E36 1998 323i (2.5 Ltr)

[///M3]

I have been told by a tuning company over here in the UK that I cannot change the characteristics of my engine through remapping or chipping.

As an ex-328i driver and now a 323i driver I am getting frustrated with the complete lack of power below 3k revs. I assume this is the characteristics of the VANOS engine but I can't believe this cannot be smoothed out with the Shark Injector let alone a custom job.

Your thoughts please! What mods have you used to overcome similiar problems?

[Autotechnica]

Originally posted by ///M3@Jan 11 2005, 03:53 PM
I have been told by a tuning company over here in the UK that I cannot change the characteristics of my engine through remapping or chipping.

As an ex-328i driver and now a 323i driver I am getting frustrated with the complete lack of power below 3k revs. I assume this is the characteristics of the VANOS engine but I can't believe this cannot be smoothed out with the Shark Injector let alone a custom job.

Your thoughts please! What mods have you used to overcome similiar problems?

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Isn't that just how the engine should be? Peak torque and hp are at higher RPM's are with most BMW's. It's not like a single cam V8 truck where all the torque and power comes in at low end. You want the power at higher revs. If you drive an auto, I could see how that could get annoying. Just use the right gears and find that "happy" place on the rev limiter where your car seems to pull the best.

Find an exhaust system with more back pressure, or go for the extreme and install a supercharger.

Bry

[///M3]

Isn't that just how the engine should be? Peak torque and hp are at higher RPM's are with most BMW's. It's not like a single cam V8 truck where all the torque and power comes in at low end. You want the power at higher revs. If you drive an auto, I could see how that could get annoying. Just use the right gears and find that "happy" place on the rev limiter where your car seems to pull the best.

Autotechnica, you are right, that is how it should be, I'm not saying there is a fault, what I'm saying is, I don't like it and want more BHP/Torque lower down the rev range...

Can this be found through a chip/remap or any other means... SC out of the question otherwise I would just buy an M3 Evo!!!

[Autotechnica]

Originally posted by ///M3@Jan 11 2005, 04:57 PM

Autotechnica, you are right, that is how it should be, I'm not saying there is a fault, what I'm saying is, I don't like it and want more BHP/Torque lower down the rev range...

Can this be found through a chip/remap or any other means... SC out of the question otherwise I would just buy an M3 Evo!!!

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Usually, getting more restrictive bolt-ons will give you more low end torque, but your high end will suffer greatly. The only way to get low end without sacraficing the high end is to go forced induction. Any other modification usually affects the high or low end proprotionally. For a sporty car, your aim is usually to sacrafice low end torque for high end HP and mid ranged torque gains.

Putting on a smaller diameter exhaust pipe, a muffler with more back pressure (borla is good), exhaust manifold (switch from 3-1 to 3-2-1 style), smaller intake manifolds are good ways to increase back pressure and low end torque. I'd say the best way is to find a VERY low duration cam shaft. One that is much lower than your current cams. Not many people do this, but this will definitely give you the torque you desire. Again, your high end will suffer greatly. Other than that, there really isn't a drastic change you can make with reprogramming the computer. I'd opt for the 3-2-1 style exhaust manifolds and the low duration cams.

Bry

[94BMW325i]

Do mods such as under drive pulleys help to get more low-end torque? Or do they just make your car rev up faster?

[Autotechnica]

Originally posted by 94BMW325i@Jan 11 2005, 07:01 PM
Do mods such as under drive pulleys help to get more low-end torque? Or do they just make your car rev up faster?

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Anything that puts load on the engine will take away precious power. However, it usually frees up more low end as that's where the most load on the engine takes place.

Bry

[jrhaile]

I'm going to have a set of 328i cams available real soon.. any chance those would help?

[Autotechnica]

Originally posted by jrhaile@Jan 11 2005, 09:45 PM
I'm going to have a set of 328i cams available real soon.. any chance those would help?

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Dunno, it's hard to say without actually testing it. What's the cam duration?

[bigred318]

yeah the only thing that comes to mind is pullies.. i rear somehwere you feel those in the lower rpms//

autotech-do pullies take away from top end or not?

David

[TECH]

It's a smaller engine.....vanos can't replace a bigger engine.