Easy horsepower?

[OneCleanE30]

Hey guys, I'm new here and I'm getting a 1988 325is. It's going to be my first BMW and I was wondering what would be some easy ways to increase Hp? Sorry if I posted this in the wrong section.
-Thank

[kamotors]

whats your budget?

[e34_spangler]

Hey guys, I'm new here and I'm getting a 1988 325is. It's going to be my first BMW and I was wondering what would be some easy ways to increase Hp? Sorry if I posted this in the wrong section.
-Thank

Welcome!
If your looking for cheap you'll notice fast with a bmw, cheap hp doesnt exist. But you can fet small hp gains with ka motors intake new exhaust system chip, etc

[e30jake]

S54 swap

Sent from my ADR6325 using Tapatalk 2

[kamotors]

for a fun E30 all you need is chip,exhaust,intake to enjoy a bit of extra pep.

but actual big HP gains will require a built motor, engine swap or turbo.

[mrcheezle19]

S54 swap

Sent from my ADR6325 using Tapatalk 2

[jlevie]

The easiest power will come from making the engine work like it did when it came from the factory. If the car has less than about 100k that would consist of:

A new O2 sensor
New ignition wires, distributor, and plugs (NGK ZGR5A)
A smoke test & repair of leaks
Valve adjustment
Injectors cleaned, rebuilt, and flow tested

If at about 150k or over, all of the above and a head rebuild. A part of the rebuild would be a new cam or having the cam in the engine ground back to spec.

If 200k or over all of the above and a full rebuild of the engine, which will almost certainly mean overbore and new pistons.

A free flow exhaust will always help. I don't know what the laws are in PA, but if you can delete the resonators and catalytic converters you can gain a bit of power. Otherwise replace the down tubes, resonators, and cats with a new OE assembly.

Except for installing a new OE air filter, forget the intake as there are no gains to be had there.

After that a chip will help some. Beyond that you start getting into real money.

As an FYI, after making the engine operate properly, take the car to a dyno and see how it behaves and what the AFR is. It isn't unusual to see one of these 20'ish year old DME's running the engine too lean, or occasionally too rich.

[gregrego]

I figured out quickly that it will be a larger hp gain for less money by just swapping to an s50,52,54 engine. Adding a turbo to an engine that wasn't originally turbo is always more expensive, and you wont find any large gains without building to handle it.

[OneCleanE30]

Thanks everyone, I think I'm going to do full tune up and fit a cold air intake on her. She already has a Remus exhaust on it. What chips would you guys recommend?

[OneCleanE30]

whats your budget?

For starters about 250$, I'm only 16 haha. I saved up my money to buy the car and finally found one in my price range. I love older cars and didn't want to be like every other kid with a new VW. I wanted something to work on and have character.

[nokincy]

For starters about 250$, I'm only 16 haha. I saved up my money to buy the car and finally found one in my price range. I love older cars and didn't want to be like every other kid with a new VW. I wanted something to work on and have character.

Get a job. If you must do something to your car do a tune-up/maintenance items.

[OneCleanE30]

Get a job. If you must do something to your car do a tune-up/maintenance items.

The guy I'm buying it from is giving me the stuff to do a tune up, he never got around to doing it. So more fun for me

[Jaxx_]

nitrous

[agent]

Thanks everyone, I think I'm going to do full tune up and fit a cold air intake on her. She already has a Remus exhaust on it. What chips would you guys recommend?

Unless it's been changed from the factory configuration, it already has a CAI on it. Whatever you plan to spend on that should go to maintenance items.

[OneCleanE30]

Unless it's been changed from the factory configuration, it already has a CAI on it. Whatever you plan to spend on that should go to maintenance items.

Alright, that's what I'll do then.