$3500 budget for mods...how should I spend it?

[blackbeast535]

Guys,

I'm about to buy the Akra Slip On or the M Performance Exhaust. I was wondering what else I could buy in performance mods that would give me better HP/TQ for the same money. My wife and kids ride in my car so I really didn't want to go the test pipe route. Let me know your thoughts.

Thanks

[tom @ eas]

Originally Posted by blackbeast535

Guys,

I'm about to buy the Akra Slip On or the M Performance Exhaust. I was wondering what else I could buy in performance mods that would give me better HP/TQ for the same money. My wife and kids ride in my car so I really didn't want to go the test pipe route. Let me know your thoughts.

Thanks

We have a thread detailing a number of bolt-ons, with dynos:



Macht Schnell UDP/Stage 2 Intake & Akrapovic Dyno Findings
http://www.m3post.com/forums/showthread.php?t=567651

Definitely worth a read.

[Money2536]

Exhaust of your choice, ESS or Evolve Tune, Filter. This may be over budget and probably won't make more than 20 additional horsepower.

The main way to gain power is by removing the primary cats with a middle exhaust and software.

[MR///M3]

for $3500 you can't do much unfortunately. I would just do cosmetic things, suspension, summer wheels and performance tires and keep your stock wheels and put winter tires on them. Hunt around in the private classified section.

If you really want power though: ess tune, drop-in filter, pulleys, and challenge x-pipe w/OEM modded exhaust.

[LateBraking]

If it were MY car, so feel free to disagree, with $3,500.00 I would probably get a drop-in air filter, a decent muffler just to change up the sound a little, minor cosmetics like matte or gloss black items to replace all the chrome things and painted reflectors (I said kidney grilles I meant reflectors), some Eibach springs since they're conservative and comfortable, and a decent set of wheels, there's always some great deals on used wheels on this forum.

Would make for a simple, clean, nice daily car that would be good fun around town on the weekends. Just be patient and check the buy/sell sections of this forum often, there's no reason to rush your mods all at once, you have all the time in the world.

But for pure power route, a tune would be good, and maybe a primary cat delete? Get the Turner test pipes, they keep the secondary cats and the resonators, and simply replace primary cats on your stock pipe, so it won't be all that much louder and won't really be smelly. You can also get the Akrapovic CEL Delete-R if you don't want a tune.

Heck, just test pipe and Delete-R for the CEL would get you much more power than just a muffler, and be 1/4 of your budget.

[blackbeast535]

I think I'm definitely going the drop in filter route. Does anyone have experience with the UUC/Corsa unit? The price seems right and I had a positive experience on my F150. How does the Eibachs's affect ride quality?

[Ateam]

Please don't put a corsa on a bmw. If it worked on your f150 than do the opposite for your bimmer. Magnaflow and corsa are for american muscle in my opinion.

My .02 on what you should do

-BMC drop in filter-provides a great sound and maybe 1-2hp
-OEM black/chrome grilles, side gills and exhaust tips (if you keep your muffler you could do the OEM exhaust mod) these tips look great
-M performance exhaus or akra slip on or like I said OEM mod which is signifigantly cheaper. These are the only exhausts that will probably keep your family happy.
-Gloss black hood vents

Remus makes a nice sport exhust and so does eisenmann but they are no louder than stock, only deeper so to me that is a bit of a waste.

This would be slightly over budget but a nice set of mods. It is what I did ironically !

[disapr]

Give me the 3500 and I'll advise you on how to spend another 20k on the car..

Good luck with the project - I'd first decide if you plan to track or not. Other than a few cosmetic items this decision will drive the rest of your mods.

[blackbeast535]

definitely want to track the car! But it is a still a family car.

[mahmud///M]

Unfortunately, the mods for the m3 are so expensive that 3500 won't get u much. It sucks, but good luck and hope u get what ur looking for!

[808elise]

Stop wasting your money and straight pipe it.

[disapr]

Originally Posted by blackbeast535

definitely want to track the car! But it is a still a family car.

Then I'd suggest doing a HPDE/Track Day first if you haven't already and then making the mod plan.

If you get hooked like most of us do then you could use that 3500 to get adjustable coil-over suspension or 18" track wheels.

[Twinbo]

Originally Posted by Ateam

Please don't put a corsa on a bmw. If it worked on your f150 than do the opposite for your bimmer. Magnaflow and corsa are for american muscle in my opinion.

My .02 on what you should do

-BMC drop in filter-provides a great sound and maybe 1-2hp
-OEM black/chrome grilles, side gills and exhaust tips (if you keep your muffler you could do the OEM exhaust mod) these tips look great
-M performance exhaus or akra slip on or like I said OEM mod which is signifigantly cheaper. These are the only exhausts that will probably keep your family happy.
-Gloss black hood vents

Remus makes a nice sport exhust and so does eisenmann but they are no louder than stock, only deeper so to me that is a bit of a waste.

This would be slightly over budget but a nice set of mods. It is what I did ironically !

This is poor advice. Corsa makes a great product that has zero drone. It is not the prettiest and I have heard it doesn't save much weight over stock, but for the price it is a great system.
With $3500 I would look at the following systems:
- AE Performance
- Corsa
- Remus Sport and Race
- Check the Classified section for used systems from Eisenmann, Active Autowerk, Akra, Gintani.

If you go to the Sticky section there is a great thread that has most of the exhaust systems listed with videos.

