making my car faster!

[red_beemer]

hi

i have a 318i on a H plate, what could i do to make it faster? without it costing a bomb?

can you change the parts from a 325i>?? and would havin a shorter throttle cable make it have quicker pick up?

any advice thanks

[Zayyan]

can you change the parts from a 325i>??

Yes. Preferably the engine.

[smithy318i]

the throttle cable... No, it doesn't work that way.

You can put a chip in the ECU. and get a diff with a different ratio.

I think thats it.

[Jon_Bmw]

hi
and would havin a shorter throttle cable make it have quicker pick up?

erm no

[Zayyan]

A lower ratio (higher number) diff will give better accleration (especially around town) but at higher speeds economy will suffer.

With a standard diff economy is much better around town as you can safely put it in 5th gear at 30mph.

A chip (Ԛ£55) is a a good idea, as is a big bore throttle body (Ԛ£120?), but it's better to save your money towards an engine swap and insurance for it IMO.

If you're not very young then there's no excuse for not having a 2.5!

[Widge]

Have you got a 2.5 yet Zay?

[Zayyan]

Have you got a 2.5 yet Zay?

Nope! But I can still safely say there's no point in spending money on an M40

[Adammcf]

True the 318 engine is rubbish. Only way to make it quicker would be to strip everything out of the car!

[tonyppe]

my mates 318is e36 is as quick as our 325;s he wont tell us what he has done but it feels good.
my guess is he has put mild cams in and port/polished it. he still has his cat and it is quick.

[Jon_Bmw]

318is

Key word, still struggle to believe that a e36 turd is as quick as a 325, does depend how much wonga he has spunked on a shitly built, shite looking car.

[tonyppe]

i know! thats what i thought. lol
all bmws are built good tho you got to admit. is it not the case that the newer the better? ya no as time progresses they get better at doing things?

his timing chain went clunk bang and it was off the road for a week or two. now its super quick.he has already gone through 1 diff, beaten his mates 318is and his mates e30 325.

[bullitt]

i have a 318i on a H plate, what could i do to make it faster? without it costing a bomb?

http://www.diy-nitrous.fsnet.co.uk/

[Zayyan]

all bmws are built good tho you got to admit. is it not the case that the newer the better?

No! have you ever been in an early E36?

[tonyppe]

obviously not, are thay that crap??

[Zayyan]

Well my E30 and Mum's E36 are both 1991 cars the the quality of the E36 is shocking in comparison.

Think the build quality got better as time went on but still, bits of trim coming off in your hand is more what you'd expect from a '91 Peugeot, not a BMW.

slightly

[tonyppe]

gosh
when i compare my 89 e30 to my mums focus, its laughable. creaky dash an bits sticking out where they shouldnt. and paint flaking off where its colour coded. (of the focus )

ill keep an eye out if i ever look into a e36

[tim_s]

later e36s are fine imo. very early e36s had quality control issues or something iirc.
e36s are very disliked on here, but i think there's an obvious reason for that. been in many e36s and they seem quieter and make less rattles etc than an e30, as you'd expect from a newer car. better engines, dash, seats, heaters, steering, brakes, stock suspension etc too.
and a 318is can be pretty quick with a few choice mods.

[Motorhole]

hi

i have a 318i on a H plate, what could i do to make it faster? without it costing a bomb?

can you change the parts from a 325i>?? and would havin a shorter throttle cable make it have quicker pick up?

any advice thanks

M42 engines are cheap in E36 format...Ԛ£250 would buy a reasonable one. But only cheap power increase if you do the conversion yourself!

Stripping the car of all unecessary weight is the cheapest way to improve performance. It will also improve braking and handling!

Throttle cables don't stretch so shortening it will make no difference.

If you don't want to go through the hassle of an engine swap, I still say individual throttle bodies and stand alone ECU are the most cost effective solution. 4 motorbike throttle bodies can be had for Ԛ£75, Megasquirt ECU around Ԛ£250 (Much cheaper second hand) and you will need various sensors and a custom intake manifold. With some head porting and a harsher cam you should see a reasonable increase, but it still won't be 325 quick. On the plus side, it will scream!