Do I or dont I improve the performance???

Tyres, exhausts, suspension, strut braces, air filters, brake pads/rotors and anything else for 'dawn raiders'.
Post Reply
User avatar
Buz007
Joined: Fri 16 Jul, 2010 20:18
Posts: 254

  Z3 roadster 1.9
Location: Leeds

Do I or dont I improve the performance???

Post by Buz007 »

Hello Experts,

Bit of input needed....

I dont drive fast anymore but like most of us I do enjoy squeezing the throttle now and again, mine's a 1.9 Z3 1999 and I have already fitted a K&N cone air filter which gives off an improved engine note and was wondering if it was worth getting an engine remap? I have 'Emaps' number ready. Also would swapping the exhaust make any real difference? I dont want it sounding like a spotty virgins saxo though :roll:

cheers

buz 8-)
''need I remind you 007, you have a licence to kill...not to break the traffic laws''
User avatar
jayson f
Joined: Sun 02 Jan, 2011 20:14
Posts: 164

  Z3 roadster 3.0i
Location: colchester

Post by jayson f »

If you like power when you put your foot down sell your 1.9 and get a 2.8 or 3.0 its the way forward :drive
User avatar
Ferdinand
Joined: Sun 16 Nov, 2008 17:25
Posts: 444

  Z3 roadster 3.0i
Location: Sjælland, Denmark

Post by Ferdinand »

jayson f wrote:If you like power when you put your foot down sell your 1.9 and get a 2.8 or 3.0 its the way forward :drive
like the ols saying: There's no replacement for displacement
Ferdinand


BMW 3.0iA Sport Edition 08/2002 - iPod kit, CTEK MXS 7000 batterycharger & Protek Protector Roof Cover ;o)
Range Rover 4.6 V8 HSE 03/2000, Webasto preheater and CTEK MXS 7000 batterycharger
Citroën Xsara 2.0 110 Hdi Prestige hatchback with VTS alloys, Musketier rear spoiler and Webasto preheater
Volvo 144 1.8 B18 09/1967


http://www.zroadster.org
http://www.zroadster.net
http://www.z3-roadster-forum.de
http://www.z3-forum.de
http://www.zroadster.com
billz
Joined: Mon 22 Mar, 2010 20:09
Posts: 1240

  Z4 roadster 3.0si
Location: nottingham

Post by billz »

If you want more umph every now and then, then you need to go for one of the six cylinders, a 2.2 would suffice. Before we got our 3.0 we did loads of research on the performance of all the models and discarded the 1.8, 1.9 2.0 as they just didnt match up. Only got the 3.0 by chance as we was looking at a 2.2 or 2.8 but we came across ours and it was just to good to miss out on.
bill
bill
Image ImageImageUploaded with ImageShack.com
Z3 3.0 Sports Sold
Z4 3.0si Ruby Black with Champagne Leather and Piano Black Dash
User avatar
jayson f
Joined: Sun 02 Jan, 2011 20:14
Posts: 164

  Z3 roadster 3.0i
Location: colchester

Post by jayson f »

you could fit NOS that would give it the kick you wanted a 50bhp shot would put a smile on your face. :D
User avatar
Buz007
Joined: Fri 16 Jul, 2010 20:18
Posts: 254

  Z3 roadster 1.9
Location: Leeds

Post by Buz007 »

whats NOS??? :dunce:
''need I remind you 007, you have a licence to kill...not to break the traffic laws''
billz
Joined: Mon 22 Mar, 2010 20:09
Posts: 1240

  Z4 roadster 3.0si
Location: nottingham

Post by billz »

Nitro
bill
Image ImageImageUploaded with ImageShack.com
Z3 3.0 Sports Sold
Z4 3.0si Ruby Black with Champagne Leather and Piano Black Dash
User avatar
hornel Z3M
Joined: Sun 16 May, 2004 20:33
Posts: 1120

  blank
Location: RAGLAN

z

Post by hornel Z3M »

I fitted a k+n, had a re-map fitted a longlife stainless steel exhaust from cat back, fitted an engine strut brace and my ex 1.9 went like the clappers. But as i couldnt do anymore to it i bought a 3.2 :D :D
Cozzy
Joined: Mon 17 Jan, 2011 22:27
Posts: 20

  blank.gif
Location: AYLESFORD

Post by Cozzy »

hornel Z3M

What sort of power figures did you get on your remap - was it worth it?

