Tuning tips for BMW E30 325i anyone???

Timray wrote: Paul, point taken. BTW, I used to have an Alpina C2 2.5 with the 4.1 diff factory-fitted (well, Alpina-fitted) and the result, with a factory dogleg box, was 0-60 in 6.7 and a top speed limited by the gearing to 141mph. All from 190bhp. The gearing did not feel too low at the time, but today it would, because we are used to higher gearing in more recent cars. The only problem was that the dogleg box had a conspicuous gap between 2nd and 3rd and the engine fell out of the power band unless you were somewhere near the red line in 2nd.

For track use the 4.1 would be fine, but like you say i was thinking of it in a practical road application where it would have made the car a pain to drive on motorways etc. 

Good luck with the search.

Paul, point taken. BTW, I used to have an Alpina C2 2.5 with the 4.1 diff factory-fitted (well, Alpina-fitted) and the result, with a factory dogleg box, was 0-60 in 6.7 and a top speed limited by the gearing to 141mph. All from 190bhp.

The gearing did not feel too low at the time, but today it would, because we are used to higher gearing in more recent cars. The only problem was that the dogleg box had a conspicuous gap between 2nd and 3rd and the engine fell out of the power band unless you were somewhere near the red line in 2nd.

Hmmm... would you be better off with a 318iS for autotesting? You can pick up a good 318iS for £1200 and it looks as if you are going to spend a third of that on a diff... the last LSD I saw advertised was £425 (standard diffs are much cheaper).
I love my 325i Sport but a 318iS has to be better balanced. Enjoy, anyway ---

There are lots of breakers out there specialising in BMW.. just have a look in BMW Car or similar mags.

I would buy one of those rather than a recon one.. it may not need doing.. but if it does you could take it to a transmission specialist of your choice and have it set up as stiff as you want.

Nick

Fingers crossed I will have one (please god!)

DC mine is Just a 325i (not sport) does it had an LSD in it as standard or am I gonna have to source one from somewhere?

Where can you get schrick cams from in the UK. Can't find anywhere online who list them but lots who have fitted them...

PS The E30's with the non chrome bumper will they fit on me exisiting chromed bumper brackets or is there some mod work to do? I need to replace much of the front end body work so if I need to fit the later style wings I can.

Look forward to your input.

stappin

im not aware of any "rally cams" for the 325 , but i think most will agree that schrick make the best aftermarket cams off the shelf !

 if u wanna go silly u could allways get someone to profile a cam for you but i dont know if u would gain anything by doin it that way ?

no worries dude . im sure u,l have a right larf , 

 have u thought about a dash mounted upright handbrake lever ? 

for autotesting you wont need to do any performance mods at all .

 you will NEED a LSD and a non ratchet handbrake . a few sets of cheap tyres are a must  and will help if you strip the car out .

 a fiend of mine duz it in a caterham  with a 1600 xflow fitted . (110 bhp) so ur 160 brake 2.5 lump  will be more than adequate. 

 when u get into it u,l find people using novas escorts and allsorts of strange cars .  u will be at a disadvantage simply because the car u want to use is larger and heavier  than  ideal ...

Cheers Nick

Autotests are me starting block for it then Autocrosses and then with a bit of work single stage rallying hence perfomance tweeks early on to make sure I don't blow it up ;)