HELP: buying M44 not sure

[BigKahunaE36]

Please help me figure out if the engine im trying to buy is real M44.

the seller told me its from 1998 318i but the engine comes with black valve cover and the intake manifold is the rectangular shape on top, and also, the oil dipstick is located infront left side of the engine. To me this looks like the older M42 engine. what do you guys think? HELP

[Philly]

M44


M42



Chances are it is what it looks like... id find something else.

[BigKahunaE36]

Okay. The funny thing is that he insist it's from 1998 318.

[dguzzardo22]

if youll pay for shipping ill sell u my m44 to help fund my swap ..

[BigKahunaE36]

How much are you selling it for? How many miles, what does it come with and how much is the shipping? What motor are you thinking of swapping?

[dguzzardo22]

i want a s50 s52 . mabey a m series .

but almost everything on the motor will stay on the motor. it has about 190 mi on it yes i know its high but i drive the car daily and she is my baby. so she was well taken care of. i trust it to drive me anywhere . still have all the factory ac on it rad, and everything . i only replaced the batt the starter and the alternator. and had my a/c re done this past summer with new freon . other than that ive never had any problems .

i some what use the car as a show car with the air sus. on it and i have my full interior redone so its not a normal car hence i want to upgrade with the m3 motor.

i honestly dont know on shipping nor i dont know how much the motor would be . idk how much they run for ?


pm me if you want any more info..

[dave45056]

One really easy way to tell the difference between an M42 and M44 from the outside is to look at the camshaft position sensor. On the M42 it's on the exhaust cam (left side of engine), M44 has it on the intake cam (right side of engine).

Some people think you can tell by the oil filter cover, but late M42 engines have plastic covers just like the m44.

[pdxmotorhead]

My 1995 M42 looks like the upper picture.
I have the rear dipstick as well.

Dave

[CirrusSR22]

I think that M42 picture is from when they were installed in the E30 (late models). It had a different intake which didn't have the DISA system. The M42 in the E36 had the same looking intake as the M44.

[pdxmotorhead]

Yea the lower looks like a E30 setup....

Dave