Buying E36 M3, some newbie (not ignorant) questions...

[leolo007]

Hey all, I am intersted in buying an M3. I read in another post that 95 M3's came with a 3.0L and then 96-up came with a 3.2L both with 240hp. Are there big differences in pontential when upgrading these two engines?

How much HP do you guy's get with your upgrades? I mean, anybody with a list of upgrades and dyno results??

Thats the most important for now, will ask more later.
Thanks in advanced!!

Leo

[Imola M3]

I'm not to knowledgable on the later model M3's as I own a 2003 M3. However I do know that the 3.2L engine is what was in the former European Models which put out about 321bhp. You will probably have a lot better luck with finding higher quality parts that could boost your performance level off of the 3.2L platform considering it was used both here and abroad. Look for things such as the intake system from the Euro model M3's and such. A good site to start from is www.bavarianautosport.com. You can put your model and year in there and go town with your credit card. I have a collection of about 50 BMW tuners and aftermarket companies that I look at for parts. Good luck with the buy but at least you are buying wisely. Remember there is no subsititute!

[BiMMa b0i M3]

there is not difference in the 95 M3's than the 96-99 except for the engine size (3.0L I6, to 3.2L I6) and for the amount of torque. it has a little bit more torque than the 95's. The best thing about the 95's is that it comes with the OBD I, which allows the car to be modded up the ass, and gives you better results, with the 96-99's there isnt much you can do in terms of engine/tranny mods, the most you can do with those is s/c, CAI, RSM, FSB/RSB, and all of that other stuff.

My car has about 270 rwhp with about 260 rwtq in mine. I put mostly AA mods on there, they are one of the best companies to go with in terms of mods, but if your state do not have the same emission standards as california, then I would recommend going to www.turnermotorsport.com and getting the JC CAI + Euro HFM + Schrick Camshafts, it gives about 50-55rwhp, and its not smog legal. I would also recommend the AA Performance Package IV with the AA Track Pipe (replaces cats) gives 26rwhp, and the PP IV gives 21 rwhp. that includes AA Gen 3 Dual Straight Tip Exhaust, AA Performance Software, a 540i 3.5" HFM, 21.5 lb Injectors, and AA CAI (Cold Air Intake) with 3.5" HFM. with the AA PP IV and the AA TP that comes close to 50 hp right there, and you can get the schrick camshafts which give about 15-20 rwhp. with all of that combined you will get roughly 50-70 rwhp, and that is only about 30 rwhp away from the AA Stg1 s/c that they have, it is about 6k. but with all of the things mentioned your only spending about 3900, the AA s/c gives 89rwhp total, and it pretty much comes with everything listed in there with a couple of other added things (oil intercooler, intercooler, different hosing), and thats listed at $5695.00, so for only 30rwhp less your saving a bundle. your saving $1806. thats pretty damn good. but good luck, hopefully my input helped out a lot. a lot of good links for mods are:

www.dinanbmw.com
www.turnermotorsport.com
www.bavauto.com
www.aatuning.com
www.umnitza.com
www.mashaw.com
www.rogueengineering.com
www.evosport.com
www.brembo.com
www.hrsprings.com
www.bilstein.com
www.eibach.com
www.rieger-tuning.de
www.dtmautohaus.com
www.racingdyn.com

thats a just a few mods.