Power upgrades.

[bones712]

Looking for suggestions for inexpensive upgrades to increase motor performance for 97 318ti.

[1996 328ti]

There are no inexpensive ways.
You can make very modest gains with a chip/flash.

Originally Posted by bones712

Looking for suggestions for inexpensive upgrades to increase motor performance for 97 318ti.

[RAiMA]

Strip everything you don't need out of the car for weight reduciton

[CaptDarius]

there are really only 3 ways to go and they mostly involve forced induction. 1. FI 2. Engine swap(more popular) 3. NA<==I'm trying to go NA

FI = Downing Atlanta Supercharger aka DASC ($3,300 new), turbo (you'd have to make your own) around the same as a DASC if you use a standalone ecu for tuning purposes, or Nitrous Oxide.

Engine Swaps = M20, M50, M52, S50, S52, LS motors, Ford 351 xD

3. Naturally aspirated is pretty self explanatory but usually is the most expensive. Getting your head P&P, have the intake manifold port matched to the TB and the head, bore out the TB to make it bigger, lighter rods and crankshaft, high compression pistons, oversized valves, have the ecu reflashed, and hope you'll gain 30 hp from the engine mods lol.. on the M44 the basic bolt ons and NA modifications that are effective on hondas and such are very thankless here.