Why Do People hate the 318 so much?

[16v of E30]

i used to have a super dialed m42, and i just loved the howl at 4200rpm right thru to the redline. it was hair raising... alothough im in a 6banger now, and the torque is sweet, id love a m42 with the lightweight flyweheel...

[Hick]

ive been VERY sucessful with autocrossing an m42. they are very well balanced and turn key reliable.

that said, it has no guts

[FredK]

Yeah, the rod bearings are inexpensive in the grand scheme of things. $100 for ARP2000s, and $100 for 8 bearing shells.

[BenM]

A core-grade S14 is around $2500. A low mileage engine with good amounts of life left is not that much more money, maybe around $3500. Trans is around $300 - 350. Waterpump is $200, t-stat is $80, just like on an S54. Refresh components are a little on the expensive side, but all in all you might spend another $1000 on all rubber parts, a new oil pump, clutch, etc.

Would also do rod bearings while in there. Timing chain components are also big $$ in the S14/S38.

[Jean]

"But the advantage of the M42 is that its timing belt and not a timing chain. The dis-advantage was that the 4.10 will have me doing 4k at 75-80 which is not cool since M42 isnt a quite motor."

SO MUCH WIN

[FredK]

But the advantage of the M42 is that its timing belt and not a timing chain.

wat

[ThaiRacer]

Personally, I love the way the M42 feels in my E36 over my E30 with an M20. Alot has to do with DOHC, DASC, and ltw flywheel.

The M20 sounds galaxies better than an M42 ever could though. I love how smooth and beautiful the M20 operates. I'd even go as far as saying the M20 in the E30 is more gutless than th M42 in my E36.

U must be crazy, the M42 in the E30 is top notch. It had a zest to it while the E36 I have now with the M42 sucks balls. Shit cant even do a burnout or break the wheels lose.

The dis-advantage was that the 4.10 will have me doing 4k at 75-80 which is not cool since M42 isnt a quite motor.

I would trade my E36 for an E30 with a M42 in a heart beat.

M42>m20

[92 mtechnic cabrio]

I don't have a problem with M42 powered E30s, M10s on the other hand...

[mikeedler]

M42 sux bigtime, but its worlds better than the M40/M43

[z31maniac]

A core-grade S14 is around $2500. A low mileage engine with good amounts of life left is not that much more money, maybe around $3500. Trans is around $300 - 350. Waterpump is $200, t-stat is $80, just like on an S54. Refresh components are a little on the expensive side, but all in all you might spend another $1000 on all rubber parts, a new oil pump, clutch, etc.

Hmmmmmmm, maybe a built track car with an S14 would be more fun? Either way, got a year to think about it before I start the next build.

[pbr87]

I think the M42 is a nice little motor. Lightweight, reliable. They have potential too; BenM has one that's making around 400rwhp, and will probably make even more in the future...there's another guy on M42club making ~375rwhp. And there's the added advantage of having more centered weight. I do agree with JAnderson, they fall seriously short at low RPMs. Overall though, I like 'em.

[Rob]

M20 is a better day to day, street motor. Low end torque, even in the eta motors, crushes the M42.

But the m42 is lighter, and a blast to rev out, so its really personal preference.

[FredK]

A core-grade S14 is around $2500. A low mileage engine with good amounts of life left is not that much more money, maybe around $3500. Trans is around $300 - 350. Waterpump is $200, t-stat is $80, just like on an S54. Refresh components are a little on the expensive side, but all in all you might spend another $1000 on all rubber parts, a new oil pump, clutch, etc.

[Hodge]

Personally, I love the way the M42 feels in my E36 over my E30 with an M20. Alot has to do with DOHC, DASC, and ltw flywheel.

The M20 sounds galaxies better than an M42 ever could though. I love how smooth and beautiful the M20 operates. I'd even go as far as saying the M20 in the E30 is more gutless than th M42 in my E36.

[z31maniac]

I'd rather drop in an S14 than to buy a pre-worked M42 from MM for $8K + VAC cams + ITBs.

An S14 has ITBs, a superior flowing head, solid lifters, more displacement, and better oiling over the M42.

Same here, but I haven't even researched what a used S14 costs that still needs a $10k rebuild. Plus the trans.