BMW 318i E36 M43B18 1.8 Petrol Engine (Plastic Intake) for Sale — South Africa

The M43B18 is the 1.8-litre member of BMW's M43 family, the eight-valve, chain-driven four that took over from the M40 in the E36 3 Series. With 85 kW and 168 Nm it was the engine in the everyday E36 318i, a car that sold in big numbers in South Africa and still makes up a large share of the older BMWs on the road.

This particular unit carries the plastic intake manifold. BMW changed manifold designs during the M43's production run, and the plastic type brings its own sensor positions and hose routing, so check the photos against your old engine or send us a picture before ordering.

On a used M43B18 pay attention to the timing chain tensioner and guides, oil leaks from the rocker cover and oil filter housing gasket, the plastic thermostat housing and radiator necks, and the condition of the intake rubber boots, which crack with age and cause lean running.

For workshops this is about as straightforward as a BMW engine gets: single overhead cam, port injection, a timing chain instead of a belt, and inexpensive service parts. It suits owners who want to keep a good E36 body running rather than scrap it.