((_3.5 Engine Conversion Ratings_))

[coolq]

hi guys im thinkin heavily about doing the conversion from a 325i to a 335i engine from a 535 G reg, is it really worth it? i dont want to do the conversion then only realise im about 1 car length faster than a 325i in a race, can anyone clarify how much quicker it will actually be??? i dont want to waste the best part of 1000pounds on a pointless mod.

[Widge]

TBH mate, I've never been in one, but I personally would just turbo the 2.5, if you look at what ant and fozzy are doing, from stock engines, fozzy will soon be near 400bhp. It would be a progressive mod which you can gradually build up to higher and higher bhps and it doesn't involve a heavier engine etc etc. If you really don't like the idea of turboing for lag or what ever reasons then in my view (I am a little extreme) the only other engine swpa to do are somthing big and newish, ie like Glenns 5ltr V8, or the V12 touring he is now working on. A modern M3 engine would be pretty cool to but we are talking bigger bugets now too.
Bang for buck I would go turbo, as once you are on low boost you will easily be as fast as a 335i, and there is the flexability to go much higher as the money is avalible.

[Toby_Unna]

you've already asked this once, and we gave you some performance figures, and you said your 325 was that quick

thanks guys, but at the moment my e30 325i does all that, about 180-200 on a tank even in the dry smach the throttle when changing up from 2nd to 3rd and you will get momentry sideways action and 0-60 in about 6'z tho and 150, i see that most days on my drive to work via the a11, but the car was bought non standard im unaware of the specs..........

http://www.e30zone.co.uk/modules.php?na ... highlight=

[Widge]

Proof as if I needed it!
Toby whats that funny thing with an oil pipe coming out of it under your bonnet???









DUDE that 335 turbo is going to be awesome - you have to get som old 2002 Turbo decals on it!!! Could look really cool if done subtley - turbo written backwards on your lip spoiler would be the dogs!

[Toby_Unna]

Already found a nice 2002 turbo badge on ebay.com but it went for megabucks!

and what i meant about his 325 doing 6 to 60 and 150mph, is that it would have to be pretty highly modded to do so they're the sort of figures Karan's old car was giving

turbo2.5 is a higher initial investment than 335i by the time you've got MS, wideband O2, mapped it, bought a turbo, manifold, IC and all the other bits and pieces. i know

[Widge]

Yeah but for a similar investment to the 335 you could get a basic turbo setur, and as opposed to the 335 once you have done it there is always room for improvement, as proved by the fact you are now going turbo on the 335 in a way but also well

Yeah bit dubious about his 325 doing 150 etc...

I'm torn between (even though its not my car!!!!! I mean in my opinion)
Having awesome retro turbo decals like the 2002
OR
going sleeper and making eveyone thing it's standard 325

[coolq]

thats the whole point, i dont want to do the conversion if it will make my car slower, and those who doubt the specs i will be at the cambs meet on the 12th and also at the ipswich rolling road day, i bought the car as is so im unaware of anything. But assumed the advantage of a litre would prove a faster car, since the 325i im running has no sort of turbo or supercharger.???? im in the dark here guys.

[Toby_Unna]

if your 325 really will do six seconds to sixty it is a long way from standard and a 3.5 won't make the car much quicker

get it rolling roaded as you say, then decide. a 3.5 is 50bhp up on a standard 2.5 and with loads more torque, but i guess yours isn't standard

[Widge]

Yeah but you have to remember with 1 litre comes a load more weight, the M30 is a bigger engine. Also they, M20 & M30, are both old engine designs, correct me here Toby but the M30 in standard trim only produces 220-230bhp, and I think Karans GUG was making that from a tuned 2.7.
You also have to consider that (assuming ifs aside) your replacing your engine which must be quite special with a standard lump.

[coolq]

looked into it and i beleive the engine is only 57lb heavier, i do know however that lookin at a thread on ebay my car is equiped with throttle bodies, a six branch manifold and some other silly shit (eg air filter, scorpion stainless.....), god knows what they do. maybee thats why it pulls like a train. And i know it redlines at 7, i bounce it off that baby when im going sideways. but hey...... all that turn up at either ipswich or cambs are welcome to a test run.

[Toby_Unna]

Yeah but you have to remember with 1 litre comes a load more weight, the M30 is a bigger engine.

people do like saying how much heavier an m30 is

you have to get it in perspective. it's a few tens of kilos. which is like having a child in the car.

i've no doubt it changes the handling balance a little, but implying the performance will suffer noticeably is an ill-founded belief

[Toby_Unna]

looked into it and i beleive the engine is only 57lb heavier, i do know however that lookin at a thread on ebay my car is equiped with throttle bodies, a six branch manifold and some other silly shit (eg air filter, scorpion stainless.....), god knows what they do. maybee thats why it pulls like a train. And i know it redlines at 7, i bounce it off that baby when im going sideways. but hey...... all that turn up at either ipswich or cambs are welcome to a test run.

well going on that i'd say an m30 ain't worth it unless you plan to modify it

[coolq]

are any of you guys going to the rolling road to see my beast then, toby i'd love to see the 335 turbo.

[Widge]

Well if you'd said it had a 6 branch and throttel bodies i would have said don't bother.

If you really want more power, turbo it or go for one of the big engine changes, V8 or V12 etc..

[coolq]

so they make that much difference do they, im new to this only 19,, bought it for 3k 1990 325i sport with mods...........?

[coolq]

think i will call the guy who sold it to me so i can post up a proper specs list, im gettin tired of having bits that i have no meaning for

[Widge]

F*~K yeah!!!!!

19 and you've got a 325i Sport with mods like that, whowah insurance company must like you.

TBH mate get the specs from the guy who built it, sounds like you got a bargin.

[coolq]

fully comp with privilage under my own names costs me just the other side of 6k a year.

[Widge]

Ԛ£6k a year on a Ԛ£3k car, ARE YOU FCUKING NUTS!
This is just my opinion obviously.

[Karan]

i dont think an m30 conversion would be worth it if ure car already does 6 secs....aside from turboing.... getting an m20 car to do thise figures is very expensive! in fact sounds like uve got my old car there apart from the throttle bodies.... get somepics up would be cool to see it

[gareth]

regarding the comments on room for improvement... a turbo 2.5 can be faster than a n/a 3.5. but a turbo 3.5...! watch this space! i suspect it'll be ferkin mad! if you do want to progressively upgrade, starting with one litre more and a stronger engine can't be bad.

incidentally, i've fitted my M30 in P2.5 and i can feel a slight difference but this doesn't seem to actually slow the thing down!

the M30 conversion can be done pretty cheap too, if you get a manual E34 535 at a good price.

[fatjapp]

DidnÔš't you have a turbo engine up for sale a couple of weeks ago?

for sale i have my 325i turbo engine and full set up, runs dyno proven at 20psi 489.6bhp and 378lb/ft, PM me as lots of money spent into this project and i will appreciate serious offers only.

At nearly 500 horses thatÔš's going to be quicker than a m30 3.5 Ԛ…Ԛ…..

[coolq]

yes mate, that was sold within days, was listed privatly too, i am a big e30 lover, i do have more than one, v12 is my future plan.