Going FI, want to prep my car...

Hey guys hows it going, finally bit the bullet and made the decision to go FI. Car is payed off and i feel its time. I just have a few questions for all of you gurus out there. My car is an 03 330i and currently at 99k miles and im pretty sure i need to prep up the engine with some maintanence before going FI.

Heres the deal though, i live in south florida and have 2 great shops with kits around my area. One being Technique Tuning and the other Active Autowerke. Still debating which kit to go with, either stage 2 AA or stage 1 TT. Which do u guys think would be more reliable for a daily?

Also here are the mechanical mods my car currently has with maintanence that have been performed.

-F1 racing LTW chromoly flywheel with sachs clutch kit
-Pilot bearing, Pivot pin, Clutch fork, T/O bearing with sleeve replaced
-UUC Black Poly Tranny mounts w/ enforcers
-UUC Delrin shift carrier bushings, all new OEM shifter bushings
-BMW performance SSK
-SS replica headers
-Exhaust cut before 2nd resonator, 2 single 2.5 inch Magnaflow mufflers to custom dual center exits. (Adding Supersprint x-pipe)
-Vanos seals replaced at 80k with new VCG.
-Meyle HD FCABS with replaceable ball joints at 85k
-Velocity Motorcars adjustable endlinks
-Rokkor Tuning coils (replaced all strut mounts etc.)

What i plan on doing before installing FI

-TMS power pulleys
-Complete Cooling system overhaul including all hoses etc.
-Spark plugs
-Replace all vacuum hoses in the engine (noticed many have been cracking/ breaking off)
-AKG Motorsport Polyurethane 80a black engine mounts
-Change MTF
-Change Diff fluid
-Fuel filter
-RTABS
-Leatherz VDO guage panel (Boost, Oil temp, oil pressure)

Thats all i can think of right now, is there anything else that you guys would recommend to swap out/ replace? If so you guys would be a great help. Thanks in advance

Beautiful car! I think what most people say is make sure to do a compression or leakdown test just to make sure the car can handle the boost. I want to go FI Also, just a personal opinion, I say you go TT even though I know AA is great too.

Have you done a subframe re-enforcement? Or had your current subframe inspected? Definitely a must do!

Just a heads up but I dont think you can do pullies with the super charger install.

Definitely do subframe reinforcement. Skip the pulleys and instead of the AKG motor mounts, get either the BimmerWorld solid rubber mounts or stock M3 mounts. I'd also recommend a fresh fuel pump if one is not going to be included with the kit you buy.

Originally Posted by lutzperformance

Have you done a subframe re-enforcement? Or had your current subframe inspected? Definitely a must do!

Nope but i can get under there and check it out, its been on the list to do. I might as well just go ahead and get the reinforcements than just so i dont have a mess in the future right, they always say do it right the first time right??? lol

Also do i do front and rear? Or just rear as thats the one to mainly fail?

Originally Posted by Deah7

Beautiful car! I think what most people say is make sure to do a compression or leakdown test just to make sure the car can handle the boost. I want to go FI Also, just a personal opinion, I say you go TT even though I know AA is great too.

Yeah im leaning towards the TT kit. Ive seen their cars in person and was on a caravan with one of them, those things pull like crazy! Only thing keeping me away is that i feel a supercharger is a little bit more reliable dont u think? But the positive thing about the TT kit is that ill get rid of my crappy SS rep headers and have a solid exhaust manifold in place, plus a cat. converter that comes with the kit.

Originally Posted by Mirko

Just a heads up but I dont think you can do pullies with the super charger install.

hmm guess your right, i would do them if i went turbo though.

Originally Posted by TxZHP04

Definitely do subframe reinforcement. Skip the pulleys and instead of the AKG motor mounts, get either the BimmerWorld solid rubber mounts or stock M3 mounts. I'd also recommend a fresh fuel pump if one is not going to be included with the kit you buy.

