I also drive a 320i M Sport 2009 E90. What make it worse is that I have 18inch rims etc. Bought the car knowing that it is no super car. Honestly, you will waist your money modifying the car. On the bottom range you will have performance issues. A 1.6 Polo will give you a tough time. Fact is, get to know the car. You can't expect to run quarter miles with a 4 pod naturally aspirated motor having to pull 1.4 ton body. In my experience, for quicker acceleration, gear down. Ensure that the gear you select takes you into the 2000 revs mark or even better 3000 revs. Acceleration should feel quicker. Also remember that these cars have throttle memory. Don't expect sudden boosts when you were doing in town driving. Now on the flip side. I drive on freeways most of the time. With the 115kw motor, loads of cars has to move over when I come through. Acceleration on higher speeds, in 6th gear is not bad at all. As a family car, I get the best of both worlds. Safety, looks, economy and I can play around from time to time. I've owned pocket rockets before, and they were nice, but I am hooked to BMW now. It's a different experience. If all goes well I will trade in and get myself a 330d. Economical and powerful.
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Read the WELCOME ALL BMWFANATICS post.
Anyone add a turbo charger or supercharger to E90 320i ?
- Thread starter Olorin
- Start date
Hi Nate,
Yeah, you know the car might not be super fast but it's still handles like it's on rails. I mean, every time I'm going around bends I feel I'm driving a sports car.
Your car is slightly more powerful (5 kw extra) but if I can gain 10-15 kw or perhaps a little more doing a remap and a chip with an exhaust then it might be really worthwhile. Especially if you are going to have the car for a few years. I don't drive like maniac on the road and my speed issues are mainly in the mid-range, overtaking speeds. On the freeway it's not a problem. The car is pretty darn quick on the freeway ! Cars also get out the way when I'm driving and it's easy to achieve high speeds quickly.
So that's not the problem. I mean, 110 kw is a heck of a lot better than a 1.6 Polo (which has what, like 80 kw's ? It's still a 1.6 engine.) Although I get your point, it is lighter but how much lighter really ? 100 kg's ?
Yeah, you know the car might not be super fast but it's still handles like it's on rails. I mean, every time I'm going around bends I feel I'm driving a sports car.
Your car is slightly more powerful (5 kw extra) but if I can gain 10-15 kw or perhaps a little more doing a remap and a chip with an exhaust then it might be really worthwhile. Especially if you are going to have the car for a few years. I don't drive like maniac on the road and my speed issues are mainly in the mid-range, overtaking speeds. On the freeway it's not a problem. The car is pretty darn quick on the freeway ! Cars also get out the way when I'm driving and it's easy to achieve high speeds quickly.
So that's not the problem. I mean, 110 kw is a heck of a lot better than a 1.6 Polo (which has what, like 80 kw's ? It's still a 1.6 engine.) Although I get your point, it is lighter but how much lighter really ? 100 kg's ?
Olorin said:
The weight difference would be more than 200kg, which means loading the polo (with 7xkw) with 2 strong oaks
But like Nate said, know your car. I just do not agree with his definition of "gearing down" :dropjaw:. The big saloon cars are geared for fuel economy, where as the small hatches are geared to compensate for lack of power. I would just gear down to end up at 4000RPM. Even on my diesel I do not take my car out of 4th gear on the highway when I am in a hurry... (ok, 5th if I am having a lot of mechanical simpathy on that particular day)
Just as comparison, I regularly drive a 1.0L Yaris around, which has 51kw. And changing gears at 5000+RPM is nothing strange. I suspect thats how the 320i wants to be driven :thumb:
I have not driven a 320i yet, so my comments my be terribly misplaced, please dont flame me
So guys, anyone in Cape Town ? Anyone know of any trustworthy companies I could deal with that won't bulsh*te me ?
You must have pulled out your hair while driving it. Going from a 320d with 340 nm of torque. I mean, I was in the Auris 1.4 (which I was considering buying before I got the 320i) and it was the slowest thing I've ever driven. My Corolla 1.4 2003 was MUCH quicker. The car is super heavy, has a slow engine and is just the most dull drive in the world. The steering was super light but when you put the foot down, nothing happens.
You must have pulled out your hair while driving it. Going from a 320d with 340 nm of torque.
I mean, I was in the Auris 1.4 (which I was considering buying before I got the 320i) and it was the slowest thing I've ever driven. My Corolla 1.4 2003 was MUCH quicker. The car is super heavy, has a slow engine and is just the most dull drive in the world. The steering was super light but when you put the foot down, nothing happens.
Technician
Well-known member
IMO- power to weight is a huge thing. even 100kg is alot.
I've seen a 700 kg golf 1 with a 2lt n/a motor give a E46 M3 carrots.
Never underestimate what weight does to a car.