Have just got a 1.9 and thinking of doing this now.
User avatar
TitanTim
Joined: Mon 23 Jun, 2008 18:56
Posts: 5488

  Z3 roadster 1.9i
Location: Stafford

Post by TitanTim »

Isn't the point of a Roadster to bumble along admiring the scenery, buy a hot hatch if you want more go :lol:

Tim.
Image
2001 Z3 1.9 Roadster Sport - 2012 Z4 sDrive 2.0 M Sport
User avatar
markrnorton
Joined: Mon 05 Jan, 2009 13:19
Posts: 841

  Other roadster
Location: Essex

Post by markrnorton »

TitanTim wrote:Isn't the point of a Roadster to bumble along admiring the scenery, buy a hot hatch if you want more go :lol:

Tim.
No :D
Still modifying
User avatar
Ferdinand
Joined: Sun 16 Nov, 2008 17:25
Posts: 444

  Z3 roadster 3.0i
Location: Sjælland, Denmark

Post by Ferdinand »

TitanTim wrote:Isn't the point of a Roadster to bumble along admiring the scenery, buy a hot hatch if you want more go :lol:

Tim.
erhmmm I seem to remember you wanting a ZM3 as well..... something about getting an excuse to the missus..... :squeeze:
Ferdinand


BMW 3.0iA Sport Edition 08/2002 - iPod kit, CTEK MXS 7000 batterycharger & Protek Protector Roof Cover ;o)
Range Rover 4.6 V8 HSE 03/2000, Webasto preheater and CTEK MXS 7000 batterycharger
Citroën Xsara 2.0 110 Hdi Prestige hatchback with VTS alloys, Musketier rear spoiler and Webasto preheater
Volvo 144 1.8 B18 09/1967


http://www.zroadster.org
http://www.zroadster.net
http://www.z3-roadster-forum.de
http://www.z3-forum.de
http://www.zroadster.com
Cozzy
Joined: Mon 17 Jan, 2011 22:27
Posts: 20

  blank.gif
Location: AYLESFORD

Post by Cozzy »

Does this mean from now on Titan Tim wants to be known as 'Bumble' :lol: :lol:
Z3cade
Joined: Sat 09 Jan, 2010 18:18
Posts: 2634

  M roadster S50
Location: Peterborough

Post by Z3cade »

In all honesty buzz i wouldnt waste your money...
If your happy with your 1.9 as a cruiser then stick with it. If not you'd be better off spending the extra cash on upgrading to a six cylinder... Z3. im happy with the power of the 2.8 but wouldnt want anything smaller..
///M Roadster - Evolve Stage 3
Image
User avatar
markrnorton
Joined: Mon 05 Jan, 2009 13:19
Posts: 841

  Other roadster
Location: Essex

Post by markrnorton »

I think the most you'd see out of the 1.9 on a small budget would be 20-25hp

thats Viscous fan delete, air filter, exhaust, hi-flow cat, big bore throttle body and a re-map (this needs to be done by somebody who knows BMW's as well)

I did a little write up on tuning the m44 on a budget (performance section), sums it up really on experience

anything more starts to cost alot. Unless you S/C it like i did, and that does cost !!!
Still modifying
TaffDaddy
Joined: Sun 15 Aug, 2010 21:32
Posts: 40

  Z3 roadster 1.8 TU
Location: Worcester

Post by TaffDaddy »

I asked the same sort of question a couple of weeks ago. After various discussions and pricing the mods etc. I came to the view that to get more power would cost significantly more than selling the current motor and buying a 2.2.

I've convinced myself that for now I'm happy to 'bumble along' as I enjoy the car and if the opportunity arises I'll upgrade.

