Difference between us/euro spec e36 m3 engine
 

I'm curious and can't really find any for sure answers as to what the difference in PARTS are in the US e36 engine which produces 240hp and the euro spec engine which creates 286/321Bhp? Obviously, the intake setup is different with a 3.5" MAF, 6 individual throttlebody's and what not. But is this the only thing that makes it different from the USA's version? Also I know the headers seem to be different too. But I can't find any other real difference's.

no governor, lol

ive heard the euro ITB's arent interchangable with the us engine.. why?

u should ask dutch.. he prolly knows!

re
 

higher compression, headers, etc.
the engine is completly different from the block up. remeber in europe premium is 98 octane or thereabouts.
instead of an engine managment system designed to keep the cat alive (us version) its got an engine managment system to create maximum volumetric efficiency.

no secondary air pump, no egr valves, no varing band o2 sensors, mixutre is constantly stoich, instead of fluxuating to keep the cat alive.
no cats obviously. its a whole nother beast.

in a nutshell
us version- keeps the tree huggers happy
euro version- keeps its balls.

HaHa, that's just too funny...
You mentioned the 98octane number. Last time I was in europe, the readings were in the similar range. It was explained to me that that was on a different scale called Ron? I don't recall exaclty, but just that the ratings in Europe were higher than here but were still in the same range. Of course I could be wrong.

Dough

you would need a euro head as well to acomodate the ITB's. also stronger cams, larger HFM and headers IIRC. Software plays a part somewhere but Im not too sure in which part. Also they got a stiffer suspension, but overall, almost the same car.

best explanation so far :D