UpGrayeed?

[jtbeemer]

Ok, that's a reference to "Idiocracy" but I would like some advice.

I'm considering some simple upgrades to my car and I want to know what the rest of you have done, and what I might want to start with. Here are my first 3 ideas.

Intake: Can I get a low-restriction aircleaner? KN, Green? Other? Will it help, will it hurt?

Exhaust: I've watched some of the vids of what people have put on and I don't want to go too aggresive. Prolly just a muffler. I don't want some silly "fart can" like a lot of people get, and I don't want to spend a fortune either. Suggestions? And more importantly what works? What hurts?

Ignition: Coming from the Japanese tuner culture, I know a new chip can make huge differences. What about just a new performance ignition? I do need to drive this car daily for at least the next couple years; is there an upgrade I could consider that would give me a little more umph?


You've all been very helpful so far, so I hope to avoid any problems if I do chose to waste some money on this nonsense!

[blndweasel]

Your engine mod options are largely going to depend on whether the motor is OBD-I or OBD-II. What year is your Ti?

As for "fart cans", I know what you're talking about, and rest assured the companies that make those things for hondas, nissans, and toyotas, aren't the same companies that make exhaust systems for BMWs. My recommendation to you for exhaust is to go with something that is stainless construction.

Perhaps something you want to consider is tightening up the suspension... there's a lot you can do on the Ti, and bottom line -- if you can maintain speed through corners, it puts you at a more favorable point in the power band once you reach the apex and start re-applying power.

When I take my friends out for a drive, they say things like "WOW this car is so fast" then I break it to them that I'm barely pushing 140HP... they usually find it astonishing, and garner new respect for a proper suspension setup. (which I can't take any credit for, because it was the previous owner who set things up this way)

[Mallard]

Hi JT and welcome

it would be good to know what engine you have, to help pick whats best for you

but, on a standardised scale.

CAI or cold air intake.

Try a KN filter element for the filter box , and then FOGG the box. (search for fogged)

Rear sections / sports mufflers.

Alot swear by stromung units, thay have a nice sound. Maintain the exhaust pressure to give a better low end tourque. Fart cans propose no benifits, and will make you look like a clown

Chip tuning / timing ingnition change

Chips will alter the timing and fueling maps of the car. there will be a noticable difference in the cars behaviour. Although there may not be a great deal of change horsepower wise at all.

Sports or sharp camshafts will also alter the timing of the engine giving you a tighter "window" of combustion, and allow for the engine to rev faster

normally an engine should be specially chipped to accomodate these cams.

ignition elements, such as sparkplugs and cables can be changed to items with beter transfer, but the motor wont become more powerfull from this. If there is an improvement, its because the system was defective before change...

but remember

BRAKES ! they should always bw stepped up to ballence the extra power

HANDLING ! no point just being able to go in straight lines now..

STYLING ! well.. i think its important to have nice wheels

[jtbeemer]

Originally Posted by blndweasel

Your engine mod options are largely going to depend on whether the motor is OBD-I or OBD-II. What year is your Ti?

As for "fart cans", I know what you're talking about, and rest assured the companies that make those things for hondas, nissans, and toyotas, aren't the same companies that make exhaust systems for BMWs. My recommendation to you for exhaust is to go with something that is stainless construction.

Perhaps something you want to consider is tightening up the suspension... there's a lot you can do on the Ti, and bottom line -- if you can maintain speed through corners, it puts you at a more favorable point in the power band once you reach the apex and start re-applying power.

When I take my friends out for a drive, they say things like "WOW this car is so fast" then I break it to them that I'm barely pushing 140HP... they usually find it astonishing, and garner new respect for a proper suspension setup. (which I can't take any credit for, because it was the previous owner who set things up this way)

I have a 98, and its an Sport so I believe I have the m44 engine. Does that help you to figure out which OBD I have?

I just searched for FOGG and found a nice link. That is really cool. I'll have to read it later as I have 12 minutes before I have to leave for work.

[thesk8nmidget]

you have obd 2

obd 1 was only on the 95 ti's

96+ were and are all obd 2

[Mallard]

it shouldnt matter so much on which diag system the car uses. Of course it is relaitive to which engine / amout of horse power there is to play with

[Mad-Machine]

I agree on above. FOGG the airbox, make sure your exhaust is in good order and do a cat back.. and then, by all means, take care of the suspension and brakes. A car that does not have to slow for the corners can seem even quicker than a car with a lot of power that does.

[Nick21]

Im also new and looking for tips on simple mods but the links ive read on fogging the air box are saying that replacement k&n filters are worse than standard paper ones. Could someone post a good fogging link? Thanks

[cooljess76]

Originally Posted by Nick21

Im also new and looking for tips on simple mods but the links ive read on fogging the air box are saying that replacement k&n filters are worse than standard paper ones. Could someone post a good fogging link? Thanks

So what are you saying? If a thread offers truth, it's not "good"?

[Nick21]

No not at all was just wondering what other peoples experiences with it were. like i said im new just looking for a bit of advise

[cooljess76]

Originally Posted by Nick21

No not at all was just wondering what other peoples experiences with it were. like i said im new just looking for a bit of advise

Oh I see, well here's a good thread: http://www.318ti.org/forum/showthrea...hlight=fogging

From my experience, there's no gains to be had with either fogging your stock airbox or running a CAI on these cars. Personally I think it's kinda dumb. A CAI might give you a fraction of 1hp, but you risk sucking water into your engine and hydrolocking it. You'd never feel any difference no matter what anyone says. Sure it might make a different sound, but people only drive harder to hear that sound which in turn makes them "think" their car is faster, lol. A fogged airbox isn't any better. When I bought my ClubSport, the previous owner had some ghetto ass dryer vent rigged up to it. I just laughed and tossed it in the trash.

[teetime4one]

i run a K&N air filter...works great

[cooljess76]

Originally Posted by teetime4one

i run a K&N air filter...works great

There's certainly nothing wrong with them. It's just when people install them expecting to see gains or over-oil them and damage the MAF. Consensus has shown that the paper filters flow better. I've reused paper filters by simply dropping them on the concrete a few times and reinstalling them. But a K&N filter is good for what it is, a nice looking washable/reusable filter provided you follow the oiling instructions and let it dry before installing it

[Crashaddict]

[jggonzalez]

I ran a K&N for a while, but realized that it doesn't do anything. The paper filters are cheap and I just buy a few OEM paper filters at a time and change them a little more often.

I've heard DDM Tuning's adjustments are great if you're willing to run your 'ti on 91 octane gas all the time. I do that anyway, so if I get the cash together I'm going to go that route.

For mufflers, I just put a Magnaflow on mine and I like it. It was under $200 installed. With the money I saved instead of buying a Stromung, I changed my water pump, fuel filter, and oil. The water pump needed changing - I had the original one on there after 180K miles.