First BMW

i got my first bmw.. 1993 325i, i want to build a bimmer on a budject.. what are the best performance mods? tricks? and suggestions to build a badass bmw

I don`t wanna burst your bubble, but you chose the *wrong* brand.....BMWs were never intended to be rebuilt as hotrods. Increasing performance on these engines typically costs around $100 per horsepower gained....(scary, ain`t it ?)

Advice ???

Sell it...Get yourself a Mustang, Camaro, Subie WRX, Evo,etc. .... anything but a BMW....

ya i have had a camaro, prelude, eg hatch, teggi, and thunderbird and am trying to move up into bmw's.. i have seen a couple at local and underground meets and competition and always seeing bmw's at the top with small mods but are super fast and agile.. so i guess the prices are higher, what should i start with? and i was really wanting to do an ITB conversion.. do they have kits? or how would i do that?

My advice is just as you replace parts (yes, they will break ) just upgrade them to m3 parts or if you want, even higher performance. That's what I am doing with mine. BTW, these websites are the bomb http://www.turnermotorsport.com and http://www.ecstuning.com

Originally Posted by JDMwizkid

ya i have had a camaro, prelude, eg hatch, teggi, and thunderbird and am trying to move up into bmw's.. i have seen a couple at local and underground meets and competition and always seeing bmw's at the top with small mods but are super fast and agile.. so i guess the prices are higher, what should i start with? and i was really wanting to do an ITB conversion.. do they have kits? or how would i do that?

Maybe you`re not hearing me....these cars are NOT for somebody on a budget. Supercharging is the only way to get any appreciable horsepower out of them, and you`re talking $7500-$10,000 (or more) to do it the right way (and if you *don`t* do it the right way, you`ll have the fastest BMW in town for about eleven seconds, before it goes BOOM !)
Can your wallet take the hit ?

Originally Posted by nathey6

My advice is just as you replace parts (yes, they will break ) just upgrade them to m3 parts or if you want, even higher performance. That's what I am doing with mine. BTW, these websites are the bomb http://www.turnermotorsport.com and http://www.ecstuning.com

You`re dreaming, son....

Originally Posted by Fast Bob

You`re dreaming, son....

What do you mean? it has worked so far. Almost all the suspension components are upgraded either to M3 parts or other upgraded parts.

I know I will never end up with an M3, but at least I will have a sweet 325.

Originally Posted by nathey6

I know I will never end up with an M3, but at least I will have a sweet 325.

thats a great idea.. i already have the exhaust system, suspension, and brakes from an m3 that i am going to be putting on this week. i will let you know what the difference is between the two if you havent done it yourself

Originally Posted by Fast Bob

Maybe you`re not hearing me....these cars are NOT for somebody on a budget. Supercharging is the only way to get any appreciable horsepower out of them, and you`re talking $7500-$10,000 (or more) to do it the right way (and if you *don`t* do it the right way, you`ll have the fastest BMW in town for about eleven seconds, before it goes BOOM !)
Can your wallet take the hit ?

ok well thank you for the suggestions and info.. no offense but im going to try to prove you wrong.. im a skilled fabricator and have many connections in the autocross and bavarian world, i have put together a custom itb setup minus the wiring for under 1k.. i just dont know how to tune or wire them in

Originally Posted by JDMwizkid

thats a great idea.. i already have the exhaust system, suspension, and brakes from an m3 that i am going to be putting on this week. i will let you know what the difference is between the two if you havent done it yourself

Nice! Let me know how it goes. Shoot me up if you have any questions. (This is my 3rd E36, so I know a good amount about them. )

Originally Posted by nathey6

Nice! Let me know how it goes. Shoot me up if you have any questions. (This is my 3rd E36, so I know a good amount about them. )

i am about to finish up the exhaust actually.. got m3 exhaust manifold and muffler, i have to make a y pipe to fit the cats cause they were cut out.. i have an extra m3 muffler as well, i will try to post a sound clip tonight

Originally Posted by Fast Bob

I don`t wanna burst your bubble, but you chose the *wrong* brand.....BMWs were never intended to be rebuilt as hotrods. Increasing performance on these engines typically costs around $100 per horsepower gained....(scary, ain`t it ?)

Advice ???

Sell it...Get yourself a Mustang, Camaro, Subie WRX, Evo,etc. .... anything but a BMW....

Yep, BMWs take a whole lot of work (and $$) to convert. They're great cars as-is, though...

Originally Posted by rclark

Yep, BMWs take a whole lot of work (and $$) to convert. They're great cars as-is, though...

i mean its not like im runnin a honda budget build.. i mean on a budget in comparison with the car..

Originally Posted by JDMwizkid

i got my first bmw.. 1993 325i, i want to build a bimmer on a budject.. what are the best performance mods? tricks? and suggestions to build a badass bmw

Whaddaya mean "build a bimmer"? Ya got a bimmer. If you don't like it get something else. Bimmers are not intended to be build upon. They're intended to be the ultimate driving machine. Not that you can't make some minor tweaks. But basically a Bimmer is a Bimmer.

Whoa, I just realized that we both use bimmerfest, both in Kansas, and both have 1993 325's. Is yours a manual, or automatic?

Turbo, or swap up to a newer/bigger engine is really all you can do. Really though, if the suspension is fresh and what it should be on a BMW, and you have a manual transmission, that's already a fairly zippy car.

Originally Posted by Drew's525i

Turbo, or swap up to a newer/bigger engine is really all you can do. Really though, if the suspension is fresh and what it should be on a BMW, and you have a manual transmission, that's already a fairly zippy car.

You are from Kansas too! Kansas and 1993 bmw overload! lol

Originally Posted by nathey6

Whoa, I just realized that we both use bimmerfest, both in Kansas, and both have 1993 325's. Is yours a manual, or automatic?

ya absolutely a 5-spd.. how can you tell if you have the LSD or not? where in kansas are you from?

Originally Posted by Drew's525i

Turbo, or swap up to a newer/bigger engine is really all you can do. Really though, if the suspension is fresh and what it should be on a BMW, and you have a manual transmission, that's already a fairly zippy car.

ive heard alot of people putting m3 spec internals such as cams and throttle body and had a very significant gain.. i have a rear ended m3 at my disposal would it be worth doing swaps from that instead of new 325i parts?

Originally Posted by nathey6

Nice! Let me know how it goes. Shoot me up if you have any questions. (This is my 3rd E36, so I know a good amount about them. )

do they have a coolant system upgrade or replacement kit? if so where is the best way to get it?

I do not have the lsd. I am from Wichita. Here are different levels of kits depending on how much you want replaced and how much you want to spent.
Level 1 http://www.ecstuning.com/BMW-E36-325...ling/ES205297/
Level 2 http://www.ecstuning.com/BMW-E36-325...ling/ES205298/
Level 3 http://www.ecstuning.com/BMW-E36-325...ing/ES2598404/

And here are some performance kits
With radiator http://www.ecstuning.com/BMW-E36-325...ing/ES2587157/
Without radiator http://www.ecstuning.com/BMW-E36-325...ing/ES2587159/

Originally Posted by nathey6

I do not have the lsd. I am from Wichita. Here are different levels of kits depending on how much you want replaced and how much you want to spent.
Level 1 http://www.ecstuning.com/BMW-E36-325...ling/ES205297/
Level 2 http://www.ecstuning.com/BMW-E36-325...ling/ES205298/
Level 3 http://www.ecstuning.com/BMW-E36-325...ing/ES2598404/

perfect.. thank you very much.. do you have one of these kits? if so how was instalation and how is it workin so far?

I haven't gotten one yet, but I am thinking about the Level 2 refresh kit.