S38-b36 cam gear upgrade question thanks - The Unofficial BMW M5 Messageboard (m5board.com)

First e28 M5 · 28th June 2009, 20:10

Hi 3.6 guys,
What is the best exhaust Cam gear upgrade for S38-B36. I have heard/sure that Dinan uses 3.8 cam gear. Frank Fehey uses S14 Evo Cam gear ??

Which of the two choices are the best ?

Also do I lose hi end power if yes with which one?

Opinion is needed.

Thanks
Anri

roortube · 28th June 2009, 20:46

I just installed the Dinan gears and chip, and I'm a fan. Coming from an EAT chip and stock gears, I can't say as I can feel any top end power loss, but it feels like there's loads more torque in the mid range. This makes the engine feel a bit less peaky. The 4k spike in power is still there, but you don't notice it quite as much because of the torque increase. I have yet to put it back on the dyno to measure the changes, but that'll be a moot point anyway since conditions will have changed. I can tell you that 0-60 and 0-100 times have decreased, and there's a bit less need to down shift to pass when cruising at 60-70mph in 5th.

mottati · 28th June 2009, 23:15

this is the first i've heard about using the s14 cam gear. I guess my question would be is there a difference between the s38b38 and s14 evo cam gear?

dkl2001 · 28th June 2009, 23:26

Are all the Dinan chips coded for the cam gear upgrade? I have a Dinan chip that came with the car and I'd like to do the cam gear swap, but I'm not 100% sure I have the right chip (if there is a "correct" Dinan chip). Any thoughts?

roortube · 29th June 2009, 05:25

they're the same

dkl2001 · 29th June 2009, 23:01

Do you think this upgrade hurts the "longevity" of the engine?

daytonaM5 · 29th June 2009, 23:46

If you want top end power, decrease overlap.

If you want low-mid engine speed power increase overlap.

So you have a trade off.

This is why E36/E46 M3 came with vanos and you had the best of both worlds.

So what do you want?

First e28 M5 · 30th June 2009, 21:14

Well since the S38 Engine family is made to move with wider torque band vs S14. Seems like I will use the EVO E30 M3 cam gear with A100 because S14 is made to be high end power versus 3.8 cam gear A105 or A110.

I want to upgrade on my S38-B36 and S38-B35

So far I am on theory but I need somebody that has done the upgrade and give opinion.

Thanks
Anri

dkl2001 · 1st July 2009, 01:07

What are your planned uses for the car? I want to do it because mine is a daily driver and I could use the added torque for my around town driving. I highly doubt I'd ever top the car out anyway.

First e28 M5 · 1st July 2009, 02:03

Well, I never take my E24 M6 and S38-B36 to trak day so its all daily driving. But I do lots of rolling races with my frineds who has all bmw m-cars and that is what I need.

Now I have only Dinan chip and will add M88/3 Euro Headers. So far I am happy with the Torque/Power band in town.

But say when I do some pulls from rolling start my rpm band is between 4500rpm and all the way to 7000rpm.

So that is all I need to know wich one will give me more juice at high end without hearting the low end torque that much?

A