Cheap/Basic M42 Mods.

freeride53 · 10-14-2009, 09:19 PM

What is out there?
I've done some searches, but I want to see what could happen first-with a budget.

The car at hand is a 1991 Bmw 318i 4d. (m42 as yall know)

I've been reading about chipping, which is the best, and provides the best hp gain? also, exhaust, intake, etc.

This is a highschool/d.d/fun car that I'm working on getting all together so I can retire the Peugeot to a weekend/occasion car.

fiftytakedowns · 10-14-2009, 09:22 PM

mark D / WAR chip are the two best

Intake Is not so much a mod UNLESS you go Headling intake which DOES improve the car. Superspring/ REMUS/ Stromung or GTFO

Regrind Cams are an option for 300 bucks

m20 flywheel is a cheap option too for performance.

Or get a Supra motor?

White325is · 10-14-2009, 09:23 PM

I think the exhaust on the M42 is already stock at 2 1/4 you should jump up to 2 1/2 a better cat and muffter setup. The summit racing turbo muffler sounds awsome on the M42's. My buddy had a MarkD chip on his M42 and it made a big big improvment. Its pretty much the best bang for your buck.

freeride53 · 10-14-2009, 09:30 PM

hmm.
i've heard about m20 flys, i think i'm going to for sure opt for one of those. those are off the 325's right?

lol...2-jay-z?!

i will keep the car original-bmw.
and the car will be staying with the M42...till maybe i'm out of college, and thats a far way down the line.

I wanna have a car that wont take shit from my friends' integras, subar-whos, yotas, etc..

i wanna do a 5-lug soon, and throw something like some m-system throwing stars on, and do the suspension all up, and do a lsd.

ethree · 10-14-2009, 09:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by freeride53

I wanna have a car that wont take shit from my friends' integras, subar-whos, yotas, etc..

Should of bought a wrx if you wanna keep up with wrx's. Mostly stock tegs and most things 6 cylinder and/or turbo from toyota will also beat m42 powered cars.

There's a ti in the south san jose pick n pull for your 5 lug setup.

SamE30e · 10-15-2009, 08:11 AM

No need to upgrade the headers they're already a tubular setup.

2002maniac · 10-15-2009, 10:27 AM

The ONLY worthwhile mod on a street driven M42 is a chip. I have used both MarkD and Turner and they are both great.

Intake and exhaust will do absolutely nothing. A lightweight flywheel is nice, but not a power mod.

2002maniac · 10-15-2009, 10:28 AM

I've done cams too, they are awesome on the track but suck for the street.

Rob · 10-16-2009, 04:56 AM

as per usual, making sure all the wear items/maintenance stuff on the motor is fresh will do more than most "mods", chips not withstanding...

dlmrun2002 · 10-20-2009, 04:33 PM

Intake cam is adjustable. Advance it 4 degrees and get a chip.

tjts1 · 10-20-2009, 05:09 PM

So you're going to take on that Integra after all?

Slick92GS-R · 10-20-2009, 06:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dlmrun2002

Intake cam is adjustable. Advance it 4 degrees and get a chip.

it looks like BOTH intake & Exhaust cams may be adjustable .. (at least on my E36M42)

E30SPDFRK · 10-20-2009, 06:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dlmrun2002

Intake cam is adjustable. Advance it 4 degrees.

I've heard about this, but I thought I read 6 degrees. What kind of difference does this really make?

e30guydownunder · 10-20-2009, 08:09 PM

Pretty much a free-er flowing cat and rear muffler and chip are your best bang for buck mods.

RE: adjustable cams. The slots in the cam gears give you +/- 6 degrees on the standard settings. By moving them you can change the lobe seperation basically, all your doing is moving the power and torque curves around, you can get a few hp out of it but apparently absolutely kills your bottom end.

Take the heater plate out of the intake if you have it and dump a ton of old hoses just waiting to give you hell in the process.

Otherwise your looking at cams and a chip to suit.

The M20 flywheel is a nice mod, I've done it. You want a single mass M20 flywheel. And if you can bear it dump p/s and a/c. Also if you throw an electric fan on you can free up a few hp there.

tjts1 · 10-20-2009, 09:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by e30guydownunder

Altering the exhaust cam messes with the cam position sensor position (affecting ignition timing).

No it doesn't.

10-14-2009, 09:22 PM	#2
fiftytakedowns R3VLimited Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Davis/ San Rafael Posts: 2,455	mark D / WAR chip are the two best Intake Is not so much a mod UNLESS you go Headling intake which DOES improve the car. Superspring/ REMUS/ Stromung or GTFO Regrind Cams are an option for 300 bucks m20 flywheel is a cheap option too for performance. Or get a Supra motor? __________________ Sold http://widowmak3r.blogspot.com BMW 2002 Turbo Build Thread

10-14-2009, 09:23 PM	#3
White325is R3V Elite Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Stroudsburg,Pa Posts: 5,316	I think the exhaust on the M42 is already stock at 2 1/4 you should jump up to 2 1/2 a better cat and muffter setup. The summit racing turbo muffler sounds awsome on the M42's. My buddy had a MarkD chip on his M42 and it made a big big improvment. Its pretty much the best bang for your buck. __________________

10-15-2009, 08:11 AM	#6
SamE30e R3V Elite Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Ontario, Canada Posts: 4,371	No need to upgrade the headers they're already a tubular setup. __________________ 1987 325e 1991 318is - M50 1991 318is - M42 2002 WRX

10-15-2009, 10:27 AM	#7
2002maniac R3V Elite Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Cedar City, UT Posts: 4,197	The ONLY worthwhile mod on a street driven M42 is a chip. I have used both MarkD and Turner and they are both great. Intake and exhaust will do absolutely nothing. A lightweight flywheel is nice, but not a power mod. __________________ Budget BBK caliper bracket kits for sale

10-15-2009, 10:28 AM	#8
2002maniac R3V Elite Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Cedar City, UT Posts: 4,197	I've done cams too, they are awesome on the track but suck for the street. __________________ Budget BBK caliper bracket kits for sale

10-16-2009, 04:56 AM	#9
Rob Moderator Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: Charlotte, NC Posts: 7,983 Images: 1	as per usual, making sure all the wear items/maintenance stuff on the motor is fresh will do more than most "mods", chips not withstanding... __________________ BEERTECH

10-20-2009, 04:33 PM	#10
dlmrun2002 E30 Addict Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: New York Posts: 543 Images: 5	Intake cam is adjustable. Advance it 4 degrees and get a chip.

10-20-2009, 05:09 PM	#11
tjts1 E30 Mastermind Join Date: May 2007 Location: Raptured Posts: 1,755	So you're going to take on that Integra after all?

10-20-2009, 08:09 PM	#14
e30guydownunder E30 Modder Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: NSW, Austalia Posts: 812	Pretty much a free-er flowing cat and rear muffler and chip are your best bang for buck mods. RE: adjustable cams. The slots in the cam gears give you +/- 6 degrees on the standard settings. By moving them you can change the lobe seperation basically, all your doing is moving the power and torque curves around, you can get a few hp out of it but apparently absolutely kills your bottom end. Take the heater plate out of the intake if you have it and dump a ton of old hoses just waiting to give you hell in the process. Otherwise your looking at cams and a chip to suit. The M20 flywheel is a nice mod, I've done it. You want a single mass M20 flywheel. And if you can bear it dump p/s and a/c. Also if you throw an electric fan on you can free up a few hp there. __________________ - Chris Project Bastardise - 245kW @ 15psi Last edited by e30guydownunder; 10-20-2009 at 11:12 PM..