Friday/saturday Activites

[jrhaile]

Well last night we started replacing my m52 (2.8l) cams for a set of S52 M3 cams from a 98 M3. My mechanic custom made a "cam timing" tool to time the new ones properly which was awesome for doing. We used the pelicanparts.com DIY on replacing/upgrading the cams which was also very helpful and MUST be followed or else you're risking a chance of screwing some major shit up!

The install took about a total of 4 hours but with making the custom tool for him for future use, it took about 6 hours. Pretty straight forward with the DIY. Found out that it's VERY important to have a m3 vanos which we did. It's also not a bad idea to change your vanos unit every once in a while as it can become very gummed up and almost useless. Other things I needed were a new valve cover gasket.

While he was installing the cams, I replaced my microfilter, brake switch, flasher relay, and made a custom clutch stop using BMW headbolts and an old washer we had laying around. The clutch stop is amazing and is seriously worth every second to make or would be worth it to buy one if you don't want to make one. I also added a new thermastat and water pump from understeer.com and did a coolant flush adding wetter water to complete the fan delete mod.

Let me tell you all, this car freaking halls ass. In all gears, there is a HUGE and I MEAN HUGE power gain. If I had to estimate, I'd say a gain of 45+ HP and no less. I was VERY impressed needless to say. The custom made chip worked great from Conforti (except the car didn't first the first time we tried to start it; I installed the chip backwards lol). Even my 2 friends that I took on a drive with me thought I had installed a supercharger or some form of F/I.

Next weeks project is removing the cat and making a custom bolt-on middle piece. This is so I can remove and add back my cat when needed :P

Anyways, was laying in bed and thought I'd share what I've done this weekend

[97alpineM3]

I want some money... good work my friend... good to hear you have your car back and running... keep it going... Just wait till I get back with mine... then things will get interesting...

Peace,

Les

[CiscoKid]

How much did this operation cost - mechanic

[bigred318]

thats awesome jr you need to head west of the mts and take me for a ride!

David

[jrhaile]

OMG It's Les! When Les gets back, I'm flying to meet him in NC :P

The cams cost me just over 600, the chip was 250 and the labor = Nothing. Me and my mechanic have a special bond :P I buy him things for his e30 including his new SSK and he doesn't charge me a dime haha. So for 850 bones I got myself pretty damn quick.

And David, I'll be in Seattle in 2 weekends :P I'll msg you before I leave.

[Bmw1990]

So in all, how much money do u think u have put into your car??

[jrhaile]

^ too much, but it's all in good fun

[mech9T8]

Has your idle changed since installing the new cams?

[jrhaile]

not at all, and actually it seems to idle better now because my old vanos unit was so junked up!

[Cruzin 323is]

sounds like a awsome mod... nice relationship with your mechanic is the way to go when u have a bimmer!

[xsperf]

so is ur engine pretty much an m3 engine now?

[jrhaile]

from what I was told, it's as close as a 2.8l will ever get :P I still have a few other mods I plan to implement such as big bore throttle body, 3.5afm, adjustable fuel pressure regulator and then I'll be done until turbo or supercharger.

I think now the only difference between my engine and a 3.0 m3 is .2l :P But I really have no idea. I know my head now is the same as a m3 though.

What's really cool about this mod, the car just flatout pulls soooooooo much harder in every gear.. it's great.

[xsperf]

stop, ur makin me jealous

[Silverstreak]

Crap man now I need to make save up some money and do this mod to my car! I think I could do the cam installation but one part worries me... How did the mechanic hold the cams in place while he loosened the bearing caps? In the pelican parts instructions they show a helper holding them with a wrench but this area to hold is all the way in the back of the engine almost under the windshield! How did he do that part?

[jrhaile]

Well when we did that part I was holding a sort of homemade custom tool :P it was a wrench that we bent and made it to so that I could barely hold it :P