Stock M3 vs. 3-Series Turbo

[BMW Maniac]

Turbo BMWs are not college friendly....

1) turbo kit ($6800 w/ technique tuning)
2) guages ($350)
3) boost controller ($350)
4) clutch ($600)

These are the minimum costs I would assume. You really only need a boost guage, but all these prices are prior to installation and labor charges. Are you sure you want to incur these costs as a college student? It is not worth it. Keep the M3, enjoy it.

[Nicke36]

t25 is for 1500cc.

[Highboosting///M3]

Contact Mike McCoy of TRM. He has a turbo system that is t3/t4 and makes 320-400whp on the stock s50 motor for ~$5000. The tuning is sick and one customer has been entering drift events, racing vettes, etc. for a while with no issues at all!

You will only have problems with that t25 kit. It is no good cause there isn't any DME tuning with it. This TRM kit has a chip with perfect tuning changing your timing tables, fuel tables, etc.

Go TRM or go home!

[chris6218]

Originally Posted by BMW Maniac

Turbo BMWs are not college friendly....

1) turbo kit ($6800 w/ technique tuning)
2) guages ($350)
3) boost controller ($350)
4) clutch ($600)

These are the minimum costs I would assume. You really only need a boost guage, but all these prices are prior to installation and labor charges. Are you sure you want to incur these costs as a college student? It is not worth it. Keep the M3, enjoy it.

Being in college and building a turbo or turbo swapped vehicle if done smart and with lots of preplanning can be cost effective. I managed to swap and maintain my RB20 powered 240sx throughout college. I'm about to start my turbo 325is and I've still got a year of college to go.

But back to the subject at hand: A solid kit for the M3 will be almost identical to a 325is and cost about the same with the tuning for the dme being the main difference. I like the 325is for turbo a little better than the M3, a cheaper base to start with. The advantages of the M3 over the 325 don't justify the price differences. The differences in suspension are actually in favor of the 325is if you're going high horsepower (450+). The M3 suspension is tough but is gonna give up the ghost at those power levels so upgrading is gonna be a must with either car so that's a moot point. Keep the M and build from there or sell the M buy a '95 325 for 6-8K with 7-8K to make it better than the M3. At the end of the day you're paying for slightly higher displacement and the ///M name. At least that was my rationale.