Help me modify my car...

Alright everyone, I just got a new job, that pays pretty well (bout 250-300 before taxes a week), and I've decided to put a little but more cash into my car. The AA Supercharger or APT Turbo are still out of the question till mid next year, but some minor enhancements are possibly comming this summer. I'm also planning on getting a UD pulley set by the end of the year. However, I'm thinking more current, and I'm going to ask ya'll for your opinions.

Idea one is to redo my intake (ditch the Carbonio and get a Dinan Intake) and Software. This will be staged, however, seeing as the Dinan intake costs $500, so I'd probably get the software first, then get the intake and up the software (which my Dinan place does for free). Only problem for this is the over all cost (its gonna be about a grand when all is said and done).

Idea two is an exhaust. However, unless I get the RE IKON Exhuast, I doubt it would be a brand name, and would just be some wider pipes (2.25) comming from the cat, running through a muffler of sorts. Only problem I can see with this is, unless I get the RE IKON (which I've already heard on a car, another E46 325i with steptronic), if I don't like the sound, I'm just SOL. I would like to know your opinion that if I go with this, and I get the "custom" exhaust...should I go with regular tips or some DTM style tips. I know the first goal of the exhaust is performance, but I think the overall look is important as well.

The final idea is to get a set of lowering springs and a sway bar, the springs from BavAuto and the sway bar from Dinan. I think lowering the car just a touch would look good, but at the same time, I dont really track race or go to driving schools, so I'm not sure if I would really reap the cost benifits of this. However, the bonus is that, it will be substantially cheaper to do this than the other two ideas. But, I would also like another set of wheels, becuase IMHO, the only cars I've see that look good lowered with stock wheels are Audis. I like my wheels, but I would also like a new set.

So, drop your opinion in the poll, and tell me what ya'll think.

Wait for FI.

I say splurge it all after every paycheck and buy everything week after week. Screw everything else. Insurance? Don't need it. Car payments? fogetaboutit. Food? Cereal for life. That's my advice for you. Take it or leave it...:biggrin:

Get the ///M3... go big or go home.



:thumbsup:

Forget it all, just go home Cassie :tongue:























































:biggrin:

Get the ///M3... go big or go home.



:thumbsup:

Hahahaha, word. :1:

I think you should forget moding your car, save your money, and I have just the ticket for you and it's only $50,000 turnkey.
Like RedNeck383 says,"go big or go home".

http://img293.echo.cx/img293/3549/gary11ss.jpg (http://www.imageshack.us)

That's a pretty sweet looking Cutlass. I always did think those cars made pretty racecars.

And Cassie, get the one that will give ya the most ponies for your dollar--duh! LOL.

How rich you you think he is? Sorry redneck, he doesn't make Moderator salaries!! cause I know AF gives you mods a free 3KGT VR4 and a $300,000 salary

And I think you should get the software first, then work on the intake later cause its a lil steep and I assume you engine breathes pretty well as it is

Regarding the issue of FI or getting an ///M3-Either are big possibilities...in a year. Right now, going with FI or just getting the ///M, even a used E36, is flat out not going to happen. What I'm waiting for is the 01ish-02ish E46s to get enough used ones out to brign down the price, becuase even if I save up, right now, between insurance and car payments, there is no way I could spend 600 a month on a car. Also, the 325i is still on the lease, and will be till next year, so for the sake of peace of mind, if I decide to keep it after the year is up, then I'll start looking into FI.

Right now, I'm just looking for basic bolt ons that will jump up the performance a bit, and keep me happy till the year is up, and I can make the ///M3 or FI decision, based on the finacial situation at the time.

If you go with exhaust get something from UUC (their chambered mufflers sound awesome). Just look around on their site for the one you want. Might as well go with a UUC intake, instead of the uber expensive and oh so not worth it, Dinan intake. Hell, just get all your stuff from UUC, they kick ass and the price is right. I highly recommend the RK Shadow shift knob from them as well, my buddy just got his in and it's beautiful.

www.uucmotorwerks.com

Appearently, we know two very different dealers. I went to a UUC/Dinan dealer near my place,and they said they will not sell me a UUC exhaust or anything else, as thier expierience is that the UUC build quality is far beyond subpar, the pieces never fit right, and they have a horrible customer service reputation. Also, I'm not gonna pay $1500 for a TSE3, when I can get an RE DMS, which is the exact same thing, for $600.

If I dont get a Dinan intake, I'm gonna get the AFE powerflow. I've herad one on a 330ci (non ZHP), and it sounded awesome, plus I've herad from more than one E46 owner that the motor really responds well to it. That, or I could get the near $1,000 GroupeM intake...

A dealer that deals UUC equipment refused to sell you UUC items they carry? Whats the point of being a UUC dealer then? Personaly, I have not experienced either of the two complaints your dealer has made about them, oh well.

And I didn't know you ment an actual intake, I figured you were talking about a cai. Why go with an intake? You will spend a grand and get 15-20 hp at most. Very cost ineffective if you ask me. If you're going that route, do a set of cams and be done with it. Larger valves wouldn't hurt either. But cams would cost less than an intake and give way better gains, and hell, since you're going with some sort of an FI setup later just get a set that's a good grind for a blower while you're at it. That way you'll have some power gains right now, and have cams that'll work great with your blower/turbo.

