Hey guys, looking to move to a 535i. I may eventually turbocharge it. I'm curious what you guys have spent to turbo your 535i's, and what you paid for the car prior to the turbo.

Also, in my search for a good 535i at a reasonably low cost (prefer to spend under $4k), what forums should I be looking on?

Thanks,

-Evan

I got mine in excellent condition, garage kept, with 136,000 miles, and all records for $3500. Just a reference point.

I've seen kits from euro 745i's selling from 1500-2k. There is one on ebay or was a few days ago, a complete kit for 2500 with a bunch of extras.

You'll need fuel management either...

Tune yourself..
Megasquirt (I've never used it, but I've heard of other's using it)
Apexi Vfac
MSD timing retard

Or. ...

Custom Chip from Miller Performance

When you add bigger injectors, clamps, etc etc., I'd plan on spending ~3-4k. Maybe less if you are able to source the parts pretty cheap. (A friend of mine and I bought an entire running 745i w/170k for $500.00 from a guy in South Carolina in Jan:buttrock)


If you go with the 745i kit, have a turbo shop rebuild the k27 with a bigger wheel, etc and it will be capable of more power. They tend to get inefficient at about 12-14psi. You'll also want (me too..lol) a wastegate from Miller Performance, or TCD now makes one for the 745i kit, because the stock one will most likely only hold 2-3 lb of boost and is non adjustable (without a little ingenuity..lol)

Or...

Spend some chedda on a full TCD kit. It's prettier, but the 745i kit is fine for a daily driver setup.

As far as a car to start from...

Buy a clean, unmolested, well serviced car. You can't throw a bunch of boost to a POS and expect it to work. I'd try to find a manual so you can get more of the power to the ground, plus you'll probably wear an auto tranny pretty quick with 100 more horse than it was made to support. The manuals are much more rare (only 5% were 5 spd), but you can find one every once and a while.

Are you looking to get rid of your 3-series?? Let me know if so, I'm in the market for another bimmer.

Yeah, I'm looking to sell my 3-series. Feel free to email me if interested - it's a very fine example of a 328i - all the best mods already done, save headlights.

Definitely going manual. Will probably drive it N/A for a year. Is there a particular model year I should stay away from? I think my ideal would be black on black, 5spd, already modded a bit... but I'm not sure what years I should be looking for. I've got to keep the initial investment under $5k, preferrably under $4k...

-Evan

Heres my story.

Paid 8k cdn about 5 years ago for mine 90 535im

Bought a 745i kit for 1800usd then realized I'd never be happy with it and if I was gonna go turbo I might as well go all out.

So sold that and got a deal on a almost complete tcd kit for 2000cdn from Todd if I remeber right. The car is finally almost up and running. On top of the $2000 I've sepent alot more finishing the kit off and making the car alot better.

Heres an idea of what I have done to the motor and whole car. If I had to guess on how much the turbo is going to total I'd say probably $5000-5500 usd after intercooler and megasquirt which I think is an awsome price considering it's a tcd kit and it will be intercooled and megasquirt. TCD stage 1 from Todd is $4000.00 alone. I definately got a good deal from todd.

I think to do what I did at normal price i'd probably be some where in the 7-9k range depending on if you could do the work yourself.


BTW heres my stats:

1990 BMW 535im Turbo


Engine
§ TCD stage 1
- T04e Turbo
- Charge Pipe
- Turbo Manifold
- TCD Chip
- All Lines and Fittings
§ MLS Head Gasket
§ 42lbs injectors
§ Cartech FMU
§ Carter 255lphr fuel pump
§ Rebuilt Head – 3 Angle Valve Job
§ ARP Head Studs
§ Tial 38mm Wastegate
§ Tial 50mm Blow Off Valve

Exhaust
§ 3” Complete Exhaust from Down Pipe
- Magnaflow muffler
- Magnaflow catalytic converter
- Vibrant flex pipe
- Magnaflow bends

Suspension
§ Ground Control Coilovers
§ Koni Adjustable Shocks
§ Racing Dynamics Strut Bar
§ Dinan Sway Bars
§ BMP Urethane Sway Bar Mounts
§ BMP Adjustable End Links
§ Racing King Solid Derlin Sub Frame Reinforcements
§ Thrust Arms 750i Bushings Pressed In

Drivetrain
§ E21 320i Transmission Mounts
§ UUC Evo 3 Short Shift Kit
§ Redline Fluids

Hrm, I thought I responded to this but I guess not. Only model year changes I can think of are the upper strut bearing dust cap for the shocks and ellipsoids vs. free forms.

Hrm, I thought I responded to this but I guess not. Only model year changes I can think of are the upper strut bearing dust cap for the shocks and ellipsoids vs. free forms.

Heh, but in what years?

-Evan

Heres my story.

Paid 8k cdn about 5 years ago for mine 90 535im

Bought a 745i kit for 1800usd then realized I'd never be happy with it and if I was gonna go turbo I might as well go all out.


Nice :buttrock

Tune yourself..
Megasquirt (I've never used it, but I've heard of other's using it)
Apexi Vfac
MSD timing retard


I didn't know we could use VTEC controllers on bimmers! :D

I'm sure you meant S-AFC though. However I've learned that this is not the ideal way to tune for fuel since all it does is modify the signal coming from the MAF instead of controlling fuel delivery seperately through PWM. Modifying the MAF signal can give you problems the more specific you try to get with your overall tune since you no longer get an accurate reading from your MAF to the computer. A stand-alone or flash are better alternatives when going from NA to turbo but the S-AFC is workable.

Heh, but in what years?

-Evan

June/July 1990 is the cutoff. I'm not aware of any other differences between 89-93 535i model years. I've seen it mentioned that in 90, it got "more leather trim", but I have no idea where. I seem to recall seeing options (like an LSD) more on later cars, but this is by no means definite.