Hate to bump such an old thread, but I searched and found this. I'm pretty sure we've spun a rod bearing in the M44 that's in our 1997 318i and I know of a local m42 from a '93. You said you're in ohio right? I'd kinda like to pick your brain a little bit on doing the swap.

What do you need to know?

What's the reason behind removing the fpr? Does the m42 have it on the rail instead of inline? I'm not really all too familiar with the e36 or BMW's in general, but I'm not new to doing things like this. The wiring is my biggest issue, since the car is odb2, but the motor isn't. Is everything plug and play as far as getting the gauges to work? What part of ohio are you in?

Fpr is on the rail, engine and harness is pnp, car won't be ond2 anymore, it'll be obd1. Cluster works just as before, chances are you won't have asc/tcs if equipped because of the m42 being a bit different. You must make sure you get the engine/ intake/ afm, exhaust manifold with 02 sensor.

I dont get why do all this when u could of just put the m42 in and put all the m44 accesories on and manifolds, thats what I did when u blew the m44, now running a boosted m42 with all the m44 stuff, they r the same thing, noneed to do all this work, just saying

I read through other threads that said you couldn't interchange, as sensor tolerances and such were incorrect. I had a full '42 setup so installed it.

So you're saying just use the long block from the m42, but use the accessory drive, intake, and exhaust manifolds from the m44 and it should be ok? Between you guys, what do you recommend?

thats excactly what I did, just use the long block, just need to move the crack sensor to the front and install all the m44 accesories and manifols and valve cover thats all u need to do

Thanks for the information I was wondering if you just used the stock e36 318 green labeled dme (0 261 200 990)?

Or does this have to be modified for the engine to work?

Thanks!

Hm, i might be doing the same swap too.

Got a 98 318ti sports and got a m42 off a 95 318i with DME and wiring harness.
I already got the engine out of the 318ti 98 and wiring +dcm, so should everything just connect from there? Just wondering. Thanks

All you need its the m42 long block (head and block) and then just swap everything over from the m44 engine, all accessories, valve cover, manifolds etc no need to replace dme or wiring harness

Just to update the thread. I was successful swapping an m42 for an m44. I used the 990 ecu and followed the directions of this thread. I did have to also cut the small green ews wire. Without cutting the wire the engine would crank but not fire.

Hello ! i'm new in forum :) , im wondering how do you make water sensors working ? there was two sensors in m42 and one in m44 , im having problems with them on my 99' ti because the electric fan works all the time and the DME throws an error 201- lambda regulation and my motor shakes like jelly :P . I've put new lambda sensor but the problem still occurs... Any ideas how to fix it ? the m44 had electric fan and the m42 had viscose. Ill be glad if anybody can contact me on PM , and sorry for my English , im from Poland :)

Great thread! Relevant to me as I will be in a 96ti soon, and have a great M42 possibly available...