I'm looking to do some modifications on my E36 325i

Imran · Jan 21, 2010

Howzit guys,

i'm looking to do some minor modifications to my e36 325i, nothing major, just looking to do mods around the motor that will help me extract some more power. please can you gentlemen, with your infinite wisdom shed some light on this for me? it will be greatly:thumbsup: appreciated

freerider · Jan 21, 2010

replace the viscous fan with an electric fan, probably your easiest power gain.

Imran · Jan 21, 2010

I'm truly a virgin when it comes to these kinda things, can you recommend somewhere i can have this done in Cape Town and the approximate price? also the approximate gains...:excited:much appreciated freerider

zaleonardz · Jan 21, 2010

So the best way for someone to break their virginity is to just get laid

Go buy yourself some tools needed to work on your Beemer, usual goods, but just get a set of torx heads and do it yourself man.

Plenty howto's around to do virtually any mod right from changing the ashtray light to putting in a M3 motor into your car, just do some reading, will give you a sense of pride to know that you did it, and will make you love your car more, Workshop manuals are also freely available on the web, and we are of course here to guide you.

Freerider speaks the truth, very easy mod and you dont need a bucket load of tools, clutchplate a member on this forum once changed a gearbox with a toothpick and a jellytot... almost

Hellas · Jan 21, 2010

zaleonardz said:
Freerider speaks the truth, very easy mod and you dont need a bucket load of tools, clutchplate a member on this forum once changed a gearbox with a toothpick and a jellytot... almost

Yeah, but clutchy had his girlfriend and her nail file there too.

Imran, just don't be fooled Autostyle performance mods or by any cold air intake (CAI) kits, those little silver intake rings you see on the front on VW's and hondas. Thats where they belong. You drive a BMW. No chrome or outside vents needed to say that you can go fast. That's the purpose of the '25i' part of your 325i badge...

CAI's are also more noise than performance so be careful of 'drop-in' stuff. Rather ask first if you see something you like. We are here for you! :thumbsup:

zaleonardz · Jan 21, 2010

Oops, forgot about the nail file and mad gf power,

And agreed on the above :excited:

Raybimmer · Jan 21, 2010

Imran
In my humble opinion it is a waste of time and money ! The prices I received for a viper branch and freeflow exhaust (new) and then chip were over R10k .Maybe a 328i motor would be a better bet .I bought my 325i with a cone filter on so can't compare to standard - a good k&n panel air filter is a start , have injectors professionally cleaned.
Ray

Imran · Jan 22, 2010

thanks guys! i really appreciate the input. what about ECU's from other 3 series cars? would that possibly make a difference? different fuel pumps maybe? everybody i speak to thinks they know what they talking about but i cant just trust anyone with advice on my car. I've been reading the threads on this forum and i can confidently say that everybody here is knowledgeable, and would much rather take follow advice that i receive here

@zaleonardz, i work hectic shifts so its difficult to find time to work on the car myself, don't get me wrong, i would love to do be able to spend time with her. but its very awkward at the moment

SlowMo · Jan 22, 2010

Don't bother with aftermarket exhaust, you will essentially pay someone a lot of money to make you car slower! If you want to do exhaust, fit an e36 m3 exhaust manifold, it will be a bolt on, with performance gains.

CAI is rubbish, you better off with a flat panel filter, which will give you at most 1 or 2 more kw if at all. CAI will make you slower, unless you buy a proper one from the states (about 400usd) or fabricate something similar.

a unichip will help as well, probably your biggest gain. forget about changing the ecu, it won't work.

fuel pump will make a difference only if your current one is weak, otherwise a waste of money.

your biggest performance gain will be weight reduction. CF bonnet/boot and lighter rims, if you have aftermarket wheels.

good luck.

Imran · Jan 22, 2010

thanks guys, i called steve's auto clinic now, i was quoted R2950 for a unichip Q inclusive of fitting and dyno tune. The guy i spoke to suggested i get the full stainless steel freeflow exhaust sytem for an extra R3450 with an approximate 15% power gain. can this be so?

