318i and 320i similarities.

[kid325e]

I scored a 320i for free from my buddy. The body is straight and the engine was recently rebuilt, it just needs the TLC to get her all back together and running straight.

My question was this, i have a 318i parts car. I know they both have m10 engines, are most of the engine/cooling/transmission parts interchangeable?

[Borat]

E30 320i has M20B20 motor, so pretty much none of the engine/cooling/transmission parts are interchangeable

[Nygdup]

a 320i in the US is probably not an e30... of course, i'm still a newb.

[Julien]

i'm guessing he means an e21

[CincinnatiKid]

318 is the m42, no?

[kid325e]

Now that i'm thinking more clearly i believe the 318 is a m42

while my 320i has the m10.

[mcgrath]

a U.S. 320i is an e21 with a 1.8l (80-83) 2.0l (77-79) m10. an 84-85 318i (e30) also has an m10. the later U.S. model e30 318i/is has an m42

[StereoInstaller1]

I think an M42 E21 might be kinda cool...

[Sam Cogley]

318 is the m42, no?

Not necessarily. The early (84-85ish) 318is used the M10. The 4-banger was dropped for a while, then came back with the M42 towards the end of the E30 run (89? 90?).

[TDE30]

I think an M42 E21 might be kinda cool...

Yeah it would be, I'm sure the M42 weight is a good bit less than the M10's.

[thectrlguy]

"could" be an E30... I've got one...

[Borat]

Now that i'm thinking more clearly i believe the 318 is a m42

while my 320i has the m10.

only if its an e21, and a 320i

The US never got an e30 320i, while all the Euro E30 320i had an M20.

For euro models the E21 320 they had both M10 and M20, later models getting the M20. Though all e21 320i had the M10

So, what years and/or chassis are the cars? or just post pics of both

[LEANE30]

Yeah it would be, I'm sure the M42 weight is a good bit less than the M10's.

nope. DOHC. it's actually heavier than an m10.


the 320i and 318i DO have alot of interchangable powertrain parts. it is possible to put the 318i 5spd on the 320i's m10 instead of that damned 4spd. (assuming your 318i was a manual)