Ultra budget turbo setup, thoughts and suggestions?

[AlexxRyzhkov]

So I have an E36 325i (non vanos) drift car and I'm looking to get some more power to it. Not a ton of power, I'll be happy with 250 whp.

Basically a while ago I bought a "turbo kit" for an M50. It came with an eBay T3 manifold, ghetto ass T3 to TD04 adapter, a TD04 downpipe for a completely different car, eBay intercooler kit, digital AEM boost gage, 7psi wastegate actuator, oil lines and fittings, a WRX STi turbo, and some other random stuff. Paid $400 for everything.

My plan was to sell downpipe + WRX turbo and buy a more appropriate eBay turbo + downpipe.

Reliability isn't really a concern, this is mostly for fun and learning how to turbo stuff without spending tons of money. I'm planning on running the car into the ground and later buy an E36 M3.


The rest of the parts I planned on buying were a Miller WAR chip, wideband O2, bigger injectors, some sort of BOV, and possibly a better fuel pump. Down the line, new clutch. For an exhaust I am welding my own exhaust, planning on straight pipe from downpipe into a Magnaflow muffler.


Any suggestions on turbo or what parts I need? Also another question, is a head gasket & head studs required for low power? Should I just do the head gasket anyways?

[somebody5788]

Honestly an S52 should be capable of 250 whp N/A with a lot of mods. That's far too low of a power goal to be thinking about a turbo.

[Butters Stoch]

Honestly an S52 should be capable of 250 whp N/A with a lot of mods. That's far too low of a power goal to be thinking about a turbo.

Turbo adds a few inches tho, and the ladies like.