Help, Which Performance Mod to do first

[MP525i]

Hey guys,

I'm between a rock and a hard place. I have a '95 M3 with just exterior modifications. For next summer I plan on doing the following:

AA: Track pipe; gen III exhaust, CAI, 21lb injectors, HFM and chip.

I figure that will get me some good HP. As for NOW though, I have around 5 bills. I can do the following:

1. Get the AA Track Pipe and spend a little more ($ is tight).
2. Get the CAI w/ HFM.
3. Get the Chip.

I'm really leaning towards the Track Pipe 'cause I think that will give me the most HP out of all of them, but I'm not certain.

What would you do if in this situation?? Are there any REAL gains by just doing the chip or CAI w/ HFM.

*AA claims to give 23WHP with chip, CAI, HFM + 21lb injectors**

All opinions would be appreciated. Thanks a lot guys!!

-Mike

[CABimmer]

*AA claims to give 23WHP with chip, CAI, HFM + 21lb injectors**

will give you the most bang for the buck. I hear the crack pipe is only a few hp

[MP525i]

I figured that but like I said I can't do the Chip, CAI, 21 injectors and HFM all at once. $1,200 is alotta dimp (super troopers:D ), so I can only afford to do the following:

1. Track Pipe
2. Chip
3. CAI w/ HFM

Which would give me the most HP?

Thanks!

-Mike

[JamesM3M5]

You first need to tighten the loose nut behind the steering wheel before modding!! ;) Just kidding...

The CAI/HFM/Chip/Injectors is a great bang-for-the-buck mod. I'm doing that first on my new-to-me Avus Blue M3.

[CABimmer]

Just get the cold air intake, then do the chip and hfm at the same time.

[JamesM3M5]

If you can't afford the chip/injectors/HFM/intake all at once, piecing them together later may not be very cost effective. Or you can just put up with "only" 240HP and save your beans.

[98technovlt]

Out of all those mods mentioned the CAI (or maybe the crack pipe) will give you the most noticable improvment, the software improves torque in the range that most favorably impacts streetability and smooths out the delivery, but will not give you significant power increases. You may want to consider some of the very economical mods such as ASC delete which improves throttle response, and fan delete which frees up a few upper RPM ponies. Also consider underdrive pullies which have a high power/$ ratio.
Good Luck (and brace yourself, there should be a warning on all M3's that reads "Modifying this vehicle may be habit forming".

[incubus]

Don't spend any money right meow and instead save your scratch for the kit.

[///Mpmp1025]

yea just save for the kit, level IV. i was gonna get the kit but i ended up needing a new clutch so while i was there i ended up getting a new clutch, flywheel, track pipe and gen III, and last december i got there CAI when i went to pick up some crossed drilled roots from them, some guy was selling it cheap and it only had 500 miles on it. but Rey is gonna adjust the price of the level II kit for me bc all i would need is the bump kit not the entire intake system.

[uberM5]

go and buy a chip from turner thats only like 250 bucks and then you could get pullies for like 300 bucks and have a gain of like 35 claimed hp

[arkie6]

Best bang for the buck engine mod on a 95 M3 in my opinion is the free flowing intake with Euro HFM and associated chip. I have the Jim Conforti kit and highly recommend it (cost ~$1000). There are others out there as well, or you can piece together your own kit with a used 540/740i HFM and save a few $. This kit claims about 30 HP gain, but you can reasonably expect 20+ HP peak gains and more torque throughout the RPM range.

[norman]

after the hp mods, u will want suspension mods, then brake mods..............:laugh

[BJO]

do some autocrosses or DE's, then that will tell you what needs modding first.

[kaiservon]

Do a track event and afterwards your car will feel like it gained 20 hp. Seriously.

[98technovlt]

Uber - your dreaming.....maybe 1/2 of what is claimed.

[benaj]

Originally posted by BJO
do some autocrosses or DE's, then that will tell you what needs modding first.

Definately agree with above. You will feel **and be** a lot faster on the streets after doing your first few DE's.

The M3 is an amazing car stock, maximize what you got while you sort out what you need to beef up.

In general with all cars, it is always good to start from the bottom and work your way up. Good brake rotors (forget blingy cross-drilled) and upgraded pads (ss lines if you car is high mileage or you run it hard) are cheap enough. Suspension upgrades next (stock M3 is way too soft, too much understeer for how most of us drive these cars). Upgrade all your fluids-- don't forget you get real HP by doing this cheap mod.

Then think about big hoarsepower. Nothings funnier than a nice German car that has been modded into an expensive imitation of a cheap mustang or camaro (high horsepower, but can't turn or stop worth a damn). [No offense to those that own the above-mentioned innocent victims, every car his its purpose].

Work on your skills and maximize the car. You can do this so very easily while staying on a budget. Unfortunately even though this approach will make wicked fast in the end, it is not nearly as glamorous as taking a stock car directly to the Stage IV bi-turbo, intercooled- sequential blowoff valve'd approach.

But not everyone can be a glamorous as those two guys that strapped a missle onto their car in the Navada desert and made the Darwinism awards a few years ago . . . .

[///MZG]

if you plan on doing HFM and injectors you MUST have a chip that is burned for them. You can't buy a chip that is HFM and injector tuned and add those parts later. I would save up and buy the kit from AA, ECIS or TMS.

[Armo95]

Originally posted by arkie6
Best bang for the buck engine mod on a 95 M3 in my opinion is the free flowing intake with Euro HFM and associated chip. I have the Jim Conforti kit and highly recommend it (cost ~$1000). There are others out there as well, or you can piece together your own kit with a used 540/740i HFM and save a few $. This kit claims about 30 HP gain, but you can reasonably expect 20+ HP peak gains and more torque throughout the RPM range.

I gotta disagree slightly. I think the best bang for the buck is AA's Track pipe for a 95 M3. You car will absolutely rip after 4K.

Euro HFM kit also give tremendous HP/TQ gains on a 95 M3. But if money is an issue, go with the track pipe first, then HFM kit.


(I have done both and they both gave ridiculous gains...I did AA's track pipe first, then ECIS's Euro HFM kit). GL.

[///MZG]

arrag, how loud is the track pipe compared to stock?

[Armo95]

Originally posted by ///MZG
arrag, how loud is the track pipe compared to stock?

Not loud at all. People have been scared that the track pipe coupled with an exhaust will be too loud, yet it's not. Don't worry about the sound...really, the only concern is what you have to do when emissions time comes around(I just get a waiver from my uncle's shop i.e. they write me up a slip with maintenance items etc.).

Get it, the performance it gives along with a Euro HFM kit is simply astonishing. You opened your intake system up quite well, now focus on the exhaust...GL.

[///MZG]

thanks, I think it will be my next performance mod!