Best BMW engines for tuning up

obi_waynne

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What are the Best BMW engines over the years for tuning up? What are your thoughts on the BMW Turbo engines?

I don't see many BMW engine swaps being done but I'm sure there must be quite a few that go on. Have you heard of any?
 
the older 325/328/3.0/3.20 engines are pretty tough and have taken superchargers, the updated alloy versions I wouldnt try it with.
 
Didnt no BMW made engines with turbos as stock? ..
Read a few articles about turbo bmw's. One was a turbo 320, a supercharged 328..best but was a twin turbo 325 .. Man that was crazy lol. E46 shape, twin turbo, 2.5(bored out a think to 2.7 with stroker kit) totally stripped inside, standard outside apart from small lip spoiler and tinted windows. Insane acceleration. Alot of work done too it tho, thousands must have been spent...worth it but:D
 
BMW didnt until recently make stock turbo engines, bmw's tuning partner alpina used to do it though, if you want serious n/a power look to the M series engines, if my workload ever picks up again i'll be looking to put en E36 M3 engine in my E30 estate, 320bhp as standard
 
Plenty of specialists out there now putting supercharger or turbo kits on most of BMW's. Or fitting M series into E30 models or the E36 compact, although as already stated the 328i is popular for modifying as it was detuned when put on sale for tax reason's and for not being far off pace of the M3..

www.sr-performance.co.uk

evolutionchips installer
 
go to www.e3024v.com for the site about transplanting 24 valve vanos engines into e30s. from what ive seen it seems to be people either swapping to the 6 cylinder engine or the 318is.
 
i know the e36 325i engine was the best bmw ever made, as in they could take abuse, so id think thats a good start
 
Apparently the M52TU(B) 2.8 can be fitted with the earlier manifold from the M50 2.5 engine and this immediately renders it about 25bhp more powerful.

For simple grunt though the 535d and 335d are amongst the finest for remp tuning.
 
have really enjoyed my swap from the 318i to the tds. what a machine, pulls like a train in every gear and is quite quiet for an older diesel.

They are very good cars. Vauxhall hit a winner fitting that engine in the Omega. The later own brand 2.1 DTi 4 cylinder was rubbish.

Go and blag a drive in a 335d or 535d if you can. They are sensationally quick.
 
They are quick but I wouldn't say sensationally so, especailly not the 5-series. Either of my mates EVO 8 MR's would kill one over quarter mile even with a measley 1998cc, not to mention they are far less ugly and would leave one for dead on any track too. Petrol turbos are still full of win. You still won't see over 30mpg from a 535d so it's not even properly economical. Makes you wonder what the point in them is if you think about it properly.
 
They are quick but I wouldn't say sensationally so, especailly not the 5-series. Either of my mates EVO 8 MR's would kill one over quarter mile even with a measley 1998cc, not to mention they are far less ugly and would leave one for dead on any track too. Petrol turbos are still full of win. You still won't see over 30mpg from a 535d so it's not even properly economical. Makes you wonder what the point in them is if you think about it properly.

What about the 335i 535i twin scroll turbo petrols? They must have some slack left in them surely.

I'm still fond of the 535d though - remapped it will deliver over 500lbft and they are very refined indeed. 30mpg is not bad when you consider the muscle on offer and that you still see that when you use it all.

I only get 32-33mpg from my little 528i petrol and that wouldn't get near the above in performance terms.
 
The best BMW engine is the N54, the can handle up to 700hp on stock internals. It is like common knowledge. Just look it up, if you don't believe me. All the answers I see here are pretty ridiculous to be honest. The S55 is also know to be good for running. The N54 is in the 335i, 135i, and 1M amongst a few others.
 
Good tips there @Jayd and please bear in mind the N54 was only a few years old when this post was created and back then I think few people realised how good it was.

I appreciate your taking the time to bring this old thread into the modern era and for your input.

Over the last few months we've added quite a few new BMW engine tuning articles, and the two you mentioned are linked below if others want to check out your tips.

 

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