Best route to 300hp?

[Jay 535i]

This is not in the budget for now, but I need something to aspire to...

I have a 1990 535i with an auto tranny and 230,000km (142,000mi) on the clock, stock except for an EAT chip. What is the most sensible route to a reliable 300hp?

[bfd]

If you really want a "sensible" route to 300hp, you're better off getting a new car. There are tons of cars today with 300hp or something very close. Why bother trying to modify these old ass cars?

If you turbo or supercharge, you'll have tons of issues dealing with those systems. Not really "sensible".

If you upgrade to a big bore kit making your car a 3.7-3.9 liter, you still won't get 300 horses. And, the cost will be in the $10k+ range. Sensible?

If you truly like the E34 body style, why not sell your car and get a 91-93 M5. You be at that 300hp range and its stock! Alternatively, the 95 E34 540i with a chip will probably be at 300 horses.

Just don't waste your time and money on your car. Its good "as is", so enjoy what you have!

Btw, I have a 90 535i, 5 speed, 103K with a Jim C chip. I plan to keep everything else "stock" and enjoy it!

[Jay 535i]

If you really want a "sensible" route to 300hp, you're better off getting a new car. There are tons of cars today with 300hp or something very close. Why bother trying to modify these old ass cars?

If you turbo or supercharge, you'll have tons of issues dealing with those systems. Not really "sensible".

If you upgrade to a big bore kit making your car a 3.7-3.9 liter, you still won't get 300 horses. And, the cost will be in the $10k+ range. Sensible?

If you truly like the E34 body style, why not sell your car and get a 91-93 M5. You be at that 300hp range and its stock! Alternatively, the 95 E34 540i with a chip will probably be at 300 horses.

Just don't waste your time and money on your car. Its good "as is", so enjoy what you have!

Btw, I have a 90 535i, 5 speed, 103K with a Jim C chip. I plan to keep everything else "stock" and enjoy it!

I wouldn't have thought that forced induction or a displacement increase would have been necessary.

To replace the car with a 540 or similar would cost me ~$5000, not to mention the cost of fixing everything on the 'new' car that I've already fixed on the 'old' car. I would have expected that I could squeeze 300hp out of my 535i for less than that. If not, so be it, but I'm looking for suggestions.

[Interceptor]

If you really want a "sensible" route to 300hp, you're better off getting a new car. There are tons of cars today with 300hp or something very close. Why bother trying to modify these old ass cars?

If you turbo or supercharge, you'll have tons of issues dealing with those systems. Not really "sensible".

If you upgrade to a big bore kit making your car a 3.7-3.9 liter, you still won't get 300 horses. And, the cost will be in the $10k+ range. Sensible?

If you truly like the E34 body style, why not sell your car and get a 91-93 M5. You be at that 300hp range and its stock! Alternatively, the 95 E34 540i with a chip will probably be at 300 horses.

Just don't waste your time and money on your car. Its good "as is", so enjoy what you have!

Btw, I have a 90 535i, 5 speed, 103K with a Jim C chip. I plan to keep everything else "stock" and enjoy it!

I think I would probably go with the chipped 540i/6 - for me, that's the best of both worlds - huge amounts of torque/power, yet extremely drivable. Also, it won't cost you an arm and a leg, as an M5 will, when it's time to make an overhaul.

[Jon K]

$3,000 and some know-how will take an M30 over 450hp


Reliably? No.

[Interceptor]

I wouldn't have thought that forced induction or a displacement increase would have been necessary.

To replace the car with a 540 or similar would cost me ~$5000, not to mention the cost of fixing everything on the 'new' car that I've already fixed on the 'old' car. I would have expected that I could squeeze 300hp out of my 535i for less than that. If not, so be it, but I'm looking for suggestions.

A good turbo/supercharger kit will cost you ~ $5k. There is NO f**king way it's gonna reach 300 HP without some serious modifications. Bigger injectors, ported intake manifold, MAF kit, larger throttle body - all that stuff will cost you at least $1000 and guess what, you'll get around 20 HP out of it, maybe less.

I would go the same route as Jon K did - making your own turbo/supercharger kit. I don't see any other way of ramping up the power/torque in quantity you desire without spending loads of money.

[McWatters]

Jon is ur supercharger custom made???



J.McWatters

[Jay 535i]

$3,000 and some know-how will take an M30 over 450hp


Reliably? No.

Okay, how 'bout 300, then? Reliability?

Thanks everyone for the input. I'll just keep savin' my pennies for that 540

[Jon K]

A good turbo/supercharger kit will cost you ~ $5k. There is NO f**king way it's gonna reach 300 HP without some serious modifications. Bigger injectors, ported intake manifold, MAF kit, larger throttle body - all that stuff will cost you at least $1000 and guess what, you'll get around 20 HP out of it, maybe less.

I would go the same route as Jon K did - making your own turbo kit. I don't see any other way of ramping up the power/torque in quantity you desire without spending loads of money.

not true.

12 - 15 psi on a stock M30 with 42# injectors (you need to get software, but still)
would be well over 300hp.

Its pretty cheap if you source EVERYTHING yourself. No ported/polished/anything would be needed.

[Jay 535i]

not true.

12 - 15 psi on a stock M30 with 42# injectors (you need to get software, but still)
would be well over 300hp.

Its pretty cheap if you source EVERYTHING yourself. No ported/polished/anything would be needed.

PLEASE tell me more