Realistic Tuning on a E34 540
Discussion
Afternoon all.
Last week i purchased a leggy E34 540i Touring. I don't actually need to use it untill the new year so i was wondering while its just doing nothing is there i can do to free up any easy horses from its lazy 4L lump?
The car is in england unlike me so anything i do can only be done over weekend visits untill Christmas when i come back
The car only cost me a grand so nothing silly like superchargers
Cheers
LP
Last week i purchased a leggy E34 540i Touring. I don't actually need to use it untill the new year so i was wondering while its just doing nothing is there i can do to free up any easy horses from its lazy 4L lump?
The car is in england unlike me so anything i do can only be done over weekend visits untill Christmas when i come back
The car only cost me a grand so nothing silly like superchargers
Cheers
LP
No.
Change the airfilter (£12 at Halfords) and make sure what you have is running as it should (ie check for vac leaks on these engines; clean the IAC valve with carb cleaner spray (2mins); also change the oil and filter - 7.5litres of 10/40 semisynth, 1 x £5 filter element; 15 mins)
But it' s by no means a lazy lump. What it does have, is a rather long throttle pedal travel of about 4" that is unfashionably linear (!) esp. if one's used to a modern DBW hatch - ('oh we'll pile all the response into the first 1/2" - make it feel powerful' ) - and as big engines go, it loves to rev; really *use* it, and whatever 'box is attached, and enjoy. It's still enough to frighten people
Change the airfilter (£12 at Halfords) and make sure what you have is running as it should (ie check for vac leaks on these engines; clean the IAC valve with carb cleaner spray (2mins); also change the oil and filter - 7.5litres of 10/40 semisynth, 1 x £5 filter element; 15 mins)
But it' s by no means a lazy lump. What it does have, is a rather long throttle pedal travel of about 4" that is unfashionably linear (!) esp. if one's used to a modern DBW hatch - ('oh we'll pile all the response into the first 1/2" - make it feel powerful' ) - and as big engines go, it loves to rev; really *use* it, and whatever 'box is attached, and enjoy. It's still enough to frighten people
Hi there,
All tuning is real! changes to components etc if asked to be done, will be real! a spark plug is real and so is a turbocharger!
Ok, more seriously,
When you say realistic, do you mean price wise? or performance levels wise? what are your expectations? what would you like?! what's your budget?
If you perhaps mean, realistic performance increases for a modest budget, we're moving in the right direction. What's the realistic budget and performance increases that can be achieved is the real question.
The engine you mention, I believe is the 4.4 litre V8, rated at 286 bhp (perhaps that's E39 spec - but it can't be far off for the E34 can it?!)
So it's no slouch at the moment! i'd say a good service of the engine, cooling system renewal, update and replacement of any weak or broken bits should be done first. This will give a good known working engine. A good re-map to smooth out flat spots and increase drivability would be my choice. Do that at the same time as adding a performance air filter, perhaps some uprated spark plugs would be good. Then perhaps look at a cat back exhaust system, electric fan (kenlowe?) etc.
You wont get big increases, but more like modest ones.
Cheers, Dennis!
All tuning is real! changes to components etc if asked to be done, will be real! a spark plug is real and so is a turbocharger!
Ok, more seriously,
When you say realistic, do you mean price wise? or performance levels wise? what are your expectations? what would you like?! what's your budget?
If you perhaps mean, realistic performance increases for a modest budget, we're moving in the right direction. What's the realistic budget and performance increases that can be achieved is the real question.
The engine you mention, I believe is the 4.4 litre V8, rated at 286 bhp (perhaps that's E39 spec - but it can't be far off for the E34 can it?!)
So it's no slouch at the moment! i'd say a good service of the engine, cooling system renewal, update and replacement of any weak or broken bits should be done first. This will give a good known working engine. A good re-map to smooth out flat spots and increase drivability would be my choice. Do that at the same time as adding a performance air filter, perhaps some uprated spark plugs would be good. Then perhaps look at a cat back exhaust system, electric fan (kenlowe?) etc.
You wont get big increases, but more like modest ones.
Cheers, Dennis!
DennisCooper said:
Hi there,
All tuning is real! changes to components etc if asked to be done, will be real! a spark plug is real and so is a turbocharger!
Ok, more seriously,
When you say realistic, do you mean price wise? or performance levels wise? what are your expectations? what would you like?! what's your budget?
If you perhaps mean, realistic performance increases for a modest budget, we're moving in the right direction. What's the realistic budget and performance increases that can be achieved is the real question.
The engine you mention, I believe is the 4.4 litre V8, rated at 286 bhp (perhaps that's E39 spec - but it can't be far off for the E34 can it?!)
So it's no slouch at the moment! i'd say a good service of the engine, cooling system renewal, update and replacement of any weak or broken bits should be done first. This will give a good known working engine. A good re-map to smooth out flat spots and increase drivability would be my choice. Do that at the same time as adding a performance air filter, perhaps some uprated spark plugs would be good. Then perhaps look at a cat back exhaust system, electric fan (kenlowe?) etc.
You wont get big increases, but more like modest ones.
Cheers, Dennis!
Good advice.All tuning is real! changes to components etc if asked to be done, will be real! a spark plug is real and so is a turbocharger!
Ok, more seriously,
When you say realistic, do you mean price wise? or performance levels wise? what are your expectations? what would you like?! what's your budget?
If you perhaps mean, realistic performance increases for a modest budget, we're moving in the right direction. What's the realistic budget and performance increases that can be achieved is the real question.
The engine you mention, I believe is the 4.4 litre V8, rated at 286 bhp (perhaps that's E39 spec - but it can't be far off for the E34 can it?!)
So it's no slouch at the moment! i'd say a good service of the engine, cooling system renewal, update and replacement of any weak or broken bits should be done first. This will give a good known working engine. A good re-map to smooth out flat spots and increase drivability would be my choice. Do that at the same time as adding a performance air filter, perhaps some uprated spark plugs would be good. Then perhaps look at a cat back exhaust system, electric fan (kenlowe?) etc.
You wont get big increases, but more like modest ones.
Cheers, Dennis!
However, in the E34 it's the 4.0 litre M60 engine. 286bhp and 400Nm of torque (the 4.4 has 440Nm).
I don't really think there is a huge amount that can be done to this engine cheaply, though of course you could turbocharge it though it will be pricey.
I would just give it a damn good service and enjoy it as it is. It makes a lovely noise and it pushes the Touring body along at a fair old rate of knots!
I hope you enjoy it when you get home!
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