Turbo Progression Steps

[SirMaxximus]

Ouch. Some sort of fancy MS3 plug and play?

Yup correct.. Here's a link:

https://www.diyautotune.com/product/ms3pro-pnp-e36939-1993-1995-bmw-e36-m50-s50/

I got it on black friday sale for $1384 after tax and shipping... still way more than I ever wanted to pay, but I can utilize all my original coils + sensors and save a ton of headaches I figured..

[LowR3V'in]

Something really helpful nobody talked about here with a tiny tiny tiny budget of only 3k
i would get a begi fmu
you will find them on craigslists or ebay for like $200 maybe, Real cheap.
They actually work well.
24# injectors maybe $50.
you'll need a wideband. Maybe find a junky lc1 used. you'll find one.

That's pretty much it for fuel management. Stock pump, stock clutch. it'll work.
Clutch will start to slip maybe 5-7psi on that turbo so just keep it low.
A clutch alone is $400.
i think there's like $100 solid discs from like phantom or kemp or ebay vender. Might work out idk allot about ebay clutches though.

on 91 it'll probably ping about 10psi and that's where the 24# injectors will probably max out on so you'll have a so so reliable 10psi setup if you stick with that.

it'll be fun and quick people will talk shit but it'll work, idle, and be a cheap bucket as far as tuning.

you need to get stuff welded too idk if u factored that in but u probably got a guy.
for real though 3k you'll need to get allot of stuff for free and have ur guy weld for free too

[e30davie]

That list for $4000 is pretty good.

the thing with these crazy projects is to not try and do it all in a month, A good turbo install like what is describes takes months of research, 6-12months of collecting parts, 1 month of install and another 6 months of perfecting your install and getting it reliable. potentially a 2 year project, suddently $4k over 2yrs doesnt sound so bad.

I've spent the last 2 weekends wiring up my DIY megasquirt loom. its going to take me another weekend to install it and get it running, then god knows how long to actually get it driving good. not to mention i bought the MS 6 months ago! But hey its all part of the fun.

Attack the project in steps, look for bargains and enjoy the journey.

and for gods sake don't let your wife add up all the costs, this is why its good to spend 4k over 2 yrs and not over 2 months.

And always remember htat cars are best enjoyed being driven. A car that is reliable with 100hp is alot more fun than one with 300hp that is always in the garage broken.

[varg]

MegaSquirt = $1384

Ouch. Some sort of fancy MS3 plug and play?

[Metallated]

Nice name bud, good luck with your build.

[SirMaxximus]

Your going to have trouble staying under $3,000.

If you want to boost your car I'd say go for it mate, just remember, its a project, so treat it like such. What I mean by this is: You'll be doing quite a bit of custom work... you can just slap a turbo in your stock everything and hope for the best but your likely to experience failure and extra costs....you can also overbuild your motor/driveline/transmission in preperation, while any of this would likely help your chances you really honestly can't ever make everything bulletproof and your still likely to experience failure and extra costs.... This is what I mean by its a project, so go into it expecting such or your gonna be let down. While we can all take guesses its just simply unrealistic to really "know" the best steps to take before building your car. At the end of the day, its your car, so do what you want with it. Expect to be let down on occasion and be incredibly happy with it and proud of what you've done on other occasions... Thats all part of the experience

I'm in the process of building mine, here's a link to my expenses.. Mine's an M50 build but still alot of this will apply to your m20. I could have cut corners on some expenses. Other's I felt like I did pretty good on, so I hope this helps with your decision making!

E30 Parts listing
Intercooler = $113
Headers = $500
Oil Feed Lines 4AN = $60 (Vanos Adaptor included)
Oil Drain Line 12AN = fittings $41 + $28 kit
Turbo = $320
Wastegate = $50
BOV = ~ $70 with adapter pipe
LC1 Wideband = $155
MegaSquirt = $1384
Gauges + Interior stuff = $135
Turbo Blanket = $23
Hallman Manual Boost Controller = $90
Bosch 42lb EV1 = $250
TRM Oil Distribution Block = $30
ARP head Studs = $200
2.93 LSD = $50 after trade
SPAL puller fan = $60
Misc Gaskets = $42
Makeshift Catch Can = $5 (filter)
Exhaust = $45 (vband) + $16 (vband) + $32 (dump tube) + $15 (flex) + $339 = $447
Air Filter = $19

