<E30> performance upgrade path

["Fadeev, Alex" <Alex.Fadeev@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

> Trying to plan out a performance upgrade plan for the 325is I have.
> Since the car came with a K&N performance filter I do not need to
> worry about that.  The filter just needs to be isolated from the
> rest of the engine compartment.  
> 
> Second modification came about when I had to replace the tranny.
> What I saved on the replacement I spent on the BL/SS with ERK
> short shifter setup.

	None of the above are 'performance' upgrades. 
	Both may be considered 'neat', 'cool', or 'bad-ass' upgrades, but
neither will do much to improve the performance. Un-shielded K&N filters
will degrade the performance. Shielded K&N's may offer some benefit in
conjunction with a JimC chip, but even those are undocumented on an E30.

> Braking ability is an area I feel that is as important as the
> ability to go a faster.  If you can not bring it to a stop safely
> now then there is no sense in trying to make go faster. 

	Unless you are a serious track racer, there is little reason to
touch the brakes. $3+K will buy you less brake fade on the track, but your
stopping distance will _not_ be effected by the size of the brakes (it wheel
be by stickier tires). 

> Finished replacing the front rotors and pads with slotted rotors
> and Pagid pads.  I know they dust up a lot but they can sure bring
> the car to a halt in a hurry and I have had them on my 318i for 
> over four years and have been happy with them.

	Pagid pads are good (http://www.ultimategarage.com/). 
	So are many others. There was a good brake pad reference post last
month. Try searching BMW Digest archives for "Brake pads - for street and/or
track".
	Slotted/cross-drilled rotors and painted calipers are for show. 

> Question now which way do I need to go. 
>	Sharking  (not a matter of if only when)

The best bang/$$$.

>	upper cylinder work -> porting & polishing and/or cam?

Only if you are rich and/or bored

> 	  Exhaust?

See K&N filters...

> 	    Lightened flywheel? (why?)

Why indeed...

	If you are real autocross junky, you might consider installing a
higher ratio LSD. If interested, search the digest for Chris Pawlowicz's
posts on the subject. 

> Car needs very badly an audio rev limit warning.  Hitting a rev limit
> is very easy to do when you have to devote almost all your attention
> on what is happen outside of the car.  Does any one know what is
> available?

	Man, if you can not tell when the car hits the rev-limiter, audio
feedback will not be adequate either!
	Seriously, there is nothing wrong with hitting the rev limiter. If
you do it too often, JimC chip will somewhat alleviate the problem.

	More important and effective than all of the above is upgrading the
driver. 

have fun,
alex

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