M42 conversion

[civjdh]

Hi guys,

I'm looking to carry out a M42 conversion on my 1983 316. Whilst I appreciate that this has been covered a number of times before, I cannot find answers to a couple of specifics relative to the donor car I am considering using (1995 318is E36).

-All of the conversions I've seen have used an E30 gearbox and engine.I presume that the engine/gearbox do not have any differences between those used in the E36 other than the sump?
-As far as I am aware, all E36s have an immobiliser built into the ECU. Is there any procedure whereby this can be removed/bypassed?
-I've read a number of articles whereby the owners have intended to mount a fabricated rotor on the diff in order to power the E36 speedo mounted into the E21 binnacle. However, I've never seen the finished article; is the consensus that a gearbox with a speedo drive from an E21 (6 cylinder?) be a better option? Would my exisiting gearbox from my M10 suffice?

The donor I am planning on using is very cheap (£250) however, if the difficulty of modifying the E36 parts to fit would be too great, would it be recommended to try and source a doggy old E30 iS?

If there are any good threads that anybody has seen/ used on their own project, I would appreciate it if you could point me in the right direction.

Thanks for any help you can provide and please accept my apologies if these topics have been covered before; I have searched the forum for hours for previous threads, but never found anything entirely relevant to this particular project.

Cheers, Jason

[Jason_323i]

Nearly all the conversion here use a e21 6cly box to keep the speedo drive, the scale of the e36's EWS problem depends on the year some have the ews built in and some do not, non ewsII cars the wiring can be bypassed. If you use a e36 engine you need the e30 sump.

The m10 gear box does not fit the m42/44

[civjdh]

Thanks for the super quick reply, bud. What's the chances of a reply from another Jason not more than 20 miles away!

I'll need to get a look to see which model of immobiliser it is; I've got Carsoft available; maybe could interrogate the ECU and somehow disable the immobiliser prior to removal if its the later variant. Don't suppose you've any idea how to differentiate between the two?

[Jason_323i]

Hi

You can tell by the ecu code, given the age you might be okay. You got an e21 yet

J

[civjdh]

Yeah,

Had the car for a couple of years now; the comparatively poor performance and decreasing oil pressure have finally swung me towards the engine swap. Will see if I've got any pics kicking about I can put on.

Should be the earlier immobiliser system, turns out to be a late 94 car, some research shows 01/95 to be the cut-off point.

Don't suppose you know of a 6cyl box; the e30 speedo conversion looks reasonably scary! Unless I'm over-reacting to the task!

Jason

[Jason_323i]

Hi

Not that many e21's up this way only now of 3 and I have sold them all parts at one time.

Only Ashrad has carried out the speedo swap a lot easier to add a small digital speedo, if you can not find an e21 box

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Digital-Speed ... _804wt_905

[civjdh]

Bought some spares off a guy called James from through Falkirk way who said there was another Jason with an E21.

With regard to the elec speedo conversion, I found this forum discussion about mounting magnets on the prop and using a hall sensor to power the speedo. Was written by another Jason- surely not!

http://www.bmwland.co.uk/forums/viewtopic.php?t=566

Alternatively, there is a guy on the Vauxhall Migweb forum who makes pulse convertors- would seem likely that this could make an E30 speedo work in conjunction with prop mounted magnets?

http://www.picbits.co.uk/catalog/produc ... cts_id/168

Slightly unrelated, but had intended to rebush suspension whilst engine is out- car doesn't have a rear anti roll bar- were these optional? Any thoughts on bush suppliers? There is a seller on ebay selling 'StrongFlex' bushes- considerably cheaper than some of the better known brands, don't know of these are any good tho?

Finally, managed to pull the car out the garage today for a quick photo- not looking its best, but not too shabby an old girl with a wash and polish!

Cheers

[civjdh]

Picture didn't appear, see this link:

[Jason_323i]

easy option buy this

http://www.bmwe21.net/forum/viewtopic.php?f=5&t=13310

Jason

[civjdh]

Have PM'd the seller- I agree would make for a far easier conversion.