Hi All,
1997 2.8 Roadster with M50, CAI, and magnaflow eith 55k on the clock. Cooling system has been taken care of, IE subframe bushings done, many other suspension parts refreshed. Looking for the next go-fast (ish) mod. No FI for now (wife and $$ and all...).
Weighing my options between a diff swap or M3 cams plus software. I'll be doing the work myself so labor isnt an issue.
What will make me happier? Dont care about going 100 plus mph, just want more pull.
Thanks.
Diff is noticeable everywhere
Cams youll feel more in the top of the powerband and also need a tune...
My vote, diff
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I vote diff, too.
Blue Ridge Mountains
1999 2.8 Z3 Coupe
Arctic Silver
Differential, and subframe reinforcement, with two (2) ear cover.
…and six speed swap.
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Last edited by bluptgm3; 07-04-2018 at 08:19 PM.
Cams and dynotune, absolutely. diff swap is not faster, it renders situation with rosetinted glasses but in reality you will spend more time shifting gears and being just as slow.
Z3 & E36 RamAir systems, send private message for more information.
I'm no fan of lower gearing, unless your only goal is 0-60. For most driving 1st is almost too low, causing a lot of immediate shifting. And, highway speeds feel strained. As most on this site say, cams/software is not the efficient way to spend your money, compared to FI. I vote to stash the money for future FI, or buy an M.
OP said "Dont care about going 100 plus mph, just want more pull." A lower geared diff will give him that for the least investment.
Blue Ridge Mountains
1999 2.8 Z3 Coupe
Arctic Silver
Yea, i know FI is the way to go. It will happen in the future, but not right now ( too much hobby spending, wife yada yada).
I need to figure out which diff i currently have...any ideas? VIN says a limited slip.
I thought the M50/CAI made a pretty noticeable impact
Will cams plus software be a bigger gain than the M50 was?
I would prefer more power over gearing, but gearing may accomplish what im after...
S52 cams and a good tune with your existing mods will put you somewhere around stock S52 power. Your current diff is a 3.15 Torsen. I have a 3.46 Torsen in both of my 2.8's and it's lovely. I hate the stock lazy gearing on these.
96 320i Touring
98 Z3 2.8 Roadster
01 PY M Coupe
96 Z3 1.9 - DASC
95 318ti Clubsport
94 Miata M-Edition
13 smart fortwo
The 2.8 responds well to cams, m50 manifold, and a targeted tune for those mods. That means a tune specifically for those mods, not an off the shelf shark injector (especially for the VANOS switch timing). You will get good hp at high rpm when done right, because of similar airflow to the 3.2.
On the other hand, the 3.2 with M50 manifold is tricky.
-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
Another option: M54 manifold swap. Did that on my 2.8 (along with headers and a 3.46) and it's no slouch. It feels very close to a stock S52 off the line; in fact at Jon Martin's BBQ last summer, guy behind me in his supercharged S52 Coupe was somewhat confused by the "wimpy" 2.8 in front of him.
Total cost for the manifold and DISA rebuild kit was <$200, but I was lucking enough to find a 3.0 manifold on eBay with DISA intact. 2.8 DISA on left, 3.0 on right.
20161102_154136.jpg20161109_190128.jpg
Edit: Oh wait, you've got a '97...this might only work on the TU motor, but I don't know for sure.
Last edited by s8ilver; 07-05-2018 at 10:24 AM.
Nathan in Denver
1999 M Roadster, VFE V3 S/C, Randy Forbes Reinforced, Hardtop, H&R/Bilstein, Apex PS-7, Supersprint
1999 Z3 2.8 Coupe, Headers, 3.46, Manual Swap, H&R/Koni, M Geometry/Brakes, M54B30 Manifold, Style 42
OP, reading your mod list is likely reading the spec sheet on my own car. I swapped my stock 3.15 for a 3.46 (from a 3.0 auto). The off the line and 30-50 passing response is much crisper. I do pretty well at auto-x events and I kept up well with much more powerful vehicles at Z car driving events.
Does your budget allow for lighter wheels and top shelf tires? That would be another area for noticeable dynamic improvement.
Kelvin
Hi KBH,
i like my wheels. Not sure how light they are, PO installed them. Tires are brand new Indy 500 Firehawk summer tires which seem awesome so far.
With the 3.46 diff, what rpms are you at in 4th and 5th at 70mph?
96 320i Touring
98 Z3 2.8 Roadster
01 PY M Coupe
96 Z3 1.9 - DASC
95 318ti Clubsport
94 Miata M-Edition
13 smart fortwo
Hey s8ilver I have a ‘00 328i I drift but don’t have a crazy budget looking for more torque and alittle more power, I’ve heard a lot of people talk about the m50 manifold swap, would you the m54 manifold swap onto the 328 m52 is better and what headers did you get
Last edited by Cel2318; 07-07-2018 at 02:57 PM.
Sounds like the M50 on the the M52TU isn't easy...
http://forum.e46fanatics.com/showthread.php?t=550219
All you need for the M54B30 swap is a throttle body adapter plate, the intake and the M54 DISA valve (I'd do a DISA rebuild as the 3.0 had issues). It took me most of a day to do it, but if I were to do it again I could probably do it in under 2 hours. It was that whole learning where everything is and wondering how hard to yank on things to remove them that took most of the time. I would also recommend replacing water pipes when the intake is off.
https://www.turnermotorsport.com/p-4...take-manifold/
https://www.germanautosolutions.com/...repair_kit.php
As far as my headers...I have no idea as they came on the car but I'm guessing some version from eBay.
Last edited by s8ilver; 07-09-2018 at 09:58 AM.
Nathan in Denver
1999 M Roadster, VFE V3 S/C, Randy Forbes Reinforced, Hardtop, H&R/Bilstein, Apex PS-7, Supersprint
1999 Z3 2.8 Coupe, Headers, 3.46, Manual Swap, H&R/Koni, M Geometry/Brakes, M54B30 Manifold, Style 42
I don't see much point in M50 manifold without the cams. There are a lot of dyno graphs around proving that m50 manifold synergises well together with cams. Do the cams with tune first.
Im leaning towards cams/tune. I already feel first gear is too short, diff will make this worse.
Do u think the cams will be a larger gain than the m50 was? My butt dyno was smiling with the m50... i can wind it up and get more than just noise!
Why not both? Granted we have different motors so yours will respond quite well to cams.
I did zhp cams and a 3.46 diff around the same time. As well as a tune, but i will say off the bench tunes for the m52tu are crap, really needs a dyno.
But even with that in mind it completely changed the feel of the car. Then when i added headers, it completed the package.
He already has an M50 manifold.
Yes, the cams will make a nice difference. I believe a better jump than M50 by itself.
-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
I feel like cams +manifold benefit each other, both add more ooomph to your top end, and the more aggressive diff will help with the percieved weaker lower end. Even though i doubt there is really any loss down low, just a perception, but for me the 3.46 diff felt like it evened out the way the car delivers power.
Cool, thanks guys. Good info.
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