help! Want m3, have list of dumb questions.

[m3f_Cypher2k]

I am SERIOUSLY considering a 1998 or so m3... In fact have my eye on a 4 door...



WHAT am I getting myself into?



Im looking to go past the 240 stock hp for certain, but i dont want to spend huge $$$ to do it. 2001 mustang GT's are my yardstick for measuring street performance.



Am I setting myself up for a lot of grief?



Bear in mind im still in the early stages of learning about these cars.



Dont be too rough on me boys.

[m3f_Roadrunner_00430f3330]

no doubt in my mind that you are making the correct decision by going w/ the e36 m3. no comparison against a mustang.....no mustang gt or cobra. m3 is a much more refined sportscar. mustangs are torqier but the m3 has more usable torque.

[m3f_mweaver]

Your instincts are good. How many Mustangs do you see being professionally raced on the speed channel, a few but not like 3 series BMWs!!!! They strip the car, and put a super charger on it, upgrade the brakes and head to the track. Mustang's go straight and fast, M3s do it all...and with style. Get a five speed, get some drilled brake rotors and you'll be real happy.

[m3f_Cypher2k]

what are the stock ones typically running in the 1/4?



high 14s?





And how easy is it to tack on a few ponies.. like 280 crank or so?



Software, intake and TB?





How is the stock exhaust?





Im not terribly interested in mods that have next to no gains. I dunno. Ive seen some of the dinan dyno charts, and 4hp for a 1500$ exhaust system well... no damn way im doing that.





But my understanding is the US market version of this motor is mostly restricted in top end power due to the intake system and software correct?

[m3f_mweaver]

well most everything that comes stock on the M3 is of a high performance nature, it does seem that the cat back exhaust is a popular mod., the header is good, Air filter and the box that comes stock must go right off the bat. then there is the E-prom program called the Shark that reprograms the DME to a more preformance oriented arrangement including removing the 137 max speed from the DME, then it can bring it back to stock for annual inspection. $350 or so. Bigger Trottle body is a good bet



Seriously get the upgraded brake rotors, they'll save your butt, mine have many times in extreme breaking. The stock are just that STOCK, sames as a dinky 318, with drilled the difference is amazing. I'm surprised that of all the upgrades that the car has that BMW put the same old braking unit on the M3s.

[m3f_Cypher2k]

yes ive heard the stock airbox is pretty bad.



Im thinking of building my own CAI using a pipercross viper system from my jetta.



Basically its an inverse cone (think foam sock) in a carbon fibre housing, provides a nice laminar flow. Then Ill gut the stock ducting unit and build something decent. The trick is to get a vertical rise somewhere to reduce debris and water getting to the filter. Blast any amount of small air suspended sand at a foam filter like ITG, or piper and some always gets through. dont care how heavily its oiled.



I also understand the MAF is restrictive. How much material is in it like snow screens and whatnot? Typically you can rip the post maf stuff right out, and reduce the premaf to just the flow straightener.



Bear in mind im coming from tuning my little turbo 4 so Im well aware of the somewhat limited gains of a catback on NA cars. Ive heard that it does little more than alter the sound. And some of the dinan m3 independant reviews show little difference in ETs from stage1 to stage2...



Are used TB's and big bore mafs' on the market now that the platform is starting to get traded in?







Oh, and i was surprised to hear that the dinan chiptuning could be done so cheaply in canada. Thats a big thumbs up for keeping it reasonable.



How does this shark interferance device work compared to simple chiptuning? And whats this "yearly inspection" thing you are refering to? A yearly attempt at buttraping your powertrain warranty?

[m3f_CrazzyM3]

The shark injector is a tool you can use to download the Jim Conforti performance engine software directly into your BMW. From what I've herd it's very reliable and easy to use. The nice this about the SI is that you can put it on and take it off whenever you want. You can only use it on one car, but that's for life. What most people like to do is unshark thier car before they take it into the shop for an inspection because you are less likely to fail. You can also unshark if you need to take the car into the dealer for anything thats covered on your warrenty, that way they can't refuse you service because your cars softwares been changed. Here in the states we have inspections done to our cars yearly in order to make sure thier safe and "emission friendly" I don't know how it is in canada. And the SI can only be used on the OBD II 96-99 E36 M3s.



