Which engine would you choose for a swap?

[benz-tech]

Having run a pretty well-built M44 in my e30 for years now, I’d say it’s not a bad choice. Only 2 things I would change about my build tho. 86.5 or 87mm Je pistons with rings are only around $800 and it yields nearly 2.0L. Second, they do fall flat at 6,500 and it really needs an intake cam to make it rev to 7k and make power there. Aside from that, it’s a delightful, if slightly underpowered swap, and it returns 30+ mpg with my foot buried in it all the time. It’s not that slow however, it’s slightly faster than my workmate’s 86 325i. It’s a pretty cost-effective way to have a 170hp ( or more) 4cyl. Definitely go with all the late ECU and harness, it’s worth the trouble for the improvement in throttle response alone. And get a flash on it. That woke it up also. There are cheaper ways to make more power for sure. But I can roll into any CA smog station and pass without anyone ever asking a question.

[JimmyP]

S14 engine no accessories. Not sure if thats a short or long or whatever.
American car guys call a short block the actual engine block with rotating assembly installed in it.
A long block is the block, heads and intake.
Euro people seem to have a completely different vernacular of what long and short is.

The engine weight doc I have saved shows the S14 @ 235 lbs.
Using the same document the M42 is 220 lbs which I assume is in the same state and makes perfect sense that its lighter than an S14.
That doc predates the N52

[JimmyP]

Having run a pretty well-built M44 in my e30 for years now, I’d say it’s not a bad choice. Only 2 things I would change about my build tho. 86.5 or 87mm Je pistons with rings are only around $800 and it yields nearly 2.0L. Second, they do fall flat at 6,500 and it really needs an intake cam to make it rev to 7k and make power there. Aside from that, it’s a delightful, if slightly underpowered swap, and it returns 30+ mpg with my foot buried in it all the time. It’s not that slow however, it’s slightly faster than my workmate’s 86 325i. It’s a pretty cost-effective way to have a 170hp ( or more) 4cyl. Definitely go with all the late ECU and harness, it’s worth the trouble for the improvement in throttle response alone. And get a flash on it. That woke it up also. There are cheaper ways to make more power for sure. But I can roll into any CA smog station and pass without anyone ever asking a question.

I'm in agreement, I like my M44 in my Ti and mine is not built.
I have a lightweight flywheel on it and COP, ducted cold air intake like an S14 through the rad bulkhead and I think its a blast to drive.

I'd like to build an M42 with ITBs, bigger cams, some porting and 12.5:1 with that stroker diesel crank, put it in a gutted E30 race car with a good trans..

[varg]

S14 engine no accessories. Not sure if thats a short or long or whatever.

The engine weight doc I have saved shows the S14 @ 235 lbs.
Using the same document the M42 is 220 lbs which I assume is in the same state and makes perfect sense that its lighter than an S14.
That doc predates the N52

My point is that this context of its state and weight relative to another engine in similar state is critical to that weight meaning anything at all and should be mentioned when quoting the figure. Hence my comment asking if that's a short block weight because it's so much lighter than expected.

[Motheye99]

Isn't the s14 really a m10 with more stuff on top? Should weigh close to a n52 then. The reason people are bagging on it is it's hp/$ ratio is way worse than a m54 or n52. I think the s14 when fully built and money is no option, but for now I have to stick to cheaper ways of getting that power.

This thread really derailed, but OP you should be the first to do a N20 swap, that's a light motor.

Sent from my SM-G970U using Tapatalk

[nando]

S14 engine no accessories. Not sure if thats a short or long or whatever.
American car guys call a short block the actual engine block with rotating assembly installed in it.
A long block is the block, heads and intake.
Euro people seem to have a completely different vernacular of what long and short is.

The engine weight doc I have saved shows the S14 @ 235 lbs.
Using the same document the M42 is 220 lbs which I assume is in the same state and makes perfect sense that its lighter than an S14.
That doc predates the N52

yeah, sorry, those numbers you have are definitely wrong. a dressed M42 weighs a lot more than 220lbs. I'll bet you're getting your weights from here:

https://www.bimmerforums.com/2009/08/engine-faq/

Which are all short block weights (taken from the ETK) and have already been proven to be inaccurate here. That N52 weight you quoted was fully dressed, in comparison.

S14 isn't crap, but I'd be shocked if a fully dressed one weighed only 240lbs. I'd bet money the N52 rotating assembly is lighter..

[Andrew325is]

I found this page that shows engine specs and weights. They look accurate to me.

http://www.unixnerd.demon.co.uk/enumber.html

[Andrew325is]

Having run a pretty well-built M44 in my e30 for years now, I’d say it’s not a bad choice. Only 2 things I would change about my build tho. 86.5 or 87mm Je pistons with rings are only around $800 and it yields nearly 2.0L. Second, they do fall flat at 6,500 and it really needs an intake cam to make it rev to 7k and make power there. Aside from that, it’s a delightful, if slightly underpowered swap, and it returns 30+ mpg with my foot buried in it all the time. It’s not that slow however, it’s slightly faster than my workmate’s 86 325i. It’s a pretty cost-effective way to have a 170hp ( or more) 4cyl. Definitely go with all the late ECU and harness, it’s worth the trouble for the improvement in throttle response alone. And get a flash on it. That woke it up also. There are cheaper ways to make more power for sure. But I can roll into any CA smog station and pass without anyone ever asking a question.

I saw your thread about your engine build. It sounds really sweet.

[nando]

I found this page that shows engine specs and weights. They look accurate to me.

http://www.unixnerd.demon.co.uk/enumber.html

Those are the same as posted above. Short block weights from the ETK. Not fully dressed / long block. And they're not even very consistent, if you start looking at them closely.

FWIW, the N52 short block is 120kg / 264.6lb

[Andrew325is]

Isn't the s14 really a m10 with more stuff on top? Should weigh close to a n52 then. The reason people are bagging on it is it's hp/$ ratio is way worse than a m54 or n52. I think the s14 when fully built and money is no option, but for now I have to stick to cheaper ways of getting that power.

This thread really derailed, but OP you should be the first to do a N20 swap, that's a light motor.

Sent from my SM-G970U using Tapatalk

Looks like it weighs about the same as M42, maybe a little more with the turbo stuff. I don't know if anyone has cracked the ECU or if there's an aftermarket management solution for it. SCS Delta say they've developed calibrations for these 4 cyl engines:

N14B16 Turbo
B48B20 Turbo
N45B20 N/A

I don't know what you'd do for the oil pan, etc. Sounds like too much custom work.

https://www.scs-delta.co.uk/bmw-management-kits

[nando]

N20 is crap though. Unless you want an engine that sounds like it's from a tractor that also eats timing chains. :p

[Andrew325is]

N20 is crap though. Unless you want an engine that sounds like it's from a tractor that also eats timing chains. :p

Yeah and it shakes so much it'll make the fillings come out of your teeth.

[325e '87]

This has been a fun thread to read, I like seeing everyone’s opinions on the newer engines.

I am just an older guy that loves my m20b25. I would rather build one up to make good power up to 7000rpm and call it a day. I know its an old engine and all, it just sounds and feels so darn nice.

It will be fun to see what you decide to do. I voted M54 but I’m a I6 kind of guy, the 4’s just don’t do it for me. My dad had an s2000 for a while and it was really fun to drive around, but my gut still missed 2 cylinders.

[benz-tech]

This has been a fun thread... but my gut still missed 2 cylinders.

I won’t lie, my ears definitely wish for an extra two cylinders.

[MrBurgundy]

I retract my vote for the m54 .

M20 FTW