Project: Budget Beater

[Budget Beater]

The chip will get better after an hour or two of driving.

How are you going to do a MAF conversion for $50?

the E36 MAF and TPS themselves i can get for about $30-40 shipped, but i will have to make an exception to the $50 rule when i get the Apexi SAFC2. there just no way around that one.

ya i thought the chip would get better in a few days but im already happy. I figured using a better base program (ebay chip) for the piggyback SAFC2 couldn't hurt, but nonetheless i SAFC2-MAF is where the real power will be i feel in addition to the intake manifold. the results should be interesting to see.

[Budget Beater]

Hey guys, gonna do intake today. Im going to try and be scientific as possible about it and do a direct comparison of the HAI (hot air intake that most people do) and then my cold air intake to see if how they differ in performance, it should be interesting. I will post reviews after its all done in a few days after driving it a while. ttyl

[Budget Beater]

Update: 350mm steering wheel installed

Hey guys, finaly installed the new steering wheel. it was a peice of cake, all u need is a 22mm socket and the rest is common sense. I definitely like the feel MUCH better over the school bus stock wheel and the responce/feel is slightly better. My visibility of the gauges is still very good but i think if i went 320mm theres no way i would have been able to see the gauges. I definitely recommend the steering wheel, especially since it came out to about $30 shipped, and the funny thing is they look identical to the more expensive $200+ sparco wheels. I'm definitely happy with the results. 350mm steering wheel is a good choice.

i'll keep yall updated, many more updates coming soon.

[Budget Beater]

Pic Update:

Here is the pics update of the 350mm steering wheel and the car partially stripped out. I also included pictures of the 15lb LTW odyssey racing battery (saves about 30-45lbs depending on what battery u have now). Anyways, enjoy... more to come :)

[89isluv]

Had that steering wheel in my 320is, loved it...

[Budget Beater]

The battery makes a huge difference in weight along with spare tire removal and tar mat removal as well as the Antenna removal. The rear end of the car is almost as light as it possibly can be. The only other weight removal step is going to light weight aftermarket exhaust system. I've removed over 180lbs from the rear of the car which is great but now the weight bias has been drastically changed and is now probably like 55/45 front/rear. So now i have to change my strategy and start removing weight from the front of the car. My total weight removed is now roughly at 250-260lbs and i still have a bunch of more weight i can remove. The front carpet peices alone are pretty heavy (usually 40-60lbs depending). Once I remove those peices I will see what's left that can be done. Im estimating 350lbs should be real easy, getting past that however without breaking the $50 rule will be very hard. Anyways i will keep trying to add more insightful posts to the thread soon.

Upcoming mods: Custom exhaust, 4.10 LSD, 17's, SAFC2 + MAF/TPS conversion, and (drumroll......) The custom intake manifold project! :) :D

[Budget Beater]

Wheels update:

hey guys, today i sold my TSW Hockenheim R chrome rims, finally got rid of the heavy units. I got some 17x7 Enkei 6-spokes and 4.10 LSD from the money for the TSWs so basically i broke even today (bigger wheels and diff for free). the 4.10 LSD will be going in soon and the wheels are already on the car. I wish i could drive the car but im leaving town tomorrow directly after my final so i won't be back for a while. I will however be preparing my next batch of mods including the APexi safc2 the E36 MAF+TPS and the other mods which are already on the way. The exhaust system may be done by the time I am back but no garentees on that. Anyways plenty of updates coming, trying to move the project as fast as possible so i finish off the M20 this upcoming springs and do the M50 project beginnning in the fall.

till the next episode...

[motofaith]

hub

just wondering where you got the hub for that steering wheel

[Garageaholic]

breaking the $50 rule will be very hard. Anyways i will keep trying to add more insightful posts to the thread soon.

What is the $50 rule???

[Garageaholic]

Update: 350mm steering wheel installed
i'll keep yall updated, many more updates coming soon.

How big are the bmw factory wheels? (average because i know that there are a few different types)

[asubimmer]

What is the $50 rule???

well if you read the thread he is doing a low budget project to prove that you don't have to buy really expensive parts to get a good result.

[Budget Beater]

How big are the bmw factory wheels? (average because i know that there are a few different types)

i believe the factory wheel is roughly 390mm which feels pretty huge. E36 is slightly less, Z4 wheel is 355mm (smallest factory OEM wheel to my knowledge), then theres aftermarket 350mm and 320mm. 320 is too small for most tall people b/c u can't see gauges. I think 350mm is the best of both worlds.

[Budget Beater]

just wondering where you got the hub for that steering wheel

Ebay of course... where else :)

[Garageaholic]

So you need a custom hub that goes WITH the wheel? It's not a direct plug and play??

[Budget Beater]

naw not true, Sparco makes it along with OMP and MOMO. any of them will work. racing steering wheel use universal sizes so they all have the same bolt patterns.