Most of the performance modifications I have done to my ti, so far, at least, have been for improved handling. All 96- BMW's use OBD-II (On-Board Diagnostics) which cannot be modified with a chip, as previous model could. As many tests have proven, until OBD-II can be modified, intake and exhaust changes won't make much of a difference at all. Though Jim Conforti, the apparent BMW DME god, has not come out with software for the M44, Garret Lim has. Garrett seems to be as respected with VWs as Jim Conforti is with BMWs. Everyone who has Garrett's software for the M44 is absolutely thrilled with it.
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Racing Dynamics Suspension Kit
BMW Motorsport X-Brace
![[x-brace]](images/xbrace.gif)
The first modification I did on my car, installed by HMS Motorsport,
was the addition of the x-brace, which is a BMW Motorsport part and
comes stock with the Z3 and the M3 Lightweight. All E36's will
accomodate this part right from the factory. In the picture on the
right, the top two corners bolt right on to the front subframe, and
the bottom two with the horizontal bar along the bottom which joins
them replaces the bar that comes on the 318ti from the factory which
sits a little behind the front wheels.
The x-brace adds a lot of stiffness to the front end of the car, which really comes into play under higher speeds and hard cornering. Where I felt that the car originally wandered on the highway, after the brace, it felt like it was on rails. I especially appreciated this after coming from a 1986 VW GTI which has manual steering. This part, according to the very knowledgeable Brian Brown on the 318ti mailing list, is possibly the only suspension modification you can do which has no negative effects at all. I must agree. Lastly, an interesting thing about the x-brace is that if you can imagine from the 'X' part in the picture, the brace perfectly covers the oil pan and seems to almost act as a cage for it. I am not sure if this was intentional, but it would make sense to me since it comes stock with the M3 Lightweight.
I would recommend this mod over most since the part is only about US$150, and the improvement is wonderful.
Racing Dynamics Suspension Kit
The biggest performance mod as far as installation and cost that I have done so far is a Racing Dynamics suspension kit, consisting of shocks, springs, and swaybars. This was also installed by HMS Motortsport. It feels and looks great. The car is lower and more aggressive looking, yet not so low as to make the ride harsh for street driving; in fact, it really feels no harsher than the stock Sport suspension. And the suspension parts even look cool in the Racing Dynamics green. Racing Dynamics uses Bilstein shocks specially valved to their springs. Where the Bilstein shocks are normally yellow with blue, the special RD ones are blue with yellow.
The overall handling of the car feel great from this suspension upgrade. The swaybars have eliminated a lot of body roll to make cornering much flatter. I have to admit that the difference between the RD suspension and the stock 318ti Sport suspension is not like night and day, since the stock suspension is already very nice, but it really does make for more enjoyable aggressive driving.
Check out some before and after photos.
Auto Solutions Short Shift Kit
My short shift kit, installed by Turner Motorsport, is made by Auto Solutions, and I highly recommend it. It replaces the entire linkage and all the bushings are replaced with bronze ones. The kit DID take getting used to, though. Right after I drove away, I heard a loud buzzing at high rpms. I thought there was a problem, but later learned that it was just because of the bronze bushings, as opposed to the nylon stock ones, so there is really no vibration absorbing. Very soon after I learned this, either the kit settled down a bit or I got used to it; I think the latter. :) I just have to remember that performance modifications involve trade-offs in comfort. After a while with it I really love it. It takes a bit more effort to shift, but it's worth it in the preciseness of it. The ///MZ3.Net web site has an awesome animated gif of the differences before and after installing a shift kit. This is an outside link and from a Z3, but you'll get the idea...
Lastly, I would like to thank Ron from Auto Solutions for being so attentive and following up on my paranoia about the buzzing.
K&N Cone Filter
The K&N "Filtercharger" is generally used to generate more airflow for increased power. The Filtercharger is an air filter made of a cotton material, as opposed to the standard paper air filter, allowing more air to flow through it. K&N makes two types: a replacement drop-in filter for the stock airbox in the car, and a cone filter which replaces the airbox entirely to take in even more air. I had for a while the drop-in type and didn't notice much difference. I guess it was preperation for the ECU modification which will take advantage of the increased airflow. When I got the filter at HMS Motorsport, I ran my car on their DynoJet to see the actual results. Here is the dyno chart. Keep in mind that these results are at the rear wheels, so actual HP at the flywheel is supposed to be something like another 15%. The dyno runs reported about a 2 HP increase at the rear wheels, which I have no doubt the OBD-II would eliminate once it caught on. I recently switched to the cone filter, mostly to compliment the Supersprint exhaust's wonderful sound. Though the exhaust's sound overpowers the cone, you can really hear it at full throttle and high rpms. My butt dyno tells me that the car is more powerful, but I would bet that in reality there isn't much difference. What I do notice is improved throttle response. The power difference will really come out once the ECU can be modified, or "chipped". Many people report that the cone filter actually decreases performance due to its intake of heat from the engine compartment, but research has proved that the 318ti does not have any problems with this. I will add a heat shield soon just in case.
Supersprint Exhaust System
![[Supersprint exhaust tip]](images/ss.jpg)
The last performance modification I have done is the Supersprint
exhaust. I have been thinking about putting on a nicer sounding
exhaust for a while and after reading reviews, tests, and most
important of all, other 318ti owners' feedback, I decided on the
Supersprint. The exhaust is VERY well made and bolts right on.
Supersprint is from Italy and most of their documentation is
unfortunately only in Italian. The sound is beautiful;
no louder than stock, really, just deeper and more bassy. You
don't notice it at idle unless you really pay attention, but you
really notice it when you lay your foot down on the gas, then
RROOOOAAAAAARRRRRRR!! Still not really loud, just deep. After a
couple of weeks with the exhaust, the sound has improved and is now
simply wonderful. Once the ECU reprogramming is readily available,
the K&N and this freer-flowing exhaust will really make a difference.
The chrome tip that it comes with is really nice, too. It is a
rounded square shape and has the Supersprint logo engraved on top of
it.