Adding Turbo, looking for a list of what I will Need
Asked by Blooms Aug 23, 2009 at 11:32 AM about the 1985 BMW 3 Series 325e Sedan RWD
Question type: Car Customization
I tried to get on e30tech but it's not letting me post yet.
I have decided to add the turbo to my '85 325e M20 E30. I know there can be a lot of little things but this is now my fun car! I don't just want to throw in a turbo and watch everything shred to bits. Thanks in advance!
3 Answers
Oh baby another turbo e30! lol Well obviously, you need a turbo, a manifold, some piping, and an intercooler. You should clean out all your injectors and use a product like Seafoam Deep Creep to lube your fuel system and clean out the intake and combustion chambers of carbon buildup. Then deal with the basics such as making sure your ignition system is up to snuff with brand new cap, rotor, spark plugs and wires. Tune up the valve clearances. Maybe even get some new head bolts and head gasket. Make sure you don't run more than 6-7 psi of boost, then you won't need much else. Biggest issue to look out for will be broken rocker arms and internal damage due to your timing belt letting go or misfire at high engine speed. Remember the 325e has the m20b27 which is a 2.7L motor with single valve springs and less oil journals in the cylinder head (but the camshaft is better suited for a turbo than the 325i cam strangely), while the 325i has the m20b25 a 2.5L engine with double valve springs and more oil journals in the cylinder head. Spend time on www.e30tech.com. They will give you lots of good info about this type of project, such as installing a 325i head on your 325e to produce a 2.8L stroker with an 8.8:1 CR that can take about 14.5 (1 bar) of boost on stock internals... much more fun :)
Do I need to change any gear ratio's or anything like that or is it just the "e" head that I need to replace with the "i"?
Im almost done turboing my e30 which is a 89 325i. ill give you a list of stuff Turbo- T3/T4 H60-1 Garret, billet housing, billet wheel, water cooled, ball bearing. Bov- forge Bov Piping- 2.5" inter cooler piping. Exhaust- full 3" from down pipe to muffler which is a spintech muffler injectors- 52lb Engine management- PNP MS2 im sure there is a lot of little stuff missing. The biggest thing i cant stress enough is dont even start pulling apart your car until you have every singe bolt. If you do then it will be just a waiting game. And on your ratio question alot of turboed e30 guys go with a 3.25 out of a 5 series, you just have to swap the covers. Thats what im running. oh and try e30tech now. if you have trouble lmk and ill try my best to get you on there
