Most efficient route to reach 350HP in an e30?

[ForcedFirebird]

I assume you are not talking eta m20s?

In the OP it was stated "my 325iS", made a strong guess it's a b25. ;)

[DrJosh]

Turbo M20 for cheap power. LS for usable power

[digger]

did you s54 guys miss the without spending too much note? metal snail on current engine for sure

[Staszek]

Cheapest, turbo M20, fast but definitely not a smooth power delivery.

More reliable still cheaper just not as much as the M20 is an S50/2 Turbo, power delivery is better but still laggy.

More expensive and complex but the most natural feel go S54 with Rodbearings and Vanos rebuild and a few other mods you will touch 350 but it will be very reliable linear power, just less TQ but the E30 is so light you dont notice.

[jbontke]

Cheapest and easiest route is turbo the m20. They are dead reliable, cheap, and easy to work on. I've done countless 300+whp m20's and it only takes 1bar on a 60-ish mm turbo.

I assume you are not talking eta m20s?

[zwill23]

Glad to see a turbo m20 up vote, only as reliable as your setup

[ForcedFirebird]

Cheapest and easiest route is turbo the m20. They are dead reliable, cheap, and easy to work on. I've done countless 300+whp m20's and it only takes 1bar on a 60-ish mm turbo.

[moatilliatta]

Sub 100k S54, Rod bearing, vanos bolts and seals, epic headers, 3.5 exhaust, epic tune.

Done.

:)

This is at least my next iteration after current s50 goes or I get all the other work done. But a reliable 350 WHP is the goal.

[Blackdave458]

Hello Everyone, I am dying to just talk with people about my e30 goals. I have only been using a search function on google and on here to guide me on my E30 goals but i have decided to finally take part in the forums.

Basically I want my 325is to reach 350HP and I've been up until 4am watching videos on youtube in deciding what is the most cost efficient route in attaining this while considering maintenance costs and reliability to the platform I'll be building on.

So my question is, Which route is the best to achieve 350hp in an e30 that won't involve spending way too much and keep the build as reliable as possible (meaning, least amount of maintenance, breaking and fixing constantly)

So far my options have been reduced to:

1.) Supercharged/Turbo M50 swap (or m52?)

2.) M60 v8 Swap

3.) Turbo S52 swap ( this one seeming to be the most expensive and risky?)


I can't seem to be attracted to putting an LS1 into this car but if that is the cheapest and most reliable way to get to 350hp i might consider it...

Your time is appreciated and i apologize if i didn't read something i should have. I definitely used the search function beforehand and didn't see this exact question anywhere. Thank you.