Taff
Cozzy
Joined: Mon 17 Jan, 2011 22:27
Posts: 20

  blank.gif
Location: AYLESFORD

Post by Cozzy »

We will see how we go and may even go just for a straight remap as is, Hmmmmmmmmm :bounce:
User avatar
The Sorceror
Joined: Thu 26 Aug, 2010 20:26
Posts: 125

  Other roadster

Post by The Sorceror »

Cozzy wrote:Does this mean from now on Titan Tim wants to be known as 'Bumble' :lol: :lol:
Image

Hear Ye !
Hear Ye !
Hear Ye !

Titan Tim (aka Mr TT) shall henceforth be known as Mr BumBle or Mr BB for short :D
User avatar
Sorcerors Apprentice
Joined: Thu 26 Aug, 2010 21:53
Posts: 272

  Other roadster

Post by Sorcerors Apprentice »

Cozzy wrote:Does this mean from now on Titan Tim wants to be known as 'Bumble' :lol: :lol:
:clown:

Mr. Bumble - The pompous, self-important beadle—a minor church official—for the workhouse where Oliver is born.
Dickens mercilessly satirizes his self-righteousness, greed, hypocrisy, and folly, of which his name is an obvious symbol.


:bow
Image
User avatar
TitanTim
Joined: Mon 23 Jun, 2008 18:56
Posts: 5488

  Z3 roadster 1.9i
Location: Stafford

Post by TitanTim »

I would still Bumble in a Z3M :D

Tim.
Image
2001 Z3 1.9 Roadster Sport - 2012 Z4 sDrive 2.0 M Sport
User avatar
Titan
Joined: Fri 01 Apr, 2005 20:20
Posts: 4002

  Z3 roadster 2.2i
Location: North Yorkshire

Post by Titan »

TitanTim wrote:I would still Bumble in a Z3M
No Mr BB - that would be a Bu///mble :)
Image :devil:
Rotter Patrol
Joined: Sat 19 Feb, 2011 13:01
Posts: 6

  Not specified
Location: Taunton

Post by Rotter Patrol »

Ferdinand wrote:
jayson f wrote:If you like power when you put your foot down sell your 1.9 and get a 2.8 or 3.0 its the way forward :drive
like the ols saying: There's no replacement for displacement
With the greatest respect, there are all sorts of replacements for displacement.

Tuning cars is simple, the more air you push into the engine, and that can get out the other end, the quicker it will go. Cubic capacity is one way, but all these BMW engines are designed to have certain compromises and there is no reason that a 1.9 four can't push more bhp and torque than any of the other stock motors.

With the 1.9 motor we are talking about, I've seen them running the Supercharger from the Mini Cooper, which sounds like a nice little mod, but it would probably require modification to the engine management as well, maybe even a stand alone ECU system. The Exhaust is bin material as well.
Rotter Patrol
Joined: Sat 19 Feb, 2011 13:01
Posts: 6

  Not specified
Location: Taunton

Post by Rotter Patrol »

Buz007 wrote:whats NOS??? :dunce:
NOS is a company that produces Nitrous Oxide systems :wink:

I'm pretty sure what you mean is 'what is Nitrous Oxide'....

Nitrous (not Nitro, that's different thing altogether..) is used to create more Oxygen in the combusiton chamber, and is held as a liquid gas in a bottle located somewhere in the car. The most common systems inject the Gas along with a measured dose of extra fuel into the inlet manifold, and is triggered by a microswitch on the throttle system somewhere that activates the gas at full throttle.

There is a great deal of nonsense talked about it by the 'fast and Furious' sorts, but if properly engineered it's very useful. It's especially useful in forced induction motors as it cools the intake charge significantly as the splitting of the Oxygen from it's Nitrogen is an endothermic reaction, so allows more boost without risk of detonation, along with the extra BHP in it's own right.