Not trying to shut you down here buddy, only trying to help out a bit. Just my oppinion, take it or leave it ;)

They used to sell UUC, and they will sell you UUC parts if you want them, however, they make you sign a contract before hand saying that, if you dont like the part, we warned you, and you cant blame us. Also, I was joking about the GrouppeM intake. I currently have a Carbonio CAI, but it doesnt fit right, and a guy around here just hydrolocked, and he said, that becuase he had a Dinan CAI, that Dinan replaced the engine. I know a coupla E46 ///M3 owners that swear up and down by the GrouppeM intake, saying it'll get you into low 12s/high 11's with nothing else and that it sounds great (which it indeed does), but I think they are trying to justify buying an intake for a grand. I've herad about the complaints that Dinan is overpriced, and not really worth it, but at the same time, all the parts are designed to work together. I'm about to head down to the BMW place where I got my car, and is certified to sell Dinan, and see how much just the software is gonna cost. They said that, when I get the Dinan CAI, they'll jump me up to the stage 2 software for free, but we'll see about that.

Don't get me wrong here. I do understand that Dinan is the premier tuner for BMW. Dinan for BMW is what Lingenfelter is for Corvette. Only I'd say more so. How much are they charging for the Dinan cai? Cause if you get software for free, then do it. But when you get your blower that software will most likely need to be wiped out to do a custom tuned software.

And as for the intake manifold, I'd hold off on that one untill after you get your blower setup, it's just not worth the 600+ for that at the moment. That money could be put towards a new set of wheels.

Also, if you're really thinking about doing an E46 M3 within a year or two, then why the heck are you bothering with ANYTHING more than a cai for this thing???

cause I know AF gives you mods a free 3KGT VR4 and a $300,000 salary


:iceslolan Don't forget the 401K and free dental

Save your money for something better than a $1000 intake...To be honest, an 18 yr. old really should not be modding something like a BMW, just because the aftermarket will cost you an arm and a leg. Save for the TORBO! or whatever FI route you take, and avoid Dinan till you get a real job.



Sorry, don't wanna sound like an ass... :)

To be honest, an 18 yr. old really should not be modding something like a BMW...






I think he's more along the lines of 20 or so dude, and if he wants to spend his money then that's what he's going to do.

Don't get me wrong here. I do understand that Dinan is the premier tuner for BMW. Dinan for BMW is what Lingenfelter is for Corvette. Only I'd say more so. How much are they charging for the Dinan cai? Cause if you get software for free, then do it. But when you get your blower that software will most likely need to be wiped out to do a custom tuned software.

And as for the intake manifold, I'd hold off on that one untill after you get your blower setup, it's just not worth the 600+ for that at the moment. That money could be put towards a new set of wheels.

Also, if you're really thinking about doing an E46 M3 within a year or two, then why the heck are you bothering with ANYTHING more than a cai for this thing???

If I go FI, its gona be the AA SC, and for 7K, you get the full deal (SC, Software, Injectors, intake+everything else you need to run it safely). I like Dinan's stuff (except for the exhausts, I think they look kinda dinky), and the CAI is gonna run for about 400, which is only 50 more than the one I paid for in the car right now. But I agree, it is very expensive for what it is.

And again on an E46 ///M3 in a year, it really depends on the prices of the used ones, as even if I keep the job I have right now, plus I get the paid internship I'm trying to get, I still doub't I'd have enough to drop 600 a month for car payments, let alone insurance and gas. Thats why with the ///M next year, it really depends on how much I can get for my car, plus how ever much I have saved up, plus the cost of a light to medium use E46 ///M3. I might try to seel my car as well, and if I can get about 20k-25k for it, I'm just gonna get a used E36 ///M (I can get one around here for as low as 12k if I don't mind the miles), and use the rest towards an AA Turbo, or get a lightly used E46 330ci ZHP.

And new guy, I'm 20. Be 21 in six months, actually, a little less. And I fail to see how I don't have a real job. I go to work, I do what they tell me, and I get paid, and if it werent for those god damned taxes and me having to pay for old people, I would be making around $1200 a month, which is really good when you don't have to pay rent/utilities/food/entertainment costs...

keep the intake you have, get an exhaust, then from there maybe headers, Then the software.

remember the basics of making power, Air,Fuel,Spark.
you have the intake, get exhaust to get better gains.
maybe have a machine shop bore out your throttle body a couple mm's

And new guy, I'm 20. Be 21 in six months, actually, a little less. And I fail to see how I don't have a real job. I go to work, I do what they tell me, and I get paid, and if it werent for those god damned taxes and me having to pay for old people, I would be making around $1200 a month, which is really good when you don't have to pay rent/utilities/food/entertainment costs...
Didn't mean to offend you, I'm just saying its stupid expensive to get parts from Dinan. My friend's dad Drives a 5 series with the full Dinan package (supercharger, exhaust, ECU, etc.) and he barely can maintain it... I don't know, I just think that there are more affordable options than Dinan. Good luck if that's the route you're taking though...

