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

[shaferbm]

I'm considering picking up an 87 325e for a daily. The guy has had it forever and its basically all original. 180k but odo is out, naturally. So we'll see how much ground that holds.
Any ways it is an e. What does it take to wake these motors up? I mean even as a dd I still want to go a little bit fast.
I know "i" head and manifold can be added, but don't know much else.
Help me Judes!

[Cabriolet]

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]

i head 373 and a chip +1

[devon.818]

boost

[shaferbm]

boost

Yeah I wish!

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]

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

[mr.vang]

3.25 lsd, chip and your set.

[shaferbm]

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]

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?]

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]

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]

my b27 gets great MPG

37 hwy

[camip]

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]

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]

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?