Was there any cutting or hammering required to fit the e30 trans? I assume the shift linkage and drive shaft need to be modified.
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1975 2002
1994 325is
1989 325i drop top (future M20 donor)
Projects and pictures -- http://donarum.com/cars

Yes I modified the shift linkage. I cut a small hole in the top of the tunnel because there is a little ear on the trans. I could have cut the little part of the trans but decided against it and the engine was already in the car.
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70 2002 w/m42
91 318is w/m42
email for 02 and 02tii parts

Nice work! Probably the most under rated engine swap, all you need now is one of those Eaton superchargers!
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72 tii A4, 72 tii Alpina, 98 M3 coupe

Don't argue with anyone that will not consider the possibility of being wrong...
the future is a dream, the present infinitesimally brief, but the memories are forever...

Tonight, I'm looking at my M42 motor, harness and electronics and thinking...I really should put that in my 2002.

Do you have any measurements on the engine plate/bracket you made?

Did you have to modify the tunnel at all (size) to fit the e30 five speed?

What transmission cross bracket is that? From the e30 ?

Are you running the e30 radiator?
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Scottie Sharpe
68 2002 Mikunis Ireland coilover e12/e21 brakes
88 Dinan M5 stage 4 M88/3 conv, Miller MAF, B&B, 3-pc Fikses 17x9fr, 17x10rr, Racelogic traction and launch

Webmaster for http://bmwturboperformance.com

Do you www.bmwWikiWiki.com ??

I actually have a drawing of the plate. I did it in cad and had them cut on a water jet.

I had a e21 5 speed in it before so had banged out for the slave cylinder, which you need to do for the e30 trans as well. Also did cut a small hole in the top of the tunnel becasue there is a ear on the top of the e30 trans for the shift linkage platform thing. If I would have known this would have been in the way I would have cut it off before hand as you don't need it for the swap.

Yes the trans bracket is from a e30. The passenger side trans mount is a little short, I currently have washers stacked to get it to work.

Yes I am running the e30 radiator. I had to pick through a parts bin to find/make house that would work. The passenger side hose is really short.

If you do think about doing it. Before you put it in take out the center track rod. It will help a lot in getting it in with the trans connected. Or do it in two pieces.

jake
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70 2002 w/m42
91 318is w/m42
email for 02 and 02tii parts

Can you send a drawing of the plate to my email at scottie sharpe ( at ) gmail ? I'm especially interested in the measurements and angle of the bracket that attaches to the plate.

Did you have to make any modifications to the length of the shifter plate?

Did you modify the exhaust header?

I wonder if it would be better to eliminate the mechanical fan and just run a 2002 radiator with an electric fan?

Thanks for sending the info. THat's awesome. Thanks!
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Scottie Sharpe
68 2002 Mikunis Ireland coilover e12/e21 brakes
88 Dinan M5 stage 4 M88/3 conv, Miller MAF, B&B, 3-pc Fikses 17x9fr, 17x10rr, Racelogic traction and launch

Webmaster for http://bmwturboperformance.com

Do you www.bmwWikiWiki.com ??

Yes I can send the drawing. It might be a day or two for that tho as it is on a different computer.

As for the angle. What I did was bolt the plates to the engine. Center the engine in the engine bay. I had the trans supported with a trans jack and then engine hanging off the engine hoist. I then measured off the stock 2002 mount and made little cut outs with card board. I then transfered that angle and size to some 3" square tube and cut it with a chop saw.

I might pull the mounts over the summer and make a jig to make more sets.

Yes I had to modify the shifter plate and have a driveshaft made as well.

The exhuast header is something I am still working on. I actually ordered a turbo manifold for a m50 and am going to modify it to fit the m42 and then will use it as a NA manifold. Because it is really compact. I don't have that part yet so we will see if that works. If it doesn't I will probally have to make a manifold.