Nitro - Nitromethane, is used by Top Fuel dragsters and is lethal stuff.
GROMMIT
Joined: Wed 10 Nov, 2004 09:43
Posts: 205

  Z3 roadster 3.0i
Location: EAST MIDS

Post by GROMMIT »

I agree with others on here. Get yourself a 3 litre...plenty of torque.
Mr Silver
Joined: Wed 25 Feb, 2009 09:34
Posts: 360

  Z3 roadster 3.0i

Post by Mr Silver »

I've got to agree with Grommit, you get a bombproof engine, pretty much the same fuel consumption (sort of) and enough grunt to deal with any of your everyday needs! The insurance man doesn't break his pencil over it and the kids love it! Oh yes, it also burbles rather nicely too...


Get in there and try it, you know you want to!
Ballie
Joined: Tue 16 Jan, 2007 19:03
Posts: 137

  M roadster S50
Location: walsall

Post by Ballie »

You can pick up an 'M' for a reasonable price these days. You certainly wont be disappointed with the performance. I used to have a 1.9 and i thought that was nippy. Then took an 'M' for a run, and it fell in love. I think it was moment my head snapped into the head rest, from the pull off. :drive
Image Proud to be British!
User avatar
hornel Z3M
Joined: Sun 16 May, 2004 20:33
Posts: 1120

  blank
Location: RAGLAN

m

Post by hornel Z3M »

Yes i agree, i had a 1.9 and spent money on it to improve performance and enjoyed it, but when i tried the M it was in a different class in handling and certainly power. Never go back to a 1.9. :wink:
User avatar
sidtheranger
Joined: Sun 18 Jul, 2010 13:45
Posts: 193

  Z3 roadster 1.9
Location: Dorking

Post by sidtheranger »

I agree with Titan Tim, although 'round these parts, we like to bimble. Bimble, bumble it's the way to go. :)
Blessed are the Cheesemakers
User avatar
msassoon
Joined: Fri 23 Apr, 2010 16:31
Posts: 406

  Z3 roadster 2.8
Location: Crowthorne

Post by msassoon »

Plus the insurance hike. It was £328 for my 2.8 this year, but I had to remove the air filter and exhaust or it was £450!
User avatar
Jonttt
Z Register member
Joined: Sun 28 Dec, 2008 16:32
Posts: 6554

  M roadster S54
Location: Liverpool

Post by Jonttt »

Buz, to answer your original question remaps are often misunderstood. They are not just baout priducing more BHP (on highly tuned engines like the ///M they don't add much at all) but they are mainly about fine tuning the engines default mapping which by default is set to handle all sorts of conditions / fuel types and more commonly worldwide emission requirements.

a good remap fine tunes out the "uneeded" tolerance built into the default map to make it more sutable for UK requirements (eg fuel, emissions, etc...) so you are more likely to see improved fuel consumption and "perceived" more power from the change in mapping through the gears (ie giveing more torque in a given gear/revs).

The important think is that the remap has been tried and tested on your engine from a company that specialises in BMW's. One of the benefits of these "older" engines now is that others have paid in the past to have all that testing etc done and so an "old off the shlef" proven remap is easy money for a company and so they should be able to offer the remap at a discount. The best remappers also offer before and after dyno runs (but as I say its not all about extra BHP). A good remap should improve the driving experience and may well give you better MPG as well.

I would expect to pay £200-£300 for a proven off the shelf remap with dyno runs for your car especially if your flexible with times and fit it into their slack periods.

nb don't fall for the "live" remaps you see advertised for this sort of money. Live rempas are for heavily modified cars as an off the shelf remap is no good for them and a bespoke "live" remap needs to be written which by its very nature is very time consuming and thus expensive. Most "live" remaps advertised for <£700 are off the shelf ones.

Remaps are a difficult one as you could easily spend £300 and feel/percieve no difference so you really need to find an experienced BMW remapper fiarly local who knows his stuff and you can talk through with.

When I had me first ///M remapped I travel across the country to Evolve as they are one of the most respected BMW remappers and it was well worthe the trouble.
Happiness is not around the corner........happiness is the corner
Image Video or Journal Garage: 2015 FFRR Black Edition, Porsche Boxster GTS, 1997 Porsche Carrara C4S, Ex 2001 BMW S54 Z3m Roadster
Post Reply