1.9 twin cam engine

[Alan W]

Hi.. l may be going to have a look at a pre facelift 1998 1.9ltr Z3 with 60k miles on clock.. lm fairly sure looking at the photos that its the double overhead cam lump.. l just wanna know are these reliable engines and what to look out for? Thanks peeps

 

[Stevo7682]

One thing is viscous fan and water pump m44 twin cam still utilises it whereas my single cam m43 has an electric fan . Usual split air intake hoses as with most z3.

 

[Alan W]

Thanks steve.. so that would be a new water pump for starters as a precaution.. hopefully thats a straightforward job lol!!

 

[Stevo7682]

Easier than the 6 cyl as shorter engine ( more accessible at the front once cowls removed)

 

[Alan W]

Whats the road tax on a 1.9 these days, single and twin cam?

 

[Parmst]

my m43 £270 tax

 

[ZTec]

Whats the road tax on a 1.9 these days, single and twin cam?

£235 for the twin cam M44

 

[Stevo7682]

All zed from 1.9 m43 to 3.2 z3m before 1st march 2001 all £235 after that tax is emissions based

 

[Synclare]

Can't stay away eh?! M44 twin cam is apparently well liked and very tuneable. Wait to see what @windym has done after changing his M43 singtle cam to the earlier M44 twin cam . . . . if he ever returns!

 

[Marvin]

I have had my 98' M44 for just over 2 years. Bought with 130,000 miles and now has 178,000 miles. Not one second of engine problems. I drive it 100 miles round trip to work and back 5 days a week. Replaced the clutch this year, and replaced ALL the fluids when I bought it. Love driving the roads at night with the top down. Just beautiful. Marvin

 

[Alan W]

This is the engine.. can someone confirm if it is twin cam and what M no it is?

 

[ZTec]

This is the engine.. can someone confirm if it is twin cam and what M no it is?

M44 twin cam

 

[Alan W]

Thank you

 

[ZTec]

M44 twin cam

This is the M43 single cam

 

[Ianmc]

Have been very pleased with my M44 bought a month or so ago with 76K on. Have replaced thermostat (gauge not getting up to temp) and about to replace camshaft sensor (some intermittent faults). Engine great for local running, 40mpg is a bonus.

 

[Paul Rice]

Had my M44 for 4 years. Only mechanical,new thermostat the rest cosmetic. Now done 96k and returning 40mpg+ love it to bits

 

[Faheem]

Some have cold start issues - I had this with mine and @littlefeller I believe has had the issue with his zed. Also a quick Google search will show that its not too uncommon of an issue.

Worth noting whether the car is at operating temperature when you arrive.

Mine had similar sort of miles when I bought it and to be honest the issues didn't start till a year and a half after I'd bought the car.

Here is a video showing you what it was like to start the car with a cold engine (after it had sat for 7 or more hours)

View: https://youtu.be/6FGai2cl-dg

View: https://youtu.be/aqo8_hI8zXE


Issue was significantly improved with an engine flush and changing the oil to 0w40 but occasionally, a couple of times a month the roughness is present on a cold start. Nowhere near as bad as before though.

 

[hard top]

Had my M44 for 4 years.

Had mine for 6, never had a problem.
Oct 96 and it flew through every MOT.

 

[BladeRunner919]

Great engine. A lumpy idle is pretty normal, but improved with a coil-on-plug conversion so presumably is just a function of the coil pack, and nothing to worry about. Like any car of this age you'd want to look at the cooling system, particularly the two plastic outlets that attach to the head - one at the back and one under the inlet manifold. They should definitely be changed unless there is evidence that they already have been.

 

[Tracy Dee]

Mines a M44 engine with 78 k now on it with regular oil services the engine is in great condition it was checked last service last year the garage said it was in great condition burns no oil at all.
Only issue I had was really rough idle turned out it was idle valve gasket but replaced both gasket and valve.
Few other issues which are now sorted but non with the engine unit.