Do you regret swapping out your m42?

[318isbmw]

I had fun with my m42, and yeah I missed it. Mine had a set of cams and that was about it. Always enjoyed that car. That being said, my s50 e30 is a hell of a lot faster and better as a daily driver.

[EN318isPDX]

no

[E30 Wagen]

Okay, don't laugh... but what about m44s? Instead of rebuilding or replacing a damaged m42 with a m5x/s5x, would a m44 with some upgrades be a decent alternative costwise? I know that power/torque isn't comparable, but if you want to keep the feeling of a 4 cylinder then it seems like the smartest option.

[E30SPDFRK]

People saying you just need to wind out the m42 to keep up with traffic, you're just proving the point. They're slow as balls, and you know it. Don't make excuses.

[decay]

People saying you just need to wind out the m42 to keep up with traffic, you're just proving the point. They're slow as balls, and you know it. Don't make excuses.

this. if i shift @ 3 i am keeping with traffic fine. 4 is usually enough for passing maneuvers.

[Cabriolet]

People saying you just need to wind out the m42 to keep up with traffic, you're just proving the point. They're slow as balls, and you know it. Don't make excuses.

truth

this. if i shift @ 3 i am keeping with traffic fine. 4 is usually enough for passing maneuvers.

recap on the engine:
- dbilas ITBs
- COP conversion
- 22lb/hr injectors
- adjustable FPR
- MarkD 91-octane ECU
- 2.5" cat-back

let me guess the OP doesnt have that much work to his m42.

and as a side not for the OP, you say my opinion doesnt count, yet i have an S14 which kicks the crap out of the M42 and they isnt enough torque for DDing for me. and when i have the money that car will get an s38 or s54

[decay]

let me guess the OP doesnt have that much work to his m42.

i have 24lb/hr injectors now.

:P

(but srsly, i should have less torque than stock with itbs/exhaust, and i don't get the complaints)

[word is bond]

Do you guys just hate downshifting or something? Yeah - the powerband is higher up in the rev range. Doesn't seem like a big problem to me. No complaints here, totally stock with single mass flywheel (Canadian no AC car).

[eur04lif3]

explanation:
keeping up with modern traffic. I happen to live in the richest place in the US, seeing a model S's, Ferraris, 911s along with 100s of other high end 100k+ cars is a normal daily experience. Also having terrible drivers in these types of cars is also usual. When i want to pass them on a 1 lane road, i dont want to be scared that i cant - before oncoming traffic. i also dont want to have to mob my car to to pass someone so i can merge and get off at my exit. for me 110whp/100wtq in a 2700lb car does not meet my daily needs. this is where i am coming from.

now having driven in every type of e30 from s52 to m10. the biggest driving dynamic issue is the quality and balance of the suspension. this i know for a fact, because i have an ETA on GCs and an M3 w/ s14 on XYZs. and the quality GC eta can easily out preform my m3 in and handling.

let me guess the OP doesnt have that much work to his m42.

and as a side not for the OP, you say my opinion doesnt count, yet i have an S14 which kicks the crap out of the M42 and they isnt enough torque for DDing for me. and when i have the money that car will get an s38 or s54

Not everyone is privileged to drive along ferraris everyday. That said, i too have driven a stock e30 m3 and aside for the aesthetics it handled like shit compared to my car. Yes, simple math will tell you that an s14 got more ponies than an m42...but that's not the topic at hand, is it?

This isn't a debate whether the m42 is the greatest engine of all time, it isn't. But there is a reason it's got the nickname of "poor man's m3".
To iterate once again, thread is to see how many people have regretted pulling the engine out in favor of another engine or not.

PS. Not discrediting your opinion, but "have driven 318is and 318ic. hands down the m42 is crap" isn't answering the question in this topic.

[lukeADE335i]

It depends what you want out of your car.

I have just got a 318is & have an M30B35 powered e30. If you want good fuel economy, and its a daily drive, then the M42 is no bad thing.

I think I'd rather drive the iS in heavy traffic than the M30 - the comment about the M42 being too slow to keep up in modern traffic is ridiculous. My wife's 1.6L Hyundai is certainly no quicker and there's plenty of those on the road. Equally Corollas etc. etc. Not everyone is driving V8s or turbos and as car makers aim for optimal economy no doubt cars will be getting slower in many cases.

The M30 is also a bit toey in traffic, actually a bit too quick much of the time, and my uprated clutch can get pretty grumpy in continuous stop start. Open road driving though, I'd take the M30 every day - overtaking is effortless.

Would I regret swapping an M42? Probably not - the 6 cylinders effect on handling is overstated as others have already pointed out.

[LowR3V'in]

Offtopic but you guys think an m42 car is slow what are you comparing it to?
An m20 car is just as slow. I've driven both hard and raced both. They are the same.
"no way you're on crack" stfu and race them together pls. ;)

Ok I'm going honest here 100% no exaggeration. The M10 car horribly slow. It needs to
be FLOORED to get some speed up. Thank the lord you don't have an m10 car.
What's the slowest car you've driven? an m10 car is slower.

[rturbo 930]

What's the slowest car you've driven? an m10 car is slower.

Doubt it. My daily driver is an '86 Jetta. It had 90hp when it was new. That was half a million miles ago. But I still manage to "keep up with modern traffic" in it. I don't get where you guys are coming from saying an M42 isn't powerful enough for a DD, although I haven't driven one.

[lukeADE335i]

The M10 car horribly slow. It needs to
be FLOORED to get some speed up. Thank the lord you don't have an m10 car.
What's the slowest car you've driven? an m10 car is slower.

Agreed - M10 automatics are especially horrible! Manuals are ok, but are much, much slower than the M42.

As a daily drive, the M42 is fine. Much more fun to drive than a lot of cars getting around.

[RUFFLZ]

Offtopic but you guys think an m42 car is slow what are you comparing it to?
An m20 car is just as slow. I've driven both hard and raced both. They are the same.
"no way you're on crack" stfu and race them together pls. ;)

I'd like to echo this.
I have both, they are both slow.
However, the m42 feels much quicker than the other and is a hoot to drive.
plain ol' stock m20b25 is boring as shit, cut and clear; it does sound amazing though.
It just depends which one you prefer from A to B, because they are both gonna get there at the same time.
I know this rant was OT, but just wanted to reflect on the people saying m42 can't keep up with modern traffic

[nando]

I thought that would come up.

so, an extra 25hp and 40ft-lbs of torque makes no difference? yeah right - you're being delusional.

I agree though it's pretty silly to say they can't keep up with traffic. do you guys drag race at every light or something? I have a relatively modern Subaru as a family car and it's slow as hell compared to any E30, but I can "keep up with traffic" just fine..