m52 Turbo Build

[328iFun]

How did you end up mounting your intercooler? Trying to figure out a better way to do mine, and yours looks nice and clean!

What cooler do you have?

Treadstone 1235 has mounting points perfect for the e36 bumper brackets. Basically bought 1-1/2" in width steel 'bars' drilled holes for the intercooler bolts went back to the car (with the brackets installed) using the front bumper as a reference point. Using a sharpie or whatever I marked where the steel bars needed to be bent for the IC to fit centered between the brackets and the core support.

If you remove the bumper support from the bumper itself it doesn't really matter how far forward you situate the IC. Mine is almost actually touching the back of the brackets.

I then welded the steel bars to the bumper brackets. If you don't have a welder you would be good with using a decent bit and installing bolts through the bars and bracket tubing aprox at a 35/45 degree angle vice versa.

You want half a square over top and over the outer sides of the bumper bracket tubing ^

[Loki Motorsport]

I have a CX racing core and charge pipe kit. The core is 24x36x3 if I remember correctly... It fits nicely in between the bumper supports. But just barely. Thanks for sharing man! I'll see what I can fab up (with no welder) lol and see if I can make it any better.. The positioning is good, I just feel that it isn't very solid.

[328iFun]

CX must be making some $'s because I hear them frequently mentioned on this forum

[mboor]

I had problems fitting an air filter on my spa, everything kept hitting the rally road engine mount. I ended up cutting the molded base off a Spectre conical filter and clamped the filter element around the turbo inlet with a big hose clamp. A little man handling around the mount and it fits ok. The filter is rated to flow 500hp so it shouldn't be too restrictive.

Ive run spectre filters on several cars. I dont see a problem with them. I was a parts guy for years, one of my vendors told me they are a sister company to K&N. I cannot confirm or deny that.

[Butters Stoch]

I recommend running a pretty filter on any of these setups.
Ask my compressor wheel why.

[rajicase]

I recommend running a pretty filter on any of these setups.
Ask my compressor wheel why.

This isn't the honda scene where running an air filter is blasphemy! I swear those mfers will anywhere and everywhere with no filter, compressor wheel lookin like it's been through a blender...

[328iFun]

I had problems fitting an air filter on my spa, everything kept hitting the rally road engine mount. I ended up cutting the molded base off a Spectre conical filter and clamped the filter element around the turbo inlet with a big hose clamp. A little man handling around the mount and it fits ok. The filter is rated to flow 500hp so it shouldn't be too restrictive.

Ive run spectre filters on several cars. I dont see a problem with them. I was a parts guy for years, one of my vendors told me they are a sister company to K&N. I cannot confirm or deny that.

Pics by chance?

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I recommend running a pretty filter on any of these setups.
Ask my compressor wheel why.

Yes,
Air filters are important.

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This isn't the honda scene where running an air filter is blasphemy! I swear those mfers will anywhere and everywhere with no filter, compressor wheel lookin like it's been through a blender...

Is someone not running one? Top mount guys?

[rajicase]

The BMW guys are pretty good about running filters.

[Butters Stoch]

Pre-filter I meant. Sock if you will.

[328iFun]

Would have loved to run the 9" K&N I had originally purchased but there was no way I was getting that thing without dropping the 6262.

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The BMW guys are pretty good about running filters.

I would hope so. Especially home made turbo BMW guys.

Ill be damned if I'm going to suck crap into my compressor and or intake after spending around a grand on the compressor alone.

Also hoping that the turbine doesn't eat the filter...

[Mklock]

Every Honda guy runs a 100$ eBay turbo thus no air filter. They go have fun with 600hp with zero traction and say they're fast. It's neat but is not fast.

[Butters Stoch]

Every Honda guy runs a 100$ eBay turbo thus no air filter. They go have fun with 600hp with zero traction and say they're fast. It's neat but is not fast.

