hp?

Post Sun Oct 16, 2005 7:26 am

i was curious how much hp you can get out of a e30. what are ways you guys acheive this cause in my eyes i can't see my 125hp e30 attaining somewhere around 200 hp( without super/turbo charging)
and so far i haven't seen enough mods for it to get there. is there a trick. if so i want to be let in on the secrets. Also if anyone can out there who has got power in there e30 tell me your mods. it would help out a lot

Post Sun Oct 16, 2005 8:03 am

125bhp?? I assume you've a 320i then????
If that's the case, you're starting with the right number of cylinders for big power.

200bhp from a M20 engine is on, but you need to start with a 2.5, stroke it to 2.7 using a ETA crank, big bore throttle body, 282 camshaft, suitable chip and probably a 6 branch exhaust manifold. There's a fair bit of machining involved and you'll need a vernier cam pulley.
This will just about get you to your target.

If you can settle for 180bhp, there is an easier and cheaper way:
Complete bottom end from a scrap 525e, 320i cylinder head & cam, 325i inlet manifold and throttle body and of course a suitable chip. The 'head will need porting to match it to the bigger manifold, but AFIK that is all the machining involved with this option.

HTH
Stuart.

Post Sun Oct 16, 2005 8:08 am

by the way i have a 88 standard 325. no is no e just 325

Post Sun Oct 16, 2005 8:38 am

325i is 171bhp standard. Where are you getting the figure of 125 from??

Post Sun Oct 16, 2005 8:50 am

its the american version. thats what it says in the owners manual

Post Sun Oct 16, 2005 8:58 am

In that case, it is a 325e. Which means you already have a 2.7 bottom end (you lucky thing!).
Easiest option for you is to go for the 180bhp version above, it will all be bolt-on!
Are you in USA? If so, it might be an idea to put your location in your profile so that people know!

(we didn't get the 325e over here!!)

Post Sun Oct 16, 2005 12:48 pm

that figure is most probaly in Kw. i just checked my owners manual and this is what it says for my 325i.
Kw: 126
Bhp: 171

Post Sun Oct 16, 2005 7:50 pm

hey sorry about the confusion

Post Sun Oct 16, 2005 8:52 pm

dont have to apologise dude. if you have any more questions we all more than happy to help you out.
Cheers

Post Sun Oct 16, 2005 10:41 pm

do you guys happen to know where you can find a big bore throttle body

Post Mon Oct 17, 2005 12:34 am

Check out the Zone shop dude...

Post Mon Oct 17, 2005 9:35 am

Americans measure power in bhp , that will be 125bhp from a 2.7 eta type engine . I believe the later us e30 325s had a euro style engine but an 88 will be an eta. The cc should be mentioned in your handbook.
Easiest way of going faster is to get a complete head off a euro 320i or 323 i 83-90 and fit that, you will obviously need to sort out your ecu which i believe is possible with just a chip upgrade. The biggest problem with the 'e' engine is it doesn't rev, it is set up for bottom end grunt. The original cam and head casting are useless in the pursuit of power. Your car (presuming it is an eta engined car) will also have a very tall diff ratio i.e 2.9 or something similar which will hinder acceleration.
Lots of guys on here have done the 'cheapo' 2.7 conversion and i'm sure they can run you through the trials and tribulations .

Post Sun Oct 23, 2005 8:54 am

yeah you were exactly right about it being bhp

Post Thu May 18, 2006 1:59 am

omg im such an idiot. oh how i knew so little in the beginning. haha. i learned that i have the super eta engine. it has 127hp and 170 for toque. is there any advantage in the super eta. i know it has the the 325i head which is good when converting it to a 2.8liter even thought the cam and springs arent' the same. but anything else?