M20 Engines

[DarKane]

How can i see if my M20 engine is I or E?
What are the main advantages/disadvantages between those 2?
Which one has a catalytic converter?
Thanks alot :D

[jlevie]

Both have a catalytic converter. An i/is engine will have an 885 head and a very different intake manifold. The blocks are the same. A search should turn up pictures of an i/is and ETA intake as well as a discussion of their relative merits.

In short the ETA and SperETA engines are optimized for economy and the i/is engines are optimized for power.

[NeoMishMoo]

What year? Easiest way to tell if it is an I or an E is to look at the valve cover. If it has a bmw roundel symbol then it is an e, if it has just the letters BMW then it is an i.

(Hint: you will find this if you look just left of the oil cap)

There are lots of other things ie size of the intake manifold, etc. but I think this is the easiest way to tell and should usually be enough.

They both have catalytic converters, right everybody? All cars produced after 1975 are required to have catalytic converters, as long as they were produced for the american market.

Oh yeah the E engine gets a little better gas mileage and has more torque, the I engine has less torque but more horsepower.