Does anyone make a supercharger or turbo for our E30 cars? I have been looking around with no success.. If so does anyone have one installed? I want to get some power outta this little car. Also My chiltons says my 6 cylinder is a 2.5 but the decal in the engine bay says it is part of the 2.7 family. Which is correct? I didn't even know there was a 2.7? Thanks for your help.. Joe
Supercharger or Turbo for the E30's
- Thread starter bmwjc3
- Start date
Firstly, bmw put out a 2.7ETA engine - not as fast as the regular 2.5 - to try to comply with US regulations during the fuel crisis. Very few other world markets got laden with these engines. (Just like the rest of us don't have to put up with those crazy US-style bumpers - yuk!)
Secondly, bmw tuners such as hartge and Alpina modified 2.5's to produce their own 2.7's which are good motors.
Now, if yours is a 2.7 it is either one of these (unlikely if you don't know it is), one of the 2.7ETA's or someone has taken a 2.5 and used a 2.7L head etc to perform a 2.7L conversion (quite popular to do, and not all that hard if you have a good 2.5 AND a certain good bits from the 2.7ETA).
If it is the converted or hartge/Alpina, then it will be faster than a regular 2.5, but not if it is the 2.7ETA.
Now, in terms of forced induction, I don't think it would be the best thing on a 2.7ETA, and there are plenty of other things to try first before this more expensive route (like buy a M325i - hah!) like improving the natural airflow, exhaust flow, etc, etc.
This is also the case if it is a 2.7 conversion although much of it may be done if someone has gone to the trouble of increasing the engine capacity. The Hartge or Alpina will already be more or less at optimum performance.
The ETA engine is simply not that suited to modify - there are much better E30 engines to use as a base.
Right, so you've listened to all that and still want to know how to shove more air up your poor engines throat? Well, I would go the turbocharged option. Why? Because it will be cheaper to install, easier to fix if it breaks, fit in the engine bay better, and produce more power, although lag is always an issue, but less and less with modern turbos. Supercharging is the opposite (bigger, more expensive etc), but has advantages of no lag and more torque - which is a very, very good thing. The 2.7 ETA is a very torquey engine with its low-revving and larger displacement, and so a turbo would be better.
Also, tubos give more high-end power, and more power as revs increase (exponential delivery), whereas suprechargers provide linear power from very low revs and thus more torque. Turbos are therefore more suited to smaller engined cars like yours, and superchargers on cars with bigger engines (like over 3L)
BMW don't make anything that will fit an E30 as far as I know, so your best bet is to source a turbo from another car and strap the thing on. And I would prob go for one of the smaller Nissan Skyline turbos - I don't think a great big bloody turbo would work the best as it would lag like no tomorrow. Also, don't forget to get your chip remapped to make the most out of the turbo.
Any questions, I'll try to help.
Whew!
Secondly, bmw tuners such as hartge and Alpina modified 2.5's to produce their own 2.7's which are good motors.
Now, if yours is a 2.7 it is either one of these (unlikely if you don't know it is), one of the 2.7ETA's or someone has taken a 2.5 and used a 2.7L head etc to perform a 2.7L conversion (quite popular to do, and not all that hard if you have a good 2.5 AND a certain good bits from the 2.7ETA).
If it is the converted or hartge/Alpina, then it will be faster than a regular 2.5, but not if it is the 2.7ETA.
Now, in terms of forced induction, I don't think it would be the best thing on a 2.7ETA, and there are plenty of other things to try first before this more expensive route (like buy a M325i - hah!) like improving the natural airflow, exhaust flow, etc, etc.
This is also the case if it is a 2.7 conversion although much of it may be done if someone has gone to the trouble of increasing the engine capacity. The Hartge or Alpina will already be more or less at optimum performance.
The ETA engine is simply not that suited to modify - there are much better E30 engines to use as a base.
Right, so you've listened to all that and still want to know how to shove more air up your poor engines throat? Well, I would go the turbocharged option. Why? Because it will be cheaper to install, easier to fix if it breaks, fit in the engine bay better, and produce more power, although lag is always an issue, but less and less with modern turbos. Supercharging is the opposite (bigger, more expensive etc), but has advantages of no lag and more torque - which is a very, very good thing. The 2.7 ETA is a very torquey engine with its low-revving and larger displacement, and so a turbo would be better.
Also, tubos give more high-end power, and more power as revs increase (exponential delivery), whereas suprechargers provide linear power from very low revs and thus more torque. Turbos are therefore more suited to smaller engined cars like yours, and superchargers on cars with bigger engines (like over 3L)
BMW don't make anything that will fit an E30 as far as I know, so your best bet is to source a turbo from another car and strap the thing on. And I would prob go for one of the smaller Nissan Skyline turbos - I don't think a great big bloody turbo would work the best as it would lag like no tomorrow. Also, don't forget to get your chip remapped to make the most out of the turbo.
Any questions, I'll try to help.
Whew!
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ok, to get that extra power out of the 2.7, just shorten the stroke, that is the only significant difference between the 2.7 and the 2.5, the 2.5 has a 7mm shorter stroke than the 2.7. lets it rev higher, about 20 more hp, but you lose about 6 lb/ft of torque. I am currently looking at options of what to do with a spare 2.7 i have.
Irelang Engeneering has a turbo kit made by Mosselman
Ireland Engeneering also has stroker kits (2.8l and 3.0l options)
-If you have a 2.7 you use 2.5 connecting rods
Lowen Design has a Rotrax supercharger kit, no prices listed.
hope this helps some!
Irelang Engeneering has a turbo kit made by Mosselman
Ireland Engeneering also has stroker kits (2.8l and 3.0l options)
-If you have a 2.7 you use 2.5 connecting rods
Lowen Design has a Rotrax supercharger kit, no prices listed.
hope this helps some!
OKay, So I need to build a 2.5 and do an engine swap, check around for a turbo for the 2.5 which is the easy part and remap the chip. Sounds like a summer project forsure. I know I could find a turbo for the 2.5 if it will mateup with the engine remapping can be done with a laptop and some software I suppose.
Thanks for all your info. I can see this is going to turn into a full on project, but one with fun results.
Thanks for all your info. I can see this is going to turn into a full on project, but one with fun results.
If you are going to get a 2.5 motor, I would perform the 2.7L coversion on it using your 2.7. There is an excellent article on exactly how to do this in the September 2004 issue of Total BMW (UK magazine). I get it shipped in specially by my local bookstore, but you can buy it online from the publishers A&S Publishing for 6.50 pounds including postage for the back issue.
If you can't find it, post back here and I will try and get the link. Great magazine by the way, that issue also has a birthday special on the E30 which would also be of interest to you.
If you can't find it, post back here and I will try and get the link. Great magazine by the way, that issue also has a birthday special on the E30 which would also be of interest to you.
Oh, and I just saw your comment regarding remapping - you'll want to take it somewhere to do it so they can throw the car on a dyno and map the chip specifically for your individual setup. You can use a generic setup and do iy yourself, but the benefits of getting it done properly far outweigh the costs.
