Getting Your Bimmer Turbo Ready

so...i've been searching the e36 forums..and i can't seem to find anyone talking about turbo. i understand there are a lot of people who don't see a need to turbo...but 190hp isn't enough to beat a civic hatch that's 1/2 your weight with the same horses...I NEED MORE POWER...

someone link me or lead in the right direction to get turbo ready....i know these engines are pretty much PERFECT...but there has got to be a few things that should be changed, replaced, or looked at before slapping a turbo on.


just looking for a someone to point me in the right diretion

some great info here

http://www.bimmerfest.com/forums/sho...658&highlight=

Forced Induction section on Bimmerforums

This too:

Originally Posted by E36youngster

some great info here

http://www.bimmerfest.com/forums/sho...658&highlight=

Matt (FenderBender) is a great guy and I'm sure would be willing to answer any questions if you have them.

Brakes need to be upgraded too. Gotta stop sometime.

Most definitely. Matt did a Wilwood big brake kit (BBK) on the front and m3 calipers on the rear.

Originally Posted by darrylec2

so...i've been searching the e36 forums..and i can't seem to find anyone talking about turbo. i understand there are a lot of people who don't see a need to turbo...but 190hp isn't enough to beat a civic hatch that's 1/2 your weight with the same horses...I NEED MORE POWER...

someone link me or lead in the right direction to get turbo ready....i know these engines are pretty much PERFECT...but there has got to be a few things that should be changed, replaced, or looked at before slapping a turbo on.


just looking for a someone to point me in the right diretion

Step one. refinance house, sell kidney, or attain immense amounts of cash.
step two. begin buying parts
step three. realize youve spent over 2k on parts and you still dont have the turbo or intercooler yet
step four. get turbo installed, rip on it, then find out you need to replace clutch due to the fact 400hp is much more than 190 and the stock clutch said fffffffffffffffuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuu
step five. hate your life because you now have turbo related problems
step six. love your life cause your turbo setup helped you get laid

Originally Posted by drive by72

Step one. refinance house, sell kidney, or attain immense amounts of cash.
step two. begin buying parts
step three. realize youve spent over 2k on parts and you still dont have the turbo or intercooler yet
step four. get turbo installed, rip on it, then find out you need to replace clutch due to the fact 400hp is much more than 190 and the stock clutch said fffffffffffffffuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuu
step five. hate your life because you now have turbo related problems
step six. love your life cause your turbo setup helped you get laid

well..i have the immense amount to cash to start...not worried about the turbo kit and accessories...i'm worried about what's already in the car...
thank you for the clutch hint as that was slipping my mind...so far all i can think of is pulling that ****er out...checking the heads (just in case) change all my gaskets...
i don't plan on dropping money and parts into something that isn't already invested and checked...that's an even bigger waste of time, stress, and money. rather do it right the first time

oh..and i'm not looking for a stage 3...blow my brains out set up...i just wanna go from the norm 190 to a clean 275-325...350 tops. i mean the chip is just step one...but that's not enough to shut a 1500lbs gutted civic hatch with a worked over engine...i just gotta make em hate..
i mean i got em on the looks...that goes without saying..it's a Bimmer

Originally Posted by darrylec2

well..i have the immense amount to cash to start...not worried about the turbo kit and accessories...i'm worried about what's already in the car...
thank you for the clutch hint as that was slipping my mind...so far all i can think of is pulling that ****er out...checking the heads (just in case) change all my gaskets...
i don't plan on dropping money and parts into something that isn't already invested and checked...that's an even bigger waste of time, stress, and money. rather do it right the first time

How many miles? If you have the money, I would suggest getting Weisco pistons and rods, rather than using an MLS headgasket to lower the compression. We're shooting for 8.5:1 compression, and with rods and pistons you should be safe for 650-700hp. Plus, that is a fresh set of internals, so it definitely doesnt hurt.

To give you an idea of how expensive boosting an E36 is...

Turbo manifolds go anywhere from 250-600 bucks, depending on the type of manifold
Decent turbo will run at least 800
Tuning, if youre OBD1, can be done for aroun 6-800 bucks. OBD2 will be more like 1200
A clutch strong enough to handle 350hp, would be anywhere from 300-1k+, depending what kind you get
Thats not including injectors, maf, intercooler, piping, the ARP studs, pistons/rods or mls hg, the AFR gauge, wastegate, BOV, oil lines, oil dist. adapter, exhaust system, and labor for anything you cant do yourself.

You can make incredible amounts of power on an E36 M5x series engine. But, it is not a cheap date.

And if you were thinking about it, DONT BUY THAT EBAY CRAP! ITS ALL JUNK


But then again....

If you have an immense amount of cash then sell the 325 and buy a M3 you'll be happy you did. I promise you will smoke the Honda. It doesn't take much to get alot of HP from an M3. Put a CAI and a nice cat back exhaust on it you will like it. I have never drove an M3 until about a month ago it was a 97 cosmos black M3 with a CAI and nice exhaust on it and WOW I mean WOW what a ride it was, it was a night and day difference from my 318 and almost that close compared to my 325. Trust me you won't be disappointed.

alright for one...thank you driveby72 for the extra things to look into...didn't think i'd need to change pistons and rods on a bimmer...figured they'd be fine as long as i'm trying not to reach the 400+ range. secondly..if i wanted an m3..i would have bought 1...i prefer built not bought. it's like the diff between buying a type r integra or just working on an ls yourself.

