BHP help?
- Thread starter Stug
- Start date
Johnny have you ever sat in or driven a E89 Z4?
It maybe be worth it to experience the more plush interior and extra power. It may make you think about the money you are spending on the current car, and put that towards an E89 instead.
It maybe be worth it to experience the more plush interior and extra power. It may make you think about the money you are spending on the current car, and put that towards an E89 instead.
And this is why I don't come on here very often now.Jonny essex said:
I have read the whole thread from start to finish and there is very sound advice offered though out.
People ask for advice or comments don't like what they told and go off in a huff.
It seems a shame that for its displacement the n46 matches the peak power output of a late 80's vauxhall red top or 90s Nissan primera. Honda can get very healthy power from their revvy vtec power plants so why didn't BMW, perhaps it was not the mission for that unit.
Having seen Johnny's car in person it is immaculately done and I can fully understand the reluctance and financial penalty of swapping cars for one with a bigger engine. Forced induction may be an answer on paper but when moving from a 2.0 turbo 200sx to my 3.0 Z4 I loved the immediacy of the throttle response and how I could meter in the power part way through a bend.... The turbo was quick, but very point and squirt once you were pointing in a straight line. You may not like that compromise.
If money was no object I would love to see you shoehorn in a modern LS V8 and likely get more mpg than the S54 and better torque too
actually scrap that, it would probably be just as much to buy a V10 M5 as a second car and keep the Zed for when it's sunny 
Best of luck!
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Having seen Johnny's car in person it is immaculately done and I can fully understand the reluctance and financial penalty of swapping cars for one with a bigger engine. Forced induction may be an answer on paper but when moving from a 2.0 turbo 200sx to my 3.0 Z4 I loved the immediacy of the throttle response and how I could meter in the power part way through a bend.... The turbo was quick, but very point and squirt once you were pointing in a straight line. You may not like that compromise.
If money was no object I would love to see you shoehorn in a modern LS V8 and likely get more mpg than the S54 and better torque too
actually scrap that, it would probably be just as much to buy a V10 M5 as a second car and keep the Zed for when it's sunny Best of luck!
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We keep going on about forced induction. What about a different tack?
I took the 130bhp zetec up to 170-180 just by replacing the induction with independent throttle bodies from jenvey and using a decent exhaust. There was already a thread about headers saying they added to the torque so what about that johnny?
You may not get massive bhp but you may gain alot if drivability.
I said in another thread somewhere about wanting to take the zetec up to 220 but tbf a 180 package that drives well and is usable is much better. Bhp figures really are for us to play who's got the biggest dick until you go up loads.
I took the 130bhp zetec up to 170-180 just by replacing the induction with independent throttle bodies from jenvey and using a decent exhaust. There was already a thread about headers saying they added to the torque so what about that johnny?
You may not get massive bhp but you may gain alot if drivability.
I said in another thread somewhere about wanting to take the zetec up to 220 but tbf a 180 package that drives well and is usable is much better. Bhp figures really are for us to play who's got the biggest dick until you go up loads.
Jonny essex said:
This for me sounds like a good plan, as you can then swap the whole drivetrain and brakes from the donar vehicle.
As for tuning the 4 pot, there are other ways to increase power than FI, that nobody's else has mentioned, that is increased compression and more rev's. Power is a function of torque and rpm, so the increase in either gives more power. FI ultimately increases torque but on stock parts has the disadvantage of adding stress. Upgraded pistons, liners, head etcetera allows for both higher compression and increased rpm with components that are up to the task
However to get you to the power of the 3.0l is going to cost more than the donar vehicle and it's going to require tickling more frequently.
I sold my Suzuki Hayabusa to buy my little 2.2se and love it for what it is.
I'm older than you and have done all the power thing on bikes so my priorities now are probably different to a younger man.
My car is my summer weekend toy, that her indoors and I will use on nice days and evenings in Derbyshire,
we'll have a couple of touring holidays a year as well.
The car will get whatever it needs to keep it immaculate and we have an open top cruiser to enjoy.
Jonny keep your car as is, enjoy what you have achieved.
sorn it through the winter and use it as a summer pose mobile.
Keep modding until you have achieved what you what you want from it cosmetically leave it fairly standard mechanically so you have a reliable car.
Buy another car with more power for DD use.
That's what I'd do for what it's worth.
Jim.
I'm older than you and have done all the power thing on bikes so my priorities now are probably different to a younger man.
My car is my summer weekend toy, that her indoors and I will use on nice days and evenings in Derbyshire,
we'll have a couple of touring holidays a year as well.
The car will get whatever it needs to keep it immaculate and we have an open top cruiser to enjoy.
Jonny keep your car as is, enjoy what you have achieved.
sorn it through the winter and use it as a summer pose mobile.
Keep modding until you have achieved what you what you want from it cosmetically leave it fairly standard mechanically so you have a reliable car.
Buy another car with more power for DD use.
That's what I'd do for what it's worth.
