I have a small budget, but I NEED turbo...

38927 · #1 (**permalink**) 02-24-2005, 03:49 PM

Hello, as read in the title I have a small budget and need a turbo. I'm looking for a custom setup, since I know I will save money and I know what I'm getting. I'm looking for someone that can make me a decent turbo for the m42. I want my 318 to stay a 318 and not jump on the band wagon like everyone else and get a s50b32. I know that the m42 doesn't pull that hard, but I don't need that much power. I'm looking for a fast daily driver. And something that won't guzzle tons of gas (since I don't have much money). I want to stick with the m42 because its light weight, and at times it's pulled hard enough for me. My friend did some research and found that the m42 can hold up to 450+hp. For me 450 is plenty. I want to keep the car as stock as possible from in outside perspective but fast as hell. thanks
-james

Impulsed7 · #2 (**permalink**) 02-24-2005, 07:59 PM

your gonna have to go with a custom kit and either pay out the a$$ for a shop to do it, or do your research and build it yourself.
If you have a good machine shop in the area they might be able to take your stock exhaust manifold and mate it to one of mitsubishis small turbos, t16 or t20 would be nice. Go to a custom exhaust shop and have them bend up your tubing. buy a used intercooler off ebay or something. New injectors and if your gonna run too much hp a new fuel pump. Take it somewhere that tunes turbo cars alot and have them do engine management, piggyback or chip.

thats about as cheap as it gets. but it probably wont be very reliable that way.

BeeEmDubAU · #3 (**permalink**) 02-25-2005, 09:08 AM

Turbo'd BMWs and small budgets don't go hand in hand. Its simple as that. If you want it to be done right, I would recommend saving the money for something more reliable, unless you're pretty handy with a wrench yourself. Good luck with whatever you do!

matt325is · #4 (**permalink**) 02-25-2005, 07:41 PM

A turbo on a small budget can be done.. look at my car heh.

You need a custom manifold, preferably an equal length manifold.
As for the turbo, for that kind of horsepower, dont expect to get much power at low rpm. You can either go with a t3/t4, or a straight up t4 (t04e preferable, with lower a/r ratios).

You will also need sufficient engine management. Especially with a higher compression ratio that the m42 has. For a tight budget, you could probably run Megasquirt, which I have, its about 300 for all the parts, then installation and tuning yourself. A wideband o2 sensor is a must if tuning yourself, or you can expect to pay a lot of money dynotuning your car).

Just remember that its not all just the big stuff, you need oil lines, vacuum lines, exhaust, charge pipes, silicone connectors... It all adds up. What is your rough budget? We might be able to steer you in the right direction as to parts to get and such.

matt

943184dr · #5 (**permalink**) 02-25-2005, 11:26 PM

well the 450+hp car that your friend found might have been mine, the motor that just went in it has been spec'd to do 450bhp at 25psi. now keep in mind this motor in no way shape or form can be replicated on a budget the motor alone was over $3k and that doesn't include any of the parts for the turbo system. The other thing I notice is that you have a E30 m42 318 unfortunatly the only year they made the car and unfortunatly the only year they made the m42 without a knock sensor. This makes it very risky to tune the car. its is best to tune it on a dyno and be very carefull. If you had an E36 car I would just say wait a few weeks and i'll have my turbo kit out and ready for production all though wont know numbers until I get someone local for me to install it on and found out any potential kinks with it. the other thing is that even with a thicker headgasket, say you do get the car tuned. On stock internals the max you would be able to safely boost IMHO would be about 10psi and woud yeild you MAYBE 285bhp if you are lucky. and the only reason I say that is because people are getting about 265 out of a 9psi DASC but you may be able to squeeze that out of it with extremely good tuning. Matt is right though a kit can be done for a pretty cost effective price. And as for the m42 being able to hold 450+ down the road I hope to shoot for much higher numbers

Tom

AlaskaBlue · #6 (**permalink**) 02-28-2005, 04:18 PM

450+ hp is amazing. 3,000 for a motor is not too bad considering the price of a swap and a turbo to get an M3 motor to 450+ hp. Let me know about progress on your turbo kit, and what needs to be done to the engine.

943184dr · #7 (**permalink**) 02-28-2005, 04:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by AlaskaBlue

450+ hp is amazing. 3,000 for a motor is not too bad considering the price of a swap and a turbo to get an M3 motor to 450+ hp. Let me know about progress on your turbo kit, and what needs to be done to the engine.

Pm me with what you want to do and we will go from there.

Tom

silforty · #8 (**permalink**) 03-04-2005, 11:34 AM

I have a 11B turbo if anyone is interested. email me at azn_import_boi@hotmail.com

x2dg · #9 (**permalink**) 03-04-2006, 02:04 PM

is there a car that came with a 11b from factory??

Highboosted · #10 (**permalink**) 03-07-2006, 08:51 PM

My car came with TD04-9b's....those are some TINY turbos...could only support 8-9 psi at 7K RPM, with their measy CFM flow. I heard of 11b's, but I won't recommend anything smaller than a t4 on a 3L in single format...

x2dg · #11 (**permalink**) 03-08-2006, 10:14 AM

what car has those tubro's, i thought t25 was the smallest ive seen in a car

shaggs · #12 (**permalink**) 03-08-2006, 10:23 PM

I'm also thinking about building a custom turbo kit for my 95 M3, the only problem i've come across is trying to find the turbo manifold. Everything you need can be swapped from a donor car or bought brand new. Impulsed7 said that you could go to a machine shop and have them hack your exsisting manifold into a turbo version but the chance of you finding someone who can do it right the first time and not cause you to have to buy a new header is highly unlikely. My advice is to make a "log" style shorty manifold which also allows you to run whatever turbo you want.

x2dg · #13 (**permalink**) 03-09-2006, 06:32 PM

get one fab

fire4adrymouth · #14 (**permalink**) 03-18-2006, 08:57 AM

Read this months PBMW, the cover car is a E30 m3 and the guy spent 1500 euro and assembled his own turbo setup. However you need access/skills to mandrel bending and custom welded fabrication mind you. But if youv got handy friends then look into it.

sjpgoalie · #15 (**permalink**) 03-18-2006, 12:16 PM

Your gonna pay a lot to reach what you want. 450hp out of that little motor is gonna mean some serious beefing up as well as some serious headaches. I'd go with the S50.