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If you plan on keeping your 325, I can't think of how to get it in the 13s for only $3K-$4K.

I do think it's a much better car, and there's more to it than just the quarter mile test.

For around $5K, you can get a supercharger, but it's another $700+ to get it installed.

Other than that, what about a new differential? That should make it much faster in the quarter mile, but I don't think you'll be in the 13's.

If it was my car and I was limited to $4K, I'd get:

better differential (3.46) ($1,000 installed)
software upgrade ($500)
lighter wheels (varies)
CAI ($600 installed)
perf. exhaust ($700 installed)


Frank

............or........ try to get into a used 330. Use the $4k you have plus what you get for selling yours to put towards a 330. A natural 330 is most likely faster than anything you can do to beef up your 325. Good luck in whatever you pick.

BMWs are not drag racers. The chassis is set-up for overall performance -- power, handling, braking, etc. That said, even a 325 will smoke most cars on the highway if they're well driven and even mildly tuned.

If you want to tweak the car for power, I have to confer with Frank. For $4k, you can do:

- Intake ($400)
- Exhaust ($600)
- 3.38 Differential ($1500)
- Software ($400)
- Pulleys ($300)
- Headers ($800)

You should be able to do almost all of that work yourself, with the possible exception of the pulleys and headers. That should net you close to 225hp-230hp when all is said and done.

The 1.8T cars are pretty nice, but to hit those same numbers you're spending the same amount of money. They also are at the disadvantage of being front-drivers. In order to get the power to the ground in one you have to do a lot more work than people talk about -- suspension, LSD, corner weighting, etc. As a previous owner of a VERY high horsepower VR6 Jetta, I can tell you how difficult that is. Nothing like mashign your foot to the floor and fighting the steering wheel to keep the car straight.

If you're drag racing the car at the track, you have to think about the affect of weight. Before you run, gut the car. Everything comes out of the trunk, if you have fold-down seats pull 'em out, etc. Weight is the only disadvantage of our cars compared to something like a GTI. That's the price of luxury and prestige. ;)

If you're racing folks on the street, spend another G and buy nitrous. The single shots are all you need to spank someone every now and again. I've had my M3 dusted by a blown Eclipse because he was forcing gobs of nitrous into the car. Do it every now and then and you'll be alright, do that all the time and you'll be buying a new motor.

Originally posted by Raikkonen
............or........ try to get into a used 330. Use the $4k you have plus what you get for selling yours to put towards a 330. A natural 330 is most likely faster than anything you can do to beef up your 325. Good luck in whatever you pick.

Ditto.

$4,000 will buy you 10 High Performance Driving School events. I will GUARANTEE you that after 10 events you will be faster than 100% of the population out there, save club racers and insturctors and will have proven performance that you can transfer from car to car. Seriously, I've seen HPDS instructors in a TOYOTA TUNDRA v6 chase down and lap E39 M5s. You want speed? That's REAL speed.

But if you are looking for speed in a straight line, you're better off with a cheaper, Japanese car and put on a turbo charger.

Gruppe M Intake, Shark Injector, Exhaust..that should start you off..for less then 1500

were can i go to driving school in the north east???? sent reply to acedaking@aol.com