Jim.
coming from a modified jap car to the Z4 3.0l is like taking out a rocket ship :evil: i spent loads on getting my celica up to its max power without going FI. its not just the supercharger its all the other things, most stock items will need to be upgraded to take the extra power. funny thing is most of the celica lot that went down the road of ROTREX supercharged spend most of the time off the road, spending more money than it being on the the road. this is what put me off going FI and im a hands on guy. as others say its the insurance side of things, a lot of companies will not touch modified engines, and the ones that will charge for the privilege. you will probably pay more on the modified engine than going 2.5 - 3.0l. its all things to think about, and running costs, i cant believe that my 3.0l is cheaper to run then my 1.8vvti celica.
im not in any way saying don't do it mate, its your car and im the first to say try doing something different. but just giving you all the things to think about.
good luck with what ever you do, and im sure i will speak to you at the Essex meet if you need any help.
dazols
im not in any way saying don't do it mate, its your car and im the first to say try doing something different. but just giving you all the things to think about.
good luck with what ever you do, and im sure i will speak to you at the Essex meet if you need any help.
dazols
Just beyond me. Why you would go to the effort of swapping an engine when BMW made the bloody car in the first place!!! Theres a reason why there is model designation.
Also I don't understand the from new thing at all. When I bought mine it was far from perfect… half the fun was making it as it came out the factory and tbh was minimal effort and many a good weekend feeling I had done it myself.
Aesthetic mods or improvements are the easy bit… if your not mechanically minded forget it.
There is a difference between love and sense and like previous people have said its just a Z4… brilliant cars but by no means the best and most desirable car on the planet. Life's too short to worry and keep hold of things, life's about experiencing as many things as possible! What could you do with the say 5k you've put in and the 5k your willing to spend! 10k!!! Must be bloody mad!!!
Saying that the only thing that would make me swap the Z for another car is a 911 which I'm not in the position to do…
But I am going to sell the car to go traveling round the world next year or another life change… Ive had my fun and sometimes it gets to the point where you need to move on to experience different things.
Also I don't understand the from new thing at all. When I bought mine it was far from perfect… half the fun was making it as it came out the factory and tbh was minimal effort and many a good weekend feeling I had done it myself.
Aesthetic mods or improvements are the easy bit… if your not mechanically minded forget it.
There is a difference between love and sense and like previous people have said its just a Z4… brilliant cars but by no means the best and most desirable car on the planet. Life's too short to worry and keep hold of things, life's about experiencing as many things as possible! What could you do with the say 5k you've put in and the 5k your willing to spend! 10k!!! Must be bloody mad!!!
Saying that the only thing that would make me swap the Z for another car is a 911 which I'm not in the position to do…
But I am going to sell the car to go traveling round the world next year or another life change… Ive had my fun and sometimes it gets to the point where you need to move on to experience different things.
Jonny, you've had some sound advice from people who know what they are talking about.
I'm not in the top of the class for engineering or mechanics but even I can see it would probably be a mistake to tinker with your car mechanically to get the power you are obviously wanting from it.
Since joining the forum you've gone mod-mad and I do think a lot of it is to try to be up with the big boys on here with the looks and the power.
I'm not criticising, its your money, time and effort and I'm the first to say do what you want with your car and money. Its your business what you do.
You have a lovely car but it was built as a 2.0 and you are going to end up throwing good money after bad in your effort to be 'up there'. There'll always be someone to come along who has 'better mods' and more power than you.
I think the advice to get another car is sound if you want more power but I can't understand why you would. You say you love your car but you keep trying to change it!
Don't us women get moaned at for doing that to our men?! Love your car as it is and don't worry about the
for having a 4 pot. Who cares what other people think of your engine size. Don't you blokes always tell us size doesn't matter, it's how you use it?
I'm not in the top of the class for engineering or mechanics but even I can see it would probably be a mistake to tinker with your car mechanically to get the power you are obviously wanting from it.
Since joining the forum you've gone mod-mad and I do think a lot of it is to try to be up with the big boys on here with the looks and the power.
I'm not criticising, its your money, time and effort and I'm the first to say do what you want with your car and money. Its your business what you do.
You have a lovely car but it was built as a 2.0 and you are going to end up throwing good money after bad in your effort to be 'up there'. There'll always be someone to come along who has 'better mods' and more power than you.
I think the advice to get another car is sound if you want more power but I can't understand why you would. You say you love your car but you keep trying to change it!
Don't us women get moaned at for doing that to our men?! Love your car as it is and don't worry about the
for having a 4 pot. Who cares what other people think of your engine size. Don't you blokes always tell us size doesn't matter, it's how you use it? 
Carol M said:Jonny, you've had some sound advice from people who know what they are talking about.
I'm not in the top of the class for engineering or mechanics but even I can see it would probably be a mistake to tinker with your car mechanically to get the power you are obviously wanting from it.
Since joining the forum you've gone mod-mad and I do think a lot of it is to try to be up with the big boys on here with the looks and the power.
I'm not criticising, its your money, time and effort and I'm the first to say do what you want with your car and money. Its your business what you do.
You have a lovely car but it was built as a 2.0 and you are going to end up throwing good money after bad in your effort to be 'up there'. There'll always be someone to come along who has 'better mods' and more power than you.
I think the advice to get another car is sound if you want more power but I can't understand why you would. You say you love your car but you keep trying to change it!
Don't us women get moaned at for doing that to our men?! Love your car as it is and don't worry about the
Did I influence your decision? :lol:
