[Shindog32]

This was probably already covered on here so maybe someone can just point me in the right direction?
I have a 2006 325 E90 and I just paid it off. It has 63000 miles and the warranty just ran out. I thought about trading it in and getting a 335 but This car is a weekend driver, I have some real nice offset tires/weels and I just love the Gunmetal Graphite color. So I wanna spend some money on this thing! I wanna make it fun to drive and sound good as well.
Can I get some suggestions, part numbers, aftermarket distributors etc... and most of all some recomendations for the best performance upgrades to make a 325 perform like a 335 or better!
Thanks in advance for any suggestions and information you can offer.
Shindog

[N55]

For the moneys sake, you're better off buying a 07/08 335i.

[Eric335]

Originally Posted by Shindog32

This was probably already covered on here so maybe someone can just point me in the right direction?
I have a 2006 325 E90 and I just paid it off. It has 63000 miles and the warranty just ran out. I thought about trading it in and getting a 335 but This car is a weekend driver, I have some real nice offset tires/weels and I just love the Gunmetal Graphite color. So I wanna spend some money on this thing! I wanna make it fun to drive and sound good as well.
Can I get some suggestions, part numbers, aftermarket distributors etc... and most of all some recomendations for the best performance upgrades to make a 325 perform like a 335 or better!
Thanks in advance for any suggestions and information you can offer.
Shindog

Well, ill let you down easy.

The 325 cannot get close to the 335 performance without spending $5k+ on a supercharger kit, which would also require a beefed up tranny/cutch which is even more $$$. If you want a performance increase, you have to trade up to a 335. Otherwise, there is maybe a 50-75 whp max increase (new manifold, catless exhaust, downpipes, intake, dyno tune, etc) and thats spending some big bucks where you might as well get a 335. Trading up to a 335 is more cost-effective than supercharging your 325 or spending a lot of money on making your car faster naturally aspirated. As far as exhaust, you have several options:

-Remus Sport

-BMW Performance Exhaust

-Resonator Delete (cheapest)

-Magnaflow Mufflers

-Billygoat

-Many more that im not listing

As far as cosmetic upgrades, there is the world available to you. Sounds like youve got the rims/tires covered. You might want to look into coilovers, bumpers, headlights/taillights, angel eyes, BBK/rotors/calipers, etc...

Another angle you could use to improve the handling of your car would be to strip out the interior and go for a light-weight car. This can also get expensive when you consider CF body-panels, light-weight BBK, race-seats, etc, and would also make the car a bitch to daily-drive. Although, i find a stripped, light-weight car would be pretty fun (the E90 cant get that light though, sorry).

Honestly, might even want to look at cars like the S2000, Evo, STI, or SI for cheaply modded weekend cars. My choice would be heavily modding a STI or S2000

[N8N]

The downside to buying a 335 is that immediately you will start looking at tunes, FMICs, etc.

I thought that I could be happy not working on my car after test driving it and so far, all I've done to it was basic clean-up, maintenance, getting a good winter wheel/tire setup, spare, jack, etc. and purchasing little accessories to make it suitable for long road trips. Well, that and a Cobb AP (In my defense, I lasted two whole months...)

[skatenc123]

^dude lasted longer then me. i had my cobb before i even got to pick up the car ahha.

---To OP. If you want a car that is just fast youd be better of to trade for a 335i. But you could also go the route of making it an amazing looking car by doing exterior/interior mods.

[Shindog32]

First of all THANKS to all the recommendations. So far it seems pretty anonymous... trade it for a 335! I just don’t want a new car note right now. Maybe just the X5 intake a CAI, a tuner (if they make one) and exhaust. That can’t be more than 5K can it? Don’t laugh at me but what is a Cobb?

[Thrakos]

If I'm not mistaken.... http://www.cobbtuning.com/

[Shindog32]

Awww, its a tuner and they dont make one for the 325 :-(

[Michael Schott]

Originally Posted by Shindog32

First of all THANKS to all the recommendations. So far it seems pretty anonymous... trade it for a 335! I just don’t want a new car note right now. Maybe just the X5 intake a CAI, a tuner (if they make one) and exhaust. That can’t be more than 5K can it? Don’t laugh at me but what is a Cobb?

Do not waste money on engine performance mods on a 325!!! Unless you want to spend big bucks to fit a turbo or supercharger the gains will be at best 10-15 hp.

