» Site Navigation | | » Recent Threads | | | 1999 M3 Swap 09-07-2023 10:10 PM 06-01-2024 03:04 PM 7 Replies, 410,116 Views | | My 318ti build 05-21-2024 04:48 PM 05-28-2024 06:42 PM 1 Replies, 4,006 Views | | OMG!OMG! 05-28-2024 08:53 AM 05-28-2024 08:53 AM 0 Replies, 1,685 Views | | | | | 07-20-2017, 11:53 PM | #1 | Member Join Date: Oct 2015 Location: Slidell, Louisiana USA Posts: 89 | Changed my cam timing today-impressions So I've been thinking about playing with my cam timing for a few months now. There was a thread a while back on this trying to figure out what the optimal settings are, but there didn't seem to be any conclusion. I had to do a VC gasket anyway, so I got brave and tweaked my intake cam a bit. Figured I'd post results in case anyone else wants to try this. For reference, this is a 98 M44. What I did After accessing the cams, I first made a reference mark on the back of the sprocket and the cam hub, so I knew where I was starting. Loosened the bolts and moved the cam to full travel in both directions. Made marks at the end of travel. My original mark was dead center between the outer marks, which indicates to me that my car never did have the intake cam tweak for rough idle I've read about. I made 2 more marks midway between end of travel and the original mark. I've read that the sprocket gives +/- 4 degrees of adjustment. If that's true, then I now had marks every 2 degrees. I decided to advance the cam to my first 2 degree mark. Results First minute: It fired right up and settled into a definite lope, like I had just put a street/strip cam in it. After 20 seconds or so, it smoothed out (possibly DME had to relearn a bit). I revved it a few times and immediately noticed a bit more intake noise (airbox is modified similar to the "fogged" idea). Road test: I let it warm up a bit and went for a drive. My first impression was that it seemed peppier in the midrange. Intake noise is definitely more pronounced (probably won't notice it if your airbox is stock). First time through the gears seemed ok. After getting out of traffic, I was able to explore the power delivery at different RPM (manual trans makes that easy). Torque below 2k seems to have suffered a bit, but not unmanageably so, especially with a manual. 2-3k seems about the same and above 3k feels stronger. I haven't had a chance to wind it out yet, so not sure what 5k plus feels like yet, but I expect to feel gains similar to the midrange. I'm not expecting 20hp out of this, but if I can get 5, it'll be worth the little bit of extra time. When I have a chance to get it out on the interstate, I'll report back. __________________ 1998 318ti base that appears to be moulting | | | 07-21-2017, 11:13 PM | #2 | Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Fl Posts: 1,353 | Good stuff! Post up with more results and pictures if ya got em! Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk __________________ SUPPORT 318ti.org! CLICK THE LINK ABOVE! Hosting a forum like this is not free. 318ti.org is one of the best BMW forums on the web because it is member supported, not vendor supported. The cost to become a Supporter is a nominal $10.00... A YEAR! DO IT! NOW! www.BimmerBum.com ALL NEW! 318ti Specific Parts For Sale www.facebook.com/BimmerBum BMWCCA #132203 95 318ti Club Sport 98 318ti Active S50 Swap | | | 07-24-2017, 08:24 PM | #3 | Member Join Date: Oct 2015 Location: Slidell, Louisiana USA Posts: 89 | I did not degree the cam, just advanced it from the factory setting (after marking it for reference). Not sure what jetting you are referring to. Scott __________________ 1998 318ti base that appears to be moulting | | | 07-24-2017, 08:30 PM | #4 | Member Join Date: Oct 2015 Location: Slidell, Louisiana USA Posts: 89 | Bimmerbum, sorry I didn't take any pics. I know that would have been the thing to do, but I've never been able to figure out how to upload them anyway. All of my initial impressions are still true. I do find I have to rev it a tad more from a stop, as torque below 2k was definitely affected, but not hugely. I have also noticed that the idle is a little rougher and I feel a random misfire every now and then. I still think it's worth the few horses. I wound it out a couple of times over the weekend and it definitely pulls a little harder at the top of the tach. It used to feel like torque started to fall off around 5500, but seems to carry all the way to 6500 now (I still have the factory 6500 limiter). Hope this helps anyone considering this free mod. Scott __________________ 1998 318ti base that appears to be moulting | | | 08-08-2017, 07:33 PM | #5 | Member Join Date: Nov 2015 Location: Minnesota Posts: 32 | Cool. Thanks for posting your experience. | | | | Currently Active Users Viewing This Thread: 1 (0 members and 1 guests) | | Posting Rules | You may not post new threads You may not post replies You may not post attachments You may not edit your posts HTML code is Off | | | |