|
|
Post Reply 
|
| Author | |
jolf 
Newbie 
Joined: 19-August-2003 Location: United Kingdom Status: Offline Points: 36 |
 Topic: 320i E30 cheap modsPosted: 19-August-2003 at 21:45 |
|
hello there, I have recentley bought a F reg 320iSE and I am looking for cheap ways to make it quicker IE: things i can do myself, i'm pretty sure nothing has been done to the engine so far so please help!
Edited by jolf |
|
 |
|
| Sponsored Links | |
|
|
|
paul325i
Really Senior Member II 
Joined: 23-January-2003 Location: United Kingdom Status: Offline Points: 666 |
Posted: 20-August-2003 at 00:06 |
|
Firstly you will want to give it the once over before you tinker, just to make sure its all running sweet. There are several chips available for the 320i details of which can be found on the e30zone www.e30zone.co.uk , they make a good difference to the 320i. The norm is to get it breathing better ie a panel filter or an induction kit which ever takes your fancy, and a good quality exhaust system. The FSE 'power boost valve' rising rate fuel pressure regulator is quite good, and once set up makes a difference to the performance. If your looking to make it 'quicker' on the road your best bet is to look into uprated suspension for your car, changing the shocks and springs for sportier ones will completely change the way the car handles. hope that gives you an idea or two.
|
|
|
|
|
b318isp
Moderator Group
Joined: 10-October-2002 Location: Ireland Status: Offline Points: 2057 |
Posted: 20-August-2003 at 09:55 |
|
Unfortunately, the 320i is one engine with does not have many cheap upgrades. As paul325i says, you can start with with improving the air intake which may get 1-2bhp. A better exhaust and header helps a few more bhp. After that, get a custom chip.
Another avenue is to look at a 2.5 conversion (I'd favour this route - it's probably cheaper). I am sceptical of the benefits of the FSE on Motronic cars. They are supposed to run at a constant pressure - and I can't see the logic of how they work anyway. I agree about upgrading the suspension - especially looking at fitting a 14.5mm rear anti-roll bar and beefing up the dampers. Don't forget about upgrading the driver too! |
|
|
|
|
dlg_e30
Groupie
Joined: 24-March-2003 Location: United Kingdom Status: Offline Points: 52 |
Posted: 20-August-2003 at 15:21 |
|
From personal experience i can reccomend a good quality induction kit (i use Ramair but im biased cause i work for them), on my car this seemed to help the low down pick up and beefs up the engine note somewhat too!
If you search on here under the 3 series forum there is a thread about chips, a guy is selling the Alpina chip for abut 50, this is an easy diy fitment which involves replacing the standard map with an alpina version and my motor felt transformed after this mod. Again low down pick up is noticeably better, and the car is smoother and stronger throughout the whole rev range, pick up when overtaking is much quicker. I dont know if these mods made any increase to the BHP and to be frank i dont care, the car is better to drive and thats what i wanted to achieve, i have in the past fallen for the mistake of trying to get big power out of normal engines and it just isnt worth the outlay. As has already been said a 325 motor would be a good way to achieve 170 bhp but there is all the insurance upgrades etc to go with this, extra fuel etc etc, is it worth it? hope this helps? |
|
|
|
|
jolf
Newbie
Joined: 19-August-2003 Location: United Kingdom Status: Offline Points: 36 |
Posted: 21-August-2003 at 01:00 |
|
thanx for that people, b318is, what do you mean by driver? , it has already been dropped and stiffened, also the camber has been altered(so the top half of wheel is pointing in more) and it has got a quickshift steering rack and all bushes uprated to polyflex ones, so she handles really well. dig cheers for that bit of info that'll be well handy, ive always used k&n induction kits, but im not sure if its worth changing the air box cos it seems like a really good standard system, maybe if i just uprate the panel filter or even use the pipercross viper system, ive probably just swore at u twice if u work for ramair, not intentional!
|
|
|
|
|
paul325i
Really Senior Member II
Joined: 23-January-2003 Location: United Kingdom Status: Offline Points: 666 |
Posted: 21-August-2003 at 03:09 |
|
I think b318is is joking mate, talking about your driving skills to make your car faster. How do you rate the polyflex bushes jolf? I was thinking of fitting some to mine. |
|
|
|
|
mansfa
Senior Member I 
Joined: 13-February-2003 Location: United Kingdom Status: Offline Points: 147 |
Posted: 21-August-2003 at 08:52 |
|
I've got a E30 318is, cheapest Mod i've done is drill out the front plastic grill ahead of the airintake( offside front) , not sure if it made any difference, but it disnt cost a oenny, and you cant see it - ok in my books....
|
|
|
|
|
b318isp
Moderator Group
Joined: 10-October-2002 Location: Ireland Status: Offline Points: 2057 |
Posted: 21-August-2003 at 10:11 |
|
I wasn't joking! Many people talk a lot about upgrading their cars without talking about themselves.
