Best mods for a stock motor

[modkrazy]

For $10K I'd rather go stroker. No kind of warranty then but can address any weak points in the rebuild.

[Maxf80M3]

Originally Posted by djaft3rb3ats

arent i gonna spend the same kinda money, if not double, if i go SC?

i mean, people just dont get a SC and call it a day right? most will do sc + tune + exhaust, etc.

wouldnt that just mean go ball out? T_T

It truly depends on the kit and desired HP , many kits will work with stock exhaust . The problem is once in pursuit of HP there's no stopping ? and no doubt an exhaust system works wonders with a SC KIT.

[Solo_M_Tech]

The biggest issue with supercharging is the cost, both in the kit and future maintainance. It complicates simple repairs like valve cover gaskets.

It's by far the best HP mod, but of the 7 kits I've installed all of them came back for exhaust upgrades.

I would do a good catless section 2 with a tune and a quality axleback. Choices on axleback are subjective to taste and volume. This will put the most smiles on your face day to day.

After that I would do the air filter upgrade and pulleys. You won't get alot of gain here, but it's less than $500 and you get more intake noise and 10-15 whp.

Overall it depends on your budget. You can do the eBay xpipe and ACM muffler mod for about a grand. Tune will run you $900 and the filter and pulleys less than $500. So $2500 for NA mods or 10k for the supercharger. Both ways you're a winner.

edit: upgrade/replace your rod bearings first, before any of this lol.

[Solo_M_Tech]

Originally Posted by modkrazy

For $10K I'd rather go stroker. No kind of warranty then but can address any weak points in the rebuild.

I would agree with this but $10k would barely buy the parts and depending on the displacement, $5k worth of block modification may be necessary. I wouldn't even bother with a 4.4L kit. You'll spend about $10k for the parts and labor to assemble the engine (or more) for the GTS's power level.

[modkrazy]

Originally Posted by Uber///M

I would agree with this but $10k would barely buy the parts and depending on the displacement, $5k worth of block modification may be necessary. I wouldn't even bother with a 4.4L kit. You'll spend about $10k for the parts and labor to assemble the engine (or more) for the GTS's power level.

Can't recall which vendor's site it was on, but I recently came across a special they were running, it was like $10,999 for the whole shebang. I think 4.6 was like $13K?

[Solo_M_Tech]

Originally Posted by modkrazy

Can't recall which vendor's site it was on, but I recently came across a special they were running, it was like $10,999 for the whole shebang. I think 4.6 was like $13K?

The biggest benefit from going with a stroker kit is it fixes the bearing issue permanently. It's still very expensive for not alot of gain (hp)

[Redd]

I've done nearly everything to my car short of a 'charger. By far the mods I like most are BPM Stage 2 tune (totally changes the way it drives, especially in the midrange), and Ohlins (totally changes the way it rides). I daily my car and I appreciate both these mods everyday.

Next down the line are brakes, rear subframe solid bushings (tightens it up and makes the chassis feel one generation newer) and exhaust.

[opihi5]

Originally Posted by New2Roundel

On a NA motor, it's really FI or bust. Messing around with bolt-ons on a NA motor doesn't really do much, especially if you want to stay smog legal.

FBO m3 beats a stock one by 2-3 car lengths

[G80indy]

For me it was Cool Carbon pads all the way around, which greatly reduced dust on the ZCP wheels.
And waking up exhaust while remaining legal, with Corsa. Have it, just need to have it installed.
Other than that I think the car as stock is basically perfect. Its performance out of the factory as an M car is "plenty" for me.

[buldogge]

Speaking of bolt-on mods/pulleys...Does anyone know the diameter of the common under-drive pulleys is, compared to stock...or if nothing else, what the under-driven % is?

TIA
-Mark in St. Louis

[pbonsalb]

There is a thread somewhere with most of the UD percentages and diameters.

[dparm]

Originally Posted by opihi5

FBO m3 beats a stock one by 2-3 car lengths

After what, a 1/2 mile of runway? A win is a win, I won't argue that, but the fact remains that a supercharger is how you make substantially more power over stock.

How often are people running at WOT for more than a few seconds anyway? Driving around town, you will probably not notice 20-30hp when you already have 414hp. My stock M3 can already engage the traction control on dry pavement and it's not like I am able to keep the pedal to the floor for more than a few seconds on a public road. Just my two cents.

