M44 into E30 318iS

[tomstickland]

My M42 engine is knocking on 196,000 miles now and I'm going to have to do something in the next few months.
I'm still considering a rebuild (rebore, new rings, bearing shells, seals etc).
Another option which appeals to me is to fit an [edit]M44[/edit] engine, ideally the 1.9 unit.
A 50,000mile unit from, say, a crashed E36 would be ideal.

Is there any general info on this? I assume that the blocks are the same and the rest similar. I also assume that the ECU and engine loom will have to swapped over.

[Dan318-is]

m43 is a single cam tom!! Dont do it!

Try an ind an m44 instead, quite a bit of work for it to go in though; speak to tim mate hes well informed on it.

[tomstickland]

Sorry, my mistake, I meant the 16v engine from the E36 318.

Thanks to another thread

316I M43 = 1596CC - 75 KW
318I M43 = 1796CC - 85 KW
318TI M44 = 1895CC - 103 KW

[Dan318-is]

M44 1.9 is the one to for mate. Loom, ecu etc all have to be changed & a whole host of other stuff, there is no fabrication etc needed though i don't think just swapping of parts.

[tomstickland]

I've just been looking on some other threads and it looks like a reasonably simple mix and match job.

I've been a bit torn between "keeping it original" and the option of a more modern engine. I love the M42 for its buzzy fun, but the the M44's are newer. I expect it to have similar performance; maybe a tiny bit more mid range from the overbore.

[Dan318-is]

M44 is the way to go mate. Newer, probably quieter and more torque from the factory. No brainer & definatly worth it mate.

[fozzymandeus]

M44 doesnt have the M42 profile gasket design flaw either... and other than that is a very similar engine, in terms of rev-happiness and engine note.

[tomstickland]

Looks good then.
Thanks!

[RickDangerous]

Deffo go with M44. Way more torque, smoother and quiter.

Just need engine and engine loom. Don't use the E36/Z3 ECU as it will have all the EWS security in it. Have your M42 ECU re-mapped to take advantage of the extra 100cc's and it will run fine!

[jmc330i]

Just need engine and engine loom.

And the M42 sump etc I would guess???