Where I stand, and where I need to go?

[Skyy]

After doing a lot of searching and researching for about 2 moths, I'd like to get more personalized opinions on the direction of my m3.

I got the car about 2 months ago. Its a 97 Hellrot/modena with 95k on the clock. The Current mods (to my knowledge) are as listed:


Black kindney mesh grill
Euro corner lights
18" BBS LM's
Dual-stage rear spoiler
Clear euro tail lights

Suspension:
Billstein shocks and struts
BMW performance x-brace
Dinan strut bar

Engine/Performance:
Dinan cold air intake
M50 Intake manifold
Dinan high flow mass air meter
Dinan high flow throttle body
Dinan cat-back stainless steel exhaust
Dinan Stage 4 ECU tune

(Im not really sure if the car has injectors or not, it feels like it does, but I honestly wouldn't know. Would there be anyway to tell?)

My overall goals for the car, is just to be street-driven and taken to the track every now and again. Longterm horsepower goal is about 400-600. Im looking to boost about a year or so down the road, but im trying build a very solid N/A build for the time being. Until the car is boosted, it will be my daily.

Im more or less looking for opinions on where to go next. I have the money to build it right, but I guess im just looking for second opinions so everything is done right the first time.

If there's any other needed information im missing, just let me know!

Thanks!

eh, pics just because:

http://i195.photobucket.com/albums/z145/drigerei/cam088-1.jpg

http://i195.photobucket.com/albums/z145/drigerei/cam023-1.jpg

http://i195.photobucket.com/albums/z145/drigerei/cam099-1.jpg

[gsilv]

what do you mean " you feel like it does" regarding injectors. you wouldn't feel that. you have 21.5 lb injectors in there now stock. which is more than sufficient for your mods. if you go cams and larger hfm you can upgrade to 24lbs. but id recommend staying where your at until you go for FI. then you can tackle that situation. get used to the car first. nice looking car!

[Slvr328IS]

18" BBS LM reps

Ftfy

[RRSperry]

Want to make you daily drive more livable? Give it some more ride height...

400-600 rwhp is just about useless for anything other than dick measuring. (actually anything more than about 350) Yes it has power, but what good is it if you can't put it to the ground? 3ed or 4th gear pulls on the freeway?

[pbonsalb]

500 rwhp is a lot of fun in these cars. I enjoy it a lot more than I enjoyed 350 rwhp. Of course, when all I had was 350 rwhp, I was much happier than I was with 200 rwhp stock horsepower.

Not sure how much further I will go from here. Maybe 625 rwhp, but I probably would not chase power any further because at that point it really does become difficult to put it to the ground on a stock bodied E36 on street tires anywhere but 4th or 5th on the highway

[MasterKwan]

400-600 rwhp is just about useless for anything other than dick measuring. (actually anything more than about 350) Yes it has power, but what good is it if you can't put it to the ground? 3ed or 4th gear pulls on the freeway?

Honestly I think if I had a good 300 whp and about the same torque, the M3 would be the fastest car at my DE's. It already handles as well as the porsches and 'vette's. They just kill me in the straights.

I always see this graph in my head, "power goes up, reliability goes down". Unless it's an engine swap, then you toss that out.

[RRSperry]

500 is fun, but not very useful...

1.) must be pointed in a straight line, have plenty of straight road in front...
2.) must have dry pavement.
3.) be ready to catch car when it jumps one way or the other...
4.) have steady supply of 1/2 shafts, trannys, diffs, driveshafts... for when stuff inevitably breaks. (the car was never, ever designed for those kinds of forces.)
5.) must love buying tires, and making smoke...

Just saying...