With the $ leftover I would go drop in filter (BMC, AA, AFE) and IND cosmetic package (grills, gills and painted reflectors).

Cheers and post pictures

[ModBargains III]

Originally Posted by LateBraking

If it were MY car, so feel free to disagree, with $3,500.00 I would probably get a drop-in air filter, a decent muffler just to change up the sound a little, minor cosmetics like matte or gloss black items to replace all the chrome things and painted kidney grilles, some Eibach springs since they're conservative and comfortable, and a decent set of wheels, there's always some great deals on used wheels on this forum.

Would make for a simple, clean, nice daily car that would be good fun around town on the weekends. Just be patient and check the buy/sell sections of this forum often, there's no reason to rush your mods all at once, you have all the time in the world.

But for pure power route, a tune would be good, and maybe a primary cat delete? Get the Turner test pipes, they keep the secondary cats and the resonators, and simply replace primary cats on your stock pipe, so it won't be all that much louder and won't really be smelly. You can also get the Akrapovic CEL Delete-R if you don't want a tune.

Heck, just test pipe and Delete-R for the CEL would get you much more power than just a muffler, and be 1/4 of your budget.

Couldn't agree with you more on this one, I totally agree... Upgrade a bit of the motor, the exhaust a bit, and maybe some cosmetic items, and you should be all set

[pbonsalb]

You could get 375 rwhp for $3500 from a high flow cat midpipe, tune, filter and pulley, retaining the stock exhaust. Or you could get 350 rwhp for $3500 from a slip on rear exhaust. I think Akra quotes about 3 rwhp for its slip on rear exhaust. BMW quotes "a more powerful sound."

Do you want to sound good, look good, or go faster?

[Dellort_M3]

Originally Posted by tom @ eas

We have a thread detailing a number of bolt-ons, with dynos:

Tom, what front lip is that on the left? Brake ducting correct?

[tom @ eas]

Originally Posted by Dellort_M3

Tom, what front lip is that on the left? Brake ducting correct?

That is the Challenge GT Front lip w/ Brake ducting w/o underbody splitter. The underbody splitter is removed for street driving.

Here's the Challenge lip in race form:

[M3ryder55]

used exhaust if possible.
test pipes although i dont know much about them look to be promising from Turner. I need to have a look into that for my own car.
trade someone rims plus cash for their zcps =) . powdercoat them. or if you have stock 19's, i'd powder coat them, run 18mm MS spacers up front and a 15mm in the rear. a nice drop with eibachs and i'd recommend Eibachs for a drop especially if you want to track your car. and notice im dumped on RD sport. I say this cause if you plan on tracking your car, stock suspension is the best, next to coilovers. My car w/ the RD's has more bodyroll with the RD's on then it ever did w/ the stocks. And dont listen to what others mislead you to, i did it soley for visual purposes because the eibachs just didn't cut it for me, the drop wasn't aggressive at all, and I would never put an H&R labeled product on my car. My car handles fine, but im super crazy when it comes to my car and everyday i leave my house i have a nice little canyon stretch so I know how my car feels. Definitely feel like my stock setup would destroy my RD's around a track. So I'd recommend the eibachs because its a conservative drop, shouldn't affect the overall driving characteristics of the car quite like H&R's and RD sport. The lower you drop with springs, the worse these cars will handle COMPARED with stocks. if you drop w/ something lower than eibach than get 15mm spacers and 12mm spacers. Another thing about eibachs is many forum members love them, which is also a great sign and many track their cars with them.

A replica front lip.. Keep in mind, all these aftermarket ones are technically replicas.. lol idk what dubbed them as authentic over the years, perhaps its the many fan boy members on these bimmer sites. fitment is good enough on many such as JL motoring and at the end of the day your probably going to mess it up within the first month of having it. but i have to admit, that challenge front looks like pure perfection. look at that fitment and design is perfect

Change out your side grills and lights
Painted reflectors, and only from IND.. cause their the best. PERIOD
Matte black grills
Matte black M emblem
Black M plate frame from amazon

and you should be right about at that range. goodluck!

[henry0109]

IMO, For performance Mod in $3500. don't get the slip on. it doesnt give you much HP, but it gives better tone and looks better.
1. AFE AIR FILTER $100
2. TUNE $1000
3. Pulley $400
4. Mid pipe $2000 OR
Get a test pipe for $500, and trade light rims for $1500 (recommend)

give over 50 HP gain.

[tha_good_life]

3500 doesn't leave a lot of room to play. I would drop, spacers, exterior cosmetic package (black gill, grills, and LCI if your car doesn't come with it) and maybe an air freshener

[THE-FN-MAN]

Save a little longer and get a blower. Or put the $3500 down on it and the rest on the credit card! Hahaha M3 upgrades cost way to much for what you get so just do it once and be done with it man. It might sound like a lot up front but its WELL worth it

[radiantm3]

Originally Posted by henry0109

IMO, For performance Mod in $3500. don't get the slip on. it doesnt give you much HP, but it gives better tone and looks better.
1. AFE AIR FILTER $100
2. TUNE $1000
3. Pulley $400
4. Mid pipe $2000 OR
Get a test pipe for $500, and trade light rims for $1500 (recommend)

give about 50 HP gain.

The slip-on also saves a considerable amount of weight which none of the other exhaust really do and weight is the enemy here.