Boosting an M42

[nighthawk]

I've got a '93 318is and wanted to know if I can boost it. I was told that I might be able to use a TD04 off of a WRX. I would just have to build the exhaust manifold (not a problem). I just didn't know if that would work, I'm still new to forced induction. Also, if boosting doesn't work, can I use nitrous? What would I need to do for the complete install? If neither of those options are good, what can I do (besides intake and exhaust) to gain extra power at the wheels?

[92318is]

Originally Posted by nighthawk

I've got a '93 318is and wanted to know if I can boost it. I was told that I might be able to use a TD04 off of a WRX. I would just have to build the exhaust manifold (not a problem). I just didn't know if that would work, I'm still new to forced induction. Also, if boosting doesn't work, can I use nitrous? What would I need to do for the complete install? If neither of those options are good, what can I do (besides intake and exhaust) to gain extra power at the wheels?

Sell it and buy an e36 m3! Lol, it'd probably be easier, and about the same price overall to own an m3 than boosting your 318 and getting a lot of power out of it. You can get an e36 m3 for anywhere from $10,000-$18,000.

[nighthawk]

I have a lead on an S50 engine/tranny and ECM for about $4,500. Still right now, I don't have the time to do a swap. I use my car every day.

[bmw318is1994]

I was thinking about using a 14B off of a 2g63 motor from a mitz motor. Should spool fairly well seemings how the 2g63's spool them and get 7 psi fairly easy with lower compression. just my .02

[TheTunerSource]

14B is kinda too small man. At least go for a small 16G.

[RJ's325ITS]

I think the least you have to worry about is getting a cheap/free turbo, there is a lot more to it that just the manifold and the turbo....

You can try to buy the cheapest stuff out there (ebay stuff) but in the long run it will be over $3,000 + tuning...

I been thinking about turbocharging my wife's 318 and the one thing that has to go is the DME, you will need to get an AEM or better to run a map sensor instead that old brick of air meter. Also the intake manifold should be replaced or hacked to fit a better TB.... also you will have to make room in the part list for a better clutch or retrofit a M3 clutch disk and pressure plate.

The good news is that the placing of the turbo will be piece of cake, there is tons of room to run the charge pipe and the exhaust, also it will be awesome.

the warnings are:

Engineer a manifold that will not crack over time, will be the #1 task. turbos get heavy in a bottom set-up and there is lots of stress apply to the turbo manifold. Also heat cycles make the manifolds sensitive a easy to crack when stress is applied. A well designed bracket and a flex pipe could help here

Chose a good standalone for the application, find a tuner that is familiar with the standalone and the engine

Good luck anyways.
Rafa.

There is a guy in another board that has a E30 318 M42 turbo charged race car, but he can tell you it wasn't cheap almost as/more expensive that turbo charging an E36

[frank1975]

I had a boosted 318 once. I needed to upgrade the clutch, motor mounts, and diff. I broke 2 motor mounts, blew up a diff and I think somehow the diff incident took out the trans.

[skeides]

for a turbo i would suggest a 15g off of a volvo 850 turbo. These can be found at the junkyard relatively easy, and are good for about 280hp.

if you are lucky you can score a .60/.63 turbo from a ford thunderbird.

[RJ's325ITS]

Someone from a different forumd found this manifold in aBay Turbo Manifold + Downpipe they one thing that will be a bit hard is the routing of the WG pipe

[cetrero23]

hi frank1975, i am thinking to go for supercharger in my M3 95, i know i will have to get new motor mounts, but what about the differencial? do i need to upgrade it too?
thanks

[frank1975]

Depends on what your goal is for torque. I hear the I6 diff is fairly strong though. My diff blew up because I abused it and it was only a 168.