Whats the best performance upgrade???

[nicky51]

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Thanks for the input guys.

[nando]

That guy only made ~137whp even with the the DIYPNP. :p

(Makes me happy I've finally got an M50 in there)

the peak # isn't important, it could vary from dyno to dyno, blah blah basic dyno comparison spiel.

it was probably a tired engine to begin with, but now he has opened the doors to the possibilities of making a lot more power, something no plug in chip can offer.

stock specE30 guys are making 150whp minimum, FWIW.

[yert315]

stock specE30 guys are making 150whp minimum, FWIW.

in most cases you can't compare a specE30 to a daily driver. I highly doubt this guy is looking to do a complete rebuild on his car, considering he is looking for a cheap performance upgrade. Realistically the numbers will never be that high on an average 100k+ mile e30 motor.

[nando]

in most cases you can't compare a specE30 to a daily driver. I highly doubt this guy is looking to do a complete rebuild on his car, considering he is looking for a cheap performance upgrade. Realistically the numbers will never be that high on an average 100k+ mile e30 motor.

I think you completely missed my point :p

A) it could be his motor is tired, or it could be a heart-breaking dyno that reads low, you couldn't know unless you did a lot of cars back to back to get an idea of where that dyno sits.
B) the absolute # isn't as important as the overall gain (because of point A)
C) once you have something like MS installed on a stock motor, future upgrades are easily tuned for (cam, headers, turbo, supercharger, a full rebuild, whatever it ends up being), while a chip you basically have to throw away as soon as you change anything major.

[nando]

also a 100k mile motor really shouldn't be that down on power, unless it was beat to death or alternatively, driven by a grandma. 200k, yeah, maybe. but aside from carbon deposits and bad sensors/injectors, it's not like the cylinder walls glaze over at 100k and you lose half your compression. most M20s with over 200k will have the original cross hatch still.