Wanting more power!
Moderator: martauto
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feens
- E30 Zone Regular

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- Joined: Fri May 19, 2006 11:00 pm
- Location: Longford
Ive got a 318IS with an ITG Panel filter and a Zone Chip in it, As ive gotten used to the nice little gain in performance im wanting a little more!! So my Question is what mod's can i do to increase BHP for Reasonable money?
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e30bmlover
- Ac Schnitzer prophet

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cam.
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feens
- E30 Zone Regular

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What cam's are avalible for these engine's? I Thought the standard cam's were ment to be fairly spot on performance wise?e30bmlover wrote:cam.
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chicken
- E30 Zone Newbie

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i will be keeping an eye on this topic!
there was a thread recently that someone put up a link about gains for the IS engine cant remeber where it was tho!!!
maybe a lightened flywheel to do the job and s/s exhaust system?
there was a thread recently that someone put up a link about gains for the IS engine cant remeber where it was tho!!!
maybe a lightened flywheel to do the job and s/s exhaust system?
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feens
- E30 Zone Regular

- Posts: 460
- Joined: Fri May 19, 2006 11:00 pm
- Location: Longford
Someone was teling me that useing the flywheel off an m20 will allow the engine to rev more freely! Has anyone fitted a BBTB?? would it be a worthwhile mod??chicken wrote:i will be keeping an eye on this topic!
there was a thread recently that someone put up a link about gains for the IS engine cant remeber where it was tho!!!
maybe a lightened flywheel to do the job and s/s exhaust system?
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BDC6570
- E30 Zone Newbie

- Posts: 89
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have a look at the article section , has a Q & A section on the BBTB I have a 325i next on my list is a zone chip and the BBTB 
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no1_jazz
- E30 Zone Regular