And new guy, I'm 20. Be 21 in six months, actually, a little less. And I fail to see how I don't have a real job. I go to work, I do what they tell me, and I get paid, and if it werent for those god damned taxes and me having to pay for old people, I would be making around $1200 a month, which is really good when you don't have to pay rent/utilities/food/entertainment costs...
Wooo, wait a minute. Most of the old people paid into a thing called Social Security for 40+ years and paid there dues. The problem is the government hi-jacked it and has used that money for other things and now are making the working force pay for there fuckup.
I'll guarantee your paying more for the lazy unemployed and the dead beats on welfare than your paying for the old folks.
The money I personaly paid into the Social Security system, if I was allowed to invest it into a money market would have earned me almost 2 million dollars.
Look at Alaska, they have a Permanent Dividend Fund. This is money they get from the oil revenue tax, and the state invests it and the profet from it is paid to every living person in Alaska. Right now it's paying them about $1,300 a year.
Were getting fucked, but don't blame it on the old people. Put the blame where it belongs. Your elected officials. No one has time to research those running or vote, but are quick to place blame on those that don't deserve it.

Myself, I'd give my left nut to see you have the car you want built the way you want, but it don't work that way, so we do the next best thing. WORK, and pay the fuckin government so they can "declare war in the name of peace" and spend billions and kill some of Americas finest young people.
Am I upset? You damn rights I am. I served in Korea and VietNam and got to watch my buddies get arms and legs blown off or killed, and then told by a Asshole named John Kerry, I was a baby killer, woman raping low life.

I truly hope you get to build your car just the way you want. My wish is for every car nuts dream to be fulfilled.

buy springs/shocks, drop that bitch

-snip-

While part of what you say I agree, and other parts I don't, I say we think on the same level. Personally, if I had my way, we would do away with the current social security set up all together (I believe it is not the governments job to make sure I have money, its MY job), and get rid of welfare as well. I believe it was Al Capone who said "If you can walk to the welfare office, you can walk to a job". However, I also wanna say thanks for serving. Not enough people today thank veterans, especially Veitnam vets. So thank you for fighting when everyone else ran, and for doing you part, and feel free to join my John Kerry is a Dueschbag Club.

Also, thanks everyone for the responses. The poll is still open, so you all can still vote, and it'll be about three or four weeks before I finally make my decision.

I don't want to sound like I'm flaming you, but a BMW is really expensive to mod. At $250-$300/week I'd save up some of that money, you'll need it in the future.

I still think that you should get FI, but you already have an intake, get an exhaust.

Well, the decision has been made.

The chances of me getting the E46 ///M3 next year, unless I can find a used one for sub $40K, is pretty much out of the question. Even if I starved myself, didn't buy anything at all, used my parents car and made it so they had to buy the gas, and sold a kidney+sperm+plasma...I'd still be to short in cash to be able to afford it, plus insurance, plus gas, plus whatever else.

So, in a year, when it comes down to it, it really depends on how much I can get for my car. If I manage to get a decent amount, I might be getting a E46 330ci ZHP (I'd love to get an E90 330i with that new R motor that gets 255hp...but I want a two door car for my next car, and the rumor mill makes no noise regarding E90 ci's). If I can't get that much, then I'll probably get a used E36 ///M3, and if I can find one cheap enough, try to get the Stage 1 AA Turbo for it. If I can't get a whole lot from my car though, then I'm just gonna keep it.

For now, I'm gonna stick with the current CAI that I have in her, and I'm heading down to the BMW/Dinan dealership near my house to look into getting the Dinan Stage One software and the Dinan Automatic Transmission Software. By the end of summer, maybe when I get back up to school, I'll be getting a Dinan Cold Air Intake, and get the Stage 2 upgraded software. If I get it here, then the place where Im getting the software will give me the stage two upgrade for free. I can only hope that I can get the same deal if I go to the place in MO. After that, I should be able to save up enough to get the Dinan Throttle Body. After that, I might get some UD Pulleys...and I'll be done, unless for some reason I decide that it is imperative to get an exhaust. If I do, I'll be getting the Rouge Engineering IKON system. I also might be gettin some lowering springs and a sway bar from BavAuto.

The reason I'm gonna go with the more expensive Dinan parts is, after discussing it with the dealership, the Dinan parts should help the value of the car, and get me a bit more money. If I decide to keep my car when next year rolls around, then I'll start saving up for the AA Supercharger system. I'd rather get the 330ci or the ///M3, but the AA system isn't a *bad* option either, lol. So, that is the plan as of now, and hopefully, it'll all go well.

... sold a kidney...

I dunno, if you sold a kidney, you might be able to swing an E46 M3... there are some rich people that want kidneys.

Also, you just wanna get your damn Dinan badge, don't lie.

Good luck though.

Also, you just wanna get your damn Dinan badge, don't lie.

Lol, the cheapest Dinan badge I can get still costs about $3k!

And I dunno...I kinda like my kidney...and with the amount I drink...I need all my waste processing parts, LOL.