uprated cams for 2.5

[zimm_zimmer]

hey all just wondering if you can get uprated cams for the 2.5i and how much and is it worth it, also will i need a remap which will obviously require an aftermarket chip??

[Templ8e30]

Contact Ant about getting a Catcam from him, think he sels them for around the £250 mark. He can do a chip for you as well.

I've got a 273 degree Catcam in my 2.7, good midrange with very good top end power.

Cheers,

Iain T

[o22ie]

Re the fitting of these,, big job,, or a wise garage jobbie?

[snoops]

there has been a camfitted to the car in my sig as well as a chip, not sure of duration though but it isn't as smooth and pokey low down as my other 325i but after 4k it really comesalive especially in 3rd it lifts and the sound changes like a twincam does at 4k but there could be other mods as well that I don't know of

[pnd]

Fitting is a head off job. They do make a difference and if you don't mind a lumpy idle are worth doing but it does cost as you really need new rockers and springs and of course headset cambelt etc at the same time even doing it yourself this will cost £500 with a garage doing it and its not an easy job you are looking at 1000. whether the increase in power is worth that investment is certainly debatable.

[Templ8e30]

Iirc it is possible to fit without taking the head off whilst in the car. The rocker shafts need to be pulled out, there was a thread about this a while back.

The engine needs to be lifted a bit and the bonnet removed to slide out the cam and inlet rocker shaft and the rad and grille need to come out to remove the exhaust rocker shaft.

Cheers,

Iain T

[Brianmoooore]

There's no advantage at all in removing the head from the engine, and the only reason to consider removing the engine from the car is one of access.
As Ian says, it cone be done in the car with a little thought.
Consider undoing the gearbox crossmember and dropping the rear of the gearbox on a jack as well.

[reggid]

There's no advantage at all in removing the head from the engine, and the only reason to consider removing the engine from the car is one of access.
As Ian says, it cone be done in the car with a little thought.
Consider undoing the gearbox crossmember and dropping the rear of the gearbox on a jack as well.

except that it will allow the head to be reco'd at the same time which is not a bad thing

[Ant]

^ Agreed Reggid.

can be done in situ, provided you know the rest is in great condition.

£230 delivered to your doorstep for the CatCams M20 profiles.

[Simon13]

best way to liven up an M20 imo as the standard cam is so tame

[reggid]

best way to liven up an M20 imo as the standard cam is so tame

tame on a 2.7/2.8 maybe........but IMO a 2.5 has low enough torque already why make it worse for a bit up top which is all a cam alone will do to a 2.5 depends on your driving style really.

[pnd]

best way to liven up an M20 imo as the standard cam is so tame

tame on a 2.7/2.8 maybe........but IMO a 2.5 has low enough torque already why make it worse for a bit up top which is all a cam alone will do to a 2.5 depends on your driving style really.

True I have never been a great fan of cams they work well enough on the early engines but not so good on the later ones. my own preference for m20 tuning is sorting the breathing and getting everything else spot on.(and cutting weight) Personally i don't drive at the top end of the revs all the time the fact that people do is why so many m20's are shagged
didn't know you could fit them without taking the head off though it would never have occured to me mind you sounds nearly as much hassle!

[Simon13]

2.5's f**k low down grunt anyway. I'm guessing your qualified to make commet as you drive a 2.5 with a cam in it and can make a fair comment?

It's the most effective way of getting more go for 2.5, forget air filters,6 branches and bbtbs as none of these deliver on their own like a cam does.

Don't go too wild with your cam and go for an alpina type on at 268/268 if you want to save your 20lbs of low down torque

[d6dph]

Ant, What sort of fitting costs?

Also need to chat to you about a certain box of electronics. Are you joining us at lakeside?

[dazleeds]

which cam would give best low/mid torque and power??

im happy enough with the sports top end and never get to use it as those speeds anyway but
could always use extra low/mid gains especialy at the pod/york

[reggid]

2.5's f**k low down grunt anyway. I'm guessing your qualified to make commet as you drive a 2.5 with a cam in it and can make a fair comment?

It's the most effective way of getting more go for 2.5, forget air filters,6 branches and bbtbs as none of these deliver on their own like a cam does.

