318s... what do feel is lacking in the market for your cars?

[KO-JPK]

I'm curious what the forum members here feel like are particular gaps in the market place for your cars?

Is there something you guys really wish was available for your cars that no one makes?

Is there something that is available for any other BMWs that is not available for your cars?

Sound off! (please exclude forced induction from this discussion)

[mohaughn]

Well if you exclude having a wide variety of FI for 318s than we have everything else that is available for other types of BMWs.

We have multiple brands of performance chips and ecu tuning.
We have multiple types of brake kits, parts available.
We have multiple types of suspensions, bushings, etc... available...

I guess you could say that nobody does a good NA tuning package. Say like a 1995 318ti NA performance kit, 3.0 MAF, cams, and tuning to go along with it. Also probably not a market for it as you will find that a lot of 318 tuners like to do what I call "home-depot" tuning. You know you've seen a plastic garden trim bumper valiance before... So not to many people are going to shell out $2k for something that might only give a small bump in power.

I've also not seen any alternator underdrive pulleys. Probably not much gain to be had there.

Honestly though, I don't think there is anything not on the market that the market really really wants/needs and will support.

[DustenT]

FI

[weezer]

Real world/proven Intake/exhaust systems.
Not the CAIs or cat-backs that we currently know of.
I'm talking about ITBs or custom intakes with velocity stacks, basically a similar set up as the M50 intake runners and longer intake that results in REAL WORLD HP gain.
Different headers than the Supersprint style where, again, REAL WORLD gain is noticeable.
Camshafts, staggered or straight.
Otherwise, everything else is pretty much accessible.
Thanks

[bullmand]

Underdrive pulleys. I've always been stumped by the fact that no one makes these for the engine that theoretically should need it the most.

[kelso]

different intake systems like weezer mentioned, obviously FI, id like to see a turbo option out there, atleast a manifold or something you know. im not sure how the performance brake rotor market is but i cant find any that look like good quality for a fair price. i see cheap drilled brakes here and there but i just dont trust them, i think they will crack over time. hmm.... internals is another thing i havent looked hard for but i havent really seen at all. cams, pistons, rods....

[aceyx]

A reliable window regulator.

Several people have been interested in an aluminum housing for the thermostat (M44).

[AlaskaBlue]

Engine tuning options such as a bolt on upgradeable turbo kit. Cams with software, ITBs, NA packages and etc.

[Mad-Machine]

I would love a set of light weight pullies (Underdrive would be great!) I had an unorthodox underdrive cranky pulley on my Tiburon.. being almost 4 pounds lighter than stock, I think it made a noticible difference to the engine

[pdxmotorhead]

A nicely built molded conversion for a fogged airbox.
(Search this forum...

Would be nice to have a replacement air filter housing with the correct piece to just match on to the brake duct, bonus points for a water valve to prevent hydrolock and keep the factory intake tube as well.

And price it like the japanes accessories instead of BMW blood money pricing...

Dave

[318iS]

bolt on LSD kit for a e36 318iS


PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE point me in the right direction....

[nuvolarossa]

I'm sorry... I can't say FI
- build a turbo manifold, a downpipe for 318is (to the oem cat, and one without cat), and for 318ti, all intake piping and/or intercooler and let we find the turbo At good price you will sell a lot!
- datalog that can read data from factory ecus and from auxiliary sensors, like Wideband o2...
- maybe custom motormount for turbo as other vendors make for 32x
- or alternative intercooled to DASC.... but there will not be a big market...
- great gauge pods for E36s, for new looking oem positions
- carbon fiber parts, exterior and interior
- engine valve cover for M42/M44 with ///M colours
- some things for make the 4 cyl engine bay looking better
- rear bigger e-brake shoes for use with e46 330 rotors
- a shop for all performance parts for M4x (like performance valves, pistons, overbored blocks, heads, rods, headgaskets, for NA and FI, as everyone can buy what he want and assembly its engine...., the M4x fans heaven)
- a software to modify oem M44 ECUs, as Motronic Editor (with maps for NA, DASC)
- replica ac-schnitzer carbon fiber strut brace for 4 cyls, that wonderful piece of carbon
- a shortened driveshaft that permit to fit a six cylinder LSD to a 318 with M42, M44 engine and gearbox.
- "turbo" and "DASC" badges for rear bootlid in oem look

All things should have great quality
for now I can't remember other things

[318iS]

Originally Posted by nuvolarossa

- a shortened driveshaft that permit to fit a six cylinder LSD to a 318 with M42, M44 engine and gearbox.

or the above

[HuGo]

a bov for the supercharger (dasc) so that it sounds like a turbo

[Panzer_M]

aftermarket headers. of good quality and less than the Supersprints. and not just 4-1 headers, but 1 piece 4-2-1 with improved flow.