Best bang for buck to upgrade SE hp?

[asianbond]

I assume a new chip is mandatory.

-Read that the BOV does not really give more HP, just a little better response to keep turbo spool up.

-exhaust? does the cat really reduce the hp significantly? How much better flow are aftermarket mufflers than the stock piece?

-air filter? I assume minimal (less than 5hp) or no gain at all.

So what really works? I would rather not upgrade for upgrade sake, like to only go with proven products.

I'm looking at putting the car on a diet, all I can think of now is remove the spare.

Maybe a lighten flywheen will improve the engine response.

[dictys]

Chip,
Sports Exhaust,
Remove Cat,
Large Intercooler,
Improved Turbo, 360 thrust bearing etc

Bearing in mind the above a better braking setup.

Dermont O'Hare has done the following to his S4 and the mod can be done to the SE aswell.

1. New T3 Turbo with super 48 compressor wheel, 360 thrust bearing, and race actuator
2. Re-circulation Dump Valve (piped back to air box)
3. Double Size MotoConcept Aluminum Chargecooler
4. Rochester Blueprinted Primary Fuel Injectors
5. Oil Mist Catch Tank
6. Electric Chargecooler Pump
7. Ram Air Mod
8. Red Race Code Memcal
9. K&N Airfilter
10. Iridium IW22 Spark Plugs
11. De-Cat Pipe
12. Supersports Exhaust
13. Cross Drillled Front and Rear Brake Discs
14. Uprated Clutch
15. Braded Clutch Hose
16. Braded Brake Lines

Rgds
Dictys

[asianbond]

whoa! that sounds like a mod list for guys with an open check book. Trying to figure what actually produces decent gain for the money invested.

Somehow I doubt that iridum spark plug will actually deliver seat of the pants improvement

[lotusespritworld]

It's more that all these mods help each other and create the increase that makes a big difference.

The filter, cat removal and exhaust, all help release more pressure and increase the engine's ability. The dump valve helps the turbo spin up a little faster and reduces wear.

The chip can then perform to it's full ability. Chargecooler increase makes sure you'll get full boost and the plugs can help stop engine knock.

Everything you add will make the car better, but it's more like building a wall. You can't buy one very big brick!

Best option for your cash is new exhaust and chip! But then you might as well remove the cat and add an air filter to make sure you get the best results for those upgrade. Then you're on the road to modification, which never seems to stop!

Hope I've helped, but I doubt it!

kato
Lotus Esprit World

[asianbond]

I think I'll try the chip initally. I come from the old school, whereas the esprit SE alone is frightenly fast already, so I tend to focus more on learning the feel of the car and how to best maximize the performance. Nothing beats being in the right gear at the right rpms....

In fact, all the previous sportscar I owned I kinda left stock.

Thanks for the input.

[madmike]

The chip alone will give you performance boost, but like has laready been said, a few mods in tandem that support each other are the way to go.

If you do get a hotter chip, also get a BOV to relieve some pressure off the stock turbo (and lenghten its life.) Those two go quite well together.

Also, a freeflow exhaust lets your engine breathe much easier, and sound better, and is an extremely common mod.

A bigger turbo (within reason) will also make more of the chip than the stock turbo, and is also a good companion to the chip and BOV.

Also, it doesn't hurt to be able to get more fuel to the engine, so an upgrade in the fuel pump can help the engine do its business.

It's best not to think of mods as just "how much HP do I add?" Sometimes a mod is done just to provide balance to a previously performed mod, and make the engine work more sensibly.

Yes, when you tally everything up, it is an open checkbook exercise. So best to do things gradually, but plan them sensibly.

Mike

Edited because I forgot to whore out my website: www.metalasylum.com/evilyn
Check out the upgrades section for the list...

>> Edited by madmike on Monday 16th February 21:06

[squelch]

I've got to chime in here...

You can get many performance improvements without ever changing the chip and with out bypassing the safety limits in the stock chip.

Making sure the engine is properly tuned up.. good plugs, working chargecooler pump, tested and verified the correct compression and leak down.

A free flowing intake (K&N filter) and a free flowing exhaust (gut the cat) Will show noticiable improvements.

Before "turning up to boost" and buring up an engine the fuel system and the chargecooler should be addressed.

There are cars out there running the stock S4s code making over 330 hp with no driveablity or reliablity problems.

[Mark91SE]

I've always stated that the biggest "Bang For The Buck", which, by the way, *is* what you asked for... is simply to replace the stock SE chip with the S4s MkV chip. In the states here, it costs like $45 + installation from Sanj. I installed mine myself... boy what a difference.

From there, you can make other upgrades, but they have a much higher cost to preformance ratio ('cept the air filter of course).

Now I'm running a Dual Magnaflow muffler, BOV, K&N Air Filter, Hi-Torque chip & Hi-Torque (P.U.K) Clutch.

- Mark