Help!! More Power from my 320i convertible

[Nikhil]

Hello people

ive got a 320i convertible which now looks the part, but it has no GO GO please help!!

any ideas dont really want to change the engine as the car has been looked after all its life, thats why i dont really want to change the engine.

any ideas would be a great help.

ive got a k&n and am thinking about getting a full exhaust system, well just waiting as i dont have £500 at the mo well thats the best ive seen them for.

so any one thats wants to sell, send PM's my way.

Cheers

[gcs325i]

In all seriousness a engine change to a 2.5 is the most economical way to more power, especially when you can pick an engine for £250-£300.

Upgrading the 320i is all pretty much explained here - http://www.e30zone.net/modules.php?name ... t=320i+bhp - taking note of Brianmoooore's quote. This should give you some more ideas anyway.

[cro320]

build 2.7

[Bewdley320T]

I've got 325 manifolds and throttle body you can have FOC if you collect them. Makes a good first time improvement with the right chip.

[swllt]

To improve a 320i engine you need more air flow.
So -
1) Complete a full service and clean out air flow meter, in fact clean all the inlet system and seal any leaks

2) Flush thru' the injectors (redX or similar) and check the earths on the suspension turrets and the conector under
the inlet manifold

3) Mild chip from touchspeed or Ant (look in traders) I would recomend touchspeed at £30.00. but Ant does a fine
product and great service.

4) fit 325i throttle body with 320i modified inlet manifold to keep a resonable low torque. Don't fit a 325i manifold
unless you want all top end power and no pull low down. (see wiki for details)

5) I would fit an ajustable pressure regulator. but I know the 325i owners don't like them. They do however
improve a 320i with these mods. Site it back by the throttle cable bracket, Inlet side of the engine, and make
sure all the hoses and clips are in good condition

6) If you must fit a cone filter - build a heat shied. Best is a standard fillter box with a good free flow panel filter
then Drill your front grill in line with the air pick up pipe. 10mm holes are fine just where the bottom of the grill
fins are blanked off (you will understand when you look at the grill)

Do all this - It won't cost the earth and you will be amazed how good a 320i can be. (ask me how I know?)

[cro320]

how do you know?

this looks quite easy to do...mine B20 goes well, very well but I'm going to check all this stuff to be sure...
maybe K&N filter should make things better?

[rebelcruiser]

maybe K&N filter should make things better?

no unless its a panel filter

[Alex]

maybe K&N filter should make things better?

no unless its a panel filter

+1

[Rav335uk]

Mine was a 320 cab, def no guts til now I changed mine to a m30b35 engine, now theres no holding her back

[fowler]

Slap a turbo on it job done.
320 is pony engine
fit a M50 24v in it good replacement IMHO

[fuzzy]

stick a decent 2 litre in and itll go like fook.

[cro320]

Slap a turbo on it job done.
320 is pony engine
fit a M50 24v in it good replacement IMHO

IMO M50 is not quite good engine as M20...
it's less reliable, more expensive to maintain, and lack of torque on low rpm's...
I took for a spin E34 525i M50 non-vanos, it's quite good after passing 4000rpm's but in town cruising, pretty poor without playing with lower gears and loads of rpm's...M20 is more powerfull from ''basement''

[Alex]

stick a decent 2 litre in and itll go like fook.

as long as its not a ford engine

[B7]

you will p1ss about for ages on a 320 trying to make it go like a 325. Quicker to source a good 325 lump and swap it over. No wiring issues, just plug and play.

[Alpina99]

Slap a turbo on it job done.
320 is pony engine
fit a M50 24v in it good replacement IMHO

IMO M50 is not quite good engine as M20...
it's less reliable, more expensive to maintain, and lack of torque on low rpm's...
I took for a spin E34 525i M50 non-vanos, it's quite good after passing 4000rpm's but in town cruising, pretty poor without playing with lower gears and loads of rpm's...M20 is more powerfull from ''basement''

I'm quite surprised by this because I've got the M50 in the E34 & M20 in a 320 cab, I find that the more modern engine is better & I've never noticed a massive difference in torque.
As for reliability, I have had a couple of problems with the M50 but all were "DIY - able",
I know when the cab's finished it'll be having an M50 as well.

[cliffybabe]

you will p1ss about for ages on a 320 trying to make it go like a 325. Quicker to source a good 325 lump and swap it over. No wiring issues, just plug and play.

[zaust]

↑↑↑↑ x2

[Nikhil]

thanks everyone for your replys

just finished slamming my cab 60mm all round looks nutz (cant stop looking at it

really thinking about sticking some 9j's under there but dont no if thats asking for trouble.

iam still stuck as for what to do but the 2.5 lump is looking like the way forward.

cheers

[cliffybabe]

9s u say

[Nikhil]

looks sweet is that a 60mm drop to.

mine looks like its eaten a quarter of my rear wheel.

does it cause any probs

iam looking to get borbets A's on mine

[chris_m50]

9's

soon to be on a convertible!!

[rebelcruiser]

9's

soon to be on a convertible!!

that looks

how much has it been lowered.

[Nikhil]

looks sweets there the same ones i want on my cab 9j's all round.

any one got pics of the borbet on a cab slammed.

cheers