Just my 2c.:dunno:
I've seen a 700 kg golf 1 with a 2lt n/a motor give a E46 M3 carrots.
Never underestimate what weight does to a car.
Just my 2c.:dunno:
FTW said:
Thanks again. I'll contact BMW and make up a story that I'm seriously underpowered (although not too far from the truth
). I wonder how much extra power that will give me. Also, when you say decatt the car ? What does that mean ? Will my fuel consumption go up ? Is it really a noticeable improvement and finally, will decatting the car reduce the lifespan on the drive train ? Thanks again for all your advice. I'm trying to learn as I go and I'm clueless with this stuff so it's appreciated. Besides the decatt and the software upgrade, I've been told here and elsewhere about the exhaust system. So that will also improve power as well. So it's exhaust, software and a decatt. Am I on the right track ?
Sankekur
///Member
The car is fitted with catalytic converters (cats), their purpose is to reduce emitions, but they get more blocked over time restricting the flow of exhaust gasses. So removing the just removes the restictions, so your fuel consumption should be a bit better, the difference in power will depend on what condition of the cats where like when they where removed. This won't cause any damage to your drive train.
What you can do to increase performance is full exhaust (plus decat), filter and chip.
You might also want to look into increasing the diff ratio, this will reduce the top end but will increase acceleration (PM gizmo he should be able to give you more info and help you with this).
Note that all of this, apart from the filter I think, will probably void your motorplan.
I wouldn't spend to much (<R10k) on performance upgrades on a 320 though.
What you can do to increase performance is full exhaust (plus decat), filter and chip.
You might also want to look into increasing the diff ratio, this will reduce the top end but will increase acceleration (PM gizmo he should be able to give you more info and help you with this).
Note that all of this, apart from the filter I think, will probably void your motorplan.
I wouldn't spend to much (<R10k) on performance upgrades on a 320 though.
Man, I felt so embarrassed for not making it. I said I would but then I had other important matters to deal with at the time. Apologies. If I can make it for this Sunday then I definitely will. I cant guarantee it but I'm hoping.
Sankekur, if BMW had to remap the car, would that be worthwhile on it's own ? Would it be even noticeable ? And if my diffs were changed you mention reducing the top end. Do you mean top speed ? So are you saying that my top speed will be reduced to make up for a better acceleration ? I guess I'll have to do as many things as possible without voiding the motor plan as I've had it extended to 2012.
Sankekur, if BMW had to remap the car, would that be worthwhile on it's own ? Would it be even noticeable ? And if my diffs were changed you mention reducing the top end. Do you mean top speed ? So are you saying that my top speed will be reduced to make up for a better acceleration ? I guess I'll have to do as many things as possible without voiding the motor plan as I've had it extended to 2012.
How much difference would it make and how much top-end would be sacrificed ? For example, if I went from 225 km to 200km top speed, would that make a drastic difference to acceleration ? I mean, I don't want a Corolla 1.3 top speed (174km I think) to get better acceleration. Just need to know how much would really be sacrificed.
Olorin said:
Correct me if I am wrong: 6th gear is the cruising gear, which reduces torque to such an extent that you cannot get to >200km/h in it anyway. Top speed can only be achieved in 5th. So changing the final drive in such a way to reduce the geared speed of 6th to what 5th is currently will keep you top speed intact. But then you dont have the benefit of reduced fuel consumption and the cabin wil be more noisy at national limits.
The acceleration benefit on a drag strip up until 100km/h will be almost unchanged because instead of being able to hit 100km/h in 2nd, you have to waste another 400ms to change to 3rd. The benifit in 1/4 mile is much better. But these are only when the car is red-lined...
Torque will increase in gears, but if you dont like revving high, you will change gears more often..
I basically want better mid-range acceleration. So speeds from 60-100km/h. Going from 60 km-100 quicker would be the goal. So if I change diffs, you mention that it will only really benefit me on a drag strip ? I don't red line the car AT ALL. I'm just someone who wants more torque to allow me to overtake easier. Because right now it's a pain at low speeds. I can't overtake someone from 50 km unless I rev really high and then it still takes a while to build momentum. So I need to know what my options are.
Basically what I've learned is this :
1) Have car decat
2) Chip car
3) Remap
4) Change diff
5) Exhaust
6) Filter
I take it that that is basically everything that I need to get the car in a much better state than what it is right now. Now I don't have the budget to take care of all those things. I think I could possibly manage decat, remap and changing the diff. But chip and exhaust would have to wait until much later until I can afford it.
Basically what I've learned is this :
1) Have car decat
2) Chip car
3) Remap
4) Change diff
5) Exhaust
6) Filter
I take it that that is basically everything that I need to get the car in a much better state than what it is right now. Now I don't have the budget to take care of all those things. I think I could possibly manage decat, remap and changing the diff. But chip and exhaust would have to wait until much later until I can afford it.
