m42 into a 318i

[FredK]

Hey Jim, here's a blatant plug for myself:

I am doing a 24 valve swap on my 318is. Thus, my M42 becomes surplus to my needs.

The 178K M42 works great. No weird issues. Good power (we can do a compression test, and you can drive my car around the block so you can feel the POWA).

Anyway, I'm gonna sell my M42 uber complete, even including driveshaft for $600. You might be able to get a engine at a salvage yard for less, but mine has a whole bunch of cool shit included. :D Also, no wires will be cut, everything is still in the car! The problem with piecing parts together is that the costs will balloon out of control, making your swap eventually cost as much as a nuclear sub.

Here's what it'll include:

• Engine, includes wiring harness, ECU with both original and Dinan (currently installed) software. Excellent pull above 4500 rpm. Has an oil leak from some generic area on the front timing cover. Oil pan is miraculously dry as a bone. All accessories (ps pump, alt, AC comp).
• Engine mount arms and mounts (though the mounts are probably shot)
• Getrag 240 transmission; rebuilt because 2nd gear was hard to get into. It's still a little balky going into 2 when it's 35 degrees and below out. Once you drive a quarter mile, it loosens right up.
• Bav Auto short shifter (yes, it actually shortens the shift, so the only aspect of the car that reminds you of driving a truck is the gynormous steering wheel)
• Clutch. No idea how much mileage
• Driveshaft and center support bearing, and a cracked guibo. That's from all that MEGA torque that the M42 is capable of busting out.
• Radiator. You can have it, though I probably wouldn't recommend using it. No idea how old it is. Hoses. A timebomb waiting to strand you, but replacing them is easier if you replace them one at a time while the engine is on a stand.
• New transmission mounts, but no crossmember. Hey, I still need that! :D
• Intake components. Manifold, throttle body, elbow, HFM, stock air box
• Exhaust components. Manifold, downpipe / cat, rear section, O2 sensor

Let me know via PM! /End shameless plug.

[thejimlab]

bump...someone must have done this swap

[thejimlab]

I saw that, it's good reading.

[Febi Guibo]

Hey Jim, if you need more incentive to pull off his swap, check this out:

built-up M42 engine

I'm still working out the details, but it would make around 200hp at the crank.

[thejimlab]

Ill kill you! No, I'm just kidding. Let me know if it lines up, would save me a whole bunch of trouble.
Jim

[MrTom]

Well this thread bores me. I'm gonna pull my engine and tranny and see if the bellhousing mates up to the m42.

Then i'm not going to tell you if it does or not, just cause i'm mean.

[Streetspec_iS]

North America never got the M40 thankfully.

Let's take the slowness of a 4 banger and then add all the unreliable parts of other motors (timing belts etc) and then throw in a dash of cam wear and call it the M40. :)

lol, yeah be thankfull. i never found the m40 unreliable, but it is a piece of shit.


m42 early boy would be cool for daily. probly the easiest swap too, considering you wouldnt need to place as much emphasis on brakes and sus like you would if you went m50 or similar.

m10 had a 240, but im pretty sure its not the same 240 as the m42. not sure if it would bolt up, you'd have to ask sum1 who knows or look into it in person

[arsevader]

Is that your car in your sig?
If it is that looks like a FL car to me so it would have the M40 not the M42, so trannys may be the same.

North America never got the M40 thankfully.

Let's take the slowness of a 4 banger and then add all the unreliable parts of other motors (timing belts etc) and then throw in a dash of cam wear and call it the M40. :)

[Erick]

So if not an m42 what would be the most feasible engine swap on an early 318i? I might consider something for the daily in the future since my m10 isnt the healthiest out there.

[asubimmer]

yeah I'm sure...someone else can chime in but I am sure that a m42 has the 240

[thejimlab]

m10 biatch is right! asu...are you sure about that? The m10 318i uses the 240 transmission as well. Which would mean I need stuff from the tranny forward right?

[Streetspec_iS]

Is that your car in your sig?
If it is that looks like a FL car to me so it would have the M40 not the M42, so trannys may be the same.

it's an early boy, so no, it wouldn't have either of those. m10 biatch.

[asubimmer]

no no no...the m42 has a 240, the m20 has a 260 and a e30m3 has a 265

[Borat]

Is that your car in your sig?
If it is that looks like a FL car to me so it would have the M40 not the M42, so trannys may be the same.

[thejimlab]

I just did a little more research. Looks like our cars use a 240 tranny and the 318is uses a 260. I read it all at stryctlyeta.com. So, if I were to do the swap, I would also need a tranny. Does that mean I would need a drive shaft as well?