New to BMW's looking to build turbo E36

[MattSSM]

Hey guys, I'm new to this board and the BMW world, but I'm no stranger to tuning or turbo installs. I am looking to buy my neighbour's 1997 328is, and transform it into a street car that I can bring to the track on weekends. I would be shooting for 300-350 rwhp, nothing too crazy. I have searched the threads and a little bit on the net and am having some trouble finding turbo kits available for reasonable cost. Like I said I'm new to BMW. Does anyone know of a kit available for low-med boost applications? And also, I was curious about what engine management systems are popular for the OBDII BMW's, I have alot of experience with Megasquirts, COBB tuners, and a few piggy-back systems. Any help would be greatly appreciated, thanks guys.

[Brody @ Miller]

Hey guys, I'm new to this board and the BMW world, but I'm no stranger to tuning or turbo installs. I am looking to buy my neighbour's 1997 328is, and transform it into a street car that I can bring to the track on weekends. I would be shooting for 300-350 rwhp, nothing too crazy. I have searched the threads and a little bit on the net and am having some trouble finding turbo kits available for reasonable cost. Like I said I'm new to BMW. Does anyone know of a kit available for low-med boost applications? And also, I was curious about what engine management systems are popular for the OBDII BMW's, I have alot of experience with Megasquirts, COBB tuners, and a few piggy-back systems. Any help would be greatly appreciated, thanks guys.

The only kit I would recommend for your application is NickG's kit from Technique Tuning. It come's with stock ECU tuning and is the only way your life won't be hell.

http://www.techniquetuning.com/

[MattSSM]

Thanks for the quick reply. I'm kind of partial to tuning the car myself... I have access to a mustang dyno, and plan on pushing the boost up as time goes on, so I don't want to pay for a tune that will soon be useless to me. That kit is pretty steep, I'm sure its great, but I enjoy fabrication and whatnot so I don't necessarily need a complete kit. I've been trolling the forum for used kits, and I've seen some decent set-ups, so that may be a good route.

[rt turbo]

Get a tec 3r to tune yourself. You can get one for $1600 right now from BMWmaniac. Full P&P stand alone. There are many used kits up for sale on the FS forum that are a great deal as well.

[Quicksilver328i]

I second the TT kit. The factory ECU really is great. You can make the car run fine on megasquirt if you want to go that route, TEC3, AEM, Motec, Pectel, etc. have all been used as well with success.

But for what you listed as goals the factory ECU is the best option and NickG is really the best OBD-II tuner out there (no software options for end users).

[TheJuggernaut]

Sorry I must be missing something here - you enjoy tuning and fabricating and you're looking for a turbo kit? If the former is true, then pick the right components, including a standalone, and start building/tuning. The whole point of a kit is that it's for people who DON'T want to fabricate or tune, but turn wrenches and be done (it never works out that way but the kits try to come as close as possible).

[e36ALPINE]

With the stock ECU the boost can be turned up and down without a retune. I don't think most people understand this. Hell I have a different boost level for each gear and even change those all the time. Also your power goals are WAY below what the stock ECU can handle.

[A4RingedONE8T]

Nick G tuned FTW! For the power levels you're looking for there's no reason I'd be fabricating anything more than possibly an exhaust and hell, I'm a fabricator saying this. haha Nick's shit really is THAT good!

[RJ's325ITS]

I will have to chip in with do a search on the following before you buy any kit:

1. Reliability: idle, using A/C, altitude/temp changes, etc...
2. Power goal: Most of the kits out there will deliver good numbers HP, but it all goes back to what kind of track events are you going to do! Road course Vs. drag strip, drag strip Vs. drifting...
3. Under the frame Vs. over the frame charge pipes
4. Blow-Through Vs. Draw-Through...

The Racer's Market (TRM) has tested the stage 1 & 2 in the road course, and "I" personally have done lots of drifting and drag racing with my personal car (TRM stg.2 w/built engine). you can see the videos in my signature.

Good luck with this endeavor, and I hope you find what suits your budget/application.

Rafa

[e36ALPINE]

True. TRM does not sell obd2....

[TRM]

True. TRM does not sell obd2....

We do offer OBD2 solutions. Contact us at info@racersmarket.net or give us a call for more information.

[e36ALPINE]

We do offer OBD2 solutions. Contact us at info@racersmarket.net or give us a call for more information.

Really?? Details for all???

[rt turbo]

Really?? Details for all???

There is even a build thread with TRM OBDII tune. Guy in NC.