Random Other Expenses thus far
$7.20 - ace hardware (intercooler bracket)
$41 - Home Depot (spray paint + copper fittings for oil drain)
$15 - ace hardware (misc bolts / nuts + high temp spraypaint)
$37 - Ace Hardware (Extra wiring + Brass fittings for intake)

Total: $4172.20

This is my list thus far: I'm sure I have many more trips to Ace hardware and other little things as I finish up... This list so far does not include Charge Pipping and Clutch/Flywheel.... those are the only two MAJOR purchases I have left... Hope this helps mate!

[NEOe30]

Just realizing that you are probably boosting an M20 whereas my setup is an M50, still most of what I said applies. If you want it, go get it.

[e30davie]

Grab the megasquirt manual. Its like a million pages long. Read that from cover to cover. Google all of the things.

Ive just started putting a ms in my car (m20b23), custom made loom cause its not plug and play on the early cars. I used to hace a haltech on it but thw haltech failed. Hope to get it powered up tomorrow:D

[Zephyyyr]

Sorry but i didnt have time to google for you.

https://www.diyautotune.com/support/tech/megasquirt-systems-compared/

https://www.diyautotune.com/support/...-your-bmw-e30/

Thank You for those links they are very helpful. I read them all. Do you or anyone else have anymore suggestions on how to use megaquirt or just tuning in general? It seems very very interesting to me and I'm hooked. Although it is a bit overwhelming atm. Can some one chime in just some basic input on their thoughts on MS and how they learned?

[NEOe30]

Your (planned) setup is very, very similar to mine. I also budgeted around 3k for my build. To give you some perspective, I have purchased/created and installed every part on my car except for my downpipe due to lack of welding knowledge. Even the megasquirt I wired in. I have learned IMMENSE amounts of information just searching for months before I started my build.

When I was ready to begin I started sourcing parts and created a spreadsheet of how much money I thought I was going to have to spend. As I just said it was around 3k. Given that I would've played it conservative and gotten the car tuned before blowing it up (im on my second engine now) I would've been in just under $4000. Now that I've build my second engine I'm well over that mark and have stopped keeping track because it hurts to look at it, lol.

Do your research, buy parts as good deals come up, and always pay the extra money to have quality parts/work done. 300whp can be done pretty reliably for around 3500 if you do a large majority of the labor yourself. But you will get boost hungry quickly.



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[e30davie]

Sorry but i didnt have time to google for you.

https://www.diyautotune.com/support/tech/megasquirt-systems-compared/

https://www.diyautotune.com/support/tech/install/bmw/megasquirt-your-bmw-e30/

[Zephyyyr]

Much to google you have.

Very helpful.

[e30davie]

Much to google you have.

[Zephyyyr]

Install a megasquirt. And spend a year learning how to tune. Then install turbo. K go!

I noticed there is a megasqiurt 2 for a much lower cost. Is there any major difference's with that one and the most current one?

[Zephyyyr]

There is so much more than to just 'putting a turbo in'.
We can't help you because you haven't helped yourself yet. You have a lot of research and learning to do, then you can come back with concerning questions.

Kinda bummed you are judging me off of those statements but anyways heres a few things I've learned after hours of research.

- Holset HX35w turbo
- Megasquirt ECU
- 42lb injectors
- Turbo manifold adapter
- Exhaust
- Intercooler and plumbing
- Wastegate
- Single Magnaflow muffler
- Dual Bosch diverter valves
- ARP head studs, stock cylinder head gasket (or MLS)

Now this was mostly off of few guys build threads. I already knew this before posting. Because I don't have 3000-4000 to put out at once I was just wondering what the best steps were and the MINIMUM I need out of this list. When I say minimum I mean minimum that will still have the car very reliable as if it were stock.

If I seem like a noob or am saying something stupid, would you mind actually helping me and not calling me out? I didn't claim to know a lot and I am very willing to learn. Thats why I joined this forum tbh. I came here hoping to get help. Even if something I say wrong may seem so obvious to you. Im not someone who is just making a thread only to not follow through. This is my new DD and I have no plans on ever selling it.