Here are some links that might be able to answer more of your questions...



Shark injector install instructions.........



http://www.evosport.com/product/perf/bmw/SI_Install.pdf



You can see some info on the SI along with a pic here......



http://www.ecisbmw.com/product_files/software/shark%20injector.htm



Hope that helps let us know what you decide.



:beer:

[m3f_Cypher2k]

Took one out today for a test drive...



Do all you guys have giant left legs after a few months driving?



Only two complaints, clutch feel, and lack of headroom.



I think i can live with it... I guess....



I was shocked at how snappy the steering was. But im going to have to DO something about the horsepower. Definitly not enough there.



Too bad the one I drove was like 37K CAD... (a 98) WAY overpriced.

[m3f_PurpleM3Pursuit]

with regards to the shark injector.. great product.. definitly increases performance across the board.. if ya do that make sure you upgrade the intake.. obviously it needs more air.. there is no comparison between NA and FI.... i would say FI is the way to go.. all my friends have DSM's and Supra's.. lets just say the DSM's hold their own against the Supra's (DSM w/ 553 hp at crank, not to shabby).. but the M3 is a great car.. the only reason the clutch is the way it is because its a high performance clutch.. just the fact of the matter.. if ya want a light clutch, go buy an Audi TT.. i could set my **** on it to push it down (its that weak ).. but anyways.. it is definitly a great car.. if u just want straight shot speed.. don't buy this car.. if you wanna run circles around anything that gets in ur path.. then this is the car for u.. thats why i bought it.. i don't wanna be the fastest straight shot out there.. i wanna be able to make those japanese and american cars look like fools.. how tall are u that head room is an issue... u must be taller than me (im 6'4", not exactly tall i guess)... with regards to the parts.. if u get an M3.. just stick around here a while.. we'll let ya know what the best is.. go to the UUC website and check it out.. they have some serious stuff.. anyways.. good luck with ur decision..

[m3f_tm3cc21]

purple ur 6` 4 , jeez im 6`5 seems like everyone i talk to wiht an M is over 6 foot what do u think of the headroom depending on how im sitting i usually dont have a problem but the seat adjustments are wierd for me especailyl because i dont have stock vaders (someone stole my interior)

[m3f_PurpleM3Pursuit]

i have no problem with the head room.. i do lean my seat back alittle but i still have no problem with it.. i have the vaders and they are dropped as far to the floor as they will go.. im sorry that someone stole ur interior. haha.. but yeah, there is plenty of room for me.. i don't think people realize how big this car really is..

[m3f_Cypher2k]

ill be happy with low 14s high 13s...

[m3f_NLR]

Originally posted by Cypher2k

ill be happy with low 14s high 13s...



I guess that means you'll be happy with a stock M3, because they run 14.0-14.2 in pure stock form. In regards to the previous post about the stock M3 brakes being the same as a 318's, that guy obviously doesn't know what he's talking about. Either that, or his stock system was f***ed up somehow. The M3's brakes are one of the best ones to come from the factory. Unless you add some serious horsepower, the stock system is more than adequate.

[m3f_PurpleM3Pursuit]

i ran a 13.98 with massive wheel hop.. should have had much better.. plus it was in 50 degree weather so the traction really wasn't there either.. bu it can be done.. straight speed isn't all im after.. thats why i got this car.. throw some coilovers on her and im sure ull be able to whoop anything out there..

[m3f_erikM3]

You are right about the size of M3 owners being big, I am only 6"1 about 240 lbs. My friends are all about the same size that have m3's as well. You can always open the sunroof hehe. Also what is that about the interior being stolen. How is that possible?

Why not take the fricken car?