M44 Replacements prices...

[Royalratch]

I've been quoted £995 for supply and fit of a 'genuine' 35,000 mile E36 M44 engine that's been tested and refurbed where necessary. Includes 6 month warranty. An outfit in Hounslow, West London.

However, they said I need to fit the ECU, AFM, mounts, engine loom and coilpack etc BEFORE the operation - they are a quick supply and fit only.

Questions:
1) Is this the going/fair price?
2) Am I missing anything else that's needed for the swap?
3) Are all E36 four pots the same - eg the E36 318iS is a 2.0
4) Any pointers on a well known engine breakers?

I can do the work myself except removing and fitting the engine. If any of the Zone engine dons out there are interested in making some dough after New Years to do this job then let me know. Will make a fair deal. Thanks in advance.[/b]

[Royalratch]

Just found this!

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/BMW-1-9-16V-FULL- ... dZViewItem

Would this bolt straight into an E30 Touring?

[jmc330i]

Just found this!

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/BMW-1-9-16V-FULL- ... dZViewItem

Would this bolt staright into an E30 Touring?

Ive also seen that (was probably looking for the same thing as you) and I wouldnt pay that much for an M44 without ECU, loom etc. Its only a few hundred quid less than I paid for my complete S50 engine and gearbox. Yes it has low mileage, but I still wouldnt pay that.

[Royalratch]

Still pretty nice though, with that cool manifold on top.

Any thoughts on the first questions?

[Royalratch]

So, am now officially on the lookout for an M44 engine to give the Touring some balls.

Anyone know anything about the M44? It's a 1.9 litre version of the M42 with a bit more torque right?

What would be the best diff for an E30 with that engine?

Help appreciated.

They're quite pricey for a low powered engine but they're fairly modern and can be found with low-miles so I'm liking them at the mo...

[m-dtech]

So, am now officially on the lookout for an M44 engine to give the Touring some balls.

Anyone know anything about the M44? It's a 1.9 litre version of the M42 with a bit more torque right?

What would be the best diff for an E30 with that engine?

Help appreciated.

They're quite pricey for a low powered engine but they're fairly modern and can be found with low-miles so I'm liking them at the mo...

lots of pennys for little gain.

[Royalratch]

Well, not really - not after a real power jumps. Just a little more with a smooth/modern engine.

You got any info on it?

[m-dtech]

Well, not really - not after a real power jumps. Just a little more with a smooth/modern engine.

You got any info on it?

http://www.bmwworld.com/engines/4cyl.htm

knock your self out.

still a lot of hassle for 140bhp.

[oldroydsr4]

M50 is by far the better choice

[m-dtech]

M50 is by far the better choice

cheaper too, plus more tuning capability than the m44.

[Royalratch]

You guys may well be right.

I like the 4's.

Any info on whether a 94 318i diff is suited?

[m-dtech]

You guys may well be right.

I like the 4's.

Any info on whether a 94 318i diff is suited?

diff should be chosen in relation to the gearbox you use.

[Royalratch]

Assuming the gearbox stays as the same.

[m-dtech]

Assuming the gearbox stays as the same.

thats what im trying to say, choose the diff once you have chosen the gearbox.

[Royalratch]

Just a quick query on M44's / M43's.

I've searched the forum with no dfeinitive answers yet. Are M43's / M44's plug and play into E30's other than the ECU / AFM's etc?

I know it's all about big 6's on this forum etc but I'm not really into more power opr capacity, just after a more modern, environmentally friendly(er) engine that's got a bit more than an M40. I live in Central London so big engines, stop start are bad news.

I'm planning on dropping in an M42 into my 318 Touring but just out of interest - how different are E36/Z3 4 pots and would they fit with not much trouble?

[Gunni]

Your not gaining anything for that,
a M42 already has 136hp,
it´s smooth, reliable, and very in town friendly with the stock flywheel,
Those new ones don´t have alot to gain sorry

[Royalratch]

Cool.

Was interested because there would be newer, lower mileage one's out there? Also, I would have thought they had lower emssions and maybe better MPG / ECU's?

I know they have the same power but better torque lower down in the revs.

Don't mind paying more for a newer / more efficient engine even if there's no gain in power.

Important thing is, they don't suffer from M42 issues that some poeple say such as rattly timing and cracked heads - although I've never had an issue with either TBH...