I am not using the mechnical fan. I am running a pusher up in the nose. But the e30 rad has a tank built on to it and there is a return hose the connects at the bottom so...I thought i would use the e30 rad.

np...i think it should be good mix when done
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70 2002 w/m42
91 318is w/m42
email for 02 and 02tii parts

Here is a small update...

I have mostly been waiting on parts. Only waiting on a couple at the moment. Should be running soon...

Yesterday I got the COP setup done, got the afm mounted and cone filter installed, throttle cable setup made and connected, and ground wire between body and the engine(almost forgot this)

Things left to do.

Install exhaust manifold, connect manifold to the rest of the exhaust, install o2 sensor, install drive shaft, bleed the clutch, and start it. So not much more

Here are some pictures






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70 2002 w/m42
91 318is w/m42
email for 02 and 02tii parts

I am very interested in this swap also. Could you please send me drawings of the mounts to srcunnin@santeecooper.com or post on the forum? Also, was your car originally an automatic or manual transmission? Everything I've read has said you have to make major mods to the tunnel to fit the later trans for the m42 or m20 swap.
Great work and please keep us updated on your progress.
Thanks, Steve.

Right now all I have is drawings of the plates. Nothing of the mount itself.

I am thinking of making a jig to make additional mounts. Probally at the end or middle of this summer. Would you be interested in a set? They would be around the same price as dan m20 mounts.

I have a manual 02, you have to pound out the tunnel just as you would for a 5 speed swap. The e30 m42 trans in the same as a late e21 320 just without the speedo connection. You could actually put the back section of the 320 trans onto the e30 and have both a trans that fits and the speedo drive.

I wanted to use the stock e30 trans tho and will just fit a electronic speedo. Still trying to figure out if the tach will work or not.

I hooked the engine harness to the chassis harness today and checked for power at all the right places where the ecu connects and I did get what i was hoping for. Also bumped the starter with the key and the engine did turn over.

Still waiting on getting my exhuast manifold setup and then i can start it.
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70 2002 w/m42
91 318is w/m42
email for 02 and 02tii parts

I have been wondering if the M42 is going to be enough power for me to be satisfied with. It is certainly about the same as a modded M10 with a slight trade off in torque for high end pull.

Do you have a measurement on that plate you made? Can shoot a close u pof where your throttle cable meets your throttle butterfly lever? Did you have to modify that?

Did you have to modify the length of the shift platform to make the shift lever fit through the hole in the tunnel? If so, what is the measurement to remove?

Thanks a ton!
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Scottie Sharpe
68 2002 Mikunis Ireland coilover e12/e21 brakes
88 Dinan M5 stage 4 M88/3 conv, Miller MAF, B&B, 3-pc Fikses 17x9fr, 17x10rr, Racelogic traction and launch

Webmaster for http://bmwturboperformance.com

Do you www.bmwWikiWiki.com ??

I may be interested in your mounts but since I have no idea what Dan's m20 mounts cost, I am not sure. First, I have to find an e30 m42 setup and then I'll go from there.
Thanks for the info and please keep us informed on your progress.

somewhere between 125 - 150. This is very much a maybe right now....
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70 2002 w/m42
91 318is w/m42
email for 02 and 02tii parts

Its running...

Going to the exhaust shop next week. Here are a couple more pictures. Cranked a little bit and fired right up.




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70 2002 w/m42
91 318is w/m42
email for 02 and 02tii parts

You stud.

Hi!

Are you sure about this swap?

And how will you pick signal for electronic dashboard as sending unit in e30 is in the diff?

jakeb wrote:

You could actually put the back section of the 320 trans onto the e30 and have both a trans that fits and the speedo drive. I wanted to use the stock e30 trans tho and will just fit a electronic speedo. Still trying to figure out if the tach will work or not.

yes i am...


I will use a aftermarket electronic speedo...with a pickup on a rear half shaft or the drive shaft.
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70 2002 w/m42
91 318is w/m42
email for 02 and 02tii parts

electric speedo, been done, eh.

updates????

Guess I should have posted an update..

