Highest yielding HP mods for M3 excluding S/C

[pbonsalb]

Akra is very expensive for the gains. Definitely a nice exhaust and very light, but not good bang for the buck if that is a consideration.

[335iCoupe1382]

Thanks for all the responses guys, this is pretty much everything I wanted to know and some!
Love the digital steering wheel in that video clip of the Turner software.
Right now I am in the process of selling my 2008 335i Coupe. Once it's sold, it will take me a while to find a nice low mileage pre-owned M3, preferably 2010+.
It seems logical to spend $1500-2000 for a tune, intake, test pipes, pulley for the additional 40-50hp. These are very decent gains compared to having spent the same amount of money on a N/A 6 cylinder BMW and gaining less than half the hp.
Will suck to be without my 335i once it's sold, but worth the wait to get an
M3!

[advans]

stickers. each sticker adds about 1hp+/-, so in theory, 100 stickers can bring you to well comfortably 515 at the crank.

[Bulb]

Is there any consensus on pulleys? Some people say they are one of the most efficient ways to get hp gains, but I saw someone talking about it impeding the engine's ability to cool or something.

[rjd598]

Originally Posted by Longboarder

For highest HP yielding mods, the answer is above: stroker kit.

For the single best bang-for-your-buck mod, nodoby has yet to mention it: The Vishnu PWM meth/tune system. It will yield approximately 40-50 RWHP on an otherwise stock M3. I never did this as I went straight to a supercharger, but some like TMR have done this and hit close to 400 RWHP without any other mods.

Lol yea but you're running meth

[TommyLights]

Damn this is terrible. I was running a FBO 335 and had 441 to the wheels and almost 500 pounds of torque.

[edwinm3]

My E90 has filter, catless exhaust, pulley, tune and puts down 357whp on a mustang dyno on a very hot day here in miami which should be pretty close to 400whp on a dynojet. I'm happy with the results but thats as good as it gets without putting a blower on it.

[Longboarder]

Originally Posted by Tomz_M3

Damn this is terrible. I was running a FBO 335 and had 441 to the wheels and almost 500 pounds of torque.

The 335i has nice FBO potential for sure. But this is nothing compared to getting behind the wheel of a Stage 2 (intercooled) S/C M3. I put at least 15 car lengths running a FB0 e85 n54 335i making over 450 RWHP at the Ft. Shafter Airstrip roll-on event. It wasn't even close for a second...the vid was pretty funny...it was like the 335 was just standing still.

I also beat the Vishnu/FFTEC car that just broke the n54 HP record at 700 RWHP two weeks ago when it was running at 22psi.

So forget about a FBO M3. FBO costs a lot anyway...so just save a little longer for the S/C

[Jonjt]

Originally Posted by Longboarder

The 335i has nice FBO potential for sure. But this is nothing compared to getting behind the wheel of a Stage 2 (intercooled) S/C M3. I put at least 15 car lengths running a FB0 e85 n54 335i making over 450 RWHP at the Ft. Shafter Airstrip roll-on event. It wasn't even close for a second...the vid was pretty funny...it was like the 335 was just standing still.

I also beat the Vishnu/FFTEC car that just broke the n54 HP record at 700 RWHP two weeks ago when it was running at 22psi.

So forget about a FBO M3. FBO costs a lot anyway...so just save a little longer for the S/C

Wait, I thought you had a VT3?

[Longboarder]

Originally Posted by Jonjt

Wait, I thought you had a VT3?

I wish!

Just the regular Stage 2 kit on a stock motor. I upgraded a couple thing though...I got a revised tune to increase redline to 8,600 rpm and I also got a smaller pulley...both those mods combined yielded me a total of only 6 RWHP.

[Jonjt]

Originally Posted by Longboarder

I wish!

Just the regular Stage 2 kit on a stock motor. I upgraded a couple thing though...I got a revised tune to increase redline to 8,600 rpm and I also got a smaller pulley...both those mods combined yielded me a total of only 6 RWHP.

I suppose that goes to show the value in having so much engine speed to work with. 300-~650 crank HP over almost 5krpms makes a huge difference.

[tmntmn]

Originally Posted by Sal@AUTOcouture

Best bang for your buck is going to be test pipes and a catless tune

+1

ACM Test Pipe and a BPM Stage II tune is going to yield the most HP gain.

[Alex07M3]

Originally Posted by Tomz_M3

Damn this is terrible. I was running a FBO 335 and had 441 to the wheels and almost 500 pounds of torque.

what's terrible, gaining 40hp for 1500$ or 150hp for $7k!?

[TommyLights]

Originally Posted by Alex07M3

what's terrible, gaining 40hp for 1500$ or 150hp for $7k!?

Both. Spent about 900 bucks for approximately a 200hp gain on the 335i. Ah well, gonna have to save.

[Alex07M3]

Originally Posted by Tomz_M3

Both. Spent about 900 bucks for approximately a 200hp gain on the 335i. Ah well, gonna have to save.

I understand it's easy to compare the 335 to the M3 because they are both BMWs but to be fair, no other car can gain as much straight line speed as the 335 from simple bolt-ons.

