wtf is up with m42swaps?

[irish44j]

I'm happy people swap out their M42s for other engines.

That means the M42s are available for me.....

Plus the M42 feels like a monster compared to an M10, but keeps the great balance that the 4-cyl cars have. Then again, when I want to actually go fast, I take the subie.....

[JinormusJ]

I have nothing against E30s with 4 cylinders. I was contemplating an s14 swap for the longest time because of light high output NA 4-cylinders. I much rather have a super light car with great weight distribution, but because a feasible option is very expensive and/or requires extensive modding, a light high output 6-cylinder is the only next best thing

[Balleristic31]

[

if only we could fit the s2000's F20c without fucking up the firewall...4cyl lightweight/peppiness, more power overall than a M20 (probably just a little more torques), cheaper to own than a S14. There's a guy on M42 club with a N/A stroked/really worked M42 with 230hp, but he sent a quarter of a billion dollars for it, S14's require a kidney as a down deposit, we really don't have it good for nice powerful N/A 4cyls with our E30's

This is my dream e30 setup.

[JinormusJ]

The m12 is the best BME Engine

Freakin HECK YES

BMW's OG V8
If they weren't unicorn, I would totally do it

[lolcantturn]

if only we could fit the s2000's F20c without fucking up the firewall...4cyl lightweight/peppiness, more power overall than a M20 (probably just a little more torques), cheaper to own than a S14. There's a guy on M42 club with a N/A stroked/really worked M42 with 230hp, but he sent a quarter of a billion dollars for it, S14's require a kidney as a down deposit, we really don't have it good for nice powerful N/A 4cyls with our E30's

[F34R]

Let's all just end this dispute...the m12 is the best e30 engine/ add boost and you have a complete monster.

[Jean]

M10 is the best engine, and the early 318 car.... 8 VALVES baby!

[freeride53]

i bet those bmw engineers back in munchen in 1991 would be laughing their asses off they could see us fighting over this shit.

the m42 is really a fun engine to mess with around town or in the hills.

it really brings a grin to your face.

pure hp doesnt always = fun, i just can attest to the fact that a chipped m42 is a fun car to whip around.

btw, me and my friend ameet (RUFFLZ) on here, swapped cars on a light-canyon run a few months ago, and he was raving about the m42.
i personally didnt think his m20 was that bad, maybe a just a lil' ehh due to a sloppy shifter, but it was interesting. i liked the m20's more growling sounds.

in a perfect world, i think a really proper m42 with cams, etc would make for a SICK car.

[FredK]

Haha, I love how this argument has been raging for the past 23 years, and it's still alive and well.

I 24v swapped my 318is, and I do miss the effortless feel of the front end. I think an S14 swapped E30 would be an awesome and rewarding car to drive.

[Herr Faust Schinken]

so this is what ive learned from reading this thread.... fuck it I'm doing an m30 swap i don't care if its outdated i wants torque

[Emre]

After my second profile gasket failure, I swapped from an M42 to an M20. In those days (late '90s) the M50 swap wasn't a realistic option. I've spent a lot of time on the track with both engines in the same chassis.

I really liked the extra midrange torque pulling out of corners. I didn't like the series of broken rocker arms and oil starvation issues. And I definitely missed the grippy/pointy front-end response. My 318is definitely had more of the 2002tii DNA with the original engine under the hood.

I came to regret the M20 swap in the end.

?... stick an M47 crank, S50 rods and pistons making 2.1L. The euro S50 itb's fit up to the head nicely, seams like a fun little motor.

A stroked M42 with cams, ITBs, and MS would be the ultimate engine for an HPDE car IMNSHO.

[Nick_S]

I like my M42 for what it is...but it's slow and gutless, even when ran hard they are slow. I don't plan on swapping unless something catastrophic happens to the engine though.

[Keith M]

I can confirm that the m20 blows cocks like f34r after one too many hard lemonades

[gazellebeigem3]

also fwiw the m42 does not sound like a sewing machine. how many m20 guys get asked if there is something wrong with their motor by "laymen"?

[Ryann]

I love how people who have no idea what they are talking about tell others what they know. I drove this car for over a year.

I have probably owned more e30s than you have seen.

Fair enough. :)

The m20 is simple, less things to go wrong. M42 has tappets and profile gasket failures that BOTH alone take more time than adjusting the valves and everything else you mentioned.

This is a combination of misinformation and opinion.