E36 323i upgrades?? i'm after chip etc, where from ??

[ian260]

Hi everyone!!
i'm kinda new to this site and new to the BMW Scene. so i thought i'd take this opp to say G'day.

i just have a few Q's ... i've got an E36 323i and i think it's ready for some mods!! i'm after an exhaust, cold air induction and a chip. so ..
- what size exhaust would be ideal ?? i'm after a fairly quiet setup.
- What kind of chip should i get and where from?,

i live in Newcastle, about 2 hours above sydney so is there anything close to me or would sydney be the ultimate place to go shopping?

any feedback would be greatly appreciated!!

[DTME30ic]

Welcome to DTm. The E36 323i is essentially the same engine as an E36 325i, only somewhat restricted.

you should be on the lookout for a 325i inlet manifold (not a 328i one) and a rechip.

These mods will bring your car from 125kw up to around 141kw+ which is what a 325i makes.There are many places that do chips. One is Bromspec BMW (www.bromspecbmw.com) in Brookvale. They install Powerchips (www.powerchip.com.au) and can run the car on the dyno if you wish.

[napa1m]

Hey, welcome to DTM Power!!! I'm a 323i owner as well...

In regards to the exhaust, we have the same twin headers as the M3... but they collect into a single pipe enter the cat, and flow on...
So, keep those headers. Get a twin pipe cat. Twin pipes all the way through. According to the guys at Bimmerforums 2.5" is the way to go.

Intake - I have read that putting on an inlet manifold and throttle bodies from an M50 325i are the way to go, better flow than the M52 intake. A custom CAI would probably not go astray here neither.

Then get the stock 3L cams sent over from the US M3 that was built on the M52 engine like ours.

Chip it and you should be pumping some serious kw - supposedly around 30% more than stock. Slap on a 96+ M3 LSD and it'll accelerate alot harder too, at the expense of cutting back top end speed. Dont see an Autobahn anywhere near here, so I'll be doing it.

I cant wait to scrounge some $$$ together...

PS: If someone sees any flaws, please let me know, as I have only been collecting what I have read. All Research. No Development. Thanks.

[SimonM]

can't remember where I saw it, but there was a suggestion that the 325i inlet reduced torque. Just do a search....It will also impact on your category when you take it to the track in club supersprints.

damned detuning of the 323i's so that the 328i looked good. The 328i was only rated at 141kw, same as the earlier E36 325i...which is where the new E46 325i is back to?

[IanS]

Originally Posted by SimonM

can't remember where I saw it, but there was a suggestion that the 325i inlet reduced torque. Just do a search....It will also impact on your category when you take it to the track in club supersprints.

damned detuning of the 323i's so that the 328i looked good. The 328i was only rated at 141kw, same as the earlier E36 325i...which is where the new E46 325i is back to?

Yeah, but the 328i has shitloads more torque. 280Nm vs 240Nm. Makes a lot of difference in drivability, and they are quicker as well.

[FLYN-BM]

i keep reading about these 325i inlet manifolds, would it be worthwhile putting one of these on a 328i..?

[IanS]

Originally Posted by FLYN-BM

i keep reading about these 325i inlet manifolds, would it be worthwhile putting one of these on a 328i..?

Definately...worth about 16 kW

I'm gettin one as soon a my 2 year used car warranty runs out

[FLYN-BM]

ok so it will be worth my while.. roughly what are they worth..? cani pick one up at any bmw wrecker, or are they hard to come by..? thanx

[IanS]

They are a bit hard to find, expect to pay between $250 and $450

[FLYN-BM]

thats not too bad.. considering there should be some substantial gains..

[01UDE]

i got one for 250bucks, should fit it up and dyno test it in a few weeks with my pully's. Installing my HIDS and front bar repaint this weekend so don't have time or the new gaskets yet. I don't think you need the throttle body though, i think the 328's is bigger, Ian? u know more about that, its about 50bucks for the 325throttlebody anyway.

[FLYN-BM]

i was thinking big bore throttle body, nice induction system with a heat sheild should go together nicely along with that 325 inlet manifold.. anything else i could add to that..?

[Aaron318iS]

Just out of curisoity, are the injectors between 325 and 328 the same size ? Considering the intake manifold differences etc.

[01UDE]

Originally Posted by FLYN-BM

i was thinking big bore throttle body, nice induction system with a heat sheild should go together nicely along with that 325 inlet manifold.. anything else i could add to that..?

Bigger injectors, tune, fuel pump, full exhaust, jump jet engine "shrugs" alot you could add. Look into cams, esp if some USspec m3 cams will fit your motor, cheeper than new shricks. Exhaust will always be your best gain. I'm getting my heatshielf from umnitza in just over a weeks time, if you would like to order any parts let me know. A pully kit for powersteering and alternator is about 200AU with a new belt, about a 6-8hp gain @ the fly, every little bit helps, just don't change the underdrive pully.

Aaron, Not sure about the injectors, even if they flow more i'm sure its just jet size anyway so shoudlnt affect the size of the actual bmw injector size, that would make production of their diff intakes alot more difficult i would presume, so i'd say they will be pretty universal fitting. But do'nt quote me i'm not a mechanic

[FLYN-BM]

how hard is a pulley kit to fit, can you do it yourself, might look into one.. whats wrong with changing the underdrive pulley..? and how do i go about getting some US spec M3 cams..? thanx heaps for all ya help..