engine and drivetrain m42 mods for more HP ?

[rstclark]

 Are there simple mods to a M42   I think I have this right ,  a 1.8 liter motor from a 1991 318IS rated at 138 HP to make it produce a min. 150 HP  preferable more ?

Can the injection be modified by a chip ?   Can they crank 200 HP without considerable expense ?

 

Thanks in advance for your reply

 

Rob

 

 

[cwlo]

Here is my synopsis of what I've read:The m42 is so well designed, that there is not a lot of low hanging fruit. A chip is the easiest and most effective upgrade. Some say lightened flywheel, but that is more for throttle response. After that, seems most recommend turbo, or stroker build. Jake from Classic Daily sells a turbo kit for around 2k, and boosts hp to 190-200. Stroker build is more involved, expensive, and a little less hp....(170 hp if memory is correct). Don't forget that the m42 character is a little different than the m10. It revs freely and begs for more. Should be a fun ride despite the only moderate increase in hp over stock m10.

I'm going to be doing an m42 transplant myself, and think I will probably go stock at first, and then turbo if I want more. Check m42club, and r3vlimited for lots of info.

Chris

Edited January 9, 2016 by cwlo

[Mike Self]

I have an M42 in an E30 318is that has been tweaked by a previous owner with a chip and (previously) an aluminum flywheel.  I tracked down the chip maker, who told me it is good for about 148hp +/-.  

 

Having previously owned an unmodified 318is, I can tell the difference, especially the point at which the power comes on.   Stock, that's about 3500 rpm, but with the chip it starts to wake up at 2500 rpm and pulls well from there.  After living with the aluminum flywheel for several months, the previous owner had it removed because it really made the idle lumpy--too much (in his opinion) for a street car.  I can't comment as I bought the car with the original flywheel reinstalled and the aluminum one in a box in the trunk.

 

As was pointed out, M42s are rev happy little motors and are a blast to drive.  They rev much more quickly than an M10, so should be a good match with a 2002, which is several hundred lbs lighter than even an E30 318is...

 

cheers

mike

Edited January 10, 2016 by mike

[rstclark]

I heard they want,  and need to be revved up to develop power . That's ok since I dive my current M10 like some one is chasing me anyway.  If a chip can produce 150 hp, then the power to weight ratio would be about what I'm after  and should be a lot of fun for a street car.

This is encouraging

[RussTii]

The M42 likes to rev. Used to A/X a 318is with a chip, 13 lb steel flywheel and a 4.44 LSD. Was the only 318 I ever saw that came off the line with wheelspin. My current M42 E30 has a Supersprint catback exhaust which seems to flow better than the OE system

and certainly has a better sound. An M42 in a 2002 makes for a fun package with the weight reduction and the free revving

nature of the m42.

[jrkoupe]

big power is always fun.....

but

an m42 in an 02 is about perfect to me.......

chip it....ltw fly....close to 150 hp..

add exhaust

do susp....

lighten the o2....and go get happy.

[pklym]

I have an M42 in an E30 318is that has been tweaked by a previous owner with a chip and (previously) an aluminum flywheel.  I tracked down the chip maker, who told me it is good for about 148hp +/-.  

 

Having previously owned an unmodified 318is, I can tell the difference, especially the point at which the power comes on.   Stock, that's about 3500 rpm, but with the chip it starts to wake up at 2500 rpm and pulls well from there.  After living with the aluminum flywheel for several months, the previous owner had it removed because it really made the idle lumpy--to much (in his opinion) for a street car.  I can't comment as I bought the car with the original flywheel reinstalled and the aluminum one in a box in the trunk.

 

As was pointed out, M42s are rev happy little motors and are a blast to drive.  They rev much more quickly than an M10, so should be a good match with a 2002, which is several hundred lbs lighter than even an E30 318is...

 

cheers

mike

 

Mike,

 

Do you know whose chip you have?

 

I keep reading more and more about how chips are almost always BS, but the people on r3vlimited with m42s seem to all swear by them.

 

Best,

Peter

[RogueDriver]

My experience has been adding the chip, lighter flywheel, slightly larger injectors, and a coil on plug kit made it more responsive and a much better driver.  Adding boost makes the car very fast and very fun.  A turbo (Jake B was mentioned) or adding a super charger (the route I took) really changes the output of the engine dramatically and will get you close (a little north or south) of 200HP with stock engine internals. 

[TobyB]

The only 'low hanging tree fruit' on a M42 is the aging flapper door EFI system, and it's not good for much.

Crap, the E36 even gets a stainless individual runner header, stock.

 

t