List of Upgrades and Actual Results

[florida2002m3]

Since we all love our cars, and obviously love to play with them i would like to get a compiled list of performance upgrades people have done.
I know there are threads out there that are similar, some include effect, some include price, some include opinions.

I hoping this will be a good starting point for ideas to upgrade. In an organized manner.


Format:
[What is it] [How much it cost] [Actual results]

BMW performance CAI, $400, sounds aggressive, no dyno results, feels faster

[danewilson77]

We do have a product review subforum. This might be good..in just a short type bullet list also.

1. FK Silverline X Coilovers / $1300.00 @ ECS / Rides on rails, no body roll, DD 100 miles per day. Super happy

2. ECSTuning CF Strut Bar / $170.00 @ ECS / Rides on rails, no body roll, DD 100 miles per day. Super happy. It looks sezzy under hood, and prevents strut tower mushrooming.

3. Jim Conforti Shark Injector / $356.00 @ TMS / I would pay double for what it did for me. No lag at 4K rpm's. Car is now like a rocket ship. Improved throttle response.

4. BMW Performance Rotors / $280.00 @ ECS / Very happy. Good bite, no rust, no noise.

5. Pro 5 AFE Intake / $410.00 @ ECS / TBD

6. Euro No blind spot mirrors / $200.00 @ ECS / If it's up to me, I will own nothing else. You can literally see a car almost right next to you.

[static667]

As of right now, none. Tomorrow,

1. Kosei K-1 Racing lightweight alloy wheels 16x7 / $99.00 each / wrapped with BFGoodrich G-Force Sport Z 225/50ZR16 / $133.00 per corner mounted and balanced / Wider, stickier rubber and lighter wheels means moar grip and less rotational weight!

[danewilson77]

As of right now, none. Tomorrow,

1. Kosei K-1 Racing lightweight alloy wheels 16x7 / $99.00 each / wrapped with BFGoodrich G-Force Sport Z 225/50ZR16 / $133.00 per corner mounted and balanced / Wider, stickier rubber and lighter wheels means moar grip and less rotational weight!

Like. I just can't get my head around 16's on my car...

Sent from my Droid using Tapatalk

[static667]

Sixteens are more in my price range and cheaper to put rubber on.

[bullfrogs_M3]

Is it really that hard to get to 260? Let's make a quick list:

1. Software
2. Intake Air (CAI)
3. Intake Air/Fuel (Throttle body)
4. Headers
5. Exhaust

With 5 mods and about what...$2K, you can be skirting close to the 260 mark. But agreed, out of the box, 260 would be nice.

[danewilson77]

Is it really that hard to get to 260? Let's make a quick list:

1. Software
2. Intake Air (CAI)
3. Intake Air/Fuel (Throttle body)
4. Headers
5. Exhaust

With 5 mods and @ about what...$2K, you can be skirting close to the 260 mark. But agreed, out of the box, 260 would be nice.

Not sure you'd get 260 from that though.....

[bullfrogs_M3]

Not sure you'd get 260 from that though.....

Hmmm really? Lets break it down if we have the numbers..... (mods, we can move this post if there is another post like it).

Let's put together some numbers based on each mod. I'll use my mods I listed above because well, i have all of those minus the headers(which I should have a set in the next few weeks i hope). I am not knocking what you are saying Dane, just thought I would put throw this out there. Feel free to discredit my findings/searches.

Stock ZHP - 235HP
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/BMW_3_Series_(E46)#Performance_package_.28ZHP.29 (props to the editor of the page, haa I like the ZHP Mafia shoutout)

1. Software - I am running the ESS software set
a. 4HP increase
b. http://www.esstuning.com/products/MS43-M54B30-%22ZHP%22-ECU-Tuning-Software.html

2. Intake Air - I am running the Gruppe M CAI
a. 1HP increase (unable to confirm if any increase in HP will be affected, I have to imagine it would help the engine breath better so I just said 1HP. The dinan high flow air intake says they have a max HP gain of 11HP. I am really skeptical about that but I will just put it as a note here) (The BMW OEM Performance intake has a reported HP increase of about 6HP http://forum.e46fanatics.com/showthread.php?t=507315&highlight=bmw+performance+intake+review+%233)

3. Intake Air/Fuel - I just got in my used Dinan High Flow TB, haven't installed it yet though
a. 6HP increase
b. http://www.dinancars.com/shop/D760-3300A-High-Flow-Throttle-Body.aspx#page=1

4. Headers - I will either go with the Ebay or Bimmerbrakes headers, possibly the Racing Dynamics here if I can talk the guy down on his price (http://forum.e46fanatics.com/showthread.php?t=828801) (Another post of a 325 with Bimmerbrakes headers: http://e46fanatics.com/forum/showthread.php?t=797572) The HP quote below is for the Racing Dynamics headers
a. 12HP increase
b. http://www.racdyn-usa.com/Merchant2/merchant.mvc?Screen=PROD&Product_Code=130.08.54.365&Category_Code=e46tun

