Author Topic: E30 318is what could i do to up the performance?? (Read 3754 times)

dublinboy · « **on:** May 31, 2008, 09:52:31 AM »

hi all,

I just got 3000euro to spend on the e30 318is.
so i would love some tips, pointers or any info that would be helpfull to me to up the performance.
so far im thinking of getting,

LSD
chip
flywheel
uprated lower springs

what do ya think?

hesgone2fast · « **Reply #1 on:** May 31, 2008, 12:58:32 PM »

First of all, do a little search around here, there are plenty of perfomance tips.
with that much money you do a looot of things to that car, starting with a engine swap(m50, etc...)
if you want to keep that engine, think about stroking and boring (M47, M3 pistons,....)
Once you have plenty of power, get a good set of springs( I recommend Eibach), good set of shocks, and a good set of tyres.
Good luck!!

318kid · « **Reply #2 on:** May 31, 2008, 02:30:14 PM »

Quote from: hesgone2fast;50376

Once you have plenty of power, get a good set of springs( I recommend Eibach), good set of shocks, and a good set of tyres.
Good luck!!

Sorry to bash your choice of springs, although I haven't tried them, I heard Eibach were very soft for lowering springs. Although I haven't ridden on them I would probably go Ireland Enginering Springs or H&R Sport or Race with Bilstein or Koni Shocks.

On the power part, You could do a swap, but there would be a lot of research involved, Same with boring and stroking. Downing Atlanta has a supercharger that is for our engines, and Grassroots Motorsports has a write up. It's just a little bit more than your budget though, I think they said roughly 185 or 190 whp. Also a COP conversion(Doesn't really give that much power, just better idle, etc.) Just some Ideas. -Preston

hesgone2fast · « **Reply #3 on:** May 31, 2008, 04:37:12 PM »

Eibachs are not bad at all for street, the stifness also depends on the choice of shocks, I have adjustable konis, and at hardest point, you can�t go faster than 5mph over a speed bump!
Of course if you want to go out on race track, I would have said to get coil overs.
About the engine, Downing atlanta has stopped production of the kit for the M42/M44. because eaton doesn�t build that supercharger anymore.
And about stroking/boring, there�s not really much research to do, just bore the block, and dump the new pistons in. Stroker crank? just take the stock off, put the new one in, and look for piston to valve clearance.
When you have that much money to spend on a car, you can�t just buy a lot of cheap mods hoping to end up with +10hp, and a stiffer chassis.
Do a research around, and depending what mods you are willing to do to your car, chose one route or another.
That�s just my 2 cents there.

318kid · « **Reply #4 on:** May 31, 2008, 08:33:32 PM »

Quote from: hesgone2fast;50385

Eibachs are not bad at all for street, the stifness also depends on the choice of shocks, I have adjustable konis, and at hardest point, you can�t go faster than 5mph over a speed bump!
Of course if you want to go out on race track, I would have said to get coil overs.
About the engine, Downing atlanta has stopped production of the kit for the M42/M44. because eaton doesn�t build that supercharger anymore.
And about stroking/boring, there�s not really much research to do, just bore the block, and dump the new pistons in. Stroker crank? just take the stock off, put the new one in, and look for piston to valve clearance.
When you have that much money to spend on a car, you can�t just buy a lot of cheap mods hoping to end up with +10hp, and a stiffer chassis.
Do a research around, and depending what mods you are willing to do to your car, chose one route or another.
That�s just my 2 cents there.

I didn't know about DASC not being made anymore... But on the boring and stroking, you can't just walk in and "hope" for it to come together, If you've never built an engine your not gunna know what to do for everything. He may have built one before, but there's still a lot more than just "dumping" in new pistons.

dublinboy · « **Reply #5 on:** June 01, 2008, 09:45:49 AM »

thanks i do need ideas, thats why i asked!! im keeping the m42 engine by the way. Its not me doing the work on the car, im no mechanic ha.
but i do have the money there and i want to spend it on my baby

defo getting some great ideas here, thanks lads.
but not too keen on stroker kit,
my mate done that on his '92 civic sir 1.6L and bored it out to 1.9 which was crazy!!!! he basically spend 1000's on the engine and modifed everything possible and it blew up on him weeks later.
would anyone recommend getting bucket seats or keep it original?

and one other thing... the alloys!
everyone has the rep. alpina's, so i was thinking of dipping the original bbs alloys in white?

what ya think?

Scany · « **Reply #6 on:** June 01, 2008, 01:13:05 PM »

Check out Metric Mechanic. Thats where we will be looking to upgrade the engine of our 318is trackcar. They seem very passionate about M42s and knows their business. Also lots of good reading on their website.

biglar · « **Reply #7 on:** June 02, 2008, 04:22:47 PM »

turbo

Febi Guibo · « **Reply #8 on:** June 02, 2008, 06:07:46 PM »

just for the kids, scoring at home... this is my reply to your thread on chipping the ECU

Quote from: Febi Guibo;50403

chip
clutch stop
short shift kit
electric fan (fan clutch delete)
good tires
better brakes / stainless lines
lowered springs, shocks

4.27 LSD
lightweight flywheel

supersprint exhaust
dbilas ITBs

but honestly.... any car will go faster if you can drive it better... consider spending some money on a 3 day driving school.

In the US, we have programs like Skip Barber and Bob Bondurant... the 318iS will never be that fast straight line... but it rewards good driving skill like no other car, with the exception of the miata probably...

trust me, driving school will transform your relationship with your car.