Hi guys, new guy! With a half-baked plan.
 

Hello.

I come from the world of European engineering. Currently own 3 BMWs and a 96 Rover Discovery that is man pedal equipped.
All 3 of the BMWs are E34s. One is a 1995 540i 6 speed (One of 1300), next is a 1995 530i 5 speed that is currently undergoing a heart transplant from a 3.0 V8 to a later 4.4L V8 and finally a 1995 525i Automatic (ex's car).
The 540 is my pride and joy. Slightly modified with BBS wheels, clear tails, Euro front headlights and M5 bumpers as well as wheel spacers.
http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4043/...265691a3_z.jpg
http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4001/...869162b1_z.jpg
Pics are before I put M5 bumpers on.

Anyway enough about that stuff. I'm picking a 96 Miata 5 speed for free as soon as the dude finds the title.
My plan is to get it running well and then start a turbo build. Going to go with an OBX (yea yea) manifold and have the welds reinforced, a used SR20 T25, eBay BOV and intercooler set up, as well as various other things like injectors, FMU if required and an O2 clamp if required.
Where I am stuck is engine management. I was thinking an Apexi SAFC but after reading here I'm questioning that.
Out of the following options which is best for my plan; Bipes ACU, MSD Miata Boost Controller or an Apexi SAFC?

Thanks guys!

Finally figured out that lighter cars are bomb?

OBX mani? you mean 'ebay tubular' aka 's4 style'. Btw, don't 'reinforce' the welds, that will make it crack sooner. You have to let the manifold move (hint searching will turn up why begi designed the brace the way they did)

And before anyone else says it, no safc, no bipes, no MSD... Megasquirt, slightly more money, but a real solution... All you have to do is search and read and you'll figure it out :)

Dude, that is a nice 5. I just about bought one, and now wish I would have. I have always wanted one with a 6 speed. Your best plan for engine management is a Megasquirt. Add up the price of the bipes, FMU and other junk and you can have a true stand alone for about the same.

Edit: ian beat me to it.

The only problem is my soldering skills are about as good as the Amish and I'm cheap so I won't buy the preassembled ones.
http://www.diyautotune.com/catalog/m...-kit-p-59.html
That's the one I was looking at.

http://www.diyautotune.com/catalog/m...58821699516a3a

That's the one you should be looking at. No soldering necessary. But.. why won't you buy a pre-assembled one? That doesn't make sense.

Bipes, some members use, but it's sort of a stepping stone. I used one a few years ago before I went with the MSPNP. BTW - Is there anyone breaking the, say, 180whp mark with a Bipes??

Seriously though, I can't think of a single member who uses a S-AFC or that MSD box you speak of. You could blaze a new trail (to be different, whee!) or you can use what's tried and true.

Welcome to the board. If money is tight at least go e-manage blue or AEM F/iC. I had the apexi s-afc II on my NA miata and it really doesn't do much at all. Pretty much pointless for how much they cost. They do look cool though.

My buddy can put it together for me, he majors in soldering or something at school.
So I'm guessing a regular MSnS board is NOT Plug N Play with a Miata? What is required to make it Plug N PLay?

Umm, there's a lotta options idk what a 'regular MSnS board' ... if you mean megasquirt v3 board then
'tada': https://www.miataturbo.net/useful-saved-posts-8/how-make-install-your-own-diy-megasquirt-13676/

Or, if you want something that all fits in one box without an adapter harness get a DIYPNP. (diyautotune has the guide and maps on their site, its quite a bit easier than the first option)

If you want ms3 tech though, you have to go the first route, as diypnp is only ever going to be a ms2 based solution.

Thats all the spoon feeding I'm giving out today... its all just a search away. Really. I promise.

just do this:

http://www.diyautotune.com/diypnp/ap...7-18bp-mt.html

Welcome.
I opened this thread and saw the sexy bimmer and thought, "hmm, a cool newb", read about your other bimmers and thought "very nice collection of cars, he must have taste".

Then you mentioned the OBX manifold and fmu and I lost all hope for you.

Then you somewhat redeemed yourself by considering MS.

You got me on an emotional roller coaster:giggle:


Seriously though: these cars are cheap as hell and quality parts are relatively cheap as well. If you would rather save a petty 50-100 bux and go with off brand bullshit I pity you.

Do it right the 1st time. There are some things you can cheap out on. A manifold is not one of them. Besides, a used begi/fm log is ~250-300 and a new one is ~400

Rofl sorry mate. I'll keep my eye out for a used quality manifold in that case then.

Check e-gay also for begi and Fm stuff. I just picked up a brand new ceramic coated manni for 240 sipped.... :)

What how! I search Miata manifold on eBay every day! How'd you come across that>

Are those wheels from a 530i? I always wondered why the sexiest bbs bmw wheels came on the 530s and not the 540s....