[d3l0n]

If there was a REAL NICE Budget to dump into PERFORMANCE MODS ONLY on an e90 330i, What would be the ultimate configuration? So many different things people are doing... some do "ABCD" some do "XYZ".. what about doing "ABCXYZ"?? lol.. I am seriously trying to make sense though, catch my drift?

[bavarian19]

Based on your sig, the ultimate mod would be to get a manual transmission

[TommyBahama]

good question, i would like to see some serious responses too.

[ward]

if you buy a good enough car you don't need to "mod" it

that being said, suspension (springs/sways/shocks) can all be improved on. if you're going to track the brakes can be upgraded

you get much more bang for your buck on suspension mods than HP mods, really the factory doesn't leave much on the table for you to gain with intake/exhaust...

best idea is to match the parts you throw at the car to ensure they're all designed to work together

think www.dinancars.com

[d3l0n]

Originally Posted by bavarian19

Based on your sig, the ultimate mod would be to get a manual transmission

lol... good one.. i agree. I got the auto, cuz may be situations where my mom may need to use it at times.

[TommyBahama]

Originally Posted by ward

if you buy a good enough car you don't need to "mod" it

that being said, suspension (springs/sways/shocks) can all be improved on. if you're going to track the brakes can be upgraded

you get much more bang for your buck on suspension mods than HP mods, really the factory doesn't leave much on the table for you to gain with intake/exhaust...

best idea is to match the parts you throw at the car to ensure they're all designed to work together

think www.dinancars.com

i look at their site from time to time, but they only offer 5 or 4hp gains. i guess i just lucked out getting a 330i as a hand me down.


yes i know that im talking about being handed a 45k car but what can i say that 335 really hurts.

[ward]

Originally Posted by TommyBahama

i look at their site from time to time, but they only offer 5 or 4hp gains. i guess i just lucked out getting a 330i as a hand me down.


yes i know that im talking about being handed a 45k car but what can i say that 335 really hurts.

really if anyone claims much more than that I'm a bit doubtfull of their claims

that's why HP mods on a 330 are pretty silly IMO

if you're doing it for noise, that I understand though

[RaptorKTM]

Originally Posted by bavarian19

Based on your sig, the ultimate mod would be to get a manual transmission

HAHAHA

[d3l0n]

I agree man...

Originally Posted by TommyBahama

i look at their site from time to time, but they only offer 5 or 4hp gains. i guess i just lucked out getting a 330i as a hand me down.


yes i know that im talking about being handed a 45k car but what can i say that 335 really hurts.

[yaoji]

don't forget carbonfiber top.
^^

[d3l0n]

i believe... engine swapping should be excluded... as we want to use this thread to help most of us on our decision making for mods. (I know, I do, cuz I can't decide)

[mr2guy]

An engine is an engine. As long as were not talking about real performance engines such as the ones in a S2000, F430, or GT3 RS, there is plenty of power that can be drawn out of it. Most horsepower is found in the cylinder heads. Of course you want a really nice header, exhaust, and intake, but these are just necessary to support big horsepower NA cars. After these first mods are done, I would take the head apart and replace everything with motorsports quality components. High lift and duration camshafts, light weight valves with springs that can control float in the upper RPM ranges, light weight titanium retainers, Exhaust ports would be enlarged and mirror polished, intake ports enlarged and given a lightly rough surface...etc. Next would be custom pistons and rods that decrease weight and friction over the stock pieces as well as raise the compression ratio upto the 12-13.0 to 1 range. After all this, I would replace the factory ECU with an aftermarket engine management system such as Autronic or AEM and have it tuned on the street. With all this you could absolutely smoke an E46 M3; even more so if you put the car on a little diet and get rid of heavy seats, wheels, hood and trunk, etc. All this would cost you a fortune but 400 flywheel horsepower could be obtained with the right tuner and combination of parts.

[d3l0n]

wow.. what a response... and this should run you about.... $8-10k? I think, within this thread, we also want opinions about which part over which, especially if two different manufactures make the same part with different claims.

Originally Posted by mr2guy

An engine is an engine. As long as were not talking about real performance engines such as the ones in a S2000, F430, or GT3 RS, there is plenty of power that can be drawn out of it. Most horsepower is found in the cylinder heads. Of course you want a really nice header, exhaust, and intake, but these are just necessary to support big horsepower NA cars. After these first mods are done, I would take the head apart and replace everything with motorsports quality components. High lift and duration camshafts, light weight valves with springs that can control float in the upper RPM ranges, light weight titanium retainers, Exhaust ports would be enlarged and mirror polished, intake ports enlarged and given a lightly rough surface...etc. Next would be custom pistons and rods that decrease weight and friction over the stock pieces as well as raise the compression ratio upto the 12-13.0 to 1 range. After all this, I would replace the factory ECU with an aftermarket engine management system such as Autronic or AEM and have it tuned on the street. With all this you could absolutely smoke an E46 M3; even more so if you put the car on a little diet and get rid of heavy seats, wheels, hood and trunk, etc. All this would cost you a fortune but 400 flywheel horsepower could be obtained with the right tuner and combination of parts.

[mr2guy]

The only thing is if you don't consider what I have listed above, there isn't any difference. A header from most any company is better than stock but won't make more than 3-4hp difference between the two so you go with the one that is the best quality for you money. That's been done before though and is absolutely boring to discuss. Unless we are talking a huge departure from stock levels of performance, buy whatever you can afford and don't worry about THE BEST COMBO as there isn't really much of a difference. Forced induction is the only inexpensive (relatively) way to make big power gains and there IS something to say as to which kit/company to go with. I think more important than absolute power production for the average person is reliability. The kit that gives good gains and trouble free operation should be the one you go with. You will hate having a fast, expensive car that breaks down.

[yaoji]

Originally Posted by mr2guy

The only thing is if you don't consider what I have listed above, there isn't any difference. A header from most any company is better than stock but won't make more than 3-4hp difference between the two so you go with the one that is the best quality for you money. That's been done before though and is absolutely boring to discuss. Unless we are talking a huge departure from stock levels of performance, buy whatever you can afford and don't worry about THE BEST COMBO as there isn't really much of a difference. Forced induction is the only inexpensive (relatively) way to make big power gains and there IS something to say as to which kit/company to go with. I think more important than absolute power production for the average person is reliability. The kit that gives good gains and trouble free operation should be the one you go with. You will hate having a fast, expensive car that breaks down.

i don't think that's true for bmw since the header contains cat. i would think a header swap can give you at least 10 whp with 330i.
and the engine checking light can be fixed with the way people did in s2k.
you just need a more than 8 cm long tube in between header pipe and the sensor. the exhaust won't be able to get to the sensor since there is much more flow down to the pipe than into a small tube with no opening.

[yaoji]

and i think you can feel the 10 whp difference. ^^