Why not AKG mounts? Ive read they dont provide much NVH and have lasted very long, and the improvements are night and day. I def need new mounts as i can see the indentation of my power steering resovior on my sound deadening mat.

And fuel pump/ fuel filter check.

Thanks guys, anything else you would recommend?

stewart water pump,

and also i thought i read somewhere that e9x m3 engine mounts can fit or might just be e46 m3 mounts?

op what kinda brake setup do you have?

maybe a bbk for the front?

Both AA and Technique Tuning are great companies. Cant go wrong with either one.

Nick at TT is a great guy to work with.

TT web paige for their kits on the 330..
Stage 1 - 315whp / 300wtq - http://www.techniquetuning.com/e46330turbo.html
Stage 2 - 375whp / 370wtq - http://www.techniquetuning.com/bmw-e...st2-turbo.html

See Sig.. I love the TT turbo kit. Picks up full boost at low rpm and doesn't let off. Looking forward to going stage2.

Limited slip?

Originally Posted by AW330

Yeah im leaning towards the TT kit. Ive seen their cars in person and was on a caravan with one of them, those things pull like crazy! Only thing keeping me away is that i feel a supercharger is a little bit more reliable dont u think? But the positive thing about the TT kit is that ill get rid of my crappy SS rep headers and have a solid exhaust manifold in place, plus a cat. converter that comes with the kit.

Once the turbo is installed properly (doublecheck the MAF clamps!) I'd say it's gonna be just as reliable. It's oil cooled and effectively has oil bearings. 8.5 PSI isn't anything crazy as these things go.

I like turbo

Originally Posted by steven747

stewart water pump,

and also i thought i read somewhere that e9x m3 engine mounts can fit or might just be e46 m3 mounts?

op what kinda brake setup do you have?

maybe a bbk for the front?

Yeah stewart water pump for sure, read good things about them.

Right now i have stock brakes, i think BBK is overkill for a street car. Ill probably upgrade to some slotted/cross drilled rotors and upgraded street pads.

Yeah actually ive been doing alot of research on engine mounts lately, and i found out that the only engine mounts that you can purchase have been upgraded to the e9x m3 mounts. Which fit all e36, e46, 1 series and e9x chassis.

Originally Posted by MaverickM3

Both AA and Technique Tuning are great companies. Cant go wrong with either one.

Nick at TT is a great guy to work with.

TT web paige for their kits on the 330..
Stage 1 - 315whp / 300wtq - http://www.techniquetuning.com/e46330turbo.html
Stage 2 - 375whp / 370wtq - http://www.techniquetuning.com/bmw-e...st2-turbo.html

See Sig.. I love the TT turbo kit. Picks up full boost at low rpm and doesn't let off. Looking forward to going stage2.

Yes they are def awesome companies, and i love the fact that both are right down the street from me!

If i go TT im just going to stage 1 as i dont want to dish out all that money for head gasket replacement and such. So my plan is if i go TT to rock the stage 1 setup for a while as i rack up some more mileage on the car lol. Than once i feel its time and i get a new daily, ill dig into my motor hardcore. Ill go stage 2 and tear apart my engine, get the heads machined get all new rods and pistons. Upgrade to some schrick cams, get (davids or daniels?) upgraded oil pump and ATI damper. Just pretty much fully rebuild the engine.

The thing is i dunno if i wanna go that route, or just get an AA blower and have some fun with it and use that money i would put in for a stage 2 TT/ engine rebuild and buy myself a mint ///M and work on that.

Decisions decisions lol. But this baby is definitly getting some FI.

Anything else you guys would recommend?

Originally Posted by McSpeed

Once the turbo is installed properly (doublecheck the MAF clamps!) I'd say it's gonna be just as reliable. It's oil cooled and effectively has oil bearings. 8.5 PSI isn't anything crazy as these things go.

I like turbo

Yeah, if i go TT ill have them install for me if they do installs. If not ill have my sponsor shop do the install for me, which i believe work with TT aswell.

