BMW 2002 motor swap

track car so we can make mods that my not work for the street...

Been down the hot m10 route, fun but want Miata type reliability and cheap motor, complete long block JDM 1k 99/00. Layout of the Mazda motor has intake and exhaust on the wrong sides.

Here are my needs?

CA pump gas - no race gas

stockish motor 170/180 whp 4 cly same layout as M10 (intake/exahust)

5 speed trans (NO 6 speed) seen to many blown motors from bad down shifts with 6 speeds, this rules out S2k.

Do not want narrow power band (torque).

Able to use AEM EMS-4, NO MSDIY too much hassle for the effort. AEM EMS-4 much better solution, install base map then let Church do his magic

let me know what you think...

thanks grant

Eco or Duratek comes to mind.North south conversions already availble.

Maybe expand the thught process to include the GM 60 degree V6 family. The MGB guys are all over this one hence lots of well developed engine management support and swap experience. It is a tidy little engine for fitting in cramped quarters.

One look into my garage gives me evil thoughts of a Rover 4.0L in my 02.

In reply to NOHOME:

Agreed that the GM 60 degree series is a good motor for this. Pull a 3400 and t5 out of a mid 90s camaro and you are good to go. If you want more power later you can swap up to one of the newer motors that replaced the 3800 (this is a 90 degree, too wide) in the GM mid and full size cars.

tr8todd wrote: One look into my garage gives me evil thoughts of a Rover 4.0L in my 02.

All aluminum and makes good power on crap gas. Not a bad thought

BMW M42. A little down on power but it's light, people have done it before, and it's certainly been proven in the track environment. Minimal body mods and it keeps it in the family.

crankwalk wrote:

tr8todd wrote: One look into my garage gives me evil thoughts of a Rover 4.0L in my 02.

All aluminum and makes good power on crap gas. Not a bad thought

Would be awesome . . . but to put a 4 or 5 spd behind it isn't cheap.

• ~$250 for bellhousing
• ~$250 for flywheel

If you are lucky, you can find a 61-63 Buick Special bellhousing (several on fleabay for $300+) and add a 4spd (T10, muncie, saginaw) or GM T5.

They are out there if you know where to look. I bought a rusted out running modified TR8 off ebay last month for $835.
Picked up a complete 4.0 and a R380 manual trans in the junk yard last summer from a P38 for $600.

mr2peak wrote: BMW M42. A little down on power but it's light, people have done it before, and it's certainly been proven in the track environment. Minimal body mods and it keeps it in the family.

Quit promoting these things thus driving up their values.....I miss 5 years ago when you had to pay people to take the bmw 4's

stroked 4AGE(aka 7AGE) properly built it should plant about 170 crank hp, it should have a decent(wide) powerband. it can be bolted to a T50trans(kinda weak), or with an adapter the W5x series box(bullet proof) - both 5 speeds.

mr2peak wrote: BMW M42. A little down on power but it's light, people have done it before, and it's certainly been proven in the track environment. Minimal body mods and it keeps it in the family.

Check out the GRM project from ~2005. They even said somebody should do it in a 2002!

you rang?

Needs one more rotor and fuel injection .

Mind you, the fuel tanker the OP would have to tow around the track might slow him down a little.

mr2peak wrote: BMW M42. A little down on power but it's light, people have done it before, and it's certainly been proven in the track environment. Minimal body mods and it keeps it in the family.

This. And it's pretty much a perfect fit in place of an M10. Motor mounts are pretty much in the same place, you can still use an M10 driveshaft, etc. With one of the proven chips out there you can get up around the 160hp range reliably at least.

Does it have to be a 4 cylinder? What about a BMW I-6? I'm surprised no-one has mentioned the S14 - pricey, but not (I think) worse than the S2000 mill.

You know, I was just going to post a similar question today...

Nathan JansenvanDoorn wrote: Does it have to be a 4 cylinder? What about a BMW I-6? I'm surprised no-one has mentioned the S14 - pricey, but not (I think) worse than the S2000 mill.

for similar money to rebuild an S14 (and they are getting rare) you can build an M42 into an S42.. Yes, BMW made them.. and their heads flow better than the S14 so they make more power.

I should have an M44 for sale soon.. 154,000 miles, still going strong. just need to get it out of my Ti

In reply to mad_machine:

Got any links for S42-clone info?

singleslammer wrote: Agreed that the GM 60 degree series is a good motor for this. Pull a 3400 and t5 out of a mid 90s camaro and you are good to go. If you want more power later you can swap up to one of the newer motors that replaced the 3800 (this is a 90 degree, too wide) in the GM mid and full size cars.

Tell me more can you get new GM create type motor like this? the exhaust might be a bit of work?

granth wrote: and cheap motor,

Now I ask all those around who have posted... ( I accept this "challenge" as well) Which of the options above holds to this criteria????

I thought the M42 oil pan and the 02's steering linkage occupied the same space? I know that swap has been done, but I seem to remember it is not a drop in affair.

mtn wrote:

mr2peak wrote: BMW M42. A little down on power but it's light, people have done it before, and it's certainly been proven in the track environment. Minimal body mods and it keeps it in the family.

Check out the GRM project from ~2005. They even said somebody should do it in a 2002!

I was teasing......I've got 2 m42's currently.

As far as the fitment issue, PAGING JAKE B....

Nathan JansenvanDoorn wrote: Does it have to be a 4 cylinder? What about a BMW I-6?

An M20 swap is a TON more work than any Internet forum would have you believe. Trust me, been through that route with a friends car. Certainly doable, and I'll gladly send you as much info as I can, but it's nowhere near E30 -> M50 easy.

M50/52 etc don't come even close to fitting, the firewall ends up impracticality far back.

yamaha wrote:

mtn wrote:

mr2peak wrote: BMW M42. A little down on power but it's light, people have done it before, and it's certainly been proven in the track environment. Minimal body mods and it keeps it in the family.

Check out the GRM project from ~2005. They even said somebody should do it in a 2002!

I was teasing......I've got 2 m42's currently. As far as the fitment issue, PAGING JAKE B....

While we wait for hisself to show up, here's an M42 into 2002 swap on his site.