Wash Posted July 5, 2011 Report Share Posted July 5, 2011 (edited) I've been looking for a new engine in my car and my car has the N42B20A engine. I've been offered an N46 engine and I was wondering whether I could do I direct engine swap? Perhaps I may need the N46 ECU too? I've tried looking over google and have found that the engines are basically the same but are they that similar that I can swap them? Any advice given is greatly appreciated. Edited July 5, 2011 by Wash Robert81 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
simonlpearce Posted July 5, 2011 Report Share Posted July 5, 2011 Do you know what ECU is fitted to the N46, I think the N42 uses Bosch DME ME9.2...so if they were the same then it should go in... Robert81 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wash Posted July 5, 2011 Author Report Share Posted July 5, 2011 I'd have to ask the seller about that. After a bit of googling about the N46 ECU, I've found the difference between the N42 and the N46 ECU: "The N42 has 1 computer each for control of the valvetronic system and the ECU and the N46 the valvetronic control unit is integrated into the ECU" Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mit Posted July 5, 2011 Report Share Posted July 5, 2011 I reckon this will be so expensive you might as well put in a LS1 V8 like bikealarmblair The loom will be different and there are a bunch more sensors. The ECU/OBC will also be different because E9x models have condition-based servicing (and the sensors for it) rather than the old style intervals on the E46 that were just based on some parameters. Good skills if you can do it, but I'd much rather see someone put in a 335i engine Robert81 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wash Posted July 5, 2011 Author Report Share Posted July 5, 2011 The car it's coming from is an E46 2004 318i saloon, not an E90+. I think the 2005+ N46 engines is where the E90 comes in. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
simonlpearce Posted July 5, 2011 Report Share Posted July 5, 2011 Agreed with Wash these were also in E46's. Robert81 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mit Posted July 5, 2011 Report Share Posted July 5, 2011 Oh in that case it should be possible I guess Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
scrimja Posted July 5, 2011 Report Share Posted July 5, 2011 Agreed with Wash these were also in E46's. Like mine Robert81 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wash Posted July 5, 2011 Author Report Share Posted July 5, 2011 Would anyone know what sort of changes I'd have to make? Could I just take the ECU from the N46 engine and put it in the place of my N42 ECU and do the engine swap? The car it's coming from is a 2004 E46 318i saloon. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Blair Posted July 5, 2011 Report Share Posted July 5, 2011 Anything is possible with enough time, money & knowhow. For sure you'll need both ecu's from the donor car ecu (dme) & ews or it will never run. You'll prob need the light switch too & maybe the instrument cluster if your fussed about having the new engines mileage or some B&W chip tune could code the modules Think about gearbox/clutch/driveshafts are they all the same? Robert81 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rob- Posted July 6, 2011 Report Share Posted July 6, 2011 (edited) As engine swaps go, this one sucks. Sorry I can't be more constructive but... If you're going to replace the engine on a car you can basically say goodbye to a lot of the resale value. It will put off a lot of the potential buyers. IMO you'd need to get either something more powerful or something more economical. For me it would have to be an M57N or an S something or other. For the amount of messing involved you want some sort of reward for your troubles. You'll have to declare the swap to an N46 to you insurance which will no doubt hike your premium. Edited July 6, 2011 by ROB1986 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Robert81 Posted March 5, 2018 Report Share Posted March 5, 2018 (edited) On 05.07.2011 at 14:16, Wash said: I've been looking for a new engine in my car and my car has the N42B20A engine. I've been offered an N46 engine and I was wondering whether I could do I direct engine swap? Perhaps I may need the N46 ECU too? I've tried looking over google and have found that the engines are basically the same but are they that similar that I can swap them? Any advice given is greatly appreciated. Ciao!ai risolto il problema?stessa problema o io.Hello! you solved the problem. just want to make myself. Why did you have to change the motor to work? thanks. Edited March 5, 2018 by Robert81 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Robert81 Posted March 5, 2018 Report Share Posted March 5, 2018 Hello! you solved the problem. just want to make myself. Why did you have to change the motor to work? thanks. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Robert81 Posted March 5, 2018 Report Share Posted March 5, 2018 On 06.07.2011 at 00:50, Blair said: Anything is possible with enough time, money & knowhow. For sure you'll need both ecu's from the donor car ecu (dme) & ews or it will never run. You'll prob need the light switch too & maybe the instrument cluster if your fussed about having the new engines mileage or some B&W chip tune could code the modules Think about gearbox/clutch/driveshafts are they all the same? Hello! you solved the problem. just want to make myself. Why did you have to change the motor to work? thanks. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