[djaft3rb3ats]

Originally Posted by dparm

After what, a 1/2 mile of runway? A win is a win, I won't argue that, but the fact remains that a supercharger is how you make substantially more power over stock.

How often are people running at WOT for more than a few seconds anyway? Driving around town, you will probably not notice 20-30hp when you already have 414hp. My stock M3 can already engage the traction control on dry pavement and it's not like I am able to keep the pedal to the floor for more than a few seconds on a public road. Just my two cents.

stock? damn, no exhaust or anything?

[opihi5]

Originally Posted by dparm

After what, a 1/2 mile of runway? A win is a win, I won't argue that, but the fact remains that a supercharger is how you make substantially more power over stock.

How often are people running at WOT for more than a few seconds anyway? Driving around town, you will probably not notice 20-30hp when you already have 414hp. My stock M3 can already engage the traction control on dry pavement and it's not like I am able to keep the pedal to the floor for more than a few seconds on a public road. Just my two cents.

40-160....maybe more like 3-4 car lengths, but every m3 has a different power output. After driving a stock m3 vs mine I see that the stock one feels dead compared to a FBO.

[modkrazy]

I had full bolt ons and Evolve tune on my car, there was definitely a difference and I smoked my buddy's M3 that had just the Dinan dealership tune.

[pbonsalb]

I noticed, but think I added 10-15% power, which is 41-62 crank hp, not 20-30 hp. A quarter mile is 12-13 seconds and some of us have kept our foot down for that long. Probably most owners just goose the throttle for a few seconds here and there and that is all the thrills they want on public roads, but those may not be the ones asking about more power.

[GabeS]

Trust me the stock brakes are good for +500hp
Like others have stated and many experienced track guys have stated, unless you are doing time attack or long track events the brakes don't need to be upgraded.

Just because you think something is logical it doesn't mean it automatically is.

Sure a 140hp Nissan Sentra that gets a turbo kit and now makes 400whp, would need a bbk.. but our M3's don't require it. for street or drag use.

[modkrazy]

Stock brakes do need an upgrade, but you don't need to spring for a BBK. Just buy some steel lines for $100, get some better brake fluid when you're due for a flush, and call it a day.

I would also suggest a pad swap, not because the factory ones are inadequate, but because they are dusty as hell. You will forever be washing your wheels (or just leave them to look like crap).

I did get a BBK for my car, but I was honest with myself that I was just doing it more for cosmetics than any practical reason.

The stock exhaust is the worst part about this car in my opinion. Whatever you do, do something. Most people can't even sell the stock one after swapping out for prices as low as $150, and end up just tossing it if they don't have room. That's what I ended up doing with mine. Thankfully when I had to return car to stock for insurance, my mechanic literally had a small pile of factory E9x M3 exhausts in his parts yard. Truly awful. The M performance exhaust is not much better, another piece of garbage as far as I'm concerned.

[Talk2meg00se]

Full bolt-on (pulley, intake, exhaust, tune) + spacers + reflector delete and call it a day. With the extra power, larger tires might a good idea as well.

If you want to update the front end, drop in LUX and disable the amber.

Supercharger completely changes the character of the car, IMHO. Full bolt-on, conversely, merely returns the E92 to its unrestrained, natural state.

[loveskiing]

Depends on how much $$$ you want to drop...like everyone else already indicated, if <3k do the exhaust, X-pipe, CAI, and tune and call it good...you will notice quite a difference which for most, is sufficient. If you need more power then SC...but that depending on new or used is 6-7k used plus tune to 9-12k...Many who go the SC route have to add better brakes, suspension and tires...
If you know that you're already wanting max power, save the $$$ from FBO and go straight to SC...oh and also think about stealth requirements (laser blocker, radar, lidar...etc)

[Fabspeed Motorsport]

Just wanted to echo the praise for test pipes!

That is the only mod I have on my '08 E90 M3 currently, and the differences are amazing. Pulls harder, and sound great with absolutely no drone on the stock mufflers.

http://www.fabspeed.com/bmw-m3-e90-9...tbypass-pipes/

- Anthony

[dparm]

Originally Posted by djaft3rb3ats

stock? damn, no exhaust or anything?

Yes, and I have AD08R tires which are stickier than the more typical PSS. Off the line, these cars have enough power to roast the tires.