What does it take to wake up the m20b27 "e" motor?

**Cabriolet** · 03-09-2012, 02:33 PM

just get a chip and call it a day and make sure you have a 3.25 LSD. beyond that it gets into a huge project.

**dirty thirty** · 03-09-2012, 02:52 PM

i head 373 and a chip +1

**devon.818** · 03-09-2012, 03:02 PM

boost

**shaferbm** · 03-09-2012, 04:09 PM

Originally posted by devon.818

boost

Yeah I wish!

Originally posted by dirty thirty

i head 373 and a chip +1

I been reading around and it seems the head and cams are the most popular things. Also maybe i ecu and intake?

I've basically narrowed it to this 87 eta, or a 90 318i. Which do you think would deliver more fun (also longevity) as a dd? 318 with chip/exhaust, or eta with chip/head?

**xwill112x** · 03-09-2012, 04:12 PM

it would be a 91 318i. and defintily get the 91 318

**mr.vang** · 03-09-2012, 07:27 PM

3.25 lsd, chip and your set.

**shaferbm** · 03-09-2012, 10:00 PM

The 318 is a late model of course which like a sheep I'm also partial too. In contrast though, I do love the m20 and it's bulletproof-ness. We'll see how this ends up when I look at them both.

Though from what I've read the 2.7i can be a real blast with the torques and drivability. Comments?

**MR 325** · 03-10-2012, 01:51 AM

The 2.7i is a lot better than the internet leads you to believe. The one a friend of mine built (with one of the heads I sell) was awesome and definitely rivaled a M20B25 engine.

**etaanyone?** · 03-11-2012, 12:03 AM

I've got an eta.
It's got a Turner chip and a 3.25lsd, plus the better 325i exhaust.

It woke up. Butt dyno feels a big difference, and the increased rev limiter is good.
Plus, it's all usable power. Sure, it's down a bit from the b25 (~145 w/ chip), but it's got torque to make up for it (almost 200 ft/lb, w/ chip).

Bang for your buck says eta.

**smyleboyd** · 03-11-2012, 12:54 AM

M42 makes a good DD. Great gas milage. That is if it's a healthy m42. Just look into both and see which one you like more.

**CHIF8008** · 03-11-2012, 01:00 AM

my b27 gets great MPG

37 hwy

**camip** · 03-11-2012, 05:48 PM

Go with the eta I have an 85 with a turner chip and love it. Of course it could be faster everybody acts like Fred flinstone would smoke a eta.

**cheapshot** · 03-12-2012, 07:16 AM

Originally posted by shaferbm

Though from what I've read the 2.7i can be a real blast with the torques and drivability. Comments?

This. They are a blast. I have an eta now with a Mark D chip, custom coilovers, billys, z3 shifter, vert front sway, etc. It is a blast to drive but I also have a 731 head at the machine shop right now and it is going on along with the b25 intake etc. If you dont feel like going into it that deep, I would definitely recommend the chip, it made a huge difference. I have put chips in other cars in the past, and outside of a turbo car, this made the biggest difference of any car I have driven pre and post chip.

**shaferbm** · 03-12-2012, 09:47 AM

Cool. Also, don't some swap in a 173 ecu after the head swap so the can rev to 7k? And after those things would an i chip be required? @cheapshot I'm thinking I would eventually end up going that deep into but would start with just chip, lsd and such.

Also, what are the benefits of 731 over 885 and vice versa?