LOW END TORQUE - BMW Forum

Q_BMW · 06-25-2004, 01:23 PM

Hey guys
I have a 96 328i which has OBCII and I cannot spend the money to convert it to an OBCI and the spark injector.
I JUST want to increase my pick, i.e. low end torque off the line because once I kick into second the flight is good.
I have received various suggestions about replacing filters, debaffling boxes which I will do this weekend hopefully but can anyone suggest something for around 500 which I could change to notice the change ?
thanks
Q

97alpineM3 · 06-25-2004, 02:19 PM

Ok.. to be honest with you... I've never driven a 328... but I know the general idea behind how a bmw engine works... mainly the E36... it has low end torque... but you dont exactly really feel it... untill you hit maybe 3k RPM (in gears 2,3,4,5)... I had plently of torque in first... but that was an M3... I'm speaking generally here.. or atleast I'm trying. Of course if you let your engine breath... with a cold air intake... I dont know how much low end torque you might get out of that... but it cant hurt right? Same goes with a Shark Injector. It might help a little more because it changes everything to do with engine timing. If you want to wait a while.. and do what I did.... it costs a little bit more money... but it will give you all the ass you need from 0-60.. and still keep the top end torque where it was originally. I put a Schrick intake manifold with Schrick cams in... I changed out a lot of other stuff... while I was down there.. but thats besides the point... the point is.... thats the most effeciant way of my knowledge to gain low end torque... unless you just blatently use nitrous oxide... which IMOP it one of the most stupid things you could ever do to an engine.... good luck in your quest...

frank de jonge · 06-25-2004, 02:57 PM

OBDI conversion is a loss of torque, does this also mean for the euro engines too??

Just a question

Q_BMW · 06-25-2004, 02:59 PM

loss of toruqe ? why do people do it then ?
Q

frank de jonge · 06-25-2004, 03:03 PM

I think of the Horsepower gains.

Loss of torque with good software is about 7 NM.

But I dunno if it is the same for euro spec engines, because maybe I wanna do it too.

97alpineM3 · 06-25-2004, 03:09 PM

From what I understand about the conversion... it ALL depends on the software that is loaded with the ECU.... if you ask a company that does the conversion.... I'm sure they will tell you that you wont lose torque... there would be no point in it them..... what is hp with out torque... nothing..

Another useful thing about OBDI is the fact that you can customize the hell out of it... unlike the OBDII that has a lot of dealer encoded areas that you cant touch.. unless you have the software and codes.. thats the reason a lot of serious tuners... switch their cars to OBDI....

They also do it if they are running any stand alone fuel, oil, vacume or brake systems... like the reason before this... it is a lot easier to wipe out the entire braking sys. on a OBDI... but if you tried that with the OBDII... your OBD would crash... cause it was incomplet not to mention.. you cant even access that information on your ECU.

Hope this explains some.

wozza · 06-25-2004, 05:18 PM

For small money and increased torque I would go no further than replacing the existing panel filter with a performance version ie K&N as induction kits have a tendancy to drain low end torque (but achieving high end gains). Large cone filters suck in too much hot air from the engine bay. It heat shielded properly with a large diameter straight pipe feeding plenty of cold air then thats fine. But seeing as you're gonna debaffle your exhaust I see it as excessive to fit an induction kit. (BUT IT WOULD SOUND AWESOME). But seeing as low end torque is your priority I recommend a replacement panel filter and chipping the ECU.

97alpineM3 · 06-25-2004, 05:31 PM

I agree.... intake and exaust and a chip would do a few wonders.... it cant hurt atleast... GOOD LUCK!

jrhaile · 06-25-2004, 06:51 PM

get a new differential... I just bought a 3:15 LSD from a M3 and I really feel the difference.. I don't have the numbers yet, but I paid 350 for mine and it rocks

97alpineM3 · 06-25-2004, 06:53 PM

numbers??... what numbers?

jrhaile · 06-25-2004, 06:54 PM

well can't you get numbers for how many pounds of torque you're pulling? that's what I mean

97alpineM3 · 06-25-2004, 06:57 PM

oh .... ok... gotcha... sorry.. I was thinking part numbers.... god forbid quarter mile numbers.... I dont know.. I was so lost its not funny on that one....

BlantonG13 · 06-25-2004, 08:50 PM

you can't really chip an ODBII engine. You can get a Shark Injector to remap the computer some, but it basically only smooths the power curves out, raises the redline to about 7000+, and removes the speed limiter. No major HP and torque gains are noticed (or at least felt when driving) from what I have researched. Cams and other engine work like that are the best things you can do. Better breathing elements are great (exhaust, headers, intake).

97alpineM3 · 06-25-2004, 08:57 PM

Well... its not exactly a chip.... persay... its an uplink that "FLASHES" your computer... and like you said... remaps some things... it also remaps throttle fuel and spark... acceleration enrichment.... transition fueling... (fast changes in throttle movement..) And a change in the vanos timing to let it operate better with higher octane.... actually make it use the octane.. instead of just burn it. When I installed this on my car... I noticed it even at Idel... but then again... I notice everything about my car.... sounds... feeling... smells... I could tell.. but maybe thats just me...

Furious · 06-26-2004, 01:09 AM

you actually can change the chip in the OBD2 cars. thinair has done it i believe.

and putting in an exhaust and intake will only lose you low end. but you will gain the HP on the top end. basically only changing the power curve.

im with jllphan, a 3.15 diff will show you some improvements.