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oi oi wanting more power for your 31.8IS lol well so am i and Chicken i dont know if this is the information u saw but this is what i got from the net FEENS check it OUT::::
Modifying the M42 318iS Author: Stuart McHenry
This is a compilation of things that are necessary to get real performance out of the M42 engine that you use in a street/auto-x/mild track use car. These are items that will improve the cars performance and not sacrifice any low-end torque, which you want for street driving. These are all pretty much "bolt-on" mods, using the engines factory internals. If you want your 318iS to really fly on the street, these are the things you need to do:
Computer chip - This is a very basic and inexpensive modification for your car. Chips usually run about $200-$300 and are very easy to install. A chip on a stock M42 will bump the horsepower to about 145 (from 135) at the peak. The low-end torque is increased as well to improve everyday drivability. Though the real improvement comes at the top end; the chip widely increases the power band on the M42, from 4600-6000 to 4500-6700. I recommend Jim Conforti chips, as they are unarguably the best on the market for this motor, at a good price as well. On a side note, you will find the M42 makes a very distinctive "howl" from 6700-7200 rpm that reminds you that you're driving an honest-to-God BMW.
Flywheel - A major problem with the M42 was that it had BMW's 'dual-mass' flywheel; yes, it weighs almost twice as much as a 325i flywheel (as the name would suggest), at 28.5 pounds. This is a big problem and absolutely kills 1st and 2nd gear acceleration. Ever wondered why your 318iS's 0-60 was so slow? Well, the flywheel is one of the reasons.
There are 3 options to fix this: 1) use a 325i flywheel/clutch or 2) buy an aluminum flywheel for your M42's clutch, and 3) an aluminum flywheel for using the 325i clutch. Buying an aluminum flywheel for the M42 runs about $500-700 but is very light, and requires no modification to be fitted. M42 aluminum flywheels are about 12 pounds, and 325i aluminum fly's are about 8 pounds. The 325i flywheel requires a few other modifications to be fitted in the 318iS. Here's what you need: 325i flywheel, 325i clutch, 325i pressure plate, 325i drive-pinion for the starter motor, and a â€Ëa78-'83 323 throw-out bearing. Replace all these with the 318iS parts and it bolts right together. After all is said and done, your 318iS will have a LOT better acceleration in the first few gears, and deceleration will take place much quicker, which helps on the street and in the auto-x.
Rear end gear - The 318iS is equipped with a 4.10 limited slip from the factory, but you can do better. The desired gears out there are the 4.27 and the 4.45. You will find the 4.27 in E30 318i convertible 5 speed's and the 4.45 is in E36 318i automatics. The 4.45 is a wicked, wicked street gear but will stick your RPM way up there on the highway. The 4.27 is a good compromise of performance and everyday use. It should be known that to make a 4.45 work, you have to swap the gearset into your E30's differential, or find an automatic 318ti, which has a 4.45 and also has trailing arm rear suspension! So the E36 318ti 4.45 bolts right onto an E30, though finding an automatic 318ti with LSD may be difficult.
Adjust the cam timing - You know how on the E30 M3 you have to buy a $300 kit with adjustable cam sprockets to tune your cam timing? Not on the 318iS! The M42 is equipped with tunable cam sprockets from the factory. So pull your Cosmoline covered valve cover off and with the proper tools you can tweak your intake and exhaust cams up to 6 degrees +/- to provide more top end horsepower or more low end torque. See, you don't have to blow a grand on a set of Schrick cams to make your M42's cams a little hotter. The best setup is to adjust the intake cam to 5 degrees (advanced) and leave the exhaust cam alone. I would recommend having a shop do this work.
Muffler - The 318iS is equipped with a very free flowing exhaust manifold and center section with 2.25" stainless piping. The bottleneck in the system is the muffler. Thee are a few options for this. The first is a cat-back system, which replaces the piping and boxes behind the catalytic converter. Supersprint makes an excellent cat-back system that runs about $400. You can also simply replace the muffler. There are a variety of mufflers on the market but there is one that is very inexpensive, sounds great (not too loud, but throaty), and fits an E30 very well - it is made by Walker-Dynamax and is called the "Super-Turbo" muffler. It is available from Summit Racing at the price of about $40. We have had great success with these mufflers, and even use them in 3" size on our E30/S50 cars.
Intake system - The 318iS stock airbox works well, but a cone filter setup works better, but only if you have a well-built heatshield! Get a large K&N setup with the AFM adapter and all. Go to Home Depot, buy some Reflectex and build a "cool-air" system by cutting and fitting a heatshield. It is worth it in the end. While you are working on the intake, get the secondary plate of your throttle-body bored out 3mm to 57mm. This will make a difference.
NOW all the above is what i found from the net guys its not all in my own words i mean its not even mine lol but never the less check it out. hope its usefull guys
mean time take it easy and let me know how you get along
Jazz
Modifying the M42 318iS Author: Stuart McHenry
This is a compilation of things that are necessary to get real performance out of the M42 engine that you use in a street/auto-x/mild track use car. These are items that will improve the cars performance and not sacrifice any low-end torque, which you want for street driving. These are all pretty much "bolt-on" mods, using the engines factory internals. If you want your 318iS to really fly on the street, these are the things you need to do:
Computer chip - This is a very basic and inexpensive modification for your car. Chips usually run about $200-$300 and are very easy to install. A chip on a stock M42 will bump the horsepower to about 145 (from 135) at the peak. The low-end torque is increased as well to improve everyday drivability. Though the real improvement comes at the top end; the chip widely increases the power band on the M42, from 4600-6000 to 4500-6700. I recommend Jim Conforti chips, as they are unarguably the best on the market for this motor, at a good price as well. On a side note, you will find the M42 makes a very distinctive "howl" from 6700-7200 rpm that reminds you that you're driving an honest-to-God BMW.
Flywheel - A major problem with the M42 was that it had BMW's 'dual-mass' flywheel; yes, it weighs almost twice as much as a 325i flywheel (as the name would suggest), at 28.5 pounds. This is a big problem and absolutely kills 1st and 2nd gear acceleration. Ever wondered why your 318iS's 0-60 was so slow? Well, the flywheel is one of the reasons.
There are 3 options to fix this: 1) use a 325i flywheel/clutch or 2) buy an aluminum flywheel for your M42's clutch, and 3) an aluminum flywheel for using the 325i clutch. Buying an aluminum flywheel for the M42 runs about $500-700 but is very light, and requires no modification to be fitted. M42 aluminum flywheels are about 12 pounds, and 325i aluminum fly's are about 8 pounds. The 325i flywheel requires a few other modifications to be fitted in the 318iS. Here's what you need: 325i flywheel, 325i clutch, 325i pressure plate, 325i drive-pinion for the starter motor, and a â€Ëa78-'83 323 throw-out bearing. Replace all these with the 318iS parts and it bolts right together. After all is said and done, your 318iS will have a LOT better acceleration in the first few gears, and deceleration will take place much quicker, which helps on the street and in the auto-x.
Rear end gear - The 318iS is equipped with a 4.10 limited slip from the factory, but you can do better. The desired gears out there are the 4.27 and the 4.45. You will find the 4.27 in E30 318i convertible 5 speed's and the 4.45 is in E36 318i automatics. The 4.45 is a wicked, wicked street gear but will stick your RPM way up there on the highway. The 4.27 is a good compromise of performance and everyday use. It should be known that to make a 4.45 work, you have to swap the gearset into your E30's differential, or find an automatic 318ti, which has a 4.45 and also has trailing arm rear suspension! So the E36 318ti 4.45 bolts right onto an E30, though finding an automatic 318ti with LSD may be difficult.
Adjust the cam timing - You know how on the E30 M3 you have to buy a $300 kit with adjustable cam sprockets to tune your cam timing? Not on the 318iS! The M42 is equipped with tunable cam sprockets from the factory. So pull your Cosmoline covered valve cover off and with the proper tools you can tweak your intake and exhaust cams up to 6 degrees +/- to provide more top end horsepower or more low end torque. See, you don't have to blow a grand on a set of Schrick cams to make your M42's cams a little hotter. The best setup is to adjust the intake cam to 5 degrees (advanced) and leave the exhaust cam alone. I would recommend having a shop do this work.
Muffler - The 318iS is equipped with a very free flowing exhaust manifold and center section with 2.25" stainless piping. The bottleneck in the system is the muffler. Thee are a few options for this. The first is a cat-back system, which replaces the piping and boxes behind the catalytic converter. Supersprint makes an excellent cat-back system that runs about $400. You can also simply replace the muffler. There are a variety of mufflers on the market but there is one that is very inexpensive, sounds great (not too loud, but throaty), and fits an E30 very well - it is made by Walker-Dynamax and is called the "Super-Turbo" muffler. It is available from Summit Racing at the price of about $40. We have had great success with these mufflers, and even use them in 3" size on our E30/S50 cars.
Intake system - The 318iS stock airbox works well, but a cone filter setup works better, but only if you have a well-built heatshield! Get a large K&N setup with the AFM adapter and all. Go to Home Depot, buy some Reflectex and build a "cool-air" system by cutting and fitting a heatshield. It is worth it in the end. While you are working on the intake, get the secondary plate of your throttle-body bored out 3mm to 57mm. This will make a difference.
NOW all the above is what i found from the net guys its not all in my own words i mean its not even mine lol but never the less check it out. hope its usefull guys
mean time take it easy and let me know how you get along
Jazz
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fuzzy
- He who sleeps with "Gingers"
- Posts: 14351
- Joined: Sat Jun 04, 2005 11:00 pm
- Location: melbourne Australia
ive been told that the trade of with lightening a flywheel to make it more responsive is that it will cost you in lost torque. i have no idea if this is true though or just mechanics bullsh1tfeens wrote:Someone was teling me that useing the flywheel off an m20 will allow the engine to rev more freely! Has anyone fitted a BBTB?? would it be a worthwhile mod??chicken wrote:i will be keeping an eye on this topic!
there was a thread recently that someone put up a link about gains for the IS engine cant remeber where it was tho!!!
maybe a lightened flywheel to do the job and s/s exhaust system?
-
feens
- E30 Zone Regular

