190 BHP from 325i today

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M5pilot
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Post Fri Dec 02, 2005 6:43 pm

Nadz325i gave myself and Ant his car to have a few bits fitted.

1 - BTB 6 Branch
2 - BBTB
3 - ITG INduction Kit
4 - Schrick 284/272 CAM
5 - H&R Cup Kit/ARB Kit

Cam got fitted along with everything else and we felt the car feel alot more powerful especially past 2500 rpm. Booked it into Bexleys for a dyno run to find out what it was making. We know what a normal healthy 325i makes there. MAF conversion was suggested to finish the job so we went ahead.

Before MAF (with schrick, BBTB, 6 Branch and ITG)

180.6 bhp @ 6221 rpm
164.1 lb.ft @ 5314 rpm

After MAF:

189 BHP @ 6332rpm
173.5 lb.ft @ 5357 rpm

A good 20 -25 bhp increase of what a standard 325i makes on their rollers.


Very very pleased with the results!

Reference Points
- Most Late 325i's go to Bexleys and put down 160-165 bhp.
- M5's which have been there only 3 weeks ago putting down just under stock power.
- Alpina C2 2.7 with MBE put down 213 bhp and 205 lb.ft torque

Must stress though that the car has a little less torque upto about 2500rpm than a stock 325i but after that it really really comes alive.

Its nice to know from my point of view that all these modifications make quite a big difference.

POsting before and after graphs in a few mins.

NOTE: Just like to add that Ant did a superb job on the fitting side of things. Turned it over very quickly too. Big thanks to Quaser for giving us his Siemens MAF without which the MAF conversion would not go ahead.
Last edited by M5pilot on Fri Dec 02, 2005 6:54 pm, edited 1 time in total.
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Post Fri Dec 02, 2005 6:50 pm

Dyno graph folks:

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Wilson325i
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Post Fri Dec 02, 2005 6:53 pm

wow!! sal, 8) now this is what we like to see :woohoo:

but i take it that nadz's car was running low on power :(

Before MAF (with schrick, BBTB, 6 Branch and ITG)

180.6 bhp @ 6221 rpm
164.1 lb.ft @ 5314 rpm
am sure these modes should have made more power, right??
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Post Fri Dec 02, 2005 6:53 pm

Sweet, nice power gains there. Should feel alot livlier on the road.
Looks like Bexleys use the same rolling road equipment as thee place I took my GSI Astra to back in N'Ireland.
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Post Fri Dec 02, 2005 7:00 pm

Wilson325i wrote:wow!! sal, 8) now this is what we like to see :woohoo:

but i take it that nadz's car was running low on power :(

Before MAF (with schrick, BBTB, 6 Branch and ITG)

180.6 bhp @ 6221 rpm
164.1 lb.ft @ 5314 rpm
am sure these modes should have made more power, right??
Just bear in mind one thing - we are using a set of rollers that we know. A stock 325i puts down no more than 165 bhp there. Therfore thats a god 15 bhp before any mapping has been done. When you have a cam like that fitted you really need to set things up before the full potential can be realised.

Nads car felt a little less powerful than my 325i Touring which is stock before any work was carried out.
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Post Fri Dec 02, 2005 7:02 pm

Adammcf wrote:Sweet, nice power gains there. Should feel alot livlier on the road.
Looks like Bexleys use the same rolling road equipment as thee place I took my GSI Astra to back in N'Ireland.
Its defo alot quicker.

Nads is due to pick it up in an hour or so, cant wait to see the smile on his face when he spins it up.
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Post Fri Dec 02, 2005 7:03 pm

its pretty difficult to get >200 bhp on the m20 without stupidly expensive parts.

Look at karens "Gug" 213bhp and all that money spent for just over 200bhp...

wonder what im gonna get with mine....

jenveys, head work, and custom ecu... prob around 200bhp but Ԛ£2k + on those 3 bits alone !

wish i went for the m50 now :cry:
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Post Fri Dec 02, 2005 7:03 pm

what did you use for the maf conversion?
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Post Fri Dec 02, 2005 7:04 pm

Dastek Unichip and Siemens MAF.
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Post Fri Dec 02, 2005 7:07 pm

Nice figures Sal

Shows you can get good gains out of the m20 for sensible money
Got cable ties? Get diffin..

Arch roller for hire.

www.zeroexhausts.co.uk

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Post Fri Dec 02, 2005 7:09 pm

m-dtech wrote:its pretty difficult to get >200 bhp on the m20 without stupidly expensive parts.

Look at karens "Gug" 213bhp and all that money spent for just over 200bhp...

wonder what im gonna get with mine....

jenveys, head work, and custom ecu... prob around 200bhp but Ԛ£2k + on those 3 bits alone !

wish i went for the m50 now :cry:
Aaah, but Karans car has the all important monster torque figure as doers the Alpina and other similar high compression 2.7's.

While this 2.5 may have only have 20 bhp shy of Karans/Alpina it does not have the monster power delivery from 2000rpm +. Big torque is what is going to make the e30's really fly and the 2.7's do this exceedinlgy well.

M50's lack serious torque low down. M52 2.8 however would be totally sublime!
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Post Fri Dec 02, 2005 7:11 pm

very good sal congrates :D with a map done this car is going to be rapid with 200bhp,

any e30 m20 with 200+bhp is not to be messed with :twisted:
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Post Fri Dec 02, 2005 7:14 pm

Wilson325i wrote:very good sal congrates :D with a map done this car is going to be rapid with 200bhp,

any e30 m20 with 200+bhp is not to be messed with :twisted:
Its already mapped with the MAf conversion dude.

WOuld have given a bit more if the head was ported.

