Tuning Z3 double Vanos?

[Vaughan]

Had a 2.8 Z3 for quite a while and thinking of upgrading engine . Read about changing inlet manifold on single vanos models but fairly sure this is not a mod applicable to my car..Wondering if there is a similar upgrade for post 99 cars.Not spending a fortune and don't want to go down supercharger route..The 240 bhp (???) after manifold/ tb change talked about for 98 cars would be fine. ( Car is in great condition and has only covered 40k...)
Apologies if this is in wrong section...new to forum...

 

[andyglym]

Had a 2.8 Z3 for quite a while and thinking of upgrading engine . Read about changing inlet manifold on single vanos models but fairly sure this is not a mod applicable to my car..Wondering if there is a similar upgrade for post 99 cars.Not spending a fortune and don't want to go down supercharger route..The 240 bhp (???) after manifold/ tb change talked about for 98 cars would be fine. ( Car is in great condition and has only covered 40k...)
Apologies if this is in wrong section...new to forum...

to the forum from West Cumbria. @Antm72 is your man I believe. I've tagged him so he'll be along in time. Good luck.

 

[Grumps]

Hi and welcome. Yes your quite right. I have a single vanos engine and the manifold conversion is something I have discussed doing with @Antm72 and is something I'm hoping to do at some point. I think a simonta air induction kit, a decent exhaust and a re-map would be a good start.

 

[Shelly]

Hi and welcome from me too

 

[Vaughan]

Cheers everybody. Thanks.

 

[GazHyde]

Will all depend on how deep your pockets are as to what you can achieve. I'm fairly sure there isn't an equivalent manifold mod for the dual vanos 2.8. Most of what you could do would be internal, but you can make the car more drivable with the usual triple changes as mentioned of better induction, free flow exhaust and remap. Won't be big HP, but what you should end up with something which feels more responsive.

 

[Vaughan]

That's about conclusion I was coming to. The motors in 2.8 's are very understressed , 190 ish BHP from 2.8 litres is quite low. I think its fact that 325 manifold simply wont fit on double vanos(??) Brilliant starting point for supercharging but reckon car would then be undergeared...so then a diff change...all getting too much...Love car as is but revvier top end would be nice. OT but also want to renovate wheels. They are 17,s, with polished rims, split rim effect and painted spokes. Where,,s best place near Sheffield ???

 

[Antm72]

Hi Vaughan welcome to the forum. I have gone down the route to eck out a little more from the 2.8.
As you say fairly underated for such a big engine but drivability can be improved.
I have a full cat back system fitted which releases the full exhaust sound with out blurting or being over loud.
I went down the route of induction first with air filter and shroud and then i have moved to a Simota Kit, i modified a M3/330ci one which was just a little reshaping but allows good airflow.
On getting air in and out i decided to try a remap although i went down a Generic route with this i think a live map would produce great things.
The car is certainly perky the stage 1 map and mods it now around 220 bhp/330Nm torque
The engine note change throttle is very snappy as you lift off the revs drop like a stone but equally pick up is great.
The difference in 5th is night and day and it pulls like a train.
Still with a heavy right foot the Obc reports 28/30 Mpg and having calculated this its pretty accurate.
If in 5th at 50ish it reports 47Mpg!! i just can not drive it that slow to average that one out but its certainly not turned in to a heavy drinker !
The manifold can be converted to an M54 325/330 this changes the manifolds shape from a D shape to a full oval to match the head whilst not maybe reported to give you the power the M50 conversion does on the single Vanos it will push the 2.8 towards the 3.0 power bracket with the other mods i think you will achieve you goal..

 

[Vaughan]

Thanks for great replies and interest. Car coming off road October , will be refurbing wheels and some mods to engine over winter. Thanks again. Much appreciated Antm.

 

[Vaughan]

Needs wheels doing !!!

 

[andyglym]

View attachment 41370

Needs wheels doing !!!

That's a peach of a colour mate, love it.

 

[Vaughan]

Cheers..

 

[the Nefyn cat]

View attachment 41370

Needs wheels doing !!!

And spacers. Makes a big difference (in my opinion, others may differ. But they're wrong).

 

[Vaughan]

Would certainly make it look nicer/ more aggressive but never really been a big fan of spacers. Bit of an old fashioned type, reckon BM will have done all their calcs for bearings , roll centres etc etc based on wheel centres as they are..Spacers have got to put bearings under more load ??? But I,d guess thousands of miles have been done using them with little ill effect... Might have a look..

 

[the Nefyn cat]

Plenty of people on here using them, not heard of any disasters so far. Not suggesting anything extreme, but 15mm makes a big difference to the way the car looks. And once upon a time I had a Pajero, people using spacers on them and then driving off-road and no problems.

 

[Vaughan]

Just had a look on ebay...there are some 10mm ones with extended studs for £38. Look well made.. Strangely description claims spacers eliminate any wheel balance problems ?? Not heard that claimed before ?? Cant see connection but they look nice.

How do spacers cure balance problems ? I,d guess they,d exaggerate them ?? But they look great..

 

[Antm72]

I used 20mm spacers on the rear its no real difference to changing the offset with a wheel the zed can take a 38 to 50mm offset size wise its wheel position that alters.
When dealing with wheels and offset width etc also comes in to play but adding a spacer to fill the arch works well.
Hubcentric spacers are a must 10mm up will be hubcentric, extended stud or bolt on and then bolt the wheel too rather than longer studs is preferred by some but i used the extended stud and as long as you keep the torque correct on the bolts you'd see no issue.

 

[Antm72]

The spacer can not correct a balancing issue just an offset issue the wheel balance remains the same...

 

[Grumps]

View attachment 41370

Needs wheels doing !!!

Sienna red. Love it and pretty rare too.

 

[Grumps]

I used 20mm spacers on the rear its no real difference to changing the offset with a wheel the zed can take a 38 to 50mm offset size wise its wheel position that alters.
When dealing with wheels and offset width etc also comes in to play but adding a spacer to fill the arch works well.
Hubcentric spacers are a must 10mm up will be hubcentric, extended stud or bolt on and then bolt the wheel too rather than longer studs is preferred by some but i used the extended stud and as long as you keep the torque correct on the bolts you'd see no issue.

Totally agree with Ant. Got 20mm on mine and it's a huge improvement IMHO!