*Finally* got my Dinan S/C E34 540i on the dyno....

[Will Allen]

Hi Gang,

Well, with the 6-speed installed, it was finally time to hit the dyno today. For those who don't know, the specs on my car:

1994 540i with brandy-new 6-speed conversion
Dinan Stage III S/C ( includes muffler and cams )
Dinan 3.64 lsd
Dinan Stage III suspension
Brembos
HIDs and some other stuff that does not matter to dyno purposes.

110k on original Nikasil block. S/C installed 10 years ago at <10k miles.
93 pump gas.

After the first run, we unhooked my boost gauge which was showing only 4psi ( should be 6psi ) and attached a different one in the engine compartment. The 2nd run showed closer to 4.5 psi or maybe a little more and gave us an extra 10rwhp. There are no clamps or ties on any of my boost gauge lines, so I'm hopeful that my missing 1-1.5 psi can be found somewhere.

Anyway, here's the graph. Sorry for the large image.

http://pinetree.318ti.org/~wallen/540i/dyno1a.jpg


I'd like to find someone to do a custom chip and maybe get a little more fuel in the 3k-4k range when the boost starts to come on, but other than that the A/F looks pretty good ( to my eyes ).

I don't know what people are using for a correction factor...18% would put me just over 400hp at the crank. Suffice to say, I am quite happy with the results. especially considering I have a boost leak and the old girl has clocked about 100k Nikasil miles with the S/C!! I am also very impressed with how smooth and linear the curve is. Guess you have to give Dinan some props there.

Dinan quotes 439hp for the Stage III, so anyway you slice it I am not too far off of that...especially if I can find my other 1-2 psi somewhere and get to the advertised 6psi.

The car probably deserves some face-time, so here are some headshots:

http://pinetree.318ti.org/~wallen/540i/540i_4.jpg
http://pinetree.318ti.org/~wallen/540i/540i_2.jpg
http://pinetree.318ti.org/~wallen/540i/540i_3.jpg


I suppose I should say something about "representin' the E34s!"?? :redspot

-- Will :)

[slocar]

Beautiful car, and beautiful numbers. :)

[bmw1600ti]

nice...Any plans on the quarter? :)

[shragon]

sweet e34!!!!!

my dad is originally from portland. haven't gone in a while.

[2Crucial]

nice car

[orlandoD]

wow :buttrock

[Mblaster]

Excellent numbers given the pressure loss. :D

[bvarianlvr]

Beautiful car. LOVE the Throwin' Stars.

[Mitchy540]

Daaamn that car is perfect! The wheels make it really stand apart. I want those wheels. Are those the M5 throwing stars? Where the heck do I find a set of them for my car??

[E34nication]

Great looking car. How are you liking that 3.64 w/ the 6-speed? I thought it was a little short for my e34 540-6... with that extra power I can imagine you spinning all the way through 1st and 2nd if you're not careful.

[Will Allen]

Great looking car. How are you liking that 3.64 w/ the 6-speed? I thought it was a little short for my e34 540-6... with that extra power I can imagine you spinning all the way through 1st and 2nd if you're not careful.

You know, I *really* don't mind it. It definitely is a little short, though, although I really only notice it in 1st. I'm running about 75mph at 3k rpm in 6th on the highway, which is definitely a bit high for a V8...but it is about the same as it was with the automatic. The short ratios mostly keep me wondering about which gear I want downshift into...1st or 2nd, 3rd or 4th, etc.

I do have a 3.15lsd from an '88 750il on the way which I will probably throw in. Ideally I'd like to have gone with a 3.3x or something, but this was only $500 on eBay vs. $2800 or whatever for a custom rebuild.

As for the extra power, the S/C doesn't *really* kick in until 3800 or 4k, so wheel-spinning is not a real problem. I'm sure Jim has a different problem since he's packing quite a bit more torque with his 4.4L.

I'll certainly post once I try the 3.15.