It is now drivable but it is cold and very snowy here in MI. So the car is sitting in storage waiting for warm weather to finish.

At first drive I was very happy with it. I really didn't get a chance to really get on it as I need to figure out the throttle cable, it only opens to about 80% right now. And the roads were a little snow covered. I know how to fix it just need to do it.

There is also no gauges other than fuel right now. So that is something I need to figure out.

Once it gets warm out I will have another update of driver experience.

Also will swapping volvo brakes and VW rear discs.

jake
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70 2002 w/m42
91 318is w/m42
email for 02 and 02tii parts

Hey, how do they go with a m42 motor???
Is it worth doing that or a m20 2.7?
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Cheers Alll
Wasim Alameddine
www.swea.com.au

Not sure if this thread is still active. The wikipedia for the m42 says a 2+mm overbore and the crankshaft from an m47 diesel makes 2.1 L.

I wonder how much of an impact these mods would have on engine life. It certainly would help with torque issues.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/BMW_M42

I actually should update it. The car is home now...as winter is over and the roads are clean. I not have a working tach and an electric speedo. I still need to get the temp gauge working better. It works, but is no where near accurate. I am either going to add the stock 2002 temp sensor or start trying some different valve resistors to get the ranges close. Or just not worry about it as if the fan turns on i know it is at 82C. I even wired the check engine light up to the brake check light.

But either way I am really happy with how it runs and drives. We have had some really night days here in MI and have been able to put some miles on. Today I was able to push it a little more and it sounds great. A little loud and raspy in lower rpms(3-4k) but very sweet up around 6k. All you hear is engine....

I still have a few little things to finish but for the most part the swap is done. The big part of the swap took around 1 month. It could have been done in a week if I had everything I needed....or knew everything i needed.

As to the question....yes you can stoke it to 2.1L with the m47 crank. You will get near 190hp I belive with that mod. If I want more power in the future... I will either stroke it or install a m44 from an e36(with an e30 oil pan) and install a DA super charger. I think I will be happy for awhile
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70 2002 w/m42
91 318is w/m42
email for 02 and 02tii parts

Beauty, Jake. Any chance of some underneath pics?

sure andy

What are you looking for in particular?
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70 2002 w/m42
91 318is w/m42
email for 02 and 02tii parts

Oil pan, etc. Just curious. It looks very clean from above. I really want one.

Verrrrry Nice!!
Along with everyone else, i am intereseted in making this swap

Ballpark estimates, how much did it cost you to accomplish this??

Also, how long did it take?

It didn't take me very long but some of the things I already had done, ie battery moved to the trunk, hard fuel lines ran, feed and return.

I had also did a lot of research to figure out the wiring before starting it. But from the point of pulling the old engine to driving it out of the exhuast shop it was about 5 weeks. I could have done it quicker but I was waiting on parts.

As for cost...
I got a nice deal on the engine, trans, ecu, wiring, afm, etc etc - $300
rad - $125 - NEW
electric fan - had it
ebay m50 turbo manifold with some adjustment - $140
mounts - $25..... (this winter I plan to pull the mounts and make a jig to make more of them)
trans mount (from a 318is e30) - $15
custom driveshaft - $500....everything is new

As you can see the most expensive part was the drive shaft. I could have probally done that part myself too...but I didn't want to deal with it and I wanted everything new. So I had one shortened from IE and it was fully rebuilt. Made things a lot easier.

There were more items here and there but all in all it wasn't that much cost wise.

Exhuast was in the $250 range for the mufflers and the labor for a shop to do it. Again something I could have done myself but it is just so much nicer to have that part done.

I am really happy with the swap. There are still a few things to finish up, but it is very drivable and I am happy with how it is balanced. It feels like the m10 but with more power and really smooth power.

I just got some new tires for it....falkin alzenas....and boy is it fun.

Next up is volvo front breaks and VW rear discs. I have everything I need for both swaps I just need to find some time.
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70 2002 w/m42
91 318is w/m42
email for 02 and 02tii parts