SlowMo · Jan 22, 2010

i wouldnt, i'll go with an M3 exhaust instead.

the 325/328 exhaust system is pretty damn good out the box. these cars are not like other manufacturers where exhausts make a huge difference. i would def not do it.

BPRpower · Jan 22, 2010

I have E36 m3 branches that will fir into that moter. Ill let them go for R800.00. my friend had then on his 325 with a tnt pipes.
t is a good start to go with filter exhaust and redo the fueling and timeing. if you want the branches call me 0825732569

Tigger · Jan 22, 2010

freerider said:
replace the viscous fan with an electric fan, probably your easiest power gain.

Do you really get a noticeable power gain from just swapping the fans???
And where will I find the electric fan, and what size should it be?

Tigger · Jan 24, 2010

I'm just gonna put in a K&N replacement filter, do a good engine clean, and put in some of Liqui Moly products in... maybe chip tune, still deciding:thumbsup:

clutchplate · Jan 24, 2010

ok, the q-Chip is a good idea right. BUT! Save the Q-CHIP for AFTER you get some mods done, otherwise they have to re-tune it again.. some simple things you could do, as everyone allready mentioned.. electric fan (there are lots of howto's on the net, SOFG), ok, k&n filter is a fair choice (personally I would never put one in, because the paper filters just filter SO much better and your oil stays cleaner longer with paperfilters).. another thing you could get done is get your heads gasflowed and ported, professionally done branches are always a good idea if its a high enough displacement car and I'll second SlowMo on the weight reduction stuff. Another great thing you can do to free some horses and get better response is a lightwheight flywheel and a racing clutch. and while your at it, use the E36 M3 shiftlever to replace yours, its a nice shortshift upgrade.

styling.

STREETRACER · Jan 24, 2010

Hey imran im not here to argue with the others!
my brother has got an E36 325i '94.. as he got the car he ran a 17.2 1/4mile!!
we changed his exhaust and branches to TNT and a bmc pannel filter and the UniQ chip from dastek and he ran a 16.5 1/4mile.. so i added a RGM cold air induction and a 3.46 diff (std is 3.15) and he ran a 15.1.. engine is still stock and still stock weight!!! so you can take this as a recipe.. stock he made 98kw @ wheels now he is on 131kw @ wheels!
ill post a vid where im on a stock E46 M3's arse with that 325! best mod for buck is get a 3.46 diff from bemos +- R1500 and get it fitted +- R650 and a 328i can suck on it!!! dont go for stainless exhaust as they make less power!! get a mild steel pipe!!

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Raybimmer · Jan 24, 2010

Guys
What prices are we looking at to have head removed,gasflowed,replaced and dynoed?
Thanks

STREETRACER · Jan 24, 2010

between R18000 and R25000 incl. cams! i recently sourced for my brother!!

Imran · Mar 2, 2010

STREETRACER said:
Hey imran im not here to argue with the others!
my brother has got an E36 325i '94.. as he got the car he ran a 17.2 1/4mile!!
we changed his exhaust and branches to TNT and a bmc pannel filter and the UniQ chip from dastek and he ran a 16.5 1/4mile.. so i added a RGM cold air induction and a 3.46 diff (std is 3.15) and he ran a 15.1.. engine is still stock and still stock weight!!! so you can take this as a recipe.. stock he made 98kw @ wheels now he is on 131kw @ wheels!
ill post a vid where im on a stock E46 M3's arse with that 325! best mod for buck is get a 3.46 diff from bemos +- R1500 and get it fitted +- R650 and a 328i can suck on it!!! dont go for stainless exhaust as they make less power!! get a mild steel pipe!!

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"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="

" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object>

FYI, i ran at killarney street to strip two weeks ago and posted a best time of 15.07s for the 1/4 mile. stock standard

STREETRACER · Mar 2, 2010

FYI, come try to run that times 1550m above see level and ill buy your car.. you make the price!!!

I'm looking to do some modifications on my E36 325i

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