The exhaust is also standard BMW.
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Post Fri Dec 02, 2005 7:16 pm

Just to add - Nadz engine has 150k on it.
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Post Fri Dec 02, 2005 7:33 pm

My old car!!

This car has done 150k, but from new to 123k (when I can vouch for it) it had a full and meticulous BMW service history.

I'm pleased it's making good power now, not that it was slow before!

Good stuff Sal.
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Post Fri Dec 02, 2005 7:36 pm

well done sal thats amazing :cool:
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Post Fri Dec 02, 2005 7:43 pm

Thanks guys. To be honest 190 bhp was expected by myself and ANt.

We have done things like this to our own cars over the years but never all at once.

Oh, forgot to say, the car sounds bloody amazing too with that raspy M3 style exhaust note and excellent induction.

I'll let Nads give a full review.
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Post Fri Dec 02, 2005 7:53 pm

ahh yeah I know this car. met nadz at an exam. turned out we're on the same course.

I still see you driving around now and agian mate. Last time was when you clocked me coming over kingston bridge. how's the car now mate?
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Post Fri Dec 02, 2005 7:56 pm

Let me know if he drives it properly........teach him how to heel and toe!
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Post Fri Dec 02, 2005 8:00 pm

good to confirm that the stuff your selling Sal is making good gains. Nadz will be grinning with the cup kit plus roll bars too.

PS got the springs cheers, just got to get them fitted! :twisted:
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Post Fri Dec 02, 2005 8:01 pm

Simon13 wrote:good to confirm that the stuff your selling Sal is making good gains. Nadz will be grinning with the cup kit plus roll bars too.

PS got the springs cheers, just got to get them fitted! :twisted:
Thanks for the positive comments Kermit.

Stick those springs on the Sport and You'll be grinning even harder than you are these days.
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Post Fri Dec 02, 2005 8:36 pm

Cool guys, good to see a high powered 2.5 on the prowl.

Sal, if/when MS is fitted then maybe we can get mine on the Bexley rollers, then take it to the place where I got my original graphs from, try to make a comparison or something?
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Post Sat Dec 03, 2005 12:36 am

hello all,

just got back from sals about an hour ago..

first of all thanks to both ant and sal for doing an excellent job, cant thank them enough and highly recommend them to any one for there e30!!!fantasitc job guys...

right now the 190bhp 2.5,, wow abosulutely fantastic love it to bits,

the drive of the car is so smoooth, much better to drive, the engine tick over brump brump, sound like a v8 under there,, from low revs the car really pulls well, once reaches about 4k omg pull into warp speed, everythigng just rushes past you, revs very quick into the red zone, change gear and more and more, at the same time enjoying that lovely 6 branch, just imagine e46 m3 hollow/tinny sound....

havent really "tested" it out fully just let it wear in more, build some millage etc also was to wet, didnt want to risk it.

as your cruising at about 1/4 throttle in the gear, slightly accelerate and instant movement, the throttle response is crisp, much better than that restrictive afm, a slight blip vroom instant...off she goes..

also had a ride in sals c2 2.7, omfg that thing flieeees, its like a devil inside it unleasehs instantly and the sound she makes ohhhhhhhh droool, i can still hear it in my head...alpina exhuat i want i want...beast of a car.

all in all fantastic job from both ant and sal, had great time 2night sal/ant see you soon.

also thank you all for kind comments.

:cool:
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Post Sat Dec 03, 2005 12:39 am

Glad you're pleased with it mate.

Enjoy........
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Post Sat Dec 03, 2005 10:43 am

Thanks for the positive comments Nadz.

Alpina exhaust rules!
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Post Sat Dec 03, 2005 11:33 am

1 Q: MAF?
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Post Sat Dec 03, 2005 11:40 am

quick question - is the head still running OEM valve springs?

cheers
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Post Sat Dec 03, 2005 11:49 am

Hi Boots !

The head is running the schrick springs recommended with that particular camshaft, no porting was carried out but new exhaust valves were fitted as the old ones had no chrome left on them :eek:

The car as it arrived here was 160 bhp max, no question, my arse dyno is very sensitive to e30s now :lol: it was generally tired though which does not help.

Bottom end was showing no wear, hone marks still clear as the day it left the factory.

there should be more power to come once the cam beds in and the clearances are reset @ 500 miles.

glad Nadz is happy, certainly delivers the goods now :twisted:
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Post Sat Dec 03, 2005 11:55 am

Hyperion wrote:1 Q: MAF?
1A = Mass Airflow meter
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Post Sat Dec 03, 2005 1:15 pm

Great figures there. Nice to see actual numbers for once!
Can you give us an approximate cost breakdown of this work(parts only)?

thanks 8)
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Post Sat Dec 03, 2005 1:38 pm

I am supprised at the difference the MAF made. i was expecting aroun 5Bhp more, but 9, thats sweet....
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Post Sat Dec 03, 2005 11:48 pm

It is quite impressive but whats even more impressive is part throttle response. The dyno print out only gives the picture when your flooring it.
Fuel economy also seemed to get quite a bit better too.
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Post Tue Dec 06, 2005 8:04 am

So do u know what MAF u used ? From which car ? I'm gonna be running a 3.2lt M3 MAF (S50B32)... should be set up in Jan, was thinkin of maybe adding 5kw, but I see u got 9hp, so yeah seems about right to me... great stuff man :wink:
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Post Tue Dec 06, 2005 10:17 am

Siemens MAF from E36 323i.

Must not be the hot wire type but the hot mesh type.
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Post Tue Dec 06, 2005 1:34 pm

Nice - sounds like a sweet ride :)