Who has Big power out of N/A M50 325i

[Boosted318i]

Ive searched these threads for a while now and havent found much info so Here goes.

I would like to know how much power someone has got out of a N/A M50 from 325i..

and what mods were used?

i have a fair budget of $4000-$5000 for engine upgrades

But forced induction is not an option
As i live in Australia and they have laws on young drivers. (P Plates)
M3 engine is restricted aswell (High Performance 6 Cylinder)

im prepared to do cams, pistons high flow fuel pump or injectors if that is what has been proven worthy.

Thanks

[Lord Vader]

Define "big power"? Nothing you can do short of forced induction will make it faster then an M3. Your username is Boosted318 and your sig says you have a 318. Are you looking to purchase a 325?

Their is plently of information on engine mods here. Lots. Its quite common.

Most people start with:
1. Intake
2. Exhuast
3. Underdrive Pulleys
4. Fan Delete Mod (i dont recommend this for hot climates personally)
5. Chip.
6. S50 cams

Other options include a Cat delete but check emissions laws first. Race exhuasts are just that, for the race track. Big Bore Throttle Bodies (BBTB) are an option but some of them are close to $1,000 and not always worth the gain if your not going FI.

Start with those, but remember this. Theirs not point in going fast if your car handles like shit. When was the last time the Rear Shock Mounts (RSM) were replaced? Suspension bushings? Sway bar end links? Ball joints and tie rods?

Nothing sucks more like blowing your entire budget on mods and having something break and not being able to afford to fix it. MAINTENANCE BEFORE MODS.

[Boosted318i]

Big power i was hoping for was 170-190kw stock is 141kw so seems resonable

My 318i has all new bushes tierods and the steering rack has be professionally reconed, new monroe front shocks lowering springs all round,

But u will like this one. Ive planned to do a 325i M50 engine swap.. I wanted to do 328 but apparently the M52 engine is a OBD2 engine for emissions and is alot harder..
May i ask what does OBD2 mean?

But with the engine swap i plan to buy a salvage 325i from insurance auction and do a 325i upgrade on the whole car interior and all

So with the 6 items you listed how much power do you think you would reach.?

[Lord Vader]

I cant do the conversion from Kw to HP. I know stock a 328i has 190hp.

OBD-II stands for On Board Diagnostics Generation 2. Basiclly in 1995 new emissions laws came out which changed a bunch of things. OBD-II cars have less power as they have tighter emissions controls, so BMW compensated with the larger displacement of the 2.8L. The intake manifold in an M50 flows 40% more air then an M52 manifold. An example is a 1996+ 328i will have 4 O2 sensors, where as an OBDI car only has 2. OBDI cars are said to be less complicated.

I cant say how much power it will make unless the car is dyno'd. Different products will net you different results. I know that with my 328i with an intake, underdrive pullies, exhaust, and an M50 manifold i will clear the 200hp barrier.

[Boosted318i]

Ok so that makes alot of sence now. Thanks.

So 170-190 kw is about 225-250hp

Which now seems a bit much..

So upgrades like lightweight pistons and rods

High flow fuel pump

Injectors

Valve springs

Are these not reccomended as performance mods or is it just the prices.?

[Lord Vader]

Theirs no point in getting forged pistons and rods unless your going FI. The stock pistons can actually take a lot. A guy i know has an E36 M3 with an Active Autowerks supercharger with a 10psi pulley and is running stock internals. 13.1 in the quarter mile.

The injectors in a 325 are 21lb injectors, and the ones in a 328 are 24 lb injectors. You can swap them out, but you should get a chip or have the software compensated for the additional fuel. The car has a learning adaptation and can learn it on its own, but for best results you should get it chipped after. Other then that the cost vs gain isnt worth the results. You could spend a very large amount of money and still not have the 240hp that an M3 has. It all comes down to your plans for the car, and how much you wanna invest. At the end of the day, the VIN still says its a 318.

[Boosted318i]

Ok so they dont put out much power so i may aswell just get a bone stocker in and running and live with it till later days for 1 or 2jz engine swap where i can get 500 Hp easy. Once i get a replacement car in few yearstime

[Lord Vader]

They dont make much power, but they last forever. Properly maintained you will get many years from it.

I look at it this way: Makes more power then any stock Honda/Toyota...