e30 turbo?

[kamakaasneal]

Ok so i'm wanting to turbocharge my 89 325i, and i found a very good price on a turbo thats made for 6cyl engines made by CXMotorsports, its a t3/t4 12PSI and i was wondering if its safe to go straight bolt on or if i need to change some things around with the tuning or maybe upgrade other parts so they can handle the extra power. I just dont want my engine to explode but i also don't wanna have to do more than necessary to the engine.

[Cronopoulos]

Ok so i'm wanting to turbocharge my 89 325i, and i found a very good price on a turbo thats made for 6cyl engines made by CXMotorsports, its a t3/t4 12PSI and i was wondering if its safe to go straight bolt on or if i need to change some things around with the tuning or maybe upgrade other parts so they can handle the extra power. I just dont want my engine to explode but i also don't wanna have to do more than necessary to the engine.

Cheap - Fast - Reliable, Pick 2 ;)

Do you have any power goals? How well versed are you in the turbo world?

Turbo manifold, wastegate, down-pipe, exhaust, bigger injectors, intercooler+piping, tune, BOV, oil feel/return, HG?, Head studs?, etc... Blueapplesoda on here offers a very nice kit that would include the majority of things you'd need. You can always piece together you own kit and save money but you will need the basics regardless of how much you spend.

[kamakaasneal]

well i'm trying to match my dad's 06 z4 but i'm gonna do that through much more than just a turbo, gonna change cams and manifolds and what not. and yeah, this one comes with a wastegate and its not SUPER powerful because i want my engine to last long and its incredibly cheap, under $200...so i'll have money for extra parts. I'm just cautious because i was talking to my brother (he has a 91 328i) and he said he thinks it definitley wont be as simple as just simply putting on a turbo kit but also dealing with fuel injection and pistons and exhaust.

[downforce22]

much to learn you still have.

I suggest reading a book on forced induction or looking through build threads on here or e30tech.com. Compiling a bunch of cheap parts from ebay will get you a car with a turbocharger on it. That does not mean you have a good system. I say system because everything works together.

Exhaust manifold, turbo, pistons, cam choice, fuel management system, and intercooler all ultimately affect whether or not the engine will make power or detonate. It will determine how efficient the turbo is and when the engine will see boost or suffer from turbo lag. It will determine if your setup is as good as it can be, functioning as a complete turbo system or just an engine with the wrong components bolted together for a specific application.

You can certainly do what others have done and get lucky with a combination of parts, but research and knowledge will help you optimize the setup and familiarize you with basic components for future diagnosis and troubleshooting.

This might be a good place to start:

http://turbobygarrett.com/turbobygarrett/basic

If you don't know what detonation, bov, wastegate, wideband 02 sensor, or compression ratio are, it would be helpful to know before starting this project. Ideally I am helping save you from blowing your engine.

[kamakaasneal]

ok cool thanks. :)
yeah, i'm just 16 so i'm still kinda gettin used to it all. I know my way around an N/A engine really well but most of my expertice is electronic (i'm 16 and already work in my own office with a computer :P) but i'm looking to make a sleeper so i thought a turbo would be best.
i appreciate the resources! :)

[FLG]

Your 16, dont take this offensively...

Learn to drive first.

No experience + fast car is a recipe for wrapping your car around a pole.

Also expect to spend 3-4k maybe more on a quality turbo build.

[kamakaasneal]

ive had ALOT of driving courses, including defensive and racing courses, i can handle a car better than the majority of ALL ppl...and yeah, i paid 2600 for the car :P im worried about resale value if i do something like that..i'm just trying to get used to the whole turbo thing by starting out with a little bit cheaper one...once i have the expirience i'm gonna get a lowen $10k supercharger but i don't wanna buy that and then screw it up

[e30leigh]

turbo and sleeper? thats a bold choice. a stroker m20 would be more sleeper.

you remind me of exactly how i was at 16 ** flash back **

i thought i was a good driver too. i did all the courses, blah blah blah

then i went out to the track and accually drive fast. not just hooning on the streets. i mean proper fast..... man that was a wake up call.

i suggest you start off small. build a car up slowly. get a 2.5 m20.... then put an exhuast on it, then intake, then tune it, then cam it and retune it, then either raise the comp or stroke it. what ever you do.... do it in stages. dont just jump too fast. it WILL go wrong.
and at 16 i used to run a workshop. but man looking back. i was a dumb ass. i just suggest that you take the time to learn, build up to something. get used to it. and drive fast on the track. not the street.

[kamakaasneal]

noo i dont wanna drive fast on the street...maybe a little vigorously off the lines but speed is another thing haha. and i havent considered an m20 stroker...how much would that cost? and i have an exhaust and a cold air intake, and i have my dad helping me and he's worked on almost all of his cars that he's had so the two of us together can make it work without much issue. i'm just trying to get experience for when i get a REALLY fast car...the e30 is kinda quick but its not like a new german car, which is what i'm saving up for

[drumad]

ive had ALOT of driving courses, including defensive and racing courses, i can handle a car better than the majority of ALL ppl...and yeah, i paid 2600 for the car :P im worried about resale value if i do something like that..i'm just trying to get used to the whole turbo thing by starting out with a little bit cheaper one...once i have the expirience i'm gonna get a lowen $10k supercharger but i don't wanna buy that and then screw it up

[LowR3V'in]

I remember my early twentys too ;)
Was bestest driver then 99.9% of everyone EVER.

[squidmaster]

Courses don't beat experience.

[Hey_You]

If you are saving for a newer car...why not just SAVE for a newer car and not waste money on the e30 if you don't plan on keeping it around?
Also, a turbo e30 is MUCH faster than most new German cars, but it's less predictable, and that's how bad shit goes down

[kamakaasneal]

well if you can do the right things to it yes...and yeah i plan on keeping it for as many years as possible but i cant keep it as my ONLY car..kinda impracticle...im just trying to get as much fun out of it as i can b4 moving on...plus i get good pay so i can afford both a really nice e30 and a newer car..without much compromise so i figure why not do both?

[e30leigh]

im building a turbo m20b25 currently. all be it slowly.

im a bmw tech and work along side a bmw tuning specialist. so its safe to say tech knowledge and skill is coverd. and my tuner is confident that with just good boost levels and a good cam and tune ect ect ect my turbo m20b25 will out run his s38b36 e30 $180k race car.
so yes a turbo e30 is faster then modern german cars. IF its done right.

also a stroker could be cheeper then a turbo build. but it could cost heaps. depends how much you want to go into it. or on how much you can find the parts for 2nd hand. a good m54 2.8 or 3.0 crank can be hard to find. then you will need rods to suit. and a big cam, exhuast, intake and tune to suit also. but at least you wont need to buy turbo, wastegate, bov ect ect ect. and injectors are cheeper for a stroker too. as m30 ones are well big enough and heaps cheeper then big aftermarket ones.