I've also decided to buy a full turbo kit..stage 1..from Active Autowerks...don't feel like looking for each part seperately. as far as the tuning..i already know it's gonna be pricey.
i also don't plan on just buying the kit and throwing it in.. i've already planed to pull the engine out...i just needed the info driveby gave me to get a starting point on what needs to be touched beforehand.


oh and don't worry...i know ALL TOO WELL about ebay and this **** that spews out of it...if i were to buy something from there..it'd be...a door handle....maybe..haha

http://store.activeautowerke.com/act...lower-p20.aspx

I'll chime in a little later, lots of options for you to choose. 400 HP is fine on stock internals.

Sent from my ADR6400L using Bimmer App

my bad..i mean supercharger...i forget sometimes that there is a difference

Don't bother adding power until you've gotten 100% caught up on maintenance, and have upgraded your suspension, bushings, chassis, and brakes. Adding power is supposed to happen last. And who cares about straight line racing, anyway? If you want a drag car, get a drag car, not a BMW.

^ I know right, seriously you would be better off getting an M3>n I get it when you say it's fun to build but you also have to be smart about it. If you dump a crap load of money into your 325 you will never ever come close to recouping any of that money back, these cars don't hold there value as well as an M3. also with an M3 your more than half way there on HP and if you still want to add a SC or a turbo your money ahead on your build. And with the cash that you save you can thank me buy sending to me.......

Karl be nice. Yes I agree all maintenance must be up to date before le turbonation, but saying who cares about straight line speed is

Please refer to the video I posted.

Now, wouldnt that just brighten your day every time? It would with me

I prefer great speed, acceleration, handing, braking, and style. But that's just me.

Sent from my ADR6400L using Bimmer App

IMO
Handling comes first, then braking, then looks, then acceleration, then speed.
I'm more for supercharging than turbocharging, I like the linear power build up than rather having tons of power kicking you in the a$$ all of the sudden.

I'm just saying trying to build a car that can simply beat a Civic from stoplight to stoplight is stupid. Build a complete package. It's also my general belief that it makes the most sense to enhance a car's natural abilities when modifying. So, in the case of BMWs, it makes the most sense to enhance handling long before attempting to increase straight line acceleration.

Originally Posted by FenderBender

I prefer great speed, acceleration, handing, braking, and style. But that's just me.

Sent from my ADR6400L using Bimmer App

i prefer to be able to eat a bowl of soup without spilling it down my (usually) white shirt at the company luncheon...


but yeah, i'd give up a few 10ths to get a better skidpad.




df

Originally Posted by RawrRawr

IMO
Handling comes first, then braking, then looks, then acceleration, then speed.
I'm more for supercharging than turbocharging, I like the linear power build up than rather having tons of power kicking you in the a$$ all of the sudden.

I said the same thing until I saw a dyno sheet of a supercharger and a turbo.

Pretend numbers here. Lets say the SC makes 300whp at full spool. Awesome, except you dont get full spool until 5500rpm, by which you're almost shifting and have almost no real amount of time to play with that power.

If your turbo makes the same 300whp at full spool, you can have full spool by 3k rpm if you want, and suddenly you have 300whp to play with for a much longer time. Also, its easier to keep the car above 3k during track time than it is to keep it above 5500, giving you a better range of power.

Twin screw chargers are an exception, but good lord are they expensive

Plus turbos have more torque on these cars, you can change boost levels with a button or knob, and they get better gas mileage.

Sent from my ADR6400L using Bimmer App

alright..finally got a chance to get back on...who says i haven't already started on the suspension...my goal for supercharger...or turbo is actually about 6 months to a year from now...which is the reason why i'm on here. I want to get the rest of the info on what i need to take care of before hand. secondly..i don't race from street light to street light..i live about 20 mins away from a track...thursday is grudge match day...everyone hangs out and talks **** friday and sat, then works the week...shows up at the track...does their runs..and then back to the fri-sat **** talking. they got no respect for bimmers and i wanna show em what a NON m3 can do.

as to putting a lot of money into a car that won't keep value you...why do people still have 1967 mustangs...cuz that was the car they loved and wanted to keep til the wheels fell off...that's how i feel about mine.

i enjoy your criticism...but i'm looking for pointers...not trolls

Originally Posted by drive by72

Step one. refinance house, sell kidney, or attain immense amounts of cash.
step two. begin buying parts
step three. realize youve spent over 2k on parts and you still dont have the turbo or intercooler yet
step four. get turbo installed, rip on it, then find out you need to replace clutch due to the fact 400hp is much more than 190 and the stock clutch said fffffffffffffffuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuu
step five. hate your life because you now have turbo related problems
step six. love your life cause your turbo setup helped you get laid

My supercharger has impacted step six too much...