Hi

I am after tuning tip for a E30 small bore M20 BMW 325i anyone got any ideas to give it a bit more umf?

cheers

Simon

Another good one would be - http://www.bmwe30.net/ - http://www.bmwe30.net/

Quick gains would be (cheapest first) an induction kit with a cold air ram box, new ecu chip, free flow exhaust, camshaft, engine swap. All depends on how much you want to spend and how much of a power gain you want.

Other way of changing performance to get close to the E30 M3 straighline specs (as a baseline) is simply with a Diff swap (4.1 ratio for the 3.73 you would have) which gives you better acceleration but lower top end. Done this to mine. This coupled with other engine mods could get you close to or exceed E30 M3 performance.

Rob

2,7 conversion gives you 200 brake , camshaft, zaust,filter, chip, noz , twin turbo, m5 engine , new m3 engine , etc etc etc !

 how much do u wanna spend ?

Madrab wrote: Another good one would be - http://www.bmwe30.net/ - http://www.bmwe30.net/ Quick gains would be (cheapest first) an induction kit with a cold air ram box, new ecu chip, free flow exhaust, camshaft, engine swap. All depends on how much you want to spend and how much of a power gain you want. Other way of changing performance to get close to the E30 M3 straighline specs (as a baseline) is simply with a Diff swap (4.1 ratio for the 3.73 you would have) which gives you better acceleration but lower top end. Done this to mine. This coupled with other engine mods could get you close to or exceed E30 M3 performance. Rob

Whoa you fitted a 4.1!! that thing must be undriveable! 

3.91 is about as low as i'd want to go.  The 3.73 in mine feels to low as it is.

As mentioned above search through the forum on past topics, its been raised so many times.

paul325i wrote: Madrab wrote: Another good one would be - http://www.bmwe30.net/ - http://www.bmwe30.net/ Quick gains would be (cheapest first) an induction kit with a cold air ram box, new ecu chip, free flow exhaust, camshaft, engine swap. All depends on how much you want to spend and how much of a power gain you want. Other way of changing performance to get close to the E30 M3 straighline specs (as a baseline) is simply with a Diff swap (4.1 ratio for the 3.73 you would have) which gives you better acceleration but lower top end. Done this to mine. This coupled with other engine mods could get you close to or exceed E30 M3 performance. Rob   Whoa you fitted a 4.1!! that thing must be undriveable!  3.91 is about as low as i'd want to go.  The 3.73 in mine feels to low as it is. As mentioned above search through the forum on past topics, its been raised so many times.

This was on the back of a gearbox rebuild Paul with a change in ratios with a fifth gear of 0.96:1 (hybrid) (= 3.94 final) but I have heard of a chap that did this own in Stoke to his 325is and albeit his fuel consumption was up he was very happy with it, does the IS box have closer/better suited ratios for a 4.1 final drive? Not necessarily a good change for a stock 325i then?

Rob

I don't wanna swap the engine as 2.5 is big enough for me at the moment what I would like to do is fit a "rally style" cam to give it more power low end.

I wanna use it on autotests and the like so low end grunt is the kiddie.

Chipping is it worth it not sure how much this would help. I have £1000 to burn on performance only but I want to get value for me wonga. To be honest I don't even know the stats for a 1986 M20 standard engine/setup.

Also fancy doing some tarty things like fitting the later E30 bumpers not sure how hard the are to fit to mine (it's has the chrome ones at the mo)?

All this input is great keep it coming!

Cheers

Simon  

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 ;)

The most effective mod is a 2.7 conversion.  U get loads more bottom end torque and if a cam is fitted along with some head work (rempa essential of course) then it will make a 2.5 feel very weak.

Ive had numerous 325s and I currently own a Alpina C2 2.7.  The 325i simply does not compete.

I have a freind with a 325i with cam, chip, airfilter, 6 branch manifold, exhuast, big bore throttle body etc etc...........does not come close to the 2.7.

I am currently selling my 93k 210 bhp Alpina engine.  Get in touch if your interested.

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 ...

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

 have u thought about a dash mounted upright handbrake lever ? 

Yup I so far have the following shopping list for this year...

Hydraulic handbrake kit
Rally Cam If anyone does one!
Sparco Roll Cage
2x Sparco Sprint Seats
2x Sparco 4 point Harnesses
Fire extinguisher
FIA Masterswitch

OOOOOhhhhh haha ha!

Anyone know who does a Rally Cam for the 325i M20?

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 ?

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

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.