Hello, Just joined.

[5.0wagon]

4058
Hi, my name is David and i live in melbourne. Just bought this 1990 525i 5 speed manual a couple of weeks ago. I have lowered it over a new set of 18's and tinted the windows. Also a quick polish and the mandatory chrome exhaust tips. All up spend so far is $9,700 au. I love the everything about the car except it's willingness to accelerate. I would just like some suggestions on an engine or an engine/box swap. I was thinking jap import, but everyone i talk to thinks that it's a bad idea. What do you guys recommend?? Only want to spend about $5,000-6,000 or less if i can. I can do most of the work myself. Or should i sell it and get a 535i or 540i???

[Omega]

Hi, my name is David and i live in melbourne.


<waves> Hi David.


I was thinking jap import, but everyone i talk to thinks that it's a bad idea.

OOPS!!! Not the best site on which to ask that question!!!

If you want fast, search for Jon K. He has created a supercharged and now turbocharged e34 that I (and the police & courts) believe is a "bit quick"...... :)

Is the engine in your's the m20 or m50? In the UK we swapped to m50 in late 1990 and my old e34 525 was fitted with one and was rated at 192bhp. I don't think it was slow to accelerate.

If you want help modifying the BMW engine, stick around there's loads of good advice* available on the board.

*632 Regal excluded from this statement for obvious reasons........ Hi Jeff.

[BillionPa]

find a wrecked M3 and steal the engine. you will need a new clutch.

OR, a complete tuneup and an EAT chip will give noticable power increase.

new distributor cap, rotor, ignition coil, ignition solutions coil booster, plugs, pulse generator, wires, air filter, fuel filter, carbon canister, 5W30 synthetic oil, timing belt, valve adjustment, new vacuum lines, etc.

or you can spend some more money, get an upgraded engine built from your old core with a stage 2 head, lightweight pistons/rods, bigger oil pump, and slap a turbo and megasquirt ECU on it... that will make your car MUCH faster for about $8000 USD.

[Boom n Zoom]

Just up the road from you :)

That is a really sweet looking ride mate!

Sure, go do the Japanese Import swap.....if you want to, but there really isn't much point.

You see,

before the Japanese got the idea of (automotively speaking) putting turbo chargers/superchargers and fuel injection on their production cars. The Bavarians had been doing it for a very long time, they know a thing or two about making an otto cycle engine expand it's (metaphorical) 'chest' and breath deeply.


http://www.bmwworld.com/images/engine/12_13_tn.jpg

Type: BMW M12/13 tc
Year: 1981-1987
Number of cylinders: 4
Configuration: straight, turbo, 72 degree left (1986)
RPM: 10500
Capacity: 1500
Power: 557-640 bhp, 770 bhp (1984), 850 (1985)

(Copywrite from BMW World [http://www.bmwworld.com/engines/racing.htm])

And there was the 2002 Turbo before that, in fact I think it was the late '50's that the first 'Injected engines' came out....but I digress.


If you repost here with the engine type (i.e. model M20/M50 it will be in the handbook or on the compliance plate failing a handbook) there are people here who can give you some pointers on what the best approch would be.

Personally, I would have a look around in the Yellow Pages as in Melbourne there are more 'Tuning houses' than you could poke a stick at.

At a guess, you could probably have fitted and tuned a 'Stage One' Turbo and intercooler on the stock injectors for a reasonable price.
Have a talk to these guys http://www.bavariacars.com.au/ they are in Sydney but they may well be able to point you in the right direction with someone to contact in Melbourne.


Good luck with your search, check back often and let us know how your going with the upgrades.

At the risk of sounding like a 'Dad', get some good quality ceramic pads to help your brakes out, at least for this first stage.
If your going to pump some serious horsepower from it get bigger brakes fitted and sorted first,
then add the big HP :D.

Just some friendly advice from someone who's been there, done that, got the T'shirt............and survived. :)

[genphreak]

find a wrecked M3 and steal the engine. you will need a new clutch.

OR, a complete tuneup and an EAT chip will give noticable power increase.

new distributor cap, rotor, ignition coil, ignition solutions coil booster, plugs, pulse generator, wires, air filter, fuel filter, carbon canister, 5W30 synthetic oil, timing belt, valve adjustment, new vacuum lines, etc.

or you can spend some more money, get an upgraded engine built from your old core with a stage 2 head, lightweight pistons/rods, bigger oil pump, and slap a turbo and megasquirt ECU on it... that will make your car MUCH faster for about $8000 USD.Welcome aboard mate. I agree.

