Help judge the accuracy of this article. Non-M performance upgrades itt

[Righteous]

http://www.eurotuner.com/techarticles/eurp_0705_bmw_m50_m52_engine/index.html

I found this on bfc somewhere. I thought it was pretty cool how they clearly define different price points for performance stages. But should I listen to this article alone? Are they leaving anything out? Or is anything here just plain wrong?

[dswads34]

I only read through the first price range, and maybe others will chime in as well, but the hp gains seem to be a bit inflated. They might be accurate if you started with a new engine, but how many of us get to do that? I would expect the 185whp to be about right if the intake manifold on a 328 were swapped for OBD1 hardware (with the other modifications), but aside from that I'm skeptical. Maybe some members with more dyno experience than I can comment on my spectulation though :).

FWIW, with my M50, I only dyno'd ~190rwhp w/ s50 cams, AA custom software, obd2 exhaust manifold, CAI, and true duals (sans cats at the time).

[PhoenixRX7]

wow, what a pain to get 250rwhp.

[dRock13]

looks inflated to me.

especially this..?
The neat thing about this setup is Active already has software running with factory M3 cams that nets 215-220whp using an AA track pipe (no cats) and muffler. That's more power (http://www.eurotuner.com/techarticles/eurp_0705_bmw_m50_m52_engine/special_concoctions.html#) than a stock E36 M3. Additionally, AA can order you a set of custom-ground cams that reportedly increase that figure over 240whp in some cases.


My M3 has schrick cams and intake and i doubt its putting down 240

[Righteous]

I only read through the first price range, and maybe others will chime in as well, but the hp gains seem to be a bit inflated. They might be accurate if you started with a new engine, but how many of us get to do that? I would expect the 185whp to be about right if the intake manifold on a 328 were swapped for OBD1 hardware (with the other modifications), but aside from that I'm skeptical. Maybe some members with more dyno experience than I can comment on my spectulation though :).

FWIW, with my M50, I only dyno'd ~190rwhp w/ s50 cams, AA custom software, obd2 exhaust manifold, CAI, and true duals (sans cats at the time).


Your testimony is good info... I would expect higher gains with all that. It truly is minimal gains with expensive N/A setups. So either get F/I or invest your money elsewhere (in an actual asset instead of liability like an E36 lol).

[fuggle]

My M3 has schrick cams and intake and i doubt its putting down 240

The Golden Gate chapter of BMWCCA had a dyno day at Performance Arts in Gilroy a couple weeks back and multiple M3's with cams and software were putting down ~240 numbers. I believe all were S52s. One was an awesome csl with a replaced (rebuilt?) s52. Others not so good. I'm guessing if your software is any good you'll do 240 easy.



FWIW, with my M50, I only dyno'd ~190rwhp w/ s50 cams, AA custom software, obd2 exhaust manifold, CAI, and true duals (sans cats at the time).

Something seems wrong with your numbers. I got 180 with just software. Unlikely the mani or cai do much of anything, but the cams, software and exhaust should give you more than 20. My guess is the AA software sux.

Kent

[BimmerLover84]

Article seems accurate. My 328is put down 187whp/181tq with a M50, cosmos intake, and custom exhaust. They claimed 185whp/181tq without exhaust and 188whp with exhaust.

[iverson03tj]

Has anyone ever tried to dyno a e36 stock?

I thing that over the years, your car looses the hp n torque. So i guess it all depends on what you started with right?

[fuggle]

I dyno'd my 325 stock at 145K miles. roughly 170hp/160tq. I'm sure there are stock dynos in the pinned dyno thread. with assumed loss this works out to be very close to the factory crank numbers.

kent