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Old 03-12-2011, 07:43 AM   #1
slocar
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Default m42 vs m44 low end torque

I have a m42 318i sedan (Turner chip, Ansa Sport exhaust); my dad has a m44 318i sedan (completely stock), both 5 sp, both same 3.45 open diff, almost identical cars.

Anyway, what I noticed having had the chance to drive my dad's car a little more lately is that his car pulls like a freight train in the lower revs compared to my car. My car seems rather .. dead in comparison, below about 3000 rpm. Above that (and this could be because of the chip), I really don't think his car could touch mine.

Does this sound about right or is something wrong with mine (or does my dad have a freak of nature m44)?

edit: 205k miles on the m42, 162k on m44

Last edited by slocar; 03-12-2011 at 08:47 AM.
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Old 03-12-2011, 10:35 AM   #2
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Sounds sorta right, my M42 seems to have its power band about 500 rpm higher than the M44 that I've ridden in.. Either the ECM programming or the cams of combination it seems like the M42 wants to be flogged a little more...

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Old 03-12-2011, 05:00 PM   #3
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It could also be if your M42 has the DISA valve missing. The M44 DISA would tune the manifold for lower RPM and I've seen DISA delete plates on the M42 motors. Just a thought
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Old 03-12-2011, 07:12 PM   #4
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From some marketing propaganda introducing the M44 in the 1996 model year:
[The] dual resonance intake system [DISA], which provides two intake-pipe lengths to the cylinders according to engine speed, continues but has been refined to improve serviceability and match the new engine. It now changes from low- to high-speed setting at 4200 rpm, 600 rpm sooner than before and a good indicator of the engine's improved torque characteristics.
I'm tempted to add an LED indicating the change.

Last edited by John Firestone; 03-12-2011 at 07:19 PM.
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Old 03-12-2011, 07:21 PM   #5
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That ANSA exhaust might also be a minor contributor- when I took the aftermarket exhaust off of my M42 and replaced it with an OEM Eberspaecher, performance actually seemed to increase!

Regardless, I'll take an M42 anyday over an M44.
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Old 03-12-2011, 09:15 PM   #6
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Still got the DISA on my m42 and it's in working order.

I took the stocker off and put the Ansa on myself ... cant' say I noticed the difference aside from sound.

Either way, like I said, the m42, overall seems to pull better up top, but I was just wondering about the low end.

John Firestone,

yeah, that would be kinda cool to have. VTEC just kicked in yo! If you do decide to do it, let me know what you have it wired up to.
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Old 03-15-2011, 06:44 PM   #7
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The DISA funtion on my 95 is unmistakable, at about 4200 it lunges forward when it opens. Feels like a 4 barrel opening on mechanical secondaries...

(I know I know, you young punks are thinking,,, Whats a 4 barrel?) LOL

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Old 03-15-2011, 10:32 PM   #8
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Quote:
Originally Posted by pdxmotorhead View Post
Feels like a 4 barrel opening on mechanical secondaries...

(I know I know, you young punks are thinking,,, Whats a 4 barrel?) LOL
Perhaps a more familiar analogy would be "feels like teh V-TEC kickin' in, yo!" LOL
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Old 03-15-2011, 11:15 PM   #9
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I've owned 3 318ti's and my avus '96 and Schwarz '97 both ran smoother and pulled harder than my clubsport and my '91 318i(euro e36). I let youngnikolai and HuGo drive my '97 and both were impressed by how well it ran. Nikolai had a '95 and HuGo had a DASC'd '96. On top of that, I've driven quite a few of other members ti's and the M44 always felt smoother/solid compared to the M42. Forged internals or not, M42's just felt janky to me.
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Old 03-15-2011, 11:33 PM   #10
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I think the feel is partially the sound, the M42 has a much more metallic sound when revved, Probably because the forged crank is stiffer and does not absorb the power impulse as much. I noticed this when I did a rebuild on a chevy V8 and dropped a forged crank in, the engine was louder....Sortof.. I know my M42 is way happy up near redline, compared to mid range, I wish it was easier to adjust the DISA setpoint, I think if it hit at 3800 and WOT it would be way cool.
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Old 03-16-2011, 04:41 AM   #11
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Quote:
Originally Posted by cooljess76 View Post
I've owned 3 318ti's and my avus '96 and Schwarz '97 both ran smoother and pulled harder than my clubsport and my '91 318i(euro e36). I let youngnikolai and HuGo drive my '97 and both were impressed by how well it ran. Nikolai had a '95 and HuGo had a DASC'd '96. On top of that, I've driven quite a few of other members ti's and the M44 always felt smoother/solid compared to the M42. Forged internals or not, M42's just felt janky to me.
Pretty much confirms what I've experienced too.

I will say, near redline, I love everything about the m42, but as an engine in a car that spends most it's time below 4000 rpm in traffic, the m44 feels much nicer.

edit: ANyone think the longer intake piping on the m44 could be giving it a few ft-lb extra down low?

Last edited by slocar; 03-16-2011 at 06:14 AM.
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Old 03-16-2011, 09:21 AM   #12
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That's what you see in the torque curves. I'll see if I can find them.
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Old 03-16-2011, 02:20 PM   #13
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Spec. sheet on the engines show the same horsepower with the M44 developing three more ft lbs of torque. I don't know if that would make a seat of the pants difference.
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Old 03-16-2011, 04:03 PM   #14
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Spec sheets just look at maximum hp/tq. It does not take into consideration how the power is made, what the power curve looks like, how long the engine stays at the maximum tq.

A stock m42 E36 with DISA has a definite hole in the powerband right around 4500 to 5100RPM.

My car makes great torque down under 4800, but makes crappy tq after 4800rpm. Horsepower goes up dramatically after 5000RPM.
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Old 03-16-2011, 06:22 PM   #15
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I remember letting Hugo drive my car around the parking lot at one of the meets. He was trying to spin the tires and thought something was wrong with the car until I informed him the ASC+T was on
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