Power upgrade

L

lrzm

New member
Hi guys,
I have Z4M and I want to upgrade it's power to 400bhp(+).
How can I achieve it without turbo or supercharger?

So far, I removed the catalytic converter and I'm lookin for some directions from your personal experience.
(BTW, removing the catalytic converter has side effects?)

Thanks.
 
Not heard of any one with a NA ///M above 400BHP. Air box and exhaust will give a few more ponies, but not that many. SS Super charger is probably your best route. 500+ is then well within reach. Search for Beedub's posts on the subject and good luck. :thumbsup:
 
You'll need some aggressive cams for 400bhp :evil: , it can be done but it'll be an expensive job
 
RedUn said:
You'll need some aggressive cams for 400bhp :evil: , it can be done but it'll be an expensive job
Click to expand...

And you'll loose a LOT of torque down low.

I wonder if 400+ is realistic with cams/tune/CF airbox BTW. Thats 40hp over CSL spec, which I believe already has aggressive cams and the airbox (and tune).
Normally its already very very optimistic to get 40hp extra with cams, let alone 40hp with cams on an engine that already has aggressive cams.

I think more drastic measurements may be necessary like raising the redline (porting head, lightweight larger valves, stiffer valvesprings etc etc.) , stroker kit, and 1st oversize bore.

For sure you'll end up with an engine on which you dont want to put too many miles on....
 
Guido, yes the head will need doing too, it'll need the full works on the intake and exhaust side too! I believe you can leave them as a 3.2 which would save some cash!

Low down it would be quite lumpy but up the top of the revs awesome! :evil:
 
I'd contact VAC motorsport as they've done N/A s54 tunes up to 500hp.

Will also need major head work, VANOS delete, standalone ECU, etc.

You're looking at at least £10k for the lower level stuff.

I've been down a similar road with another car (head, cams, valves, variable intake cost £6k and only got me 50bhp), so wouldn't consider it on the S54. A supercharger would have got me more power, more reliably, and easily removable, for £4k.
 
There is something nice about a well tuned and sorted N/A engine though... It's not value for money bhp but the noise and response is on another level :evil:
 
I read fthat changing exhaust manifolds and cams plus a remap was only achieving itr of 30 brake, forced induction will give much more bang for your bucks. :thumbsup:
 
The CSCC RSV Graphics New Millennium Series has a large number of E36 and E46 S54 engined M3 running pretty big normally aspirated power. A couple of them are quoted as 430bhp, with headwork, big valves, cams, lighter rods etc. and are race winning cars in the series. I believe they rev to 8500rpm+ 8)
The first two cars in this photo (courtesy of AM Paquete) are monsters!
SPA Inter Series photos AMPaquete 2017 (6).JPG
 
supercharge it.

Still got the same razor sharp responses, still revs to 8k, but the WAY it revs to 8k with the addition of boost is simply nuts. I promise you, Their are very little downsides to supercharging bar the initial costs, fuel consumption and the need to get the rest of the car ready for the power, but that bit can be done slowly and over time, which is how i did it. It looks O.E under the hood, the fit and finish/quality of the items are o.e level and many of the parts are actually from different BMW models, its TOTALLY reversible without a trace to the original car or wiring, and i bet you'd sell the kit within a few days and for very strong resale value.

In terms of the drive, my car idles and drives at low speed as good if not better than it ever did stock. The power curve is exactly like the stock curve just moved way up the graph, no dip or dives just clean Big engine swap type of drive. The sound is nigh on sex, loads of induction noise from the ITBs, additional mechanical supercharger rattles whines and pops, but with that s54 chainsaw noise. Power to weight ratio is very decent to. AND.... the top speed limiter is removed just for giggles... :evil:
 
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