E36 316I Compact Engine Power

The 318ti has a 16 valve engine, the 316 compact has an 8 valve engine. Least you don't have the diesel one which is about 90 bhp.

For more on the compact, click my sig pic..


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which section holds info no compacts just browsing through now and thanks

I'd forget the supercharger idea as it'll cost more than buying a 323/328 & the insurance co. will not like it because it puts you outside the standard demographics (unlike a 323/328).

There's some confusion on the engines here. Both the 316 & 318 were 8 valve 1895cc, the 316 with 105bhp & the 318 with 118bhp. The later engines were the valvetronic models. The 316 remained at 1895cc, 8 valve & 105bhp. The 318 became 1995cc with 16 valves & 143bhp.

So, if you have the earlier engine it may be possible to chip it & gain 13bhp (wow!) assuming there were no other mechanical changes eg. cam, inlet manifold, valve sizes etc. If it's the later engine it's a no go.

This kind of question gets asked all the time. The answer is always the same. If you wanted more power why did you buy the model with less power? If it was to save money on insurance or running costs then the numbers just don't add up. If you gained the extra power of the next model up your insurance company would want to charge you accordingly, unless you weren't going to tell them in which case your insurance would be null & void in the case of a claim. Trust me, they love any excuse for not paying out. No insurance means you are libel for damages (I'd be looking for �50k+ for my whiplash thanks). Any extra power would involve higher fuel consumption just like the more powerful version so you wouldn't be saving there either.

So enjoy your 316 as it is or sell it & buy a more powerful version which will probably have more kit on it anyway. If you feel the 316 badge is hurting your street cred then just take it off.

The earlier 318ti had a 16 valve 1796cc engine not an 8 valve. There wasn't an E36 318i compact. The 1796cc 16 valve M42 was replaced with the M44 1.9 unit - same bhp, slightly more torque.

There was a 8 valve 316i compact, a diesel 318td compact (about 90 bhp) and a 16 valve 318ti compact. There was also a 24 valve 323ti compact which didn't make it over here (unfortunately)

I thought the E36 ti ended in 99, but a quick search found a 2001 model, maybe they still made them for a short while while the E46 came out (use up parts etc?)

I think the only thing you could do with a 316i is to change exhaust, alter intake (either a shielded induction kit it or a fogged air box) then a remap/chip - then I doubt there would be a great increase, it most probably would sound better with a small amount of gain. But as said, is it worth it? Induction kits aren't that expensive, but need maintenance (cleaning and re-oiling if a foam one) they sound good but can reduce performance.

You could always try a decat pipe, but this is a mot failure so be warned if you get caught without one.

Fozzy,

quite correct, the Compact version of the E36 continued well after the
introduction of the E46 saloon; The year 2000 version of the E36 316i
Compact had the M43 TU engine at 1.9L capacity with twin balancer
shafts, as was used in the first versions of the E46 Compact. They
restricted the power in the E36 316 Compact to 105bhp   as against the
118bhp they allowed it in the E46 Compact.    I have found the 2000
Compact to feel quite agile and reasonably nippy around town compared
to the previous 1.6L compact, although in absolute terms it isn't at all
quick (my previous car was a 535). However, it goes reasonably well
and feels quite light with fairly direct steering. I can understand someone
wanting another 10bhp just to see what it could do. For me, the really
interesting figure is torque, and although the M43TU was produced with
at least two output specifications, it was more the bhp that was fiddled
with, so that E46 Compact buyers would see a higher bhp figure than for
the E36 Compact. The torque figures were much closer.   All this being
true, one has to wonder how to get the 118bhp that the SAME engine
produced in the E46. I don't know the answer, but it's probably just the
mapping. If so, then it would be fairly easy, quick, and only extracting
from the engine what BMW did in a different car.

Well get yourself down to the Lakeside Wednesday night for the local meet.

See you there.