E30 318iS M42 engine & LSD help!!

Need technical Q/A then you're in the right place

Moderator: martauto

User avatar
BobbyH
E30 Zone Newbie
E30 Zone Newbie
Posts: 5
Joined: Sun May 01, 2005 11:00 pm
Location: South Cumbria

Post Mon May 02, 2005 9:38 pm

Looking at buying an E30 318iS. Never owned a BMW so know nothing about them!!

Can anyone tell me how to distinguish between the M40 and M42 engine Ԛ—a does it look physically different?/are engine numbers different etc?


How can I tell if a diff is the LSD type or not?


Just spent over 2 hours going through this Forum, ton and tons of info available - decided to ask you guys that know :D

Ta Thanks
Top
StuBeeDoo
Engaged to the E30 Zone
Engaged to the E30 Zone
Posts: 6756
Joined: Sat Feb 05, 2005 11:00 pm
Location: Up My Own Arse

Post Mon May 02, 2005 9:53 pm

M40 is single cam, 8 valve. M42 is DOHC, 16 valve.
On one of the bolts holding the rear cover to the main diff casing, there should be a thin metal tag. If the sequence of numbers and letters starts with "S", then the diff is a LSD.
HTH
Stuart.
This is why I no longer drive an E30......

Image
Top
Simon
E30 Zone Team Member
E30 Zone Team Member
Posts: 14939
Joined: Sun Jan 09, 2005 11:00 pm
Location: South Wales

Post Mon May 02, 2005 9:53 pm

LSD will have a small tag on it, prefixed with an S, not always visible though.
Best way is to jack the car up on one side, and attempt to turn a wheel, if it's difficult to turn (without the handbrake on!) then it's an LSD.


318is Engine bay...

Image

318i engine bay Smaller rocker cover

Image
Image
Top
Jos
E30 Zone Camper
E30 Zone Camper
Posts: 1104
Joined: Mon Jan 17, 2005 11:00 pm
Location: Belfast

Post Mon May 02, 2005 9:59 pm

Jack the car up with both wheels off the ground, turn one of them, if the other turns the same way it's an LSD. If it turns the other way it's an open diff.

OT: Damn that's one seriously f**king clean engine bay in that 318i!!
'89 Touring - slightly rippled with a rusty underside
'94 e36 tree climber
Top
Simon
E30 Zone Team Member
E30 Zone Team Member
Posts: 14939
Joined: Sun Jan 09, 2005 11:00 pm
Location: South Wales

Post Mon May 02, 2005 10:04 pm

Jos wrote: OT: Damn that's one seriously f**king clean engine bay in that 318i!!
I took that pic today of Andy's cab, you want to see the rest of the car!! 8O
Image
Top
Karan
Married to the E30 Zone
Married to the E30 Zone
Posts: 8004
Joined: Mon Jan 10, 2005 11:00 pm
Location: Cheshunt, Hertfordshire

Post Mon May 02, 2005 10:32 pm

Simon wrote:
Jos wrote: OT: Damn that's one seriously f**king clean engine bay in that 318i!!
I took that pic today of Andy's cab, you want to see the rest of the car!! 8O
which andy is this?
Top
Demlotcrew
E30 Zone Team Member
E30 Zone Team Member
Posts: 13329
Joined: Mon Dec 20, 2004 11:00 pm
Location: East Anglia

Post Mon May 02, 2005 11:17 pm

Very clean!

Andrew
Top
Simon
E30 Zone Team Member
E30 Zone Team Member
Posts: 14939
Joined: Sun Jan 09, 2005 11:00 pm
Location: South Wales

Post Tue May 03, 2005 9:16 am

Karan wrote:
Simon wrote:
Jos wrote: OT: Damn that's one seriously f**king clean engine bay in that 318i!!
I took that pic today of Andy's cab, you want to see the rest of the car!! 8O
which andy is this?
Ahh, he's not a member on here, but is a regular at meets!
Image
Top
User avatar
BobbyH
E30 Zone Newbie
E30 Zone Newbie
Posts: 5
Joined: Sun May 01, 2005 11:00 pm
Location: South Cumbria

Post Tue May 03, 2005 9:34 pm

Thanks all for your replies :D

Simon's piccy's made it obvious :oops:


Regarding the LSD/diff, forgot to mention as it's out of the car :oops:

Thanks again.
Top

Return to “E30 Technical Help”