Help the new guy ID this motor

[Eek21]

I believe this is an M42 motor, can it be identified via this photo? The guy says it came out of a 98, if it is, and I can pick it up for 450.00 (assuming it runs) this would be drop-in fit for my 83, 5 speed correct? From reading other posts here I believe I would also want the motor mounts and possibly the radiator correct?


00p0p_7yHOq6wNDUt_1200x900.jpg

[Thecatmilton]

You need a e30 M42. The e36 m42 oil pan and pickup tube definitely will not fit. The intake may or may not fit. If you can get a e30 m42 and the getrag g240? manual transmission that's even better. You can take the m42 bell housing off and put it on the e21 g240 and keep the mechanical speedometer. The M42 g240? does not have the mechanical speedometer drive.

I was able to pick up my engine, transmission, wiring harness, computer, afm, and driveshaft for $500. I also took misc stuff like the stereo system and trailer hitch setup which looks like it will fit my e21. It took me a few months of sporadic looking to find this.

They don't exactly drop in. You will need to weld new engine mount perches on the subframe. TomD has good threads as well as Jaredmac11.

[Eek21]

I assume it isn't as easy as sourcing a new err, old oil pan and pick up tube?

I am pretty sure the PO <you know who you are!> of my car laughed maniacally as I drove off, knowing he had planted the seeds of such automobile obsession in my brain. Pretty much all i do anymore is look for parts, donor cars and read technical specs on my beloved E21.

[Somjuan]

That's also an m44b18 from that year unless I'm mistaken. Which would be an obd2 swap. I think the oil pan would still swap over, but don't quote me on that until someone else pops up.

[jaredmac11]

Oil pan would swap over and much of the m44 is still the same as the e36 M42 in terms of fit, however, I wouldnt fuss with OBD2. In addition, the anti theft system, EWS, gets more and more complicated for every year. The latest E36 I'd get is a 92-94, honestly. 95 is still OBD1 but it has a complicated EWS system that necessitates a chip to flash the EWS.

If youre REALLY interested, let me know, I can give the full run down. People have parts to swap in the necessary E30 parts, but honestly I'd hold out--$450 isnt that much of a deal for it to be worth the work.

I do wonder if anyone has *tried* to work with an entire e36 m42 or m44. I had a ton of e30 parts handed over to me so I just worked with that.

Also, Im pretty confident the intake does fit. Its tight but it fits.

[jaredmac11]

Also, yes, radiator and e36 motor mounts will work. If you want more room, M20 motor mounts work just as well but iirc they are solid rubber.

[pofo]

Oil pan would swap over and much of the m44 is still the same as the e36 M42 in terms of fit, however, I wouldnt fuss with OBD2. In addition, the anti theft system, EWS, gets more and more complicated for every year. The latest E36 I'd get is a 92-94, honestly. 95 is still OBD1 but it has a complicated EWS system that necessitates a chip to flash the EWS.

If youre REALLY interested, let me know, I can give the full run down. People have parts to swap in the necessary E30 parts, but honestly I'd hold out--$450 isnt that much of a deal for it to be worth the work.

I do wonder if anyone has *tried* to work with an entire e36 m42 or m44. I had a ton of e30 parts handed over to me so I just worked with that.

Also, Im pretty confident the intake does fit. Its tight but it fits.

I just did the S52 swap and the euc only needs to be flashed and cost about $100. Then you need about 5 wires to get it running. It's honestly not that hard.

[hotdish]

Oil pan would swap over and much of the m44 is still the same as the e36 M42 in terms of fit, however, I wouldnt fuss with OBD2. In addition, the anti theft system, EWS, gets more and more complicated for every year. The latest E36 I'd get is a 92-94, honestly. 95 is still OBD1 but it has a complicated EWS system that necessitates a chip to flash the EWS.

If youre REALLY interested, let me know, I can give the full run down. People have parts to swap in the necessary E30 parts, but honestly I'd hold out--$450 isnt that much of a deal for it to be worth the work.

I do wonder if anyone has *tried* to work with an entire e36 m42 or m44. I had a ton of e30 parts handed over to me so I just worked with that.

Also, Im pretty confident the intake does fit. Its tight but it fits.

My 95 E36 just needed a wire to the ECU cut to disable the EWS-I (it was failing and causing no starts). EWS-II came in later cars and is the complicated one.

[jaredmac11]

EWS2 appeared after April of 95 I *think*. It was possible to have an OBD 1 car with EWS2, my m42 is one of those. You're right tho-- I was wrong and thought EWS2 started with 95. To make 95 even worse of a year, OBD2 and M44 (they start intrinsically together) started in late 95 for some.

Edit:
that's why I would not recommend anyone to look at any M42 in 95-- unless you know exactly what to work for. Whats the benefit anyways? Just stick with 92-94 if you wanna go that route.
And EWS is inconsistent for different platforms. It starts in different months for different engines. Its wild.