Where do I start to get faster??

I'm looking to get a 95 BMW 325 IS in the future, and I'd like to plan some performance mods. Any info or links would be appreciated.:smoker:

My suggestions: Some sort of breathing devices (intake, exhaust) followed immediately by a turbo.

Remember: Chrome rims, wings, and playstations don't make you faster!

Like enzo said, it is very important that you decongest the breathing for your car. Intake, Cat-back exhaust, and a Header would all be good investments and would work together to aid you in your quest for performance.

Also as enzo said, a turbo is a good idea if you want a good amount of power. You can run about 6 psi of boost safely on a stock block. If you plan on running more than that, it is necessary to build up your bottom end so it can handle the added stress of a high pressure turbo application. You would need to replace your conecting rods with stronger components and replace your stock pistons with lower compression pistons. If you run a turbo application, it is necessary to invest in a turbo timer. What this does is allow the engine to idle for 1-9 minutes (usually, and is user selecetable) to allow the oil to cool so it does not cook in your turbo.

You could also consider running an NA (natrually aspirated) setup. For an NA setup you would need to upgrade your cams, pistons, c-rods, and port and polish your head. The breathing is also important, if not more, in an NA application. Instead of lowering the compression ratio as in a turbo application, you would be raising it to somewhere around 11.0:1.

One of the best BMW tuners is Dinan.
http://www.diananbmw.com

You also might want to check out http://wwwbimmer.org
It is another BMW message board and is more active than this one.

If YOU and your car want to get faster, then do some bmw cca high performance drivers schools. It is worth much more than anything else! First make yourself a fast driver. Then make you car faster. The fastest driver in the slower car will ALWAYS beat the slower driver in the faster car!

It's a lot of fun and there are driving schools and clubs in Canada, too!

Does anyone have any stories about their driving school experience?

I want this car to be my daily driver, so I don't want to make it too radical to the extent of impractical. Anyone know of a decent mild chip kit?:rolleyes:

There are a lot of chip vendors, but consider Jim Conforti and Dinan. Here is a link to someone who compared the two chips on the street and the track: http://www.eskimo.com/~dalus/bmw/e36/performance/e36_chip_comparo.html

Would anyone be able to tell me what is the difference between the 325 and the 328, is it worthwhile to spend afew extra bucks and go with a newer 328IS? :flash:

i'm not extremely sure what the difference is, but i know they both use the 2.5 liter inline 6. so they have the same horsepower, torque, etc... other than that i dont know any differences/similarities.

328 uses a 2.8 liter version of the baby six. It is mostly evolutionary over the 2.5 liter from the first e36 325i. It has double vanos (intake and exhaust variable valve timing). It is a smooter engine, with a fatter torque curve.
The 2.5 liter in the 323i is also an evolutionary version of the original 2.5 liter engine the first e36 325i.

For chips, Jim Conforti does the best job. He adjusts partial throttle fuel and ignition maps, not just WOT maps like Dinan and everyone else does. GIAC also makes pretty good chips.

If you want to mod it easily stick to the 95 and older 325's... with the 96+ 328.. you get more power stock.. but with the new computer if becomes much more difficult and expensive to modify. Just pick up and Roundel and look at the track results... most everyone there has 325 or 95 M3s. The OBCII is difficult to mod.

Good advice about the driving schools. I learned alot and it prepared me for some serious circuit track racing. WHAT FUN!

Also a intake will not do much good on 95 BMW's, They used smaller exhaust tubing that year and it would be more beneficial to replace the exhaust before adding the intake... or do both at the same time :)