5. Exhaust - Running the TSE3 from UUC
a. 2-3HP increase (from searching around thats the best I could find anywhere as far as HP numbers go)
b. http://www.uucmotorwerks.com/catalog/uuccorsa-twin-silencer-exhaust-tse3-for-01-05-e46-330-and-325-round-tips-tse3.htm

So the numbers being what they are listed here adds up to about 25HP.
1. 4HP
2. 1HP
3. 6HP
4. 12HP
5. 2HP
Total: 25HP
Granted these numbers are all on paper so take it for what its worth. :scratchinghead

235HP + 25HP = 260HP.

[danewilson77]

Moved. Good job Bully. I was only banking on getting 11 out of headers.

[Burn535i]

Hmmm really? Lets break it down if we have the numbers..... (mods, we can move this post if there is another post like it).

So the numbers being what they are listed here adds up to about 25HP.
1. 4HP
2. 1HP
3. 6HP
4. 12HP
5. 2HP
Total: 25HP
Granted these numbers are all on paper so take it for what its worth. :scratchinghead

235HP + 25HP = 260HP.

not to be a douche, but you can't just add up the individual numbers from each part like that, some build off of another and some don't.

[mimalmo]

Post 6:

http://forum.e46fanatics.com/showthread.php?t=625874

[danewilson77]

not to be a douche, but you can't just add up the individual numbers from each part like that, some build off of another and some don't.

No douchery there. I think that may be a valid point.

[bullfrogs_M3]

not to be a douche, but you can't just add up the individual numbers from each part like that, some build off of another and some don't.

Like Dane said, no douchery.... That's why I said they were "paper" numbers and not actual. I will have actual numbers of all the combined options on my car within the next few months. Once that happens I will be able to tell you exactly what my HP will be at that point, when I get the car dyno'd


Post 6:

http://forum.e46fanatics.com/showthread.php?t=625874
WOW! That is a pretty extensive list but IMO is also a very unrealistic list. If you are going to drop close to $10K on modding up your engine then you should really sell and step into an M3. The list I put together can be had at $2K or less in some cases. With the 5 items listed you will have a better breathing engine across the board, giving you better throttle response and power through the middle to upper band. With that E46Fanatics post, you will have a track and/or possibly show car. Not really relevant to most daily driver people.

[johnrando]

That is quite the list. Not being too mechanical (but a little), what would it take to do the pulleys typically? DIY, indy? Price? John

[bullfrogs_M3]

That is quite the list. Not being too mechanical (but a little), what would it take to do the pulleys typically? DIY, indy? Price? John

Pulley's are cake! I did mine in about 20-30 minutes tops.
http://www.uucmotorwerks.com/CATALOG/underdrive-pulley-set---e46-3-series-99-03-330328325323-and-z3-3025.htm

[danewilson77]

That is quite the list. Not being too mechanical (but a little), what would it take to do the pulleys typically? DIY, indy? Price? John

Jon, def diy.

[johnrando]

Pulley's are cake! I did mine in about 20-30 minutes tops.
http://www.uucmotorwerks.com/CATALOG/underdrive-pulley-set---e46-3-series-99-03-330328325323-and-z3-3025.htm

Thanks! I noticed they only go to '03. Why not to '06, what's the key difference? John

[danewilson77]

Also look into the kit TMS and ECS offers, as comparisons..

Droid + Tapatalk = FTW!

[Mr Paul]

not to be a douche, but you can't just add up the individual numbers from each part like that, some build off of another and some don't.

Not only that, but the horsepower gains that manufacturers list are peak gains. These peak gains may happen anywhere in the rev range, be it down low, or maybe way up top. So your 12 hp gain from the headers may come at 4000 rpm where your engine in stock form is making 200 hp, it is now making 212 hp. Then your 6 hp gain from the intake may be way down low at 2000 rpm where your engine in stock form is making 100 hp, it is now making 106 hp.

So no, you can't just add horsepower numbers because all gains are peak gains and are spread over the entire rev range. If the horsepower number gains were all listed at the same RPM, then yes, you could add them.

Hope that helps.

[ZHP-FTW]

Not only that, but the horsepower gains that manufacturers list are peak gains. These peak gains may happen anywhere in the rev range, be it down low, or maybe way up top. So your 12 hp gain from the headers may come at 4000 rpm where your engine in stock form is making 200 hp, it is now making 212 hp. Then your 6 hp gain from the intake may be way down low at 2000 rpm where your engine in stock form is making 100 hp, it is now making 106 hp.

So no, you can't just add horsepower numbers because all gains are peak gains and are spread over the entire rev range. If the horsepower number gains were all listed at the same RPM, then yes, you could add them.

Hope that helps.

^ True story....