E30 best value performances options (after 23HP increase)?

[positas123]

E30 best value performances options (after 23HP increase)?

I bought my 1989 325i cabrio just last November and have been enjoying it immensely as an everyday driver. I’m a student and don’t have too much money to throw at it, but I have increased the performance with a chip (off ebay), K&N filter and Signature Motoring heat shield. All in all this stuff was less than $200.00 and gave me a whopping 23 HP/19ft/lb torque increase on the dyno. (The Signature Motoring performance intake was actually in first and gave 8.3HP increase and the chip did the rest; except the chip w/stock intake only have +11 HP instead of the 18-20 advertised). Either way I’m happy and the car feels a lot lighter and responsive.

My next step is a performance exhaust. I’ve got maybe $450 to spend. Can I get something decent for this? Does anyone have tried/true recommendation? If anyone has something for sale, I'm interested. I would need something street legal and bolt on that doesn’t require any custom welding jobs. Thanks!

[Reign]

I've been thinking about getting an exhaust as well (after my tires and rims since I just bought my car for 2k from a customer). Although, I have gotten many compliments on the stock exhaust and the performance of the stock exhaust is great as is so it's not a top priority for me.

So if there are any upgrades besides an ECU or filter that are cheap and do make an actual improvement, let us know

[austra]

a diff swap. the next number set high like 4.10 are better then 3.73 for the 2.5 and you can find 4.36 for the 1.8 and 3.25 for the 2.7e

[combustion]

What about a header, and maybe some 19# injectors

[Goya20]

where did u get your chip from? from what seller i mean? im thinkin of chippin mine.

[R3CKL355]

Hell.. i just gutted the cat, not sure how much of an increase, because im not dropping $200 to use my friends dyno, but im sure it will help just a lil,

[j.amrol]

Dude think for just one second... An engine steadily decreases in performance along it's life span.

Technically you gained way more (over what you had), rather than what was gained over off the lot rating. So your doing good.

You also have access to a dyno which is real good (custom ecu's are possible, deleting the afm too). Now port your intake, and head.

There's no need for upgraded injectors until you hit turbo.

Do the diff swap! no hp/ tq increase but acceleration is the key.

Replace the pistons with high compression pistons & have the block bored/honed, and new rings (or at least new rings will bring you back to off the lot performance at the least + your upgrades)

[theoz2106]

You can get an exhaust for 250 to 500 and more but if your car is a manual then u can get headers,if it's an automatic you can't there is not enough clearence...Your on a tight budget and you want more,I recommend tune up the suspension,shocks(bilstien),springs(Eibach,BAV auto),Swaybars(bav auto,eibach),Strut tower bars front and rear,plus a urethane bushing kit front and rear,plus some steel braided brake lines maybe brake rotor upgrade or big brake setup and you will see that stock or even a little extra hp in these cars goes a long way when you have precise control over it....Hope this helped,if you want here are some reference sites....

BMW Parts and BMW Accessories | Bavarian Autosport
BMP design : BMW Parts, BMW Accessories & BMW Replacement Parts.
101 Projects forYour Porsche 911 - How to Rebuild Your Porsche 911 Engines (1965-89)

101 projets u can find for E30's and beyond,not only pics,but tech sheets and products and prices.......


Oz

[StarkeyT22489]

if u can weld then just make your own. get rid of the cats and the resantors and get a high flow muffler. and you will maybe spend 250. but depending on how loud you want it depends on how much you cut out. because my car is straight piped all the way back to the muffler and its pretty loud. but its worth it i love the sound.

[EgMpower]

me myself in my car i have a ported and polished head, and am about to port match the intake manifold and bore out the throttle body,
so unless you willing to spend 1,000 for a port and polish job on your head, then you should just get headers and port your intake manifold to give it extra airflow, now since you chipped your car, a vaf to Maf will really help you gain some hp will your bolt ons.
as in getting injectors... its not neccessary at all unless you turbocharged.
differential, it depends on the gear ratio, you don't gain any hp or torque it changes how fast you can get to your top speed. 4.10 will be more acceleration, which will equal to shorter gears and 3.25 will equal to longer gears less accelelration but the fact that you can hit 90 mph on your third gear! =D