You will be better off putting your money into suspension or body modifications. If I were you I'd upgrade my wheels and tires and add coil over shocks and springs. M Sport body mods are nice and look great.

[theblackmamba]

Originally Posted by Shindog32

First of all THANKS to all the recommendations. So far it seems pretty anonymous... trade it for a 335! I just don’t want a new car note right now. Maybe just the X5 intake a CAI, a tuner (if they make one) and exhaust. That can’t be more than 5K can it? Don’t laugh at me but what is a Cobb?

unanimous.

[Turb0Surge]

Originally Posted by Shindog32

This was probably already covered on here so maybe someone can just point me in the right direction?
I have a 2006 325 E90 and I just paid it off. It has 63000 miles and the warranty just ran out. I thought about trading it in and getting a 335 but This car is a weekend driver, I have some real nice offset tires/weels and I just love the Gunmetal Graphite color. So I wanna spend some money on this thing! I wanna make it fun to drive and sound good as well.
Can I get some suggestions, part numbers, aftermarket distributors etc... and most of all some recomendations for the best performance upgrades to make a 325 perform like a 335 or better!
Thanks in advance for any suggestions and information you can offer.
Shindog

Will not happen^

You're better off trading it in for a 335.

[Mavus]

Originally Posted by Shindog32

This was probably already covered on here so maybe someone can just point me in the right direction?
I have a 2006 325 E90 and I just paid it off. It has 63000 miles and the warranty just ran out. I thought about trading it in and getting a 335 but This car is a weekend driver, I have some real nice offset tires/weels and I just love the Gunmetal Graphite color. So I wanna spend some money on this thing! I wanna make it fun to drive and sound good as well.
Can I get some suggestions, part numbers, aftermarket distributors etc... and most of all some recomendations for the best performance upgrades to make a 325 perform like a 335 or better!
Thanks in advance for any suggestions and information you can offer.
Shindog

325i is a great car!!

If you want to make your car fun to drive stiffen up your suspension and put on front m3 bits (to start). It will handle very well. After that you can decide if you want to make additional improvements, such as brakes.

Then, you can get three stage intake manifold from 330i and get AA tune (Active Autowerke).

If you want a significant power increase get 335i and tune it. You will need to upgrade suspension and some other parts to handle increased power. I would also get extended warranty.

If you are happy with your car and have 3-5K budget you can take it to the next level and have an excellent reliable machine. Power is useless unless you can handle it, as proven on the track every single time! lol

GL!

[cuiter23]

Like everyone else already pointed it, it is difficult to get gains from a NA engine without getting a supercharger which will cost you a lot.

Easiest way would to be get a 335i and a JB4 tune

[ctuna]

With the addition of a three stage intake and a tune.

Anyway here is the subforum for NA tunes and mods for the N52

http://www.e90post.com/forums/forumdisplay.php?f=35

I don't think its worth trying to turbo it though.

[Shindog32]

Originally Posted by ctuna

With the addition of a three stage intake and a tune.

Anyway here is the subforum for NA tunes and mods for the N52

http://www.e90post.com/forums/forumdisplay.php?f=35

I don't think its worth trying to turbo it though.

THANK YOU! Good stuff! Now I just gotta find a 3 stage intake.

[martyp]

I would keep the 325 if it's paid off, de-badge it (remove the "325i"), make it look cool and enjoy it. The 325 will have less maintenance issues than the 335. Mine's up to 200,000 kms now and minor things had to be replaced so far and I don't baby my car.

[m@rco]

Originally Posted by martyp

I would keep the 325 if it's paid off, de-badge it (remove the "325i"), make it look cool and enjoy it. The 325 will have less maintenance issues than the 335. Mine's up to 200,000 kms now and minor things had to be replaced so far and I don't baby my car.

+1

Keep the car! Apart from some maintenance, you'll be perfectly fine until at least 150,000 miles... Save all the money you'd otherwise spend on minor performance improvements of an NA engine. Put the amount of money that you used to spend on car payments into a savings account. I bet you'll be able to buy a nice car (with much smaller loan requirements) in 5 years from now...

Don't waste your money on a car unless you're really loaded and already have house, been to around the world, drove on the German autobahn to really experience what highway driving is, and then, maybe some money on a new set of wheels