[m-dtech]

for the hassle and effort involved might be easier to get a m42 or m44 car rather than mess around with an e30.

[Royalratch]

That's not the spirit we're after boyo.

Just a quick query on M44's / M43's.

I've searched the forum with no dfeinitive answers yet. Are M43's / M44's plug and play into E30's other than the ECU / AFM's etc?

I'm planning on dropping in an M42 into my 318 Touring but just out of interest - how different are E36/Z3 4 pots and would they fit with not much trouble?

Let's stick to answering the question if we can.

[Gunni]

Sounds like you want to swap to a newer engine no matter what,

Those M43´s or M44´s aren´t "all that" over a M42.
IMO 800pounds for that engine is silly,
It´s got 8nm more at JUST 300rpm´s lower, and 4hp more at the same rpm´s..
I´d give you a metal if you could tell the diffrence between the two in action
a chip in a M42 would set the engines at equal performance,

Besides, you´ll have to swap engine pans and oil pickups.

And mileage is NOTHING to be afraid of in the BMW scene, with semi proper maintainance
any bmw engine will make it to at least 200k.

Conclusion : new isn´t always better IMO

[Royalratch]

Dude, that's what I'm trying to figure out. If it is super difficult then I won't bother but I'll decide if it's not worth it based on the info I can gather.

I already stated - it's not about power. It's about newer, cleaner and more efficient.

I mean, if you're going to go to all the trouble of fitting, then why not fit the best 4 pot at the time.

Can you tell me a bit more about the differences in fitting - briefly?

[m-dtech]

doubt many people could tell you as its not a common upgrade.

if you can work around the sump issue then should be easy enough

standard m40 gearbox should fit onto block as its same bolt pattern.

unfortunatley trial and error is gonna be your only way.

[Morat]

Why don't you MS the existing engine and tune for economy?

[Royalratch]

Nah, exisiting engine is an M40 - pretty weedy.

M42 it will be I guess, just wanted to take advantage of newer tech if I could.

Cheers.

[stuartgallafant]

ratch, the M43 is just an M40 with a timing chain!! waste of time...

even the m44 doesn't have much over an m42

[Royalratch]

That's a good point .

Oh well better stick to a galactic mileage M42 then...

[stuartgallafant]

kept right, the M42 will go for miles and they lightyears ahead of the M20

M44 just has a different manifold, and is slightly larger in displacement. the m42 is actually the stronger of the 2 engines, with a forged crank

[Ant]

M44 sump is the wrong way round, as is the M43

now you could swop the sump and oil pump assy over from the existing mill, but on the M44 you'd still have issues.

M44 has no crank sensor on the front as per M42m the senso is buried within the front cover so, as a result you'd need to use the E36 loom and ECU , plus add the EWS to get it running.

in short, Dont do it Ratch, lots of £Â£ littel gain as has been said already.

If you really want to stay with 4 cyls, find a 318i with L-Jetronic and an M10 engine, swop in the 2.0 bits from a Tii ( Fritz bits can source.. ) and have a quick engine thats bombproof, you'd need the M10 gearbox too though dude.

[Royalratch]

I'm pulling out!

So one other way is M10 (not M40) with 2.0Tii head/pistons etc?

Cheers for that.

[Ant]

use the Tii internals in the modded M10B18 block with the 318i Head, that way the EFI can be retained

iirc that is

[Royalratch]

What does iirc mean - never did know what it meant...

[Ant]

If
I
Recall
Correctly

[320Touring]

If
I
Recall
Correctly

whereas If I Remember Correctly, its that

as Ant says, m10 is a grand (good, not $$) route. have a search for some posts by si316 and you'll find a thread detailing his 2l rebuild of the m10

[Royalratch]

Cheers guys.

[Simon13]

There is or was a guy on this forum, Matt from Essex who fitted an M44 into his 318iS after the original engine died. As said your far better off just fitting the E30 engine into the touring

But alas there is also a guy on here who has a tuned M10 2.0. Si316 is his name. These two guys are the only peeps on here who have done these conversions that i can remember.

If anything the M44 was economised by BMW and was alot cheaper for them to produce. Compared to the old M42 which has lots of trick little bits which were fazed out on the later engine. The M42 is the better engine imo