Originally Posted by AW330

Hey guys hows it going, finally bit the bullet and made the decision to go FI. Car is payed off and i feel its time. I just have a few questions for all of you gurus out there. My car is an 03 330i and currently at 99k miles and im pretty sure i need to prep up the engine with some maintanence before going FI.

Heres the deal though, i live in south florida and have 2 great shops with kits around my area. One being Technique Tuning and the other Active Autowerke. Still debating which kit to go with, either stage 2 AA or stage 1 TT. Which do u guys think would be more reliable for a daily?

Also here are the mechanical mods my car currently has with maintanence that have been performed.

-F1 racing LTW chromoly flywheel with sachs clutch kit
-Pilot bearing, Pivot pin, Clutch fork, T/O bearing with sleeve replaced
-UUC Black Poly Tranny mounts w/ enforcers
-UUC Delrin shift carrier bushings, all new OEM shifter bushings
-BMW performance SSK
-SS replica headers
-Exhaust cut before 2nd resonator, 2 single 2.5 inch Magnaflow mufflers to custom dual center exits. (Adding Supersprint x-pipe)
-Vanos seals replaced at 80k with new VCG.
-Meyle HD FCABS with replaceable ball joints at 85k
-Velocity Motorcars adjustable endlinks
-Rokkor Tuning coils (replaced all strut mounts etc.)

What i plan on doing before installing FI

-TMS power pulleys
-Complete Cooling system overhaul including all hoses etc.
-Spark plugs
-Replace all vacuum hoses in the engine (noticed many have been cracking/ breaking off)
-AKG Motorsport Polyurethane 80a black engine mounts
-Change MTF
-Change Diff fluid
-Fuel filter
-RTABS
-Leatherz VDO guage panel (Boost, Oil temp, oil pressure)

Thats all i can think of right now, is there anything else that you guys would recommend to swap out/ replace? If so you guys would be a great help. Thanks in advance

Give me a call directly Stage 2 FTW

AW330, since your ride is lowered already, keep in mind that with AA kit you lose protective under engine panels and some clearance due to the intercooler pipings (unless the kit has been redesigned).
In a daily commute turbo will provide more driving pleasure, IMO, since you don't need to rev past 4000 RPM to feel some torque. Drive both and decide for yourself.

OP, is your car auto or 5spd??

Have spare cash on hand.. things WILL break...

and have fun dude.. welcome to club PSI

Originally Posted by malina

AW330, since your ride is lowered already, keep in mind that with AA kit you lose protective under engine panels and some clearance due to the intercooler pipings (unless the kit has been redesigned).
In a daily commute turbo will provide more driving pleasure, IMO, since you don't need to rev past 4000 RPM to feel some torque. Drive both and decide for yourself.

This is true, everything is still up in the air though. I really cant decide, viral sent me a PM with his number so im gonna give him a call as well as contact TT. Im going to do some hardcore research before i decide which kit to go with.

Originally Posted by MaverickM3

OP, is your car auto or 5spd??

its a 5 spd, i currently have 1100 miles on the new clutch. Its a f1 racing stage 1 kit which is a lightweight chromoly fllywheel weighing at i believe 14.8 lbs and a sachs clutch disc and pressure plate. When i had the tranny out i also replaced everything except the rear main seal as it still looked brand new. I got a new pivot pin, pivot pin clip, pivot arm, T/O bearing, T/O bearing guide tube. I was going to get a new slave cylinder but mine seemed pretty good so i kept it.

Originally Posted by Matt Q

Have spare cash on hand.. things WILL break...

and have fun dude.. welcome to club PSI

haha yeah i bet, thanks bro!

I love my stage 1 TT but I wanted more.....but it is great as is. Also I am told you can get more from the turbo later on if you want.

oh yeah and i figured id drop a pic of the beast lol

If you go with the AA/2 they now provide a set of colder plugs (critical). And I agree with having a LSD - I love my OS Giken - otherwise you will just spin the right tire to shreds.

Jim