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A question
Metal Hippy - 26/1/04 at 03:01 AM

I know it technically belongs in the engine section, but all I get in the main forum is people questioning my ideas for the car....

I want a nice straight answer for this.

Does anybody know of decent sites or contacts for getting more power out of BMWs on a modest budget?

200mph - 26/1/04 at 08:51 AM

I don't know any websites, but the main principles for more power are

1. better induction system (K&n filter)
2. better free-flowing exhaust
3. camshaft change (piper etc)
4. chip (superchips etc)


normally in that order. These are termed reasonably cheap modificatins, before you go into porting and gas-flowing the head, and fitting larger valves etc.

Together they should see a reasonable power increase, as well as torque.

Hope this helps,
Mark

splitrivet - 26/1/04 at 10:25 AM

Turbo it,my lad turbo'd his beemer quite easily. it went like stink.
cheers,
Bob

stephen_gusterson - 26/1/04 at 10:33 AM

my recommended mod is to put it in a car

atb

steve

[Edited on 26/1/04 by stephen_gusterson]

ned - 26/1/04 at 10:47 AM

quote:
Originally posted by stephen_gusterson
my recommended mod is to put it in a car

Nice to see you're on the ball Steve!

Ned.

James - 26/1/04 at 11:11 AM

quote:
Originally posted by Metal Hippy
I know it technically belongs in the engine section, but all I get in the main forum is people questioning my ideas for the car....



Yeah, never quite understood why your car engenders quite so much abuse!

Frankly, I completely bored of seeing generic Westfield/Caterham 7 these days- 500 identical cars lined up at a show really doesn't do it for me! One of the best things about Locosts is they're so different!

Hope these forums are of some help?:

http://www.dtmpower.net/forum/index.php

http://www.performancebmwmag.com/forum/default.asp

http://forum.bmwcarmagazine.com/

HTH,

James

P.S. If you spot anyone selling an EVO M3 engine cheap then please tell me!

[Edited on 26/1/04 by James]

[Edited on 26/1/04 by James]

JoelP - 26/1/04 at 12:15 PM

i would design the chassis first, i know its an overused saying but the intakes and exhaust can be done when its going into the car, and later mods can be done when running. I suppose researching the engine is a good start though!

remember the chassis doesnt have to be a work of art, nor do you have to finish desiging it before you begin to build, though it does help! i didnt really design mine, just sorted and placed stuff as i went along. hence the absence of pictures...

good luck anyway hipster.

pbura - 26/1/04 at 01:09 PM

Don't know if this is true for your engine, but in the US the E28 engine was made to run very lean and with retarded timing, for emission control purposes.

So getting a reprogrammed chip is very worthwhile (20+ bhp). Yup, here's one on eBay:

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=33597&item=2456378949

Alan B - 26/1/04 at 01:56 PM

quote:
Originally posted by JoelP...i didnt really design mine, just sorted and placed stuff as i went along........


Joel, that IS designing....you may not have documented it (ie drawings), but the decisions about where to put stuff and why is what design is....


I know what you mean as does everyone else.....just wanted to make a point.....I know of people who can do the most beautiful drawings in the world, but could not design their way out of a paper bag..

Just IMO as a design engineer for 20 years.....(old git..)

David Jenkins - 26/1/04 at 02:18 PM

I once spoke to a workshop machine operator, who proudly displayed an engineering drawing on the wall.

Beautiful design, correctly drawn, perfect for the intended job - but totally impossible to machine on a lathe! That was from an engineering design student... I think he learnt his lesson that day...

David

Metal Hippy - 26/1/04 at 02:22 PM

quote:
Originally posted by pbura
Don't know if this is true for your engine, but in the US the E28 engine was made to run very lean and with retarded timing, for emission control purposes.


The one built for the US market was made with a lower compression ratio with a catalytic converter so it produced about 185bhp instead of 218... Some European ones had cats, but only later on.

At least that's what research I've undertaken suggests... The water's a bit murky in that area.

