2.8 M52 engine in a E30 what are the best performance mods??

[Jibberingloon]

Well I am just picking up a E30 with a 2.8 M52 in it.

Its got E30 325 Sport Running Gear in a 2 door 318is body.


What are the best mods to get it up to 230+ Bhp?

Has anyone got Dyno Plots of various mods?

The more advice the better.

Cheers

Mark

[E30BeemerLad]

A decent exhaust system, make sure oil, plugs & filters are all tip top. Fit the inlet manifold from the 2.5 M50 engine with the M50 throttle body and take it for a remap and you should be about there.

If you want more power then you need a pair of cams from the US spec E36 M3 (engine code S52), they should take you to around 250bhp with a remap

Is the car red?

[DanThe]

3 litre bottom end -

http://www.e30zone.net/modules.php?name ... 30&start=0

[Jibberingloon]

Car is Grey!


;)


Also do you think the gearing with a 328 e36 gearbox and the E30 Sport LSD will be too short?


Or will it just give awesome acceleration?


What are my options?


Oh and who does good Remaps near birmingham?

[E30BeemerLad]

Gearing will be terrible with the E36 gearbox and E30 diff, will be revving it's fanny off. 1st gear will be a joke.

Best bet is to get hold of an E30 M3 diff, or get the guts from an E36 diff swapped into the E30 casing.

[Jibberingloon]

And how much does a E30 Diff normally sell for??????

[E30BeemerLad]

LSD is normally £250 upwards

If you are just after the casing then a noisy E30 larger case diff could be had for nowt really

[DanThe]

M3 diff which is 3.25:1 ratio is about £400 worth nowadays

[Dave_M3]

^^^
One of the guys on here has a few for sale too at 350 I think.
Or as said, just get a 3.25 cwp and get somebody like Garreth on here to swap the internals and rebuild the limited slip unit while he's in there

3.91 would be fine for trackdays or if you were a drift fanboy but otherwise useless on the road.
3.25 or maybe 3.38 would be the most you could go if you wanted a very quick roadcar

E36s had 2.93s, 3.15s and 3.23s in their 6 pots but they also had bigger wheels than an E30 which impacts on the gearing too.


Is it not abit early for talking about 3L bottom ends Dan?
We should at least wait until he's complaining about a rough idle and the lump burning alot of oil

[DanThe]

Stay away from anybody in the bromsgrove area that claims to be any good at remapping

Any pics of the car?

[TouringTash]

I normally steer clear of anyone who says that they are good.

[Jibberingloon]

Well the car will be used for track days and ring trips and thats it.

So I suppose I could just stick with the E30 325 Sport Diff then.......


As for pictures, I will get some on Sunday when it is dropped off ;)

[DanThe]

You wont want to drive on any motorway with a 3.91, I have a 3.38 on mine and keep at 60 on the motorway due to the high revs

[Rav335uk]

I have an M50 2.5 inlet manifold for sale for your M52

[Dave_M3]

Well the car will be used for track days and ring trips and thats it.

So I suppose I could just stick with the E30 325 Sport Diff then.......


As for pictures, I will get some on Sunday when it is dropped off ;)

The Sport diff would be ok for trackdays to a point but would be too short for the ring really and that's just on the ring itself not to mention the trip over there!

[bimanut]

What would a 3.38 diff from a z3 be like using an M40 box?

[Dave_M3]

Alittle too long really. 3.64-3.91 is best with the E30 boxes I reckon.

I fitted an M52 to a cab with a 3.64 and it's perfect for it.
If it was my own car I'd probably go with a 3.73 if using a 240 or 260 box.

3.38 then with a ZF 5 speed and 3.46, 3.64 or 3.73 with a 6 speed maybe.

[Jibberingloon]

arghhhhh.......

So much to learn and so little time! LOL

Not sure if it already has the M50 Manifold, but will check on Sunday when I get it.


Can you PM me the price on the Manifold please. ;)


So which diff should I look for then?????? Help me!

[LondonTom]

I took my e30 to the 'ring a few weeks back - M50, 328i 'box and a 3.64 diff...Torture springs to mind - 90mph@5000rpm!

[leeparkes]

Did you pick it up on Sunday then?