1997 M3 Performance Mods

[edboc]

I am looking to add some performance parts to my 1997 E36 M3 2door 5-speed Manual. I recently purchased this car used with 75k miles on it, and the previous owner had a sports exhaust, 8-cd changer, car alarm, and snow tires. I installed Bosch spark plugs, and flushed out transmission and motor oil with Mobil One Synthetic Oil. With the sports exhaust and the spark plugs, I am close to 250hp.
Any recommendations as to how to add more horsepower. I am planning on purchasing a Performance Programmer and a Airflow Intake from Bavarian Autosport. The programmer suggests it can increase 40 hp @ 40 hp @5200 rpm/ 36 lbs. torque @5200 rpm/new rev limit +400) or I could get the Shark Injector (34 hp @ 6000 rpm/40 @ 4500 rpm/ 7000 rpm limit).
If I get the Bavarian programmer or the Shark Injector will I be able to use an OBD II Conversion Kit from Bimmerworld(http://www.bimmerworld.com/catalog/engine.htm)
They claim they can make these performance increases:
For E36 OBD II engines (1996-1998 328i and 1996-1999 M3). OBD II equipped engines have more emissions controls and are much more difficult to modify than the earlier OBD I engines. Our conversion kits convert your car to the earlier OBD I systems which alone is worth some serious power. However we go one step further - each of our kits include a custom engine management chip for your specific engine to extract the most possible power. Additionally, the chip removes the EWS system to simplify engine swaps. Our kits are complete with all wiring, sensors, electronics, and instructions to make this conversion a do-it-yourself job.
2.8L Stage I kit - $1,799
3.2L M3 Stage I kit - $1,799 ~275Hp
3.2L M3 Stage II kit - $2,449 (add Euro HFM and big injectors) ~290+Hp
3.2L M3 Stage III kit - $3,649 (add Euro HFM, injectors, and Schrick cams) ~310+Hp
Will I get up to ~350hp if I get a Shark Injector/Performance Programmer and a Stage 3 Kit? Or is the Stage 3 kit include one of those programmers, and getting a performance programmer or shark injector before the stage 3 kit be a waste of money? Any comments would be helpful and appreciated.

[mmeysarosh]

I am going to have to call those numbers very optimistic. Without opening up the motor the highest you can expect on a E36 M3 3.2 is somewhere around 270HP.

This can be achieved by installing an Exhaust, Cold Air intake, Chip, Euro HFM, Higher flow Injectors. The Cam can really help and take the car to close to 290hp (but by no means above 300hp). In addition you may also improve the performance with an new Supersprint exhaust manifold.

Do not allow the RPM limiter to be raised to high or you will be inviting engine failure due to valvetrain failure.

You should definatly change the spark plugs to the new Bosch 4+ Plugs.

You may want to consider adding and oil cooler to this motor as it will help with motor life on hard running.

The next upgrade would be an Individual Butterfly throttle body. This will allow you to improve power through the entire rev range as it will allow you to better optimize your air velocity.

At this point there are two major things left. Major head work. This will allow you to run significantly higher RPM work if done professionally. In addition you would add a lighweight forged crank and pistons and new connecting rods. Increasing the compression ratio.

Tuning the motor at that level will require a programmer and a dyno.

With all those mods I have seen the M3 motor that can produce a good 350HP. But it has a price to match.

You may not want to take it that far but it is nice to know what is possible.

[Mr_Root]

eee... M3 E36 should have the stock 321 HP... Are the american versions some how weaker?

[mmeysarosh]

It is sad but true. Until the recent E46 M3. We Yanks had to deal with a detunded version of the E36 M3.

If my memory serves me correctly here are the specs.

Euro 95 E36 M3 had about 286hp out of its 3.0L motor.
American E36 M3 had 240HP out of the 3.0L motor.

The 96-99 E36 M3 Euro produced 321HP out of a 3.2L motor
The US spec stayed at 240HP but had a change in torque from 217ft/lbs to 232 ft/lbs.

There are quite a number of differences in the motor. The most visiual is the intake manifold. The US spec uses a single 100mm throttle body with dual resonance intake runners. The Euro uses one 45mm for each cylinder. The Euro spec has more agressive cams, higher RPM limit, and and oil cooler. I am not sure but I can also bet that the compression ratio is most likely lower in the US spec.

The reason for this change was cost. BMW felt the the full blown Euro motor that US buyers would have a to difficult time obtaining the car due to what would be a higher price of vehicle and insurance.

You can buy the Euro spec motor and transplant it in quite easily. You can also install many aftermarket components that perform equal or better then the Euro spec motor. It all depends on how deep your wallet is.

Hope this info helps.

Mike

[Bromaguire]

Where can i get a euro spec motor ?

[mmeysarosh]

Here is one spot that carries the Euro spec parts

http://www.bimmerworld.com/euro.htm

Mike