-- Will

[LJSE34]

That is one goodlooking E34!

[legendary]

That is great!
I would love to see some underhood pics

[cleoent]

i love the sleeper factor, very cool! Very impressive for a 100K+ engine :buttrock

[psychocandy]

That is great!
I would love to see some underhood pics

ditto

[Keith]

Hmmmm, looks like my buddy Doug's old car from Danville Calif, he told me the car was bought by someone in Maine.
Would that be you by chance??
If it is, nice job on the tranny swap.
That car moved even with that stalled torque converted auto, it really must get to crankin' with that stick. :alright

Nevermind if it isn't you, but my money is on that it is.
You have the original Dinan prototype s/c 540, you're a lucky man.

[The Fifth Element]

Wow, that's awesome. :) :alright

[sdwhitney]

As for the extra power, the S/C doesn't *really* kick in until 3800 or 4k, so wheel-spinning is not a real problem. I'm sure Jim has a different problem since he's packing quite a bit more torque with his 4.4L. -- Will

I have never heard about Jimmy's numbers, nor have I seen a dyno from him.

Your numbers look pretty good for as old as your S/C is and having a Nikasil.

Very nice Will!

[Will Allen]

Hmmmm, looks like my buddy Doug's old car from Danville Calif, he told me the car was bought by someone in Maine.
Would that be you by chance??
If it is, nice job on the tranny swap.
That car moved even with that stalled torque converted auto, it really must get to crankin' with that stick. :alright

Nevermind if it isn't you, but my money is on that it is.
You have the original Dinan prototype s/c 540, you're a lucky man.

Yup, that's me. :) I bought the car from Doug sight-unseen until it showed up on a truck at my house. I think I definitely found a gem.

Now if I could just find some sport seats.....

-- Will

[Will Allen]

I have never heard about Jimmy's numbers, nor have I seen a dyno from him.

Your numbers look pretty good for as old as your S/C is and having a Nikasil.

Very nice Will!

I don't think Jim has posted a dyno yet, but I'll take his word for it that the extra torque makes a big difference. I just wish he'd hurry up and get his XB-1A installed and tuned so. My BD-10 is definitely an aging unit....

-- Will

[bähnstormer]

is it just me or do those afr's
look kinda not so good?

[Will Allen]

is it just me or do those afr's
look kinda not so good?

Elaborate?

As a layman, it looks to me like I need a boost from 3-4k where the boost starts, but aside from that they look ok to me....below 13 and getting richer to redline.

-- Will

[bähnstormer]

well i was under the impression that the afr should be
as near optimal as possible for as long as possible

richer is less heat, but dirtier valves and fuel wasted
leaner is hotter and more power, but heat is detonation

so it should be as near the middle as possible....

here lemme look for some nice dyno charts


http://bimmerforums.com/forum/attachment.php?attachmentid=83924&stc=1

that one is a lot like yours


http://bimmerforums.com/forum/attachment.php?attachmentid=83964&stc=1
but i thought that was optimal

[bähnstormer]

http://bimmerforums.com/forum/attachment.php?attachmentid=84061&stc=1

that spike shows somethings not right

[bähnstormer]

http://www.radical-aliveness.com/bimmerforums/dynoplot_4_SC_RMSSoftware_5_inch_crank_08-01-02.GIF that one is kinda funky too

[bähnstormer]

http://www2.bc.edu/~yeungd/TB04_bestDyno.jpg

[bähnstormer]

Elaborate?

As a layman, it looks to me like I need a boost from 3-4k where the boost starts, but aside from that they look ok to me....below 13 and getting richer to redline.

-- Will


ya i could be wrong im a layman too but im starting to plan my own turbo
project so i'm learning a lot and comparing things ....

hey if yours runs and no probs for that long =] can't complain about a silly little graph right =]

[shragon]

whoa, had no idea that was doug's old car. i've seen it in person, very nice!! :)