Also when you'll put 180hp for $8k in your M3, you wont need an aftermarket clutch, bigger brakes and stiffer suspension to help the car handle the power nor gauges set-up to monitor the boost and AFRs or wheels to accomodate the wider tires, you wont even need an exhaust system, can't say that about the 335i!

Out of curiosity, how did you bought 200hp for 900$, I thought a tune was at least 600$ so what else for 300$!? I would've thought a full exhaust, bigger intercooler and meth kit was needed to do 500hp in a 335!

[TommyLights]

Originally Posted by Alex07M3

I understand it's easy to compare the 335 to the M3 because they are both BMWs but to be fair, no other car can gain as much straight line speed as the 335 from simple bolt-ons.

Also when you'll put 180hp for $8k in your M3, you wont need an aftermarket clutch, bigger brakes and stiffer suspension to help the car handle the power nor gauges set-up to monitor the boost and AFRs or wheels to accomodate the wider tires, you wont even need an exhaust system, can't say that about the 335i!

Out of curiosity, how did you bought 200hp for 900$, I thought a tune was at least 600$ so what else for 300$!? I would've thought a full exhaust, bigger intercooler and meth kit was needed to do 500hp in a 335!

I calculated at about 240 whp baseline, not crank. You dont need an aftermarket clutch to run the 441 I had, it handled it fine. Or brakes. Or exhaust, though you do need downpipes. I did run a full suspension but didnt count it toward the cost of the power goodies. As for the power:

1. Used downpipes (used because cheaper and no issues with fitment): $200
2. JB5, G5 board: $479
3. BMS intake: $99
3. Used CMGS meth kit: $350

Add E85, and you are way over 400 easily.

Total: $1130, so I was off by a couple of hundred. And the car was a rocket, unlike my M3. But I'm not complaining. Power aside, the M3 is superior in every other way. Just an honest opinion, I've had both and know what I'm talking about with respect to the 335. M3's are all new to me, but that wont stop me from supercharging it.

[Alex07M3]

Originally Posted by Tomz_M3

I calculated at about 240 whp baseline, not crank. You dont need an aftermarket clutch to run the 441 I had, it handled it fine. Or brakes. Or exhaust, though you do need downpipes. I did run a full suspension but didnt count it toward the cost of the power goodies. As for the power:

1. Used downpipes (used because cheaper and no issues with fitment): $200
2. JB5, G5 board: $479
3. BMS intake: $99
3. Used CMGS meth kit: $350

Add E85, and you are way over 400 easily.

Total: $1130, so I was off by a couple of hundred. And the car was a rocket, unlike my M3. But I'm not complaining. Power aside, the M3 is superior in every other way. Just an honest opinion, I've had both and know what I'm talking about with respect to the 335. M3's are all new to me, but that wont stop me from supercharging it.

Ahhh I see, so it's more like 150hp for 1100$ of used parts without the race gas.Lol In this case an M3 can gain 200hp for around $5k, not bad either! Anyway, I'm pretty sure you wont be disapointed by the M3 once you'll have a blower, hopefully you'll be able to find a used one for cheap!

I'm surprised the stock clutch can handle 500lb-ft of torque, pretty impressive for a 300hp car! I'm also impressed by the stock intercooler if it can deal with almost twice the stock boost, I guess that the meth does help for that! As far as braking and suspension, I know I would'nt want a 335 with 500lb-ft of torque without upgrading those but I guess it depends what you do with the car!

I'm installing my test pipes next week , that should be good for 15-25whp for a 400$ part, I'm pretty happy with that, I'll probably dyno before and after just to see the gain, I'll try to post the result as soon as it's done!

[M3amigos]

335i is also missing a limited slip right? Don't forget the sexy hood and fender bulges of the M, thats gotta be worth 10hp at least right! =P You can boost the hell out of just about anything and make it fast, but the M3 is the total package...you don't see many M owners get tired of their car then trade for a 335...

[Alex07M3]

Originally Posted by M3amigos

335i is also missing a limited slip right? Don't forget the sexy hood and fender bulges of the M, thats gotta be worth 10hp at least right! =P You can boost the hell out of just about anything and make it fast, but the M3 is the total package...you don't see many M owners get tired of their car then trade for a 335...

True I forgot that, the most important part to have fun with a RWD!!

[sbo76]

How loud are your cars with the test pipes? Do you have any problem making sound at the track? Street drivability for those of you that don’t have emission test

[Adriano917]

Originally Posted by sbo76

How loud are your cars with the test pipes? Do you have any problem making sound at the track? Street drivability for those of you that don’t have emission test

Its not that loud unless you also remove the secondary cats, resonators, and have an aftermarket exhaust. On my M3 I had no cats, no resonators, and the Remus race exhaust and it was crazy loud, drove it like that for about a year until I decided to put the resonators back on.

[Scharbag]

Originally Posted by sbo76

How loud are your cars with the test pipes? Do you have any problem making sound at the track? Street drivability for those of you that don’t have emission test

I have test pipes and Dinan cans. Car is not loud and even at WOT it is far quieter than a lot of current production cars like Corvettes and Mustangs.