- Posts: 460
- Joined: Fri May 19, 2006 11:00 pm
- Location: Longford
Nice one Jazz!
@ fuzzy havint a clue about the trade off with the flywheel maybe someone will be able to answer that one!
Has Anybody adjusted cam sprockets on the IS??
Thanks peope
Has Anybody adjusted cam sprockets on the IS??
Thanks peope
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maxfield
- Old Skooler

- Posts: 15186
- Joined: Sat Nov 26, 2005 11:00 pm
- Location: Mansfield
Depending on budget change the engine.
Ant and Demlotcrew are the ones to talk to about adjusting the cam timing.
If you want big power F/I is the way to go.
If not:
BBTB
Flywheel
Cams (I think Shrick do 284/284 but not 100%)
ITG (you have)
Sebring exhaust
Remap
Maybe even the whole hog:
ITB'S
2.1 conversion
High compression etc
Ant and Demlotcrew are the ones to talk to about adjusting the cam timing.
If you want big power F/I is the way to go.
If not:
BBTB
Flywheel
Cams (I think Shrick do 284/284 but not 100%)
ITG (you have)
Sebring exhaust
Remap
Maybe even the whole hog:
ITB'S
2.1 conversion
High compression etc

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maxfield
- Old Skooler

- Posts: 15186
- Joined: Sat Nov 26, 2005 11:00 pm
- Location: Mansfield
You won't lose torque or power, neither gain power or torque.fuzzy wrote:ive been told that the trade of with lightening a flywheel to make it more responsive is that it will cost you in lost torque. i have no idea if this is true though or just mechanics bullsh1t
You might notice in on a hill but it will make the engine much more responsive.

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feens
- E30 Zone Regular

- Posts: 460
- Joined: Fri May 19, 2006 11:00 pm
- Location: Longford
Max If i change the engine there's ony one that will go in and its an s14 lump as i havint the funds for that conversion at the moment ill upgrade what i have! I Dont want the hassle of going down the FI Route just want up the power figure a little to achive 160BHP or so Without Bursting the wallet altogether IF Its Achivable!!! ( Actually i have a sebring backbox under the bed!! Nearly forgot about that!!)
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maxfield
- Old Skooler

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BBTB, flywheel and a remap will probably do that. You will have to do more research into the cams.
PM Kos as he got 160hp from his 318iS.
PM Kos as he got 160hp from his 318iS.

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feens
- E30 Zone Regular

- Posts: 460
- Joined: Fri May 19, 2006 11:00 pm
- Location: Longford
Id Be happy with that sort figure! Im Assuming cam's will give a little extra aswell???
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DanThe
- E30 Zone Team Member

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feens
- E30 Zone Regular

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Dan Very tempting!!! But im just gong to upgrade what i have for the moment! Cos if i do take the IS Engine out an S14 WILL be giong in!!!
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snoops
- Major Helmet
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remove the heater plate
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feens
- E30 Zone Regular

- Posts: 460
- Joined: Fri May 19, 2006 11:00 pm
- Location: Longford
Ive been meaning to o this do you have to take the TB off to do it??snoops wrote:remove the heater plate