Try and get some track time or professional coaching. I know of people with modest cars which outdrive much more exotic material due to skill alone. It can be quite cost effective and a lot of fun! Have a look at these results from a BMW Car Club event at the Knutstorp track in Sweden: http://www.bmwcs.com/mother/events/resultat/masterdriver2003.html |
|
|
|
|
dlg_e30
Groupie
Joined: 24-March-2003 Location: United Kingdom Status: Offline Points: 52 |
Posted: 21-August-2003 at 10:15 |
|
Tis ok Jolf, however i could show you some graphs regarding the viper pipercross filter vs the green twister vs the ramair maxflow filter which makes interesting reading.....
a good panel filter should make a bit of difference however mine had the K&n panel installed prior to the induction kit being fitted and the induction kit is definatly a better drive... Dave 320iSE |
|
|
|
|
kbannon
Admin Group
E39 525i Sport Individual Joined: 09-October-2002 Location: 64 Zoo Lane Status: Offline Points: 15508 |
Posted: 21-August-2003 at 10:23 |
|
Oh and I was at the front (Yaay |
|
|
Current: 2009 E60 520d "Sport" tractor
Previous: 1989 E30 320i SE 1997 E39 523i 2003 E39 525i Sport Individual |
|
|
|
|
jolf
Newbie
Joined: 19-August-2003 Location: United Kingdom Status: Offline Points: 36 |
Posted: 22-August-2003 at 23:41 |
|
thanx for your replies once again boys, i haven't been a member on this site long but everyone seems so helpful its great!! anyway, paul 325i, yeah i think them poly bushes are great, i have also got a 316i without the bushes and i really noticed a big difference to the ridigity and handling of the 320i (with the poly bushes) best cuople of hundred quid uyou can spend probably! mansfa.. i drilled the airbox in my 316i last year and it didn't make any difference although i'm told it works on some cars thanx n e way b318is i agree that alot of it is due to driver, my 316i was beaten by some kind of fiesta the other nite he either had a different engine or he was a bloody good driver.... but i don't really have the time or money to do a driving course thanx though i will bear it in mind when i get my finances sorted!!! and Dig i would be really intersted in seeing them graphs it would probably make my mind up about which one to choose, perhaps you could email them to me if u dont mind its ijolfster@aol.com thanx matey |
|
|
|
|
Rhys
Moderator Group
Coffee addict... Joined: 02-February-2003 Location: from the Latin locātiō Status: Offline Points: 10053 |
Posted: 23-August-2003 at 00:21 |
|
I fitted a standard pipercross induction kit to mine, which was realy easy to fit and looks realy nice. I get the impression it has made a difference, but then you want it to. It also sounds good.
The only problem I've been told is that once the engine warms up, the filter starts sucking in warm air and therefore performance can go down. Will have to make a cold feed for it sometime. |
|
|
V reg Rustbucket Merc C220 Cdi estate
J Reg Saab 900i 16v '63 Ford Anglia 105e deluxe R reg Honda PC50 moped.. No BMW as yet... |
|
|
|
|
jolf
Newbie
Joined: 19-August-2003 Location: United Kingdom Status: Offline Points: 36 |
Posted: 24-August-2003 at 00:07 |
|
thanx rhys, its quite handy hearing these different opinions on upgrades, because usually, you would just go for the one that the mags reccomend so keep the comments coming in cheers again
|
|
|
|
|
b318isp
Moderator Group
Joined: 10-October-2002 Location: Ireland Status: Offline Points: 2057 |
Posted: 25-August-2003 at 12:55 |
|
Rhys, don't worry about the warm air. Once you get moving it doesn't matter.
|
|
|
|
|
Post Reply
|
|
|
| Forum Jump | Forum Permissions You cannot post new topics in this forum You cannot reply to topics in this forum You cannot delete your posts in this forum You cannot edit your posts in this forum You cannot create polls in this forum You cannot vote in polls in this forum |
320i E30 cheap mods
Topic Options
b318isp wrote:
)