Dinan Turbo E30 325i (NOT 56k friendly!)

[jrhaile]

Here are a few pics I just took quickly today.. I've been out spooling all day and enjoying this machine!
It's a '91 325i with a fully built F/I motor running on a custom Dinan Turbo setup. This was a complete custom one-off done by Dinan in 91. Depending on the boost setting, this car makes well over 300whp. My mechanic who lives in Santa Cruz bought this in March and fixed a lot of the problems the car had like a blown HG and a chewed up cam and upgraded alot of the engine even more. Any suggestion's as far as visual mods? I know I need new rims and I need to remove that sticker on the front windshield but what else would people suggest?
rest of pics can be found at http://www.nwbmwclub.com/pictures/Dinan%203/






videos to come when I have someone else in the car other then my mom screaming "HOLY CRAP"

[Jarvis]

Looks great.

I like the wheels, but I can understand wanting something wider to fit more appropriate rubber.

Planning on dynoing it anytime soon? I'd love to see what kind of numbers all the Dinan work is worth.

[golde30]

cool car man. u should come out to some local meets. we have a bay area e30 forum, baye30.net. check it out.

[RCWells]

That's cool! I say keep the wheels, just polish them up really good. Nice car man.

[jrhaile]

Looks great.

I like the wheels, but I can understand wanting something wider to fit more appropriate rubber.

Planning on dynoing it anytime soon? I'd love to see what kind of numbers all the Dinan work is worth.

Yeah wider is going to happen soon. And I'm calling to make some dyno time this week. In '91 when it was dynoed by Dinan it made nearly 330whp and over 300ft-lbs. this was in '91 and who knows what machine dynoed it. Also this is coming straight from Dinan's records. How accurate those records are? I have no clue. So I'll get the full scoop this week on a dynojet.

Also I live in Spokane, Washington :) Kind of a long drive to a meet.

[Digitalwave]

Dinan is known for GREATLY exagerating their claimed gains, at least on E30's. It'll be cool to see what your car dynos at.

[Jarvis]

In '91 when it was dynoed by Dinan it made nearly 330whp and over 300ft-lbs. this was in '91 and who knows what machine dynoed it. Also this is coming straight from Dinan's records. How accurate those records are?

Dinan is notorious for being, um... "generous" with their advertised horsepower figures. Plus that was 14 years ago, I highly doubt the engine runs/performs exactly like new. But that doesn't mean it isn't making a lot of power.

What other specs do you have for the engine? What kind of "built" internals does it have? Max boost? Turbo size/trim?

[jrhaile]

Dinan is notorious for being, um... "generous" with their advertised horsepower figures. Plus that was 14 years ago, I highly doubt the engine runs/performs exactly like new. But that doesn't mean it isn't making a lot of power.

What other specs do you have for the engine? What kind of "built" internals does it have? Max boost? Turbo size/trim?

Yeah I agree which is why I'm taking it in for some dyno time this week hopefully. The engine was just rebuilt this last March/April though and it had a brand new headgasket put on, new performance cam from bavauto and more. As far as the exact internals, I don't have that info at the moment because it's being mailed to me from Dinan (30 bucks later). The info I'm getting should have detailed engine work done.

Sorry I don't have more info at the moment. I just picked it up off the trailer yesterday as you can see. My friend who I bought this from who is also a long time BMW mechanic said he pushed the boost up to 13psi and it ran fine. I'm more content on running it on 10psi though. Last thing I need is to start replacing a blown head or something like that. Anyways, like I said, when I get more info, I'll pass it on.

[MR 325]

Sweet car man, first Dinan turbo E30 I have ever seen.

Looks like you might need bigger exhaust, that could be one upgrade :)

Welcoem to R3VLimited

[Digitalwave]

I doubt the car makes over 300whp on 10 or 13psi, but I could be wrong.

[Mot]

You live in Spokane??

There is a rather large e30 group in gigharbor/Tacoma area, a more in Seattle and several of us OR guys. If your intrested in a drive, alot of the WA guys are gonna come down later this winter and were doing a beach drive out to my beach house.

You should deffinitly come, I'd love to see a dinan turbo e30 haha.

[Jarvis]

13psi and it ran fine. I'm more content on running it on 10psi though.

A 2.5L M20 is probably going to need more than 13psi to make 300whp.

With good cooling and tuning, the 10psi you're currently running is probably making 250-260whp at best. That's just my guess though.

You should start a poll thread once you get the exact specs, but before you go to the dyno. Did that for another M20 turbo car on the forum. It was fun to have everyone guess the real output of the engine, and then see who was right.

[jrhaile]

You live in Spokane??

There is a rather large e30 group in gigharbor/Tacoma area, a more in Seattle and several of us OR guys. If your intrested in a drive, alot of the WA guys are gonna come down later this winter and were doing a beach drive out to my beach house.

You should deffinitly come, I'd love to see a dinan turbo e30 haha.

For sure... I've been to a few DTM organized drives and things.

[bmwm3n528]

I doubt the car makes over 300whp on 10 or 13psi, but I could be wrong.

Afraid, i'm with you on this one.

Cool piece of history though.

[jrhaile]

Afraid, i'm with you on this one.

Cool piece of history though.

Which is why I'm taking it to dyno this week or next :) Need to know for sure.