Wut's The Life On 1.8 M42 Engine? - BMW Forum

shuiyuan · 01-14-2005, 09:13 PM

they old me bmw m42 1.8L 1991-? engine got very low quality, after 100k will make problems, and the I6, 3.0 engine is a lot better than that? is that ture?

Rooz · 01-14-2005, 09:36 PM

Dunno, but I just know that the 318's aren't quite the best bimmers out there (absolutely no offense meant towards any 318 owners)

Live_the_Curves · 01-14-2005, 11:32 PM

I got 178k on my engine, runs fine no problem, I have been driving with a crack head gasket since the last 60k. Overall no problem with the engine or the tranny, but the car is slow 0-60 in 10 sec, top speed 200 km/h when the limitter kicks in. 110-175 km/h pick-up is great.

ganjacyde · 01-15-2005, 12:32 AM

the m42 engine is actually one of the strongest and most well built engines bmw has ever produced. its been known to last far past the 300k range with only minor issues...

bigred318 · 01-15-2005, 12:35 AM

yeah i have heard they are built like a tank,... ive been driving my 325 around a lot my 318 has like 117000 or soooo on it... my friend has a 91 318is and its 2000 away from the big 200000.... no problems really what so ever.. atleast relating to the engine... so basicly from what i hear tanks

David

shuiyuan · 01-15-2005, 02:53 AM

so m42 engine is better than the i6 2.5 one?
never heard... so i got lucky on my 93 318is?

mmclaren · 01-15-2005, 05:16 AM

You cant comapre them, the 6 has an easier life, where the 4 has a big job for a small engine. Its all about maintance, how hard they have been driven, conditions, all playing big factors. I have an m43 engine which is also the 1.8 just an aussie model and runs perfect.

Autotechnica · 01-15-2005, 05:56 PM

Here's what I know about the 318 motor...

The 318 motor has had a much longer production life. They started producing them in the mid 80's with the E30's all the way till the end of '99 with the M44 (in total about 15 years). In the early 80's the 318 was using the M10 which was a base for a formula one motor. After the mid 80's, it was the M42. After 95' it was the M44. The 318 motor actually has some "race" components in it since it's based on the technology of the 850 5.0L V12 MS motor (also based on formula one technology). It uses high end components like forged pistons, forged crank, stainless steel exhaust manifolds, cast aluminium intake manifolds, etc. Because the motor was pretty much made to be revved, they decided to use more high end components on the 4 cyl motor. Afterall, 4 cyl motors need to be worked a lot harder than the 6 cyl motor.

Anyways, I know people with 300,000 + miles on their original 318 motor, they still run perfectly. If you do stupid things like over rev and bounce off the rev limiter constantly, any motor will die much sooner.

I have 240,000 on my original M42 motor. I'm thinking of rebuilding it though, just for fun

Bry

xxxbimmer · 01-15-2005, 07:32 PM

Wow i was considering selling my car because i have 130k on my m42

i guess i can keep it longer........i thought it was going to die at 150

yey :lol:

shuiyuan · 01-16-2005, 11:47 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Autotechnica@Jan 15 2005, 05:56 PM
Here's what I know about the 318 motor...

The 318 motor has had a much longer production life. They started producing them in the mid 80's with the E30's all the way till the end of '99 with the M44 (in total about 15 years). In the early 80's the 318 was using the M10 which was a base for a formula one motor. After the mid 80's, it was the M42. After 95' it was the M44. The 318 motor actually has some "race" components in it since it's based on the technology of the 850 5.0L V12 MS motor (also based on formula one technology). It uses high end components like forged pistons, forged crank, stainless steel exhaust manifolds, cast aluminium intake manifolds, etc. Because the motor was pretty much made to be revved, they decided to use more high end components on the 4 cyl motor. Afterall, 4 cyl motors need to be worked a lot harder than the 6 cyl motor.

Anyways, I know people with 300,000 + miles on their original 318 motor, they still run perfectly. If you do stupid things like over rev and bounce off the rev limiter constantly, any motor will die much sooner.

I have 240,000 on my original M42 motor. I'm thinking of rebuilding it though, just for fun

Bry

[snapback]272198[/snapback]

oh? i got it!! that's cool, i will keep my 93 318is, only got 130k on it
i will keeping changing the oils , do service on time make it over 200k!!
god bless me!

thekid · 01-17-2005, 01:33 AM

I just rolled over 160k miles and no problems so far and I am not exactly "gentle" with my car...

Jamez · 01-17-2005, 04:34 PM

lol I got a bmw 325is 1993 with 156100 miles on it and it runs perfect with no major maintanence on it yet. And im not exactly "gentle" with my car either.

---318is--- · 01-17-2005, 10:18 PM

I've got a m44 1.9 engine with 155 000 miles. runs perfect. I also drive it hard most of the time

Live_the_Curves · 01-17-2005, 10:52 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by shuiyuan+Jan 16 2005, 11:47 PM--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(shuiyuan @ Jan 16 2005, 11:47 PM)</div><div class='quotemain'><!--QuoteBegin-Autotechnica@Jan 15 2005, 05:56 PM
Here's what I know about the 318 motor...

The 318 motor has had a much longer production life. They started producing them in the mid 80's with the E30's all the way till the end of '99 with the M44 (in total about 15 years). In the early 80's the 318 was using the M10 which was a base for a formula one motor. After the mid 80's, it was the M42. After 95' it was the M44. The 318 motor actually has some "race" components in it since it's based on the technology of the 850 5.0L V12 MS motor (also based on formula one technology). It uses high end components like forged pistons, forged crank,* stainless steel exhaust manifolds, cast aluminium intake manifolds, etc. Because the motor was pretty much made to be revved, they decided to use more high end components on the 4 cyl motor. Afterall, 4 cyl motors need to be worked a lot harder than the 6 cyl motor.

Anyways, I know people with 300,000 + miles on their original 318 motor, they still run perfectly. If you do stupid things like over rev and bounce off the rev limiter constantly, any motor will die much sooner.

I have 240,000 on my original M42 motor. I'm thinking of rebuilding it though, just for fun

Bry

[snapback]272198[/snapback]

oh? i got it!! that's cool, i will keep my 93 318is, only got 130k on it
i will keeping changing the oils , do service on time make it over 200k!!
god bless me!

[snapback]273026[/snapback]

[/b][/quote]

I change my oil every 10,000 kms, because I use Sythetic plus the dealership told me so.

jcbrooks · 02-06-2005, 01:57 AM

Hey y'all, I'm new to the forum so it's nice to meet you. I have a BMW mechanic friend who says it's not uncommon to see 350k on a M42. I have a '94 318 that has seen heavy use on the autobahn by the original owner (stationed in Germany in the Army on 3 occasions) and now it has over 214k miles and compression is still within standards. Passed emissions test here in Connecticut recently as well. Aside from routine maintenance the only failures on this 318i have been:
-alternator at around 200k (before I bought it)
-thermostat at around 212k (did meself)

It still has the original clutch, and is in need of new bushings and suspension components. I upgraded to some basic Brembo discs and PBR organic pads when it came time to do brakes and am looking at doing an engine swap after the suspension's done. I know that the 4-6 cylinder conversion is not a popular mod and maybe for good reason yet unknown to me, but I enjoy working on my car and intend to find a low-miles m52 from a wreck complete with electrics and possibly the fresher transmission if undamaged.
Any help on this would greatly appreciated. I don't know whether I must use a different tranny when switching from M42 to M52, nor what any other major considerations of this task might be. Cheers.

John