Bob... Turbo is an option, but only once the car has been on the road a bit really...

Gusternator.. Bollox.

James, I'll drop a few posts in those forums and shout you when an EVO engine turns up...

Anybody with a clue about the technicalities of exhaust lengths, sizes etc want to design me a 6 branch manifold...?

timf - 26/1/04 at 03:19 PM

quote:
Originally posted by Metal Hippy
Anybody with a clue about the technicalities of exhaust lengths, sizes etc want to design me a 6 branch manifold...?


need some info hippy

cam specs, rpm for power

Metal Hippy - 26/1/04 at 03:24 PM

Max power is 218 at 5500rpm
Max torque is 229 at 4000rpm

As for the cam specs I'm not sure where I'd find that kind of information...

timf - 26/1/04 at 03:34 PM

what engine hippy

320/323/325
528/530/535

Metal Hippy - 26/1/04 at 03:35 PM

3.5 litre M30 (3430 actually..)

M535i

mackie - 26/1/04 at 03:37 PM

Yeah as James says, I have no idea why you get grief for what you are doing.
We are doing something a little bit different but using a straight six is a great idea and those BMW lumps are excellent.
Good luck with the tuning although I doubt standard power will leave you wanting that much.

Metal Hippy - 26/1/04 at 03:39 PM

Maybe... maybe not... Doesn't everyone always want more power if it's possible..?

mackie - 26/1/04 at 03:47 PM

Yup
Now where did it put that supercharger....

Metal Hippy - 26/1/04 at 03:57 PM

Hehehehe

Yay for bigger power

mackie - 26/1/04 at 04:00 PM

Next project is to replace the BMW lump with a 4.0L TVR six then?

Metal Hippy - 26/1/04 at 04:01 PM

I was thinking of a more modest upgrade the old old Jag 4 litre straight six XJR supercharged lump.... 340bhp from that one I seem to remember....

mackie - 26/1/04 at 04:12 PM

Hehe, that could be fun
Just don't forget the nitrous.

James - 26/1/04 at 05:05 PM

quote:
Originally posted by Metal Hippy
James, I'll drop a few posts in those forums and shout you when an EVO engine turns up...


Actually mate, if you see two that'd be great- then I can weld them end to end and have a Maclaren F1 engine!

My sister's a jeweller- she should be able to sort out the gold leaf for the engine bay!

James

Metal Hippy - 26/1/04 at 05:29 PM

End to end? I've never seen a straight 12 engine before....

stephen_gusterson - 26/1/04 at 06:47 PM

quote:
Originally posted by Metal Hippy
End to end? I've never seen a straight 12 engine before....



I have!

Its fitted to a bugatti royale (replica - but fully pukka) at the donnington collection.

atb

steve

stephen_gusterson - 26/1/04 at 06:49 PM

look at the bonnet... Rescued attachment bug.jpg
Rescued attachment bug.jpg

stephen_gusterson - 26/1/04 at 06:51 PM

and this - thatll teach ya! Rescued attachment kellner.jpg
Rescued attachment kellner.jpg

Metal Hippy - 26/1/04 at 06:56 PM

How many of those engines have you seen in an F1 then Gustershite?

stephen_gusterson - 26/1/04 at 07:40 PM

quote:
Originally posted by Metal Hippy
How many of those engines have you seen in an F1 then Gustershite?



Who mentioned F1?

How many 535 beemer engines do you see in F1? - before you say, the williams is a 3 litre.....

atb

steve

Metal Hippy - 26/1/04 at 07:52 PM

quote:
Originally posted by JamesActually mate, if you see two that'd be great- then I can weld them end to end and have a Maclaren F1 engine!


He did

stephen_gusterson - 26/1/04 at 10:37 PM

he dont count!




atb

steve

just wait till TEAM BOLLOX enters in 2010. by then everyone will have stopped watching F1 and they will be desperate for entries

[Edited on 26/1/04 by stephen_gusterson]