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Help!! More Power from my 320i convertible
Posted: Fri Dec 19, 2008 1:15 am
by 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
Re: Help!! More Power from my 320i convertible
Posted: Fri Dec 19, 2008 1:39 am
by 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.
Posted: Fri Dec 19, 2008 2:29 am
by cro320
build 2.7

320 upgrade
Posted: Fri Dec 19, 2008 2:38 am
by 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.
Re: 320 upgrade
Posted: Fri Dec 19, 2008 12:03 pm
by 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?)
Posted: Fri Dec 19, 2008 12:56 pm
by 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?
Re:
Posted: Fri Dec 19, 2008 1:02 pm
by rebelcruiser
maybe K&N filter should make things better?
no unless its a panel filter

Re:
Posted: Fri Dec 19, 2008 1:08 pm
by Alex
rebelcruiser wrote:maybe K&N filter should make things better?
no unless its a panel filter

+1
Re:
Posted: Fri Dec 19, 2008 6:33 pm
by Rav335uk
Mine was a 320 cab, def no guts til now

I changed mine to a m30b35 engine, now theres no holding her back

Re:
Posted: Fri Dec 19, 2008 6:37 pm
by fowler
Slap a turbo on it job done.
320 is pony engine
fit a M50 24v in it good replacement IMHO
Re:
Posted: Fri Dec 19, 2008 6:44 pm
by fuzzy
stick a decent 2 litre in and itll go like fook.
Re:
Posted: Fri Dec 19, 2008 6:44 pm
by cro320
fowler wrote: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''

Re:
Posted: Fri Dec 19, 2008 9:34 pm
by Alex
fuzzy wrote:stick a decent 2 litre in and itll go like fook.
as long as its not a ford engine

Re:
Posted: Sat Dec 20, 2008 8:13 am
by 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.
Re:
Posted: Sat Dec 20, 2008 8:35 am
by Alpina99
cro320 wrote:fowler wrote: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.

Re:
Posted: Sat Dec 20, 2008 10:04 am
by cliffybabe
B7 wrote: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.

Re:
Posted: Sat Dec 20, 2008 10:19 am
by zaust
↑↑↑↑ x2
Posted: Sat Dec 20, 2008 1:08 pm
by 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
Re:
Posted: Sat Dec 20, 2008 1:10 pm
by cliffybabe
9s u say

Posted: Sat Dec 20, 2008 1:36 pm
by 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
Re:
Posted: Sat Dec 20, 2008 1:42 pm
by chris_m50
9's
soon to be on a convertible!!

Re:
Posted: Sat Dec 20, 2008 3:58 pm
by rebelcruiser
chris_m50 wrote:9's
soon to be on a convertible!!

that looks
how much has it been lowered.
Posted: Tue Dec 23, 2008 12:21 pm
by 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