bmw e34 m50b25 tuning

[sondre687]

hey. I have an E34 525i with the m50b25. I want to get a little more power out of the engine so I thought that I may buy a schrick 264/256 camshaft, but i was wondering what more do i have to get if so?
644747

[shogun]

moved to E34 forum

[fo3]

hey. I have an E34 525i with the m50b25. I want to get a little more power out of the engine so I thought that I may buy a schrick 264/256 camshaft, but i was wondering what more do i have to get if so?
644747

m54b30 crank, rods and pistons

[shogun]

when I read about speed limits in Norway https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Speed_limits_in_Norway
I assume you do not want to get more top speed but better acceleration, easiest and cheapest is probably a different final drive ratio. https://diffsonline.com/bmw-e34-525-535-differentials.html#.XGYydO-P6Uk

[Blue plates]

So you have a chip? Vanos or nonvanos?

[The Chauffeur]

Welcome!

As Shogun said, it depends if your aim is top end or low end speed... I also have an m50b25 (NV), and I've been trying to make it more pleasant for everyday driving and, so far, this has helped quite a bit:

- As mentioned in a previous post: Chip. The difference is night and day.
- Big bore throttle body: this one is a bit controversial, but in my case, it definitely improved acceleration. Makes the car feel more "updated".
- Stainless steel short headers: improved exhaust flow; and even if they didn't, at least they weigh like half than the cast iron manifolds...
- Lighter rear muffler

As I mentioned, my aim was to improve acceleration (I know, the car won't win a drag race :D), but overall I'm pretty happy with the results. Just my 2 cents! :)

[Spaceturtle917]

I would do a chip and a new final drive. Chip is a big difference.

[fo3]

I've never hear anything good about rechipping the m50, but IRL I only know e36 people (I've only ever seen 2 e34s on the road ever)
About the only thing a chip could do is advance the timing a bit, but the m50 was pretty advanced from factory (sorry for the pun) and it already needs 95 RON. I'd imagine a chipped m50 would need 98 RON fuel just to be safe (95-96 AKI 'gas'? Is that even a easy to find fuel there and is it pricey like 98 RON here is?)

What did you two get - some pricey USA tuner chip or some dodgey eastern euro one?

I know you can get a lot out of a car if the timing is set for lower quality fuels but BMWs aren't. Years ago I had a ford falcon (last of the dizzys model) and I could really advance the timing manually and run it on 95 fuel to make it take off like a rocket. It was faster than the later models that had electronic ignition with no dizzy as and the timing was set back on them so much and you couldn't adjust without a chip.

[The Chauffeur]

What did you two get - some pricey USA tuner chip or some dodgey eastern euro one?


Canadian, actually... :stickoutt

Mark D'Sylva chip here, and I've only heard good things about it, also Turner and Dinan, but those are the only reputable ones that come to mind, I don't know if Racing Dynamics makes one for the M50...

They do recommend "91 or higher" AKI due to the advanced timing, I always get 95 just to be safe. 95 AKI is available everywhere here, I'm sure it's the same in Norway.