I am going to build a new house and sell my old one. Well the new house is going to be a large metal building that has a living space in about a third of it and the rest a big shop. But anyway, when it's done the wife has stamped approval on installing a turbo in my 325is, so I am looking around.
I'm not particularly interested in going the "cheap turbo build", but I also don't want to push it too hard. I want the car to be about 350hp with the option to amp it up if I wanted to.
I looked at this earlier, wondering if anyone has used a kit like this. It is from Andy's Autosport.
The kit:
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I have no knowledge of this particular one but at that price, (seems expensive for what's listed) I would look at other options or piece one together with new quality parts that can be found by browsing this forum for maybe a day. If you have a general understanding of converting N/A to turbo this will be easy. If not a little more time is needed, don't forget things like clutchs and bits n bobs you will need that are not in most kits. I think an easy standard was Spa manifold, Gt35R turbo for awhile now. Cutring headgasket and studs, tune from your favorite person. (Rpd, Rk, Trm, Nickg) or standalone. Id reccomend treadstone for intercoolers. Good luck! Sometimes spending a little extra on some proven stuff is worth it, if you're not trying to prove you are the best and breaking into new grounds.
Last edited by Mklock; 04-30-2018 at 10:45 PM.
That kit is for sure garbage.
1997 328is - Megasquirt PNP, Holset HX35, Deka 80lb injectors, SPA T3, Precision PW39 WG, Synapse Synchronic BOV, DKM Organic Twin Disc Clutch, Innovate LC-2 W/B, Mishimoto Intercooler, Mishimoto Catch Can, Mishimoto Rad, Devils Own Meth, Porsche 911 calipers with E46 M3 rotors, Corsa Exhaust
Thanks for the productive response Mklock. Before I buy anything I will look into it thoroughly. I know I will have to get a thicker head gasket, stronger studs etc. I would have the head checked out and probably upgraded while I was at it. It will be quite a while before I get the parts, I have to sell a house and build another one first. Plenty of time to research the situation.
As I said I am not looking to build a racecar, I want the car to be practical but fairly powerful, about 350hp. I will probably end up going to a Turbo specialist with a good track record in the end. I don't really want to play trial and error with it, but require quality parts not an ebay garage sale.
Or I could just keep the 325is stock and pick up a 335i.
Last edited by Deus Ex Machina; 05-02-2018 at 11:19 PM.
If you don't want to play trial and error buy something that is already fast. But an e36 you can make fast for relatively cheap and some trial and error with a bit of research.
TRM and Technica are in GA and one of my favorite shops, CES is in NC so you have good turbo specialist shops with BMW specific experience and the ability to tune in your area. The E36 is nearing classic car age but with a turbo will go in a straight line like a new performance car or faster depending on the level of mods.
I think 135i/335i/535i are a great value. I particularly like the earlier N54 engine with twin turbos - had my 08 535xi for 8 years. Mods are widely available. 350 rwhp is cheap and easy. Tracking these cars requires much more extensive work however. Quick comfortable drivers.
Thanks for the info Phonsalb, I will definitely keep those shops in mind. The E90's are dropping in value very quickly, I saw a 6 speed today for $4000, but it wasn't a turbo. In a few years they will almost be at E36/E46 prices. When the time comes I will have to decide whether to get a turbo on mine, or if a whole car is more desirable.
Here is a proper response to your thread.
Screw spending that kind of monies on any sort of turbo kits. Spend the money on a welder and a horizontal band saw. Even if you start with a simple flux core mig welder all the way to an AC/DC tig. Then sky is the limit. You can learn to weld, properly cut pipe, etc. Those eBay kits will not fit without fabrication anyway. None of the kits come with exhaust anyway. So, just learn to do it yourself. Its truly the best bang for the buck.
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1996 332IS
Built 3.2
CES/Steed TS Precision 6466, spraying a "$π!℅" load of meth.
Technique Tuning 80# tune.
1/4 mile 10.84 @ 136.72
Your 1 and only stop for all your BMW performance needs
WWW.CESMOTORSPORT.COM
I never mentioned buying anything off ebay, and my car being down indefinitely while I perform trial and error on turbo engineering and tuning isn't going to happen. If I wanted to do that I would buy another E36 to play with.
I will get a TIG at some point in the future, but that is beside the point.
I have no interest in a franken-turbo on this car.
The kit you posted is the exact same as an "eBay" kit. None of those parts will be a "direct fit". If you purchased that kit, you would need to
cut/weld/modify just to get it in place.
For $3600 you could put together a proper turbo kit and make 550-600whp. But reality is that, it will cost you the same $ when going for 350hp as it will 500hp. The only savings would be if you decided to risk the factory head gasket on your 350hp build, vs doing the head gasket and making 500+.
As for tuning, you will need to purchase that regardless.
There is a much better chance of you buying a tune for a 500hp proper build , then a 350 kit like you posted.
The shit part is , when you do purchase tuning, the price is the same for 350hp stock compression, or 700 HP low compression.
Sent from my E6782 using Tapatalk
1996 332IS
Built 3.2
CES/Steed TS Precision 6466, spraying a "$π!℅" load of meth.
Technique Tuning 80# tune.
1/4 mile 10.84 @ 136.72
Your 1 and only stop for all your BMW performance needs
WWW.CESMOTORSPORT.COM
Butters is spot on. All the parts needed to make 350 hp are the same parts needed to make 500. The cheapest way to do this is to wait for somebody that's parting out there car or upgrading and buy there whole setup with tuning, manifold, piping, exhaust, ect... Then you'll actually get parts that fit. Seriously I wouldn't pay $1000 for everything that's in that kit. Also if you can't have the car off the road for a month or so, don't turbo an E36.
The fact of the matter is that, some guys here have big "Xxxxx" , while others have smaller "Xxxxx". Most of the guys with smaller " Xxxxx" want bigger "Xxxxx"!. It comes down to how you use your
" Xxxxx". There are guys with smaller "Xxxxx" that use their smaller "Xxxxx" much more than the guys with big "Xxxxx". I remember when I was younger, I personally used my smaller " Xxxxx" much more than now that its bigger "Xxxxx". I even know someone who has small " Xxxxx" and is perfectly content.
I have even seen people with big "Xxxxx" reduce their "Xxxxx" for smaller "Xxxxx". Figure that one out.
Sent from my E6782 using Tapatalk
1996 332IS
Built 3.2
CES/Steed TS Precision 6466, spraying a "$π!℅" load of meth.
Technique Tuning 80# tune.
1/4 mile 10.84 @ 136.72
Your 1 and only stop for all your BMW performance needs
WWW.CESMOTORSPORT.COM
Not sure why tap a talk bleeps out the word "Power".
Sent from my E6782 using Tapatalk
1996 332IS
Built 3.2
CES/Steed TS Precision 6466, spraying a "$π!℅" load of meth.
Technique Tuning 80# tune.
1/4 mile 10.84 @ 136.72
Your 1 and only stop for all your BMW performance needs
WWW.CESMOTORSPORT.COM
1997 Cosmos E36 M3/4/5 Boost Logic GT40/94r .85 Technique Tuning
Stock motor
1998 Estoril E36 M3/4/c4 Steed Speed2 Gt40/94r 1.06 Technique Tuning,
Built motor, Best ET ( 9.63 @ 142.61 mph MS100+meth ) 10/08/21
Best mph ( 10.08 @ 144.66mph MS100+meth ) 9/18/19
build thread:
http://www.bimmerforums.com/forum/showthread.php?2269817-Habbit-continued-Turbo-build-V
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