The best power mods for M20 cars are 1). EAT chip alt Megasquirt (much, much more involved modification requiring a Wideband O2 sensor), followed by a turbo aka Jon K's recently built car.

Excellent work but it is involved. Get an EAT chip and save up for the turbo...

Thing about the M20 is that it is naturally a great motor to turbocharge for a bunch of reasons. If you do it right you can retain economy and
end up with twice as much power on tap for AU 4-5k and lots of time.

But in the meanwhile you just drive a slightly slower car than you'd like. In the long run you get a car much faster than you'd like... :D Nick

[Denton]

Beautiful wheels.

Are those the E65 7-Series 19" wheels?

EDIT: I see they're 18s. Shoot. I want those BADLY.

[Nick.Hay]

Hi David,

I'm Nick, and I'm in Tassie. Firstly, that E34 is FINE!! It looks a treat on those wheels, and the black really accentuates the red nicely!!

I think, unless you buy an M5 or 540i, the 5er is always gonna be a trade-off between style, comfort and power. Getting such a big car moving from a stand-still is always the prime dilemma (once its up there, however, it'll absolutely fly!!). As many have suggested... Turbo it!!

There is ****-loads of info about in regard to turbo'd 525i's, so that would be my pick!!

There is lots of knowledgable E34 nuts on here, so stick around, and they'll give you lots of advice... providing you use the 'search' function first!!

[rob101]

...........What do you guys recommend?? Only want to spend about $5,000-6,000 or less if i can. I can do most of the work myself. Or should i sell it and get a 535i or 540i???
turbo. there are plenty of turbo m20s around, not sure about RHD ones though, either that or go for an M engine like a s38 or s50. depends what you want. I am not a modder, so personally i'd sell it an get a 540i if you're that worried should be around the 15-20 mark and you'll get more money back when you sell it (in comparison to a modded 525i).

[weiss_535is]

[QUOTE=Nick.Hay]Hi David,

Here Here.. Turbo has to be the way to go! Nice looking Car!!:)

[rob101]

As one australian to another: Fill out your profile, otherwise people are going to get the shits with you. especially location model and year of your car.

[Macv]

Hell, just dump a Hartge v12 in there. ;)

Very pretty BTW.

[5.0wagon]

Thanks, i will check it out. Mine is the m20 engine.

[5.0wagon]

Thanks for the tip. I am just thinking what will be the best option to upgrade power for dollar. I see your driving the 540i. Would you turbo a 525i, or buy a 540i like yours if you did it again? I have no problem whacking a to4 turbo on it as i have done it before and used straight gas research system on another car. Saves all the headaches of computers and cheaper to run.

[5.0wagon]

Thanks, i wanted some deep dish wheels untill i put these on, and they suited the car so well i bought them on the spot. They look like 19's compared to my other car that has deep dish 18's as the spokes go all the way to the outer edge on these, giving the wheel a bigger look.

[5.0wagon]

Cheers guys.

[5.0wagon]

I will if i can. I am hopeless at working these things out.

[Paul in NZ]

i am like rob...i would just go for the 535 or 540.The 535 doesnt actually feel that fast from a standing start,thats not what they are about..the 540 has the power(210kw) and more importantly the torque to make a big(ger) difference.However the 540 manual six speed is still relatively dear there.

[mattyb]

welcome matey! matt - nsw here. I agree with the others in that im not a modder. however if youre comfortable with turbo go for your life, JONK is the man when it comes to this stuff. Maybe im getting old but my choice without all the friggin about is to just go shopping and find youself a nice 540 with a good history, and six speed if u can. the auto is still a great ****ing car though. there is also a 540 manual board. i think they were specified here as the LE and are numbered. sorry dont know the link but im sure there are others in the know. best of luck and that car looks fkn brilliant!!!!!

[5.0wagon]

Thanks, it didn't look much when i bought it, till the wheels went on. I might keep my eye out for a 540i over the next few weeks and see what comes up. If not i will throw a turbo on this motor. My other car is a 5.0l wagon with about 330hp, and i have an yamaha r6. So anything will feel a bit slow compared to them.

[Zeppa]

Supercharge it !