Epgrades for my 325e?

[iliad]

Upgrades for my 325e?

I am new to cars in general, but I really love messing around with them.
I have replaced my air box with a short air intake and I bought a performance chip but thats about it. I want to do more, but I don't know what or how.
I am thinking of getting a magnaflow muffler for it, the street series 14815 but I am not sure if there is more to it then replacing the old muffler with the new one. Someone help please!
Thank you,
Brian.

 

[E30m42cab]

For that car, you've pretty much got it covered... I had a couple 325e's a few years ago, and I chipped it, K&N, and Remus exhaust, and it was a pretty quick car. I've installed a UUC Evo III short shift kit and UUC adjustable clutch stop in my E30 cabrio, and it is a beautiful thing. The clutch stop installs in a minute or two, and the SSK installs in a couple hours (I don't care if the instructions say 30 minutes). They get rid of the sloppy shifting and time wasting clutch travel. As far as the muffler, don't just put the muffler on, get someone to do a cat-back without a silencer, she'll sould nice and meaty

 

[iliad]

That is what I was afraid of.
So I'll just do the short shift kit but what is a clutch stop?
What is the difference if I do the cat-back or not? Who do I go to, to get it done?
And do you know how much it costs?

 

[M.C. Sketuls]

The difference if piping sizes. A larger diameter allows gases to escape quicker. Go too large and you will lose torque. Go to a good muffler shop in your area. I would ask around. I don't trust midas and places like that. I have had bad experiences. But thats just me.If you buy a can and have the shop do piping i would say 350 to 450 would be a good estimate. Thats with a good can.

I forgot to mention.. If you do not do highway driving much i would go with a lower ratio Rear Differential. It will give you better acceleration. If remember correctly the 325E's come with a high 4.0 rear end.

 

[Big Daddy]

I would not have an aftermarket shop butcher my exhaust, get a system from Bav Auto, BMP Design, or other BMW speciality parts provider. For example BMP sells a performance cat for your car for under $400, that bolts right up.

 

[M.C. Sketuls]

^ thats for people like us that can afford it. I know that some kids dont have that much money. 400 dollars to some people is a big deal

 

[E30m42cab]

Exactly, a nice Remus or Supersrpint exhaust would be nice, but pipe is pipe, and on an old '85 325e, there's nothing wrong with having a muffler shop put a half decent package together. On a nice newer car, I would definately suggest calling BMP DEsign. That being said, doing a SSK from UUC might be a bit much, but something from B&M would probably do the same job...
Actually, Dan, what do you know about putting a shifter from a Z3 into a E30? I've heard they're a good upgrade and cheaper than a SSK?
A clutch stop should be in place already in your car. It'll be on the floor behind the clutch pedal. It's about the size of a quarter with a philips head in the middle. It adjusts out (a little) to keep the pedal from hitting the floor... the UUC clutch stop is $20, and it adjust alot! I recommend it to anyone with a Bimmer. Check out these guys... lots of good performance parts/ideas;
http://www.uucmotorwerks.com/
http://www.turnermotorsport.com/html/index.asp
http://www.bmpdesign.com/
http://www.bmw2002.com/
http://www.kormanfastbmw.com/e30.htm
http://www.bavauto.com/
BMP's E30 project car was an old 325e. It has been drastically changed in the last year or two (to an S50 Turbo or something), but it used to be a very tricked out M20... they know their stuff about the E30 325e, and I use them for many of my parts.

 

[iliad]

Yea, I am a student so I don't have a ton of money and cat back kits are really hard to find for the 325e. The only couple ones I found were from 400-900.
What I was thinking of doing was getting the Ansa connecting pipe that goes from the cat to the actual muffler which will get rid of the resonator and I think the pipe has a bigger diameter and then get someone to weld a Magnaflow muffler (14815) to the end of it. This set up will only cost me like 200. But I am afraid that it will sound like crap. Anyone think that this is a good idea?

 

[E30m42cab]

I had the same thing on my 325e. old catalytic, no resonator, and a flow through Remus muffler, with a piece of pipe that the muffler shop bent to fit between the cat and the muffler. I think it cost me $250 and it sounded like a beast Very muscular growl through the gears, no whiny-tin-can-Honda sounds! Even with the automatic tranny, I could beat my buddy in his manual 325e (stock) with the K&N, Chip, and $250 exhaust. Top speed I could hit in that beast was 215km/h and still a little bit left. I say go for it!

 

[Doughnut]

I had the same thing on my 325e. old catalytic, no resonator, and a flow through Remus muffler, with a piece of pipe that the muffler shop bent to fit between the cat and the muffler. I think it cost me $250 and it sounded like a beast Very muscular growl through the gears, no whiny-tin-can-Honda sounds! Even with the automatic tranny, I could beat my buddy in his manual 325e (stock) with the K&N, Chip, and $250 exhaust. Top speed I could hit in that beast was 215km/h and still a little bit left. I say go for it!

After all that i think i might go for it!

 

[E30m42cab]

budget