Last month, we introduced yet another BMW project, this time a '93 325is. Our plan was straightforward: to tweak the E36 coupe to match the on-track performance of its factory-built hot-rod sibling, the M3 -- yet we'd pull it off for much less than buying a used M3. More importantly, this wouldn't be a fuzzy, seat-of-the-pants comparison. Instead, we'd use stopwatches and chassis dynos to provide verifiable results. In Part 1 last month, we detailed the E36 model history, showed off our black-on-black 325is and reviewed baseline testing: the 325is versus a stock '95 M3. The M3 lapped exactly two seconds quicker than the 128,000-mile 325is, which meant we had our work cut out for us or, more accurately, Bimmer Haus Performance did.
Tuner/driver Bob Tunnell of Bimmer Haus in Broomfield, CO, is guided by a single golden rule of car modification: suspension before power. Not that Tunnell isn't fond of neck-warping acceleration, but extra ponies without a chassis to corral them is, well, putting the perform-ance cart before the horse (enough equine metaphors).
Hurry and pick up the March 2005 issue of eurotuner Magazine for the complete story, and a lot more photos.