I don't know. There are a hell of a lot more 10second or better Hondas then BMW. Up at my shi%%y track I've seen some of dem guys hitting 190 in the 1/4.

[328iFun]

I don't know. There are a hell of a lot more 10second or better Hondas then BMW. Up at my shi%%y track I've seen some of dem guys hitting 190 in the 1/4.

Chick's like NA bmw more than FI Honda.

Wonder if it's much cheaper to get power out of a Honda opposed to bmw..

Either way still a Honda though

[Butters Stoch]

Chick's like NA bmw more than FI Honda.

Wonder if it's much cheaper to get power out of a Honda opposed to bmw..

Either way still a Honda though

You know what the Porsche guys say ?

[328iFun]

You know what the Porsche guys say ?

Wishing they had 2 more seats for more chicks

[Butters Stoch]

Wishing they had 2 more seats for more chicks

Yeah let me know how many of those chicks you fit in the back when you get to the point of needing a cage. You will also find adding people slow the car down. So, get used to not wanting anyone in your car.

Somethings are better alone.

[rajicase]

Somethings are better alone.

Fap Fap Fap.

[328iFun]

Yeah let me know how many of those chicks you fit in the back when you get to the point of needing a cage. You will also find adding people slow the car down. So, get used to not wanting anyone in your car.

Somethings are better alone.

What's the point then? I thought one of the reasons we did this was for chicks

[rajicase]

What's the point then? I thought one of the reasons we did this was for chicks

You gon' get allllll the hoes.

[328iFun]

You gon' get allllll the hoes.

Bitchez' n hoes, Bitchez n hoes

[E36Mylo]

Thats why I painted my cage purple. Bitches love purple.

[328iFun]

Thats why I painted my cage purple. Bitches love purple.

I need a purple roll cage

[mboor]

No pics of the filter, but i'll be under the car this weekend, ill try and grab a few.

[328iFun]

No pics of the filter, but i'll be under the car this weekend, ill try and grab a few.

Cool,

I still need to take a few pics of mine as well.

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What AEM nozzle do you all recommend? It came with 3

[328iFun]

Alright guys,

Onto the next phase here since the turbo is bolted up and I'm basically waiting on funds at this point for a tune. I need some more advice from you very intelligent BMW people as I am moving onto cosmetics, suspension, and interior. I may hold off on the tune for a little while until I can actually drive the car confidently. With that said, I am looking for input on:

1. Seats, I can't decide if I want to go to the salvage yard and grab some stock heated/motorized seats. Fiancé loves them but I don't care for the weight. Its also difficult to find a set that aren't worn out. Cost is the driving point here. I would like a set of sport seats but not sure what seats are worth it and bolt up correctly with little or no modification.


2. Carpet, I remember the stock carpet weighing a ton as well. Anyone have experience with the steel floor plan replacements? I think the diamond plate looks pretty good.


3. Door Panels, stock panels aren't super heavy but its hard to find a good set for the right price. How about door panel delete plates? Any suggestions?


4. Body Kit, the right rear quarter panel of my car has slight damage on it. It was bondo'd over. I would like to go wide body and really like the rocket bunny/pandem kits but haven't been able to find one for vert. Only one I found was Pandem and it was $3,000.00 - that's not gonna happen... anytime soon


5. Wheels/Tires - what are the widest tires I can fit on this car? What wheels do you guys think would look great on BG?


6. Suspension - I am looking to stiffen the suspension up


7. Pods - What do you guys suggest? Column mounted/pillar mounted/console/ or ?


8. Roll Cage - My vert doesn't have roll over protection and I would really like piece of mind on this. I may want to take the car to the track in the future as well. Not familiar autox requirements or good companies to purchase rollover bars from? will coupe bars fit a vert with hard top? I think headroom is about the same. Can't confirm that though




Thanks for the help everyone, I really want to be driving this car within the next few months.... Might as well change the title of this thread to 328 street/track car build