Looking to maybe add a little power to my 99 328is but don't want to loose much in gas mileage. I love all the choices I have to upgrade but am very overwhelmed and looking to those that know much more then myself. So if it were yours and price is somewhat an issue what or how would you change it? Most power for the dollar etc. Looks?
New BMW owner, 99 328is low mileage. what perf mods give me the most bang for the buck?computer repair Lets see... '99 e36 328is... This is the M52 engine, but is it a stick or auto? Before mods, consider all service needs first and foremost. Changing the fluids throughout the car would be number one. If the car has low miles and you have the sevice records, you can decide what needs to be done. Change the motor oil using synthetic oil like Mobil 1 or Red Line, using an OEM BMW filter. Change the transmission fluid and differential fluid to RED Line synthetic fluids. Flush the brake lines and replace with the appropriate DOT fluid for the car, perhaps ATE Super Blue. Flush the coolant using ONLY BMW OEM coolant. Consider your water pump, find out if your engine is one of the many with the plastic impeller water pump, they tend to die a sudden death, bringing about quick overheating and a warped cylinder head. You may know much or all of this already, but I would hate for you to have major mechanical problems with such a good car. Once the car is verified to be sorted out maintenance wise, then to mods... Bang for the buck is a unique issue with BMWs, ussually lots of bucks for a little bang. Most mods less than a thousand dollars will be external to the engine but worth the money. Jim Conforti's Shark Injector or similar OBD II software upgrade is a good idea, typically $300-400, and worth several horses and top speed limiter removed. A quality air filter or cold air intake, maybe from Dinan Engineering? A few hundred bucks and worth several more horses. And something you'll enjoy greatly... a UUC Motorwerks stainless steel exhaust system, several hundred bucks and several more horses and that sweet sound. With a stck shift model, you can also get a lightweight flywheel from UUC, and a wonderful short throw shifter. If you consider the flywheel, you would be advised to do the clutch new, too. It is best to do the exhaust, flywheel and clutch at the same time to save labor. The exhaust has to come out to drop the transmission for the flywheel and clutch. The short shift can be done without a lift or major pains. Big bang? Supercharger. These will run a few grand at least, check out Active Auto Works. By the way, if you are not already, become a member of the BMWCCA, the BMW Car Club of America. I encourage any BMW owner or enthusiast to join. We have the best BMW magazine in the world (that's not just my opinion, but that of BMW itself, and tens of thousands of others.) the magazine, Roundel, is a monthly, and cannot be purchased on a newsstand. It is full of priceless information, and Mike Miller's Tech Talk column answers members questions quickly and professionally. I have been a member for several years now. Being a member has paid for itself many times over just in BMW discounts alone. On to more mods... Suspension- Bilstein sport shocks and struts, with H%26R lowering springs perhaps? Have the suspension inspected for wear by a BMW trained mechanic, in fact, all work you do not do by yourself, have done by a local independent BMW shop with a good reputation. If you think of wheels, remember BMWs are the most picky about correct hub bore, offset, and quality. Cheap, shiny, aftermarket wheels and low budget tires will result in a vibration you cannot get rid of, no matter how balanced the tire shop says they are. If you replace the wheels, stick with TUV approved OEM wheels (of different styles and sizes out there), or aftermarket rims like BBS, Alpina, Fikse, HRE, Kinesis, OZ, Breyton, etc. Tires, many opinions, many choices, I personally prefer Michelin. They cost a bunch, some models have a short lifespan, but do your research, Michelin has never made a bad tire. Consider you brakes, there are "dustless" brake pads out there, they are nice to keep your rims clean, but none of them have the initial cold bite of the dusty OEMs or similar. Best total advice is to choose wisely, a cheap mod on a BMW will always be regretted in the end. Don't waste money buying products that are "universal" to put on a BMW, ain't no such thing. BMWs give great driving pleasure when the car is set up correctly. They give massive heartache and aggravation when set up cheaply. If you go with the companies I have named above, you will have no regrets with the products. They are engineered for your car. Just get a good BMW mechanic, too. Best of luck and congrats on buying a terrific automobile, Richard.
