Help New Owner of a 525i 91'

My Point exactly...stick is just more fun...makes everything more exciting...and u can just get into driving your car harder faster...and push urself...I'm lucky I live at the bottom of the mountains in california...there are lots of places i can take my car to drive...and boy it is fun...take turns as hard as u can...trying to keep the car from spinning out...theres a road down here called GMR...glendora mountain road....half the year its closed...because the roads are soo windy and don't have guardrails that people always fall off the side....I was reading a few car mags and ppl actually take their cars up there and go drifting...one day...when I can drift...i'll try it too...I don't mind fallin off a cliff...At least I can say i experienced it once!

How old are you?

Assuming excellent condition, your car is worth about $5500 (Kelley Blue Book price www.kbb.com). A 1991 535 (which has quite a bit more thrust and the M30 engine goes forever) with the same mileage goes for about $6500.

So you put a little money into the 525 to get it into the best possible stock condition you can, then sell it and use the proceeds plus your savings to buy a decent 535. You are now in a whole new ball game (and insurance category, but I assume that would be your father's problem). The 535 is faster, nicer, more collectible, and it would have a stick shift.

True, it may be a bit of a hassle to find one with a manual transmission, but you shouldn't have to leave the left coast to find one.

Alternatively, you could sell the 525 and buy another 525 (maybe a little newer, a little nicer) with a manual tranny. The difference between an auto and a manual in a 525 is pronounced once you get into the higher revs, which that engine is happy to provide.

Just an alternative way to look at it. Regardless, you have a great car and seem to appreciate it.

Now, how about convincing your dad to invest in a trip to driving school for you about as soon as you get hooked up with a manual transmission?

Good luck - we'll be here.

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Originally Posted by Boggie1688

Tahoma
just got a 525i 91'

My Goals:
MORE HP...doesn't everyone want it?
HID kit....
Style...definitely want to get new rims..and tires...I dunno about a body kit...Definitely want tint...I think the car's window has like a bluish tint to it...Definitely want HID lights.

I have about 3,000 saved up...I think i've decided to keep this car.

Boggie1688

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Wellz the problem with that idea, is that not many people want to buy my car...I've already actually tried to sell it...and no one even offered me a price...I doubt this thing will sell...no offense to anyone here but BMW do have problems after reaching a certain mileage...luckily my dad didn't mind having the parts fixed and replaced...he loves this car just as much as I do...I really would like to get a manuel...and a more powerful engine...but I just don't think I can get anyone to buy my car...and lemme tell you...its looks beautiful....I'll take some pics later and record the exhaust sound for you guys... :D If I could sell it and get a 535i I would...but then I doubt I can and I dunno if I can convince my dad to get me a 535i after selling the 525i....Plus we actually got the break system completely replaced...I forgot to tell you guys that...the car is in almost perfect working condition...besides the ac clutch...which is bad...But I'll fix that...or at least get it fixed....and by the looks of it...I think i'm sticking with my auto...the car mechanic called back and said 2000-3000 to swap and redo the gear ratios and stuff....too much for me...so I'm getting the seals fixed and then get started with my mods.

Oh and i'm 17

I'm starting to look at turbos for the car...any suggestions? anyone know how much I can expect to get? out of a turbo? and price for one?

forget turbos. go the supercharger route. Less lag, and imo, is much easier on your engine. But mind you, they do go for about $2500 and up for the good ones.

how much more speed are you looking for? are you looking for acceleration, or top end speed? on a budget, you can't really have both. so decide which you wanna gun for first.

the chip is the best and easiest upgrade you can do for now. and a chip has the most improvement on an A/T so you'll be happy with that mod for a while til you can save for more.

if you can find headers next, that might be a good thing to do. and i think these are the next 'least expensive' upgrade you can do next to the chip.

oh, are you running rims yet? if you're after acceleration, don't use anything over 17"... like I said, these start slowing the car down on the initial start up... unless you can afford the more expensive racing rims which are light weight. But if I had the cash, and could find a set here... I'd swap my 18" for the M5 throwing stars.

I'm not going for top end speed....the fastest I've ever gone in my car is like 110 mph on the freeway...and that was only for a few seconds....In california cops are every where...and speeding tickets are quite costly...this car is gunna be more of a nice unique ride...that can waste most cars of the line to the next traffic light...where I bust out the song "another one bites the dust" and roll off laughin...no 1 has a 525i in cali that looks nice and fast....just stock...and dirty...