Don't go too wild with your cam and go for an alpina type on at 268/268 if you want to save your 20lbs of low down torque

i'd get bored with bolt ons before changing cams and if your lucky by that stage you'd have gotten over your e30 and then you'd have avoided throwing money into a 12V SOHC engine which takes alot of work to make major improvements upon. The M20 its just not deficent in one particular area to render a single mod as particulary effective IMO.

For example once you change the cam you'd won't some headwork , a 6 branch, BBTB, exhaust an remap to go with it and things start getting expensive pretty quick and if thats the way you want to go thats good but don't expect any major gains from a cam by itself.

I have done almost every mod you can think of on my m20 bar a MAF and modded intake manifold which i am undertaking soon so i know how much money is required..........the biggest single mod that i felt made the most improvemnt was a good 6 branch but i didn't do my build in such a way that i was able to say what gains a cam by itself yielded as the cam came with headwork abump in compression and capacity.

[pnd]

[quote="Simon13"]2.5's f**k low down grunt anyway. I'm guessing your qualified to make commet as you drive a 2.5 with a cam in it and can make a fair comment?

It is insulting to insinuate that i would make a comment without having the experience to back it up for the record i have driven in the last two days a 325i early high compression engine a 325 later engine and a 325 later engine sport with a 272 shrick cam in it I drive all of these cars regularly I am guessing you know enough to make a decent guess as to which is fastest. p.s all are in very good fettle with extensive history and specialist maintenance and ergo fit for comparison.

[Ant]

for a true comparison you'd test a stock cammed car, both pre and post facelift( the part number for the cam changes between E and K series lumps )

Then swop in something hotter,

Long duration vs High lift is the real topic to debate.

Too many pissing contests on here of late, not good

[Simon13]

ditto whats going on here at the moment?! the place is full to the brim with weapons

So Reggid the fact you haven't driven a 325i with just a cam fitted on it's own or a 6 branch, or a btb or air filter as such means you can't really comment on the point i was making does it.

No more from me on this

[reggid]

ditto whats going on here at the moment?! the place is full to the brim with weapons

So Reggid the fact you haven't driven a 325i with just a cam fitted on it's own or a 6 branch, or a btb or air filter as such means you can't really comment on the point i was making does it.

No more from me on this

There is published proof that a BTB does wonders for a stock car but there is not published proof of a cam doing any better is there? You seem to be carrying more weapons than anyone by suggesting otherwise.

Not what i said if you read closely..........the word my was used meaning on my particualr car i have not done just a cam.........but i have done the BBTB and filter with my car FYI. I don't see how it matters anyway driven many "cammed" m20 2.5 and 2.3 and don't feel like this is the start point for modding.

The earlier cars benfit a bit more becasue of the CR.... but really if you don't lose much lowend then you probably aren't gaining much topend you don't get something for nothing on these fixed cam timing SOHC engines and cams always work better with complementary mods.

I would save cams for stroked m20's but like i said thats just MO.

[hongkongfuey]

hey all just wondering if you can get uprated cams for the 2.5i and how much and is it worth it, also will i need a remap which will obviously require an aftermarket chip??

the original question lads ^ this aint fight club.

Too many pissing contests on here of late, not good

i agree, i thought this forum was to help each other

[Ant]

Cat cam 273/273 and a chip to suit is under £300 dude( £230 + 65 ), from me

chip for the midrange and top end to match the revised delivery of the cammed motor.

Proven/Tested combo and well worth the effort dude

>> BBC mode: there are other cams and suppliers out there << BBC mode disabled.

[Simon13]

Cat cam 273/273 and a chip to suit is under £300 dude( £230 + 65 ), from me

chip for the midrange and top end to match the revised delivery of the cammed motor.

Proven/Tested combo and well worth the effort dude

>> BBC mode: there are other cams and suppliers out there << BBC mode disabled.

ditto my engine

[silverdragon]

Hey Ant. What else do I need to get if i follow your suggested setup on my stock m20 325i? Do I
need to upgrade my rockers and springs with your "stage 1" upgrade? By the way Ive got a 6 branch and a SS freeflow exhaust already. I guess ill also have to ditch my Jim Conforti chip since it wont match the new cam, right? thanks in advance.

[Ant]

CatCam will operate fine on OE springs and rockers, of course you'll be fitting new rockers with the new cam.....

The zaust and any induction mods should complimenet the cam well, more air/fuel in, more air out, all good IMO.

Chip to suit is best option, The JC files are only for USA cat equipped or equivalent cars dude.

FYI only the WOT map is altered on those.