288/280 vs 280/272 cams.

[Projecte46m3]

Are the rocker arms now available at retail? Where did you get them?

I got the last 2 sets that I could find anywhere for retail price. The back order is still ridiculous and Im sure the retail price will increase again.

[siamkazi]

Apologies if this was answered elsewhere, I'm trying to understand a key piece before pulling the trigger: Break in time? I saw a mileage minimum and staying under 4k rpm for said mileage but if that's the case, how does one dyno tune for full potential i.e. have Hassan do a pull to 8k+ RPM?

Or is this a misconception and there's no need or what's the best practice for installing upgraded cams?

[Larky7]

Are there still owners rocking these spicy cams in their E46’s?

Looking into getting a set of 272/280 myself, but would like to see if anyone would share their reviews and butt dyno experiences with these cams?

[EthanolTurbo]

Apologies if this was answered elsewhere, I'm trying to understand a key piece before pulling the trigger: Break in time? I saw a mileage minimum and staying under 4k rpm for said mileage but if that's the case, how does one dyno tune for full potential i.e. have Hassan do a pull to 8k+ RPM?

Or is this a misconception and there's no need or what's the best practice for installing upgraded cams?

I did mine at the same time as I was breaking in a new clutch + new differential. I want to say the breakin period for all of them was around 600 miles of normal driving and highway driving, no WOT. I would drive at varied speeds 60-90ish mph on the freeway so the cams + followers would get a big range of steady state speeds during break-in.

[siamkazi]

I did mine at the same time as I was breaking in a new clutch + new differential. I want to say the breakin period for all of them was around 600 miles of normal driving and highway driving, no WOT. I would drive at varied speeds 60-90ish mph on the freeway so the cams + followers would get a big range of steady state speeds during break-in.

thank you for this! this question always had me guessing, appreciate it!

[CrisSilberGrau]

Are there still owners rocking these spicy cams in their E46’s?

Looking into getting a set of 272/280 myself, but would like to see if anyone would share their reviews and butt dyno experiences with these cams?

There are numerous posts in the sticky Dyno thread with various setups. The short, you feel it from 6-8k rpm, and in gas prices. Butt dyno is noticeable too but very incremental. To make them work the best all maintenance must be done and health check should be tops. Meaning Vanos is complete, injectors new or rebuilt, CSL and exhaust done, leakdown test done (headgasket healthy, although mine was not bad after I did my HG call pulled way more crispy). With the price of cams now its actually an insane proposition for the overall HP/$ value you get. Makes me sad.

Take all that into account.

[Obioban]

Are there still owners rocking these spicy cams in their E46’s?

Looking into getting a set of 272/280 myself, but would like to see if anyone would share their reviews and butt dyno experiences with these cams?

Pretty sure I'm over a decade with my 280/272s at this point. Would do again, if I didn't have them.

Edit:
Just looked it up. Have had them installed for 12 years. Man, time is going fast.

[nuc1]

Pretty sure I'm over a decade with my 280/272s at this point. Would do again, if I didn't have them.

Edit:
Just looked it up. Have had them installed for 12 years. Man, time is going fast.

13 years and 22k on 288/280s.

We're old.

Mike

[Larky7]

There are numerous posts in the sticky Dyno thread with various setups. The short, you feel it from 6-8k rpm, and in gas prices. Butt dyno is noticeable too but very incremental. To make them work the best all maintenance must be done and health check should be tops. Meaning Vanos is complete, injectors new or rebuilt, CSL and exhaust done, leakdown test done (headgasket healthy, although mine was not bad after I did my HG call pulled way more crispy). With the price of cams now its actually an insane proposition for the overall HP/$ value you get. Makes me sad.

Take all that into account.

thanks, I will check that thread out.

my head gasket will be the last big jobs that will need doing on my E46, so I’m in the mindset of “while I’m there what can I do”.

While I understand that the cams increases torque in the lower/mid range, I’ve yet to experience a car with 270/280 cams, would you say it’s the equivalent of going from a 3.62 to a 3.91 or 4.1 final drive?

prices for cams and followers have gone insanely high now, hence the deep research to see it’s actually worth it.

[Larky7]

Pretty sure I'm over a decade with my 280/272s at this point. Would do again, if I didn't have them.

Edit:
Just looked it up. Have had them installed for 12 years. Man, time is going fast.

that’s good to know, I had a quick flick through your build thread. You re-used the standard OEM followers?

[Obioban]

that’s good to know, I had a quick flick through your build thread. You re-used the standard OEM followers?

Yes...

... but Schrick's cams, and their recommendations, have changed. They used to use the same blanks as the stock cams and grind them to their spec. When they did that, they said you didn't need DLC followers for the 280/272s. These days they use their own blanks, and say you do need DLC followers for 280/272s. My cams were manufactured in 2001, so very confidently of the original variety.

[Obioban]

thanks, I will check that thread out.

my head gasket will be the last big jobs that will need doing on my E46, so I’m in the mindset of “while I’m there what can I do”.

While I understand that the cams increases torque in the lower/mid range, I’ve yet to experience a car with 270/280 cams, would you say it’s the equivalent of going from a 3.62 to a 3.91 or 4.1 final drive?

prices for cams and followers have gone insanely high now, hence the deep research to see it’s actually worth it.

As someone with negative desire for a shorter final drive ratio (I think they are downgrades vs stock), I'd say no.

Shorter gears makes the car feel like it has more torque. Cams are more of a boost to horsepower than torque.

[D-O]

Pretty sure I'm over a decade with my 280/272s at this point. Would do again, if I didn't have them.

Edit:
Just looked it up. Have had them installed for 12 years. Man, time is going fast.

Even with the current requirement to replace the follower$$$$? I had always planned to do it eventually, but it is such an expensive upgrade now it does not seem worth it. 5-6k these days, and how much power can one realistically expect to gain?

[Sharocks]

Even with the current requirement to replace the follower$$$$? I had always planned to do it eventually, but it is such an expensive upgrade now it does not seem worth it. 5-6k these days, and how much power can one realistically expect to gain?

If this is your only fun car and you have money to burn, sure.

I have Schrick 288/280's with a built head and I'm not gonna lie, if I was stock, I'd leave it like that with a CSL airbox, headers and better brakes.

[siamkazi]

Jeez, I've been so sluggish on pulling the trigger then all of a sudden cams/followers skyrocketed. I remember when the cost was in the conversation of: "CSL or cams?". Now it's "I remember when cams were a nice to have" 😭