Been looking at chips for my 1994 540i, as well as cold air intakes and exhaust systems. They don't seem to offer much in the way of gains from what I've seen (but I'm used to dealing for small/big block Fords where gains are MUCH easier to find).

I might have a custom cat back exhaust made, but I'm mostly interested in the various chips and intakes.

I figure with all 3 upgrades it'll still be less then 50 ponies, but my goal is to go from the factory 282 to around 320, not sure how realistic that is at the moment.

The only other thing I've seen for my car is the Bavauto coils, which cost like 600 bucks, and I'd expect a minor improvement, if any.

It's kind of frustrating that nobody ever seems to dyno these cars. I just picked mine up Friday (stock) and plan to hit the dyno pretty soon here. I like to go after each modification to see what I actually gained from it.

But you are right, BMWs seldom get much from exhaust. My '96 Cobra on the other hand picked up 25rwhp from just a new X-pipe. Goes to show you who actually engineers their exhaust and who just throws one on the car. :)

Intake does jack for the M60 motor. The exhaust, unless you get headers, (2-3k min) will be purely for sound. The chip is the only reasonable source for any kind of gain. I like Conforti, and have had it now for about 8 years.

There are no sources for substatial/real gain outside of FI with the M60. Most people tend to dyno out at about 270rwhp and about 290rwtq after a chip. This, after converting back to flywheel power using the standard BMW loss rate (~15% for manuals, ~20% for autos) puts you at about 320hp.

Did you dyno with/without it?

Did you dyno with/without it?

Heck no, closest dyno is about 50 miles away and cost about 100$/pull at the time.

Intake does jack for the M60 motor. The exhaust, unless you get headers, (2-3k min) will be purely for sound. The chip is the only reasonable source for any kind of gain. I like Conforti, and have had it now for about 8 years.

There are no sources for substatial/real gain outside of FI with the M60. Most people tend to dyno out at about 270rwhp and about 290rwtq after a chip. This, after converting back to flywheel power using the standard BMW loss rate (~15% for manuals, ~20% for autos) puts you at about 320hp.

Yeah, I seen another thread with the EXPENSIVE headers.

One of my buddies (whom builds race engines) didn't think there was much you could do to the M60, without major $$$. He CAN build me headers for about 1K, but again, didn't seem to think they would have any major gains for the money, maybe 25 ponies at the very top end. Seems to think the factory built about the best exhaust and manifolds they could, meaning there would be no real gains from true headers and duals. Thinks the coils are a waste of money, and have mixed feelings on the intake (unless it's true ram-air, not a cone sucking hot underhood air). Best I can tell, nobody makes a ram-air kit, just the 'cold air' with the cone pretty much in the factory location.

That leaves the chip, which again, I don't expect any huge gains with.

Anyway, up to spec, the car SHOULD run 15.1 in the quarter and 6 seconds 0-60 (according to the owners manual). I need to do a few baselines after I get the tranny fixed, but I'm looking to run 14.50s, but I don't think the chip will give me .6, maybe half of that...

What I really want though, is strong midrange punch, like when I'm playing with the car up in the mountains.

I havn't noticed a source for FI either, not that it matters. The car has too many miles to be adding boost or the bottle to... I do think about the bottle though, then I think the engine costs more then one of my Ford bracket engines to build.

This is a good thread, as I am still on the fence whether I want to make the car sound a little better. It is virtually silent now. My problem is I don't want it too too loud, as my other cars are not exactly quiet by any stretch of the imagination. I would love to hear the 540 a little more but not be too much. I have considered a chip.....does anyone have any E34 540 sound clips or something?

Does the E34 540 sound pretty good if I remove a silencer? Anyone?

Looks like I'll be ordering a chip... after I figure out what the car is running (baseline pass). I have to use the dragstrip as my dyno...

This is a good thread, as I am still on the fence whether I want to make the car sound a little better. It is virtually silent now. My problem is I don't want it too too loud, as my other cars are not exactly quiet by any stretch of the imagination. I would love to hear the 540 a little more but not be too much. I have considered a chip.....does anyone have any E34 540 sound clips or something?

Does the E34 540 sound pretty good if I remove a silencer? Anyone?

There have been several threads about M62 sound clips. I have had both, and the M62 sounds very similar to the M60. You can use those clips as a baseline. I have the SUperSprint system, and the sound is great. Very Porsche-ish.