Hello everyone,
I did make an extensive search about my issue and could not find an answer that matches my somewhat "specific" case, so please no bashing lol.
I own a 2001 e46 sedan 323i with a few mods:
- m54b30 intake manifold
- ramair air intake
- twin pipes from exhaust manifold to a DTM style Remus catback
- both resonators deleted.
My questions:
1) the mechanic who installed the m54b30 IM told that he knows a guy who could flash my DME with a 330i program. Where I live it would be difficult for me to find someone who can make a proper remap optimizing all the parameters for my car's setup, so basically it would be a "stock 330i program dump into my DME". So far my DME has adapted to the IM and the results are very satisfying: the car now revs up freely from 5000rpm to rev limiter, whereas it used to run out of breath before and the performance increase is real (best mod I have ever done to a car honestly).
So would the 330i program improve anything on that basis?
2) If 1) is true, would swapping my injectors for the 330i ones before flashing the DME make things even better? Maybe even 1) would be true only if I swap the injectors?
3) what diff could I put in to get a slight increase in perf without ruining the gas mileage? I thought about putting a 320i (3.46) diff but I have been told it would severely impact my GM. Is there some sort of "in between" solution? The reason I mentionned my 323i being a sedan is that maybe the 323Ci (coupe) diff is a bit shorter? What about the 328i's?
Thanks for reading and please help lol
Last edited by Breeze1; 12-23-2017 at 05:25 PM.
You cannot run 330i programming (MS43 DME) on 323 DME (MS42), and you should not run the 2.5 liter engine on 3.0 maps.
Best bet is to get a customized tune for the mods you have. No other factory calibration will work, the 2.8 calibration on 2.5 is not right either.
-Abel
- E36 328is ~210-220whp: Lots of Mods.
- 2000 Z3: Many Mods.
- 2003 VW Jetta TDI Manual 47-50mpg
- 1999 S52 Estoril M Coupe
- 2014 328d Wagon, self-tuned, 270hp/430ft-lbs
- 2019 M2 Competition, self-tuned, 504whp
- 2016 Mini Cooper S
It's the stock diff that comes with the US version of the 323i (my car was imported from the US). I don't know if that makes any difference but it has the M package (stiffer suspension, sport seats...).
Basically given the very limited number of aftermarket parts available here, my best option is to go for used OEM parts. Is the 325i diff any shorter than the 323's? I know that the 320's is shorter, but too much for my taste (I don't to run at too high rpm's on the highway).
If you have a 3.23:1, I would leave it alone.
-Abel
- E36 328is ~210-220whp: Lots of Mods.
- 2000 Z3: Many Mods.
- 2003 VW Jetta TDI Manual 47-50mpg
- 1999 S52 Estoril M Coupe
- 2014 328d Wagon, self-tuned, 270hp/430ft-lbs
- 2019 M2 Competition, self-tuned, 504whp
- 2016 Mini Cooper S
According to RealOEM, US market E46 323i had a 3.07 gear for manual and 3.46 for automatic. The easiest swap would be the automatic differential. It is most likely plug and play. If you cannot live with the increased RPMs on the highway, then you should probably consider a gear swap to the 3.23:1 ratio. That would be a happy medium. It would be somewhat involved though.
Sorry for the late reply, I assumed no one else would reply after a while. It's stock so it must be 3.07 then (haven't had the time to crawl under the car yet lol). I hit 62mph at rev limiter in 2nd and 93mph in 3rd.
Maybe I'll go for the 3.23 if I cand find one, as mine is becoming noisy anyway.
I would rather drop a supercharger and keep the 3.07 diff though ��
But 1) it would be too costly and 2) like I said aftermarket parts are hard to come by AND even I find/import them I would need someone who properly tune my DME accordingly and I'm not sure I could find him.
Thans for the replies!
EDIT: according to this chart, the 325i has a 3.15 ratio. Do you guys think it would make any significant difference over a 3.07, or would it be pretty much the same?
http://www.bokchoys.com/differential/GearRatios.htm
Last edited by Breeze1; 12-27-2017 at 02:19 PM.
Thanks man. Like you said it would all depend on shipping costs and I reckon it's gonna be really costly, since I asked once about shipment for vanos seals from the US and it was like $150 lol.
I'll see if I can find a 325XI diff at my salvage yard since I found out it's 3.23 and if I'm out of luck we'll see how we can work that out ��
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