[MattSSM]

Thanks for the replies guys. I was mainly looking for a kit just to have the manifold, intercooler, piping etc. But looking further into it I'm most likely gonna source all the parts on my own and run a megasquirt or something similiar. I've tuned with the Tec 3 and was really dissappointed with the functions offered to make map changes etc. So I'm going to try to avoid that route.

[rt turbo]

Then check out the FS forum. there are many decent partial setups available right now. Mike R has aem P&P available as well.

[MattSSM]

Nick G tuned FTW! For the power levels you're looking for there's no reason I'd be fabricating anything more than possibly an exhaust and hell, I'm a fabricator saying this. haha Nick's shit really is THAT good!

Correct me if I'm wrong, but I'm pretty sure this car has 192 flywheel hp from the factory, and at 18% loss through the drivetrain, thats about 157 rwhp so I highly doubt an exhaust system will get me anywhere near 300 rwhp. I don't think I'm being unrealistic, running 8-10lbs of boost through a small turbo will suffice for what I'm looking for. I have a 60 mile round trip commute and I plan on running the car at a local roadcourse on weekends. I think it'll be a great set-up.

Then check out the FS forum. there are many decent partial setups available right now. Mike R has aem P&P available as well.

Will do, thanks.

[LukeG]

I think he meant fabricating the exhaust as in giving you advice to buy off the shelf stuff to make everything easy and headache free and just have to custom fab the turbo back exhaust...

and for your power goal and intended us of your car you can't look at anything else other than obd2 tuning.

[JHEIII850Turbo]

If you really want to modify the wiring and go through the efforts of installing a standalone, cheers. AEM has proven success, with plug&play's available, Electromotive's Tec 3, DTA, Megasquirt... it all depends on the complexity you are comfortable tuning and the control you wish to have of the vehicle and its accessories primarily. If you wish to have majority control with relatively simpler install, I would say go AEM PNP. If you are happy with spark/map/fuel and hacking through then Megasquirt should do fine.

On the other hand, you do have the stock ECU which can be tuned to handle various load, control accessories, adjust to conditions automatically (it's really nice to start the car in 0* or 115*) or gas (dirty 91 or 93 octane stock ecu can react and retard accordingly in a surprisingly quick fashion, on other tunes figuring out how to fine tune knock detection can be timely).

Crank it on the dyno and let's see what it rolls!!

[MattSSM]

Thanks guys, I'll have to look into the AEM unit a little more. My only problem with OBDII tuning is that (to the best of my knowledge) it doesn't recognize manifold pressure, and you are tuning based on calculated load or air flow rate which in the past I've found to be rediculously tedious. And I haven't found much in the way of OBDII tuning software for these cars, so I don't want to buy a tune from someone because I know myself and I can never let a car be haha, so I'm sure I'll be making changes throughout the cars life.

[sirzepp]

There is no tuning software available short of disassemblers and learning the code yourself for OBD2 BMWs (as far as I know)...

It's hard to beat the adaptation of the stock DME...with it's myriad maps and modifiers and such (once watched Jim C dig through the hex...WOW), but then again, if you want to tweak and mod and do your own 'kit'..etc...standalone is the best way.

F/I BMW world is a lot different than other cars as far as "accessibility" is concerned. You have come to the right place for knowledge...and with your stated goals I think stock DME tuning is best. However, you also say you want to "push" the car in the future...and in that case a standalone is probably your best bet.

A few of us (myself included) are pretty new at this BMW F/I game, but there are a TON of people on here with many years of standalone tuning experience.

[rt turbo]

Thanks guys, I'll have to look into the AEM unit a little more. My only problem with OBDII tuning is that (to the best of my knowledge) it doesn't recognize manifold pressure, and you are tuning based on calculated load or air flow rate which in the past I've found to be rediculously tedious. And I haven't found much in the way of OBDII tuning software for these cars, so I don't want to buy a tune from someone because I know myself and I can never let a car be haha, so I'm sure I'll be making changes throughout the cars life.

If you are wanting to tune, you need to get a standalone ecu. The BMW ODBII dme is not like a gm OBDII dme. Just saying.

[IBoughtA740IL]

I was reading your threD about new to BMW's. Still interested in a new Tec3 unit? I have one I bought and never used it since I sold my E36. 1100 Shipped? Includes EMS, unused harness, map sensor, new coils(Option a lot of people don't get) air temperature sensor, crank wheel and sensors.

[Munoz97_M3]

what is the website to get the tec 3r

[LukeG]

siastuning.com

[rt turbo]

I think there are 2 members on here that are selling their Tec3r's.