E30 318iS Tuning(need 180bhp)

I hate to say this, but you stand no chance of getting 180BHP from a M42 engine, unless you add a turbo or supercharge the engine.

Chip and larger throttle body will release an extra 20BHP if your lucky, i don't think there is much to be gained from the exhaust.

Mag recently ran an article on a turbo charged 318is, developed 190BHP, the M42 engine is too high a compression to turn the boost up high.

I have to disagree with this.

Ant (who runs the Tuning Zone on the http://www.e30zone.co.uk ). Has some M42 chips in the pipeline which are looking very promising. Check out the site or mail him at chips@e30zone.co.uk .

I have to say Im a sceptic on this one. It comes a sstandard with 143bhp and the most you will probably get would be 160bhp. See B Purcells great site on tuning his 318is.
http://www.esatclear.ie/~bpurcell/

However to acheiev 180bhp you are talking serious money investment for a supercharger etc as Mark R pointed out and balance that cost against buying a 320is with the s14 engine and you will find the 320is wiould probably be cheaper.

Sorry - 136bhp not 143bhp

Re-mapped ECU, induction system, cat back exhaust, big-bore throttle body, a power pulley, gas-flowed head, performance cams, lightened/ balanced engine parts? To fit a turbo will have to lower the compression i.e new pistons (shorter engine life!)

Or the (much) cheaper/better option, swap the engine!

Swapping engines is a difficult job. Trouble is to change for a 4 pot to 6 pot you need the engine loom also. Cheaper option again would be to buy a 325i.

Think your better off doing the usual mods and seeing what kind of improvements you can get. Plus know what your car was like in standard for. Then if it's not enough move on to a 6 pot or M3.

16" Alpinas will look the muts but it'll slow accelaration a bit. Can't beat 14"s for that.

The loss of grip is more likely due to poor quality tyres as the 14" x-spokes are only 0.5 " narrower than the 15"/16". Also, bear in mind the E30 will naturally understeer on a light throttle but will oversteer with a good dose of the right boot!

Really the change in accelaration speeds will not be that noticeable, only said that coz i would like a set of 16" Alpinas but can't afford them.   So i was making myself feel better about the 14".

The iS came as standard with Steelies & trims, any kind of alloy wheel was an extra.

Best reason for going to a 15"/16" wheel is the better choice of decent tyres at afford able prices, in 14" you are limited to Pirelli, Michelin or the **** stuff like Kwik Fit Specials.

Edited by Nigel

15" BBS rims are the best for a E30!!!!!!!  possibly lower it as well?

Tyres are one of the most inportant aspects of the handling of a car - get the best you can afford!

Remember when fitting an induction kit, unless its enclosed and/or a cold air feed your will actually lose power cause of heat of engine - colder the air the more dense it is, the most dense it is the more oxygen - better combustion.

'Chipping' the engine will increase petrol comsumption, also chips work better with cat back exhaust (back box won't do anything!) and a cone filter.

Skim the head too, will increase compression.

Job done. Good luck!

Edited by Wired

Good luck finding a set of BBS split rims with a 4 stud pattern!! The odds are better for finding the Alpinas but even then your looking at the £500+ mark for a rough set that need a refurb.

Yeah, i've got the 14" x-spokes, i love the look on the E30 but when it takes as long to clean the wheels as the rest of the car i sometimes long for some lovely 3 spoke alloys.