:50 pm

After messing around once I had towed the car back and recharged the battery I got the car I got the engine running and although a bit noisy there was no sound like big ends - what has broken is the gearbox, 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 5th and reverse will engage form the shifter but releasing the clutch does nothing - 4th however still works!! After further tinkering tonight the lumpiness of the engine points towards a previous owners fitting a fuel pressure boost valve (That will be coming off!), he has also removed a few oil breather pipes and let them hang free to the bottom of the engine bay....oh and there are chattering sounds coming from the engine, which so far have turned out to be the HT lead headshield not being bolted in, plus an additional unbolted bracket on the other side of the engine! I need to sort all of this out before I find out whether the engine is ok or not!!

One question though about M42 engines is should you expect to hear a bit of timing chain noise on a cold start up before the pretensioner fills with oil???? - I somehow don't think this car has had the E36 mod!

Post Thu Nov 16, 2006 9:26 pm

If you only get drive in 4th, then something nasty has happened to the layshaft. Don't consider rebuilding the box - just source a good used one.
The disconnected oil breathers could be connected with the lumpy idle if they are allowing air into the inlet manifold.
Sounds like you've rescued this car from a right muppet!

Post Fri Nov 17, 2006 10:27 am

In fairness to the previous owner he wasn't really into cars. It was the guy before him who did all the mods - although I would suggest he knows even less and had more of a tendancy to fiddle!!

Does anyone know which gearbox will fit in terms of M40 316i or 318i units? My car is a G reg car. Will the later 318is gearbox fit?

Thanks,