wtf is up with m42swaps?

[Ryann]

^^I was disappointed with my 318ic's fuel economy as well, 26 at best. Heavier car + poor aerodynamics? My 16v 4d would get as good as 28 if I kept it at 70. The stock diff ratio is the primary contributor to relative shitty fuel economy on the freeway.

Edit: forgot the vert diff ratio is 4.27, so likely the main cause of crappier mileage.

[Tismael711]

318is should never be swapped. If you want to swap an iS chassis, at least swap the 325iS. There is nothing that can't be done weight-wise to the 325iS to make it the same as an 318iS, but the handling characteristics you can never replace and you will destroy them by dropping another huge boat anchor in it. At least 325iS already had less composed handling so dropping a bigger engine in is no big deal, but please: don't molest a 318iS

what i meant was if my m42 were to take a shit i would either put another m42 in it or go big with an s50, expecting it to be a totally different car in the end. if my m42 blew i'd never put a m20 in it... a m20 swapped 318is seems like a waste since m20 cars are dime a dozen. while a s50 swapped 318is wouldn't have the same feel, its definitely not a bad feel; its just different.

[iamsam]

what i meant was if my m42 were to take a shit i would either put another m42 in it or go big with an s50, expecting it to be a totally different car in the end. if my m42 blew i'd never put a m20 in it... a m20 swapped 318is seems like a waste since m20 cars are dime a dozen. while a s50 swapped 318is wouldn't have the same feel, its definitely not a bad feel; its just different.

i put an M20 in my 318is simply because it was far cheaper to do so than to buy a head gasket kit for the M42...

[CrusherCurtis]

When I had my m42 I was highly disappointing with the gas mileage, It was honestly about the same as my m20. I go maybe 26 and I said earlier its rated only 1 mpg better. There goes practicality.

EDIT: Any one know the official weights of both motors?

[JinormusJ]

EDIT: Any one know the official weights of both motors?

M42 - 220 lbs; 280 lbs w/ tranny
M20 - 255 lbs; 330 lbs w/ tranny

These are estimates, but the figures are around 5 lbs error projection

what i meant was if my m42 were to take a shit i would either put another m42 in it or go big with an s50, expecting it to be a totally different car in the end. if my m42 blew i'd never put a m20 in it... a m20 swapped 318is seems like a waste since m20 cars are dime a dozen. while a s50 swapped 318is wouldn't have the same feel, its definitely not a bad feel; its just different.

I see said the blind man
If your m42 takes a dump, then I can understand the need for a swap; Even then, I'd try to resurrect the m42 to keep originality, but I see your point



I'm with Creeper; this thread needs to die...

[eur04lif3]

Just about none. I get around 20 city (daily) and 24 combined. I've never tried all highway but my mileage blows.

When I had my m42 I was highly disappointing with the gas mileage, It was honestly about the same as my m20. I go maybe 26 and I said earlier its rated only 1 mpg better. There goes practicality.

EDIT: Any one know the official weights of both motors?

You two had/have some overdue maintenance or something that severely destroyes(d) your efficiency.... because i'm getting a constant ~29MPGs on mixed driving in winter and best i got is 31.4 in the fall.

[CrusherCurtis]

^ My first m20 e30 bone stock 5 speed got at least 27 mpg. The only m42 benefits are 50 lbs and 2 mpg. MEH

[///M42 sport]

m42 turbo >m20

[E30 Wagen]

I'm with the OP on this one.

Instead of spending the money, time, and effort on swapping an m5x, I'd rather rebuild a tired m42 with some of the upgrades that have been mentioned. I'm not sure what kind of power output is possible, but it can't be that far off from an m20 or m50? Plus, you get to keep the original engine and handling characteristics, and the engine would be like new again, only better, and not used.

How much power do you really need to have fun?

[Vivek]

You two had/have some overdue maintenance or something that severely destroyes(d) your efficiency.... because i'm getting a constant ~29MPGs on mixed driving in winter and best i got is 31.4 in the fall.

What could it be? I know this is a bit OT but I've done all my vac hoses and have no leaks to my knowledge, spark plugs are a few k's old, etc. I always assumed it was just crappy aero+4.27 diff. It gets fine mileage highway, I did about 120 miles one day and calculated it at 24mpg, and that was a cruise to a meet an back, so I was mostly going 80+ in 4th gear, fucking around and maxing out every gear many times, flooring it half the time, etc...24 was damn good for what I did that day.

[obes]

i love v12s

[Holland]

So since when did the 318is become the sacred purist mobile anyway? Don't tell those S14 guys or they might be pissed they bought the wrong car.

[Vivek]

So since when did the 318is become the sacred purist mobile anyway? Don't tell those S14 guys or they might be pissed they bought the wrong car.

best post ITT so far

[mikeedler]

sweet, this thread is still up top!

[decay]

i'm with creeper; this thread needs to die...

nevar.