Increase horsepower! - The Unofficial BMW M5 Messageboard (m5board.com)

mannysandoval · 3rd May 2000, 23:01

I got a 91 M5,

I want to increase my horsepower by doing a chip, which chip should I use Turner, Dinan or ?

Is a cam sprocket upgrade really nessecary I want to know what can I do to get more horses out of it.. I also stay in California, USA. I have to stay within smog specs..

Thanks,
Manny Sandoval

Ken Semak · 4th May 2000, 16:44

Manny,

Turner (Jim Comforti chip) and Dinan are two of the most popular here in the USA. Dinan is smog legal(CARB), I am not sure about Turner's chip. This doesn't mean that Turner's chip won't pass smog, it just means they might not have justified the cost of getting it CARB'd. Most bang for the buck is the chip, the only draw back being you must use premium fuel (92 RON) because of the new timing mapping (advance). I also have a 1991 M5 and use Dinan's chip and cam sprockets. Even though the cam sprockets have not been CARB'd, I passed easily, registering 10% of what is allowed. This would depend on how well maintained your M5 was historically. Grab your latest smog report and see where your car stands. I save all of my smog reports, as it is a good indication of potential problems (valve and ring wear). The cam sprockets are expensive to install and you might not justify the cost. Yes, you get more mid-range power but if I had to do it all over again, I would have just installed the chip and use the money saved on the cam sprockets to modify the suspension (which I did anyway). I would add adjustable camber/caster plates front and rear (negative 1.75 works very well front and rear with same size tires) to eliminate the front understeer. I would also change the front rotors because like all 5 series cars, they are worthless at high-speed stops. Two or three high-speed stops of over 120mph and they are warped. Jim Fahey of San Diego makes floating rotors with aluminum hats for the M5. After that, it's up to you. Movit brakes (Porsche), full suspension upgrades (Dinan stage II). There isn't much more you can do to the engine without shelling out a lot of money. You can lighten the car with Dinan carbon fiber parts (hood and fenders) which I believe they still have the molds from their racing E-34 540.

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mannysandoval · 5th May 2000, 07:41

Ken,

I just did a Inspection II and installed a Dinan chip.. The car runs wonderful and I dont know if it was the chip/service or both. I looked into the cam sprockets and its expensive. You being from California also is a bonus cause of the smog laws. I am very interested in doing a brake upgrade within the next couple of months. Can you get me the numbers of the people you mentioned maybe some websites would help also. A price range with installation.

Thanks Ken,
Manny Sandoval
91 M5
blk/gray
S

jordantii · 5th May 2000, 08:14

Call Ireland Engineering @ 626-359-7674. They are doing some amazing brake upgrades. The cost is pretty low considering all the kits out there. Be prepared to have your eyeballs sucked out of your head!!!

KKelly · 5th May 2000, 15:10

Ken,

Do you have contact info for Fahey? I need new rotors and will either go stock or with something like the floating rotors. No $$ to do a full upgrade at the moment.

KKelly · 5th May 2000, 16:06

Never mind, found it on Ben Liaw's links.
http://www.frankfaheymotorsports.com...orsports/door/

mannysandoval · 5th May 2000, 22:10

Thanks for the replies,

Should I go with a full floaters or the Motiv Porsche brakes or are they the same I need to get educated on brake upgrades. Help a fellow M5 brother out by giving tips and suggestions on this big upgrade

Thanks,
Manny Sandoval

JPK//E28M5 · 6th May 2000, 17:20

Whoops,

Manny,

Check the postings, I accidently posted my reply as a new nessage instead of a part of this thread. Check the postings under "Movit GT2 brakes!"

Jon