I haven't heard from the tranmission guy...so I'm sticking to the auto...I've decided...this weekend I'm riding down to the xenon store to take a look at the setups they got...and getting a quote...then off to the mechanic to get the seals changed on the car...after that...it will be tint...chip...lights...suspension....rims...paint. ..and supercharger...when I have enough money....then if I really love my car...new upholstery...

Does the chip really make the car feel more powerful? what about them headers? And where can i find a good supercharger?

I'm making sure I got my research done good...that way I got it all planned out and can get this project rollin...I'm damn excited...

If you're not after top-end speed... then forget the blowers. they just add weight and don't do much for acceleration (which is why BMW stays away from them in their M-cars)
Superchargers are much better for take off speed than turbos however. Since air pressure is already applied at all revs.

Actually, from E34.net, the best you can do is swap out your differential. This will alter your ratio and give you a lot more power at low speeds. It lowers your top end, but boosts your 0-60 a whole lot.

Headers would also do your 0-60 good, so look for good ones. I heard Racing Dynamics make really good ones for the E34

A chip does wonders. But more so for A/T since it reprograms the way the tranny shifts as well. It basically maximizes your engine. Stock chip is good as it is, but is tuned to cope with varying octane levels. Upgraded chips work well with only higher octane fuel. Switching to standard octane will make your car more sluggish if you run an upgraded chip.

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Originally Posted by jplacson

If you're not after top-end speed... then forget the blowers. they just add weight and don't do much for acceleration (which is why BMW stays away from them in their M-cars)
Superchargers are much better for take off speed than turbos however. Since air pressure is already applied at all revs.

Actually, from E34.net, the best you can do is swap out your differential. This will alter your ratio and give you a lot more power at low speeds. It lowers your top end, but boosts your 0-60 a whole lot.

Headers would also do your 0-60 good, so look for good ones. I heard Racing Dynamics make really good ones for the E34

A chip does wonders. But more so for A/T since it reprograms the way the tranny shifts as well. It basically maximizes your engine. Stock chip is good as it is, but is tuned to cope with varying octane levels. Upgraded chips work well with only higher octane fuel. Switching to standard octane will make your car more sluggish if you run an upgraded chip.

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"Actually, from E34.net, the best you can do is swap out your differential. This will alter your ratio and give you a lot more power at low speeds. It lowers your top end, but boosts your 0-60 a whole lot. "

Are you talking about http://www.bmwe34.net?
Hmm...I'll look into swappin out the diff...but I bet thats costly too...
I read about the diff swap on bmwe34.net ... Seems complicated...and I was wondering if I swap the diff...what kinda of diff am I looking to swap to? Where I could find one...and how much you guys would think it would cost...


As for what robpatt said
"Dinan makes an a/t chip for $200. Get that along w/the EAT."

Why would I need 2 chips? To just keep switching them out? or something?

Was looking under the car today...and I was starring that the shocks...cuz my dad said we just replaced them....and i was starrin and starring and I swore to god we had bilsteins...so I went inside and asked him...and he said we got KYBs when replaced them....and I never heard of KYB...u guys know anything about these shocks? Will they hold up if I run out and get a eibach kit for the car? If I don't get lowered shocks...won't my shocks just like blow out cuz they run compressed?

Don't fall for the "lowered shocks" crap. ALL shocks run compressed, and NO it' won't shorten the life of your shocks.

KYB... not sure if that's the one I know of, but they aren't as good as either the stock (Boge) shocks or Bilsteins.

If your getting springs, well... I'd switch shocks as well, but if you're on a budget, I guess you can just do the springs... not really sure about this one.

If you're not gonna track the car... here's a little homebrewed tip I heard... you can actually just cut the springs on an E34 to lower it. Kinda cheezy... but I heard that only the E34 springs can hold up to that kind of archaic mod. You can run it this way until you can afford the full spring/shock upgrade.

Re: chip and differential... just get the car's BASICS up to spec... suspension, engine tune-up...etc. Then go for the chip. Start from there. Don't do everything at once cuz if something ***** up, you won't know where to start looking for the problem.