better e30?

[jamaican]

Hi, i'm coming from Mazda's and i'm looking to get a E30 BMW... which one would be the better platform for boost... and N/A... 318i, 323i, 325i?

i'm not sure if i want to go boosted yet or not... that's why i asked about N/A

i'm new to BMW so please don't flame

thanks...

[Rfitz25]

I dont think the E30s came in a 323i version. E46 does, E36 idunno

Id get an 88-90 325is to start with
or a rare 91 318is if you want a 4 cyl
If have the money an M3 (4cyl but hp of the 6) but $8k v $2K min to start
seems turbos are more popular that blowers for these cars if you dont want N/A
active autowerks or something check other threads
also search bimmerforums and R3VLimited forums
Good luck

[jamaican]

yea bimmerforums is down

does the 325is make easy power going N/A?

[Starmavin]

The M20 (2.5L I6) is a very sturdy motor and can lay rather good numbers N/A with internal mods and responds very well to turbocharging in its stock form.

Lack of maintenance is the #1 killer of any car and this goes for BMWs too. Yearly valve adjustments, fresh oil and filter (changed on time), and a timing belt every 70k and your m20 will most likely run forever.

Before you make plans to build up your M20 you should consider the almost common M50 motor swap. Found in the e36 cars, they are plentiful, relativity cheap and are a near mechanical drop in. (you have to build a wiring harness)

But if you want to keep your car "au naturel" you can up the output with items such as a performance chip, 24lb/hr injectors from a 4.6 or 5.0 ford, K&N air filter, cone filter and/or cold air intake, larger exhaust, headers etc. Anything else and you'll be going internal.

[yammahamma]

I've been thinking lately about the injectors from a ford...I remember you posting something about this before....they just "drop on" right? with no modification? How much hp and gas mileage increase do you see?

[Starmavin]

With my bone stock 86 325es I saw between 15-20% increase. To test, I ran it with 10 gallons 3 times with old injectors and then 3 times with new injectors, I averaged about 200-210 or 20-21 mpg average city and highway. After the 4 pintle ford (bosch actually) injectors the mileage jumped to 240-250 or 24-25 mpg city and highway. On long trips or highway mileage I see around 32+ mpg where I'd normally see 26. Now these are real numbers from gas receipts, not going by the OBC. However, it was surprisingly close to my actual numbers...

[yammahamma]

so this will work with an '89 325i convertible, right?


and didn't you say you picked up these injectors at a salvage yard?


and all I have to do is swap them out?

[jamaican]

Originally Posted by Starmavin

Before you make plans to build up your M20 you should consider the almost common M50 motor swap. Found in the e36 cars, they are plentiful, relativity cheap and are a near mechanical drop in. (you have to build a wiring harness)

But if you want to keep your car "au naturel" you can up the output with items such as a performance chip, 24lb/hr injectors from a 4.6 or 5.0 ford, K&N air filter, cone filter and/or cold air intake, larger exhaust, headers etc. Anything else and you'll be going internal.

what's M50? what numbers is it making?

and what kind of numbers would i get from the M20 if i do what you say?^^

[Starmavin]

The M50 is the DOHC motor the early ones came with out vanos (variable cam timing) the later ones all got them. 141 kW (189 hp) @ 5900 245 Nm (181 ft/lbs) @ 4200 6500 redline. The later m52 2.8 made better numbers. Where as the M20 made 125 kW (167 hp) @ 5800 222 Nm (163 ft/lbs) @ 4300 6200 redline. That may not see like much of an increase but the M50 and M52 have broader power bands than the M20. With add on performance items I suggested you'll see about 180 to 190.

[Starmavin]

Originally Posted by yammahamma

so this will work with an '89 325i convertible, right?


and didn't you say you picked up these injectors at a salvage yard?


and all I have to do is swap them out?

Yep. Of course changing the injectors isn't a picnic, and you don't have to pull your intake to do so either. Just make sure you buy new injector o-rings and lube them lightly, and I do mean lightly, with used engine oil. (don't dip them in it) Just remember used and new injectors have a tendency to stick, a few light taps while the motor is running often times will free them up.

[yammahamma]

You said to get them from a 4.6 or 5.0 Ford.....what model/year is that?

[PhatCat]

The only "better e30" is mine.

[jamaican]

Originally Posted by PhatCat

The only "better e30" is mine.

are you selling? drive to Vic!

180 seems like pretty decent power from the 325is.... umm is 200 rwhp easy N/A? how good are these motors? what's their weak point

thanks for being so patient with me... lol

btw... does this have a M50? 1993 bmw 325i , Victoria

[PhatCat]

J - i only have the M20B27, the 'e'. The one to go with if you want to get big power out of it is certainly the M20B25 out of the 'i' (so the crew here tells me). In that breath, the family I bought my e from has a 325 with 200+ rwhp, I've been told it has a stroker kit on it, and that's about all. With other mods, I'm sure you could build quite the beast.
How's things on the island these days?

[jamaican]

Originally Posted by PhatCat

How's things on the island these days?

freakin' hot!

does anyone know if the canadian 325i e30 have different engine specs from the US?