Twin Turbo Envy

[Blaise]

OK, just found this group today - thanks for being! Have a 1997 318ti and 2001 325 convertible, with front stress bar and PS2's. The 2001 ragtop blows the doors off my long-departed 1988 325 convertible, that had rollbar, Korman suspension, harnesses, lightened flywheel, etc. BMW does evolve their performance envelope! Finally test drove a 335 twin turbo yesterday (no 135's on the lot) - liked the thrust, and found the paddle shifters not as appealing as I had hoped. I've always rowed my own, but in an ideal world, an intelligent program can do better - just ask an F1 driver! So, here's the fantasy. Take the 318ti - perfect small size, light, simple, and put the new twin turbo in, paddle shifters and all. Then I can finally get back to the BMW driving schools on track (convertibles are not as welcome as they used to be). I must note that I indulged in an M School at BMW SC - I rationalized years of not doing the driving schools because of not having a proper tin top put extra money in the fun fund. Those paddle shifters on the 10 cylinder M5 and M6's were intoxicating, but the cars are a little rich for my blood (and too heavy). I kind of sense that the new BMW's are a little complicated for my taste (I also subscribe to Hot Rod magazine!), so I'm dreaming of combining old school with modern tech. Whadayathink?

[Xenocide]

good luck.

[spidertri]

It would be awesome, but not easy. It's hard enough to put an E46 engine in an E36, at least the Z3 bridges the gap there somewhat with the later Z3Ms having an S54, but no E36 based car ever had the twin turbo engine.

Here's a thread on the subject.
http://www.318ti.org/forum/showthread.php?t=20842

[yoda]

The Paddle shifters on the Non-M vehicles are simply Steptronic Auto Trannys, the only REAL Paddle shifters are the SMG, or now the DUAL Clutch trannys offered on the M-variants.
So,
If you can somehow source a M Roadster/Coupe S54 engine and be able to pair it with an e46 SMG Tranny on a ti.... That would be incredibly SICK!... as those engines are super powerful and I loved my SMG on the old M3... the only thing that I missed was not being able to push the clutch in and rev my engine just to hear it scream!
This in fact would be an incredible project, and if you have the time and money to do it BY ALL MEANS GO AHEAD!.... We'd love to see it once done!...

[tiFreak]

if you can pull it off, you will be a god to us the amount of skill, time and money to do that would be insane