I have a high milage (282k and climbing everyday) 318i, a buddy of mine has a 325i sitting in his parents yard. $75 for the motor and trans if I pull it. Is it worth the effort to swap M42 to M20? I go back and forth...in some ways it seems worth it, in others it doesn't. Car is daily driven and is flogged as often as a BMW should be. Will be doing more autocross next year and hopefully TT/Hillclimbs. Any thoughts from the online E30 world?
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With M50 being so cheap, I would say it is not worth it. -
But not $75 cheap. I also like the idea of the car staying fairly balanced as it is a slick top and handles quite nicely. I anticipate that the M20 will need rebuilt, so as of now my two options are; buy said M20 and rebuild, or buy another M42 and rebuild. If it was getting any, non-E30 swap it would be a SBF.Comment
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Have you compression tested your m42? Is it leaking or burning oil or coolant? Make strange noises etc? It could have been well serviced. Milage isnt always an indication of the state of the engine.Comment
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I'd keep the M42. M20 is not that much more powerful, worse on gas, heavier, etc. If you are going to swap to anything, I would go S50/2. Not worth the work to do anything else.Comment
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The M42 is running great. I am just trying to plan ahead. Haha. I would honestly love to explore the somewhat nonexistent potential that is the M42. Just wanted some input as my buddy just offered me the M20. I love the way the M42 runs and how well balanced the car is but having never driven an m20 powered E30 I have nothing to go off of.Comment
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A lot of guys love their m42s. They are apparently relatively lovable.Originally posted by Andy.BComment
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M42s are definitely lovable, even if you're not exactly sure why. Maybe it's because you can't help but drive them hard; they're just a fun momentum car. Not sure why you'd swap in an M20, even if they sound better, given the relatively small gap in performance. Especially if your M42 is running perfectly fine.diamantschwarz 1991 318isComment
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I do love the M42. It's just enough power that you can drive it to its limits. I just didn't know if it was worth spending a bit to swap to an m20. Like I said, having never driven an M20 powered E30 I have nothing to compare the M42 to. I absolutely love the power to weight ratio with it and will probably eventually pick up another motor to toy around with and see how far I can go with itComment
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Yeah, just drive a m20 car and see if you like it.Originally posted by Andy.BComment
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I haven't driven an m42, but the m20 is a sweet motor. It may not look that good on paper, but it has enough torque at low revs for driving around, and really comes on the cam at higher revs. Like a two-stroke motorcycle, you know when you're on the power. Even at the track, it feels like you're getting somewhere. It's also nice and smooth.Comment
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m20 powaaa!!!
sounds beast when your up in the revsComment
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$75 for M20+G260?! no question. get that M20, rebuild the head and do the usual WP, TB, rear main seal...etc. Same for the trans and your set.
seriously awesome deal. i'd snag it just to have a spare motor on the off-chance you need one. a wise investment almost any way you look at it.Comment
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I say buy the whole car and get it running. Even shitboxes are selling for several thousand these days.Comment
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