this is going to sound very odd, and i may or may not get hate for asking this, but here it goes


over the past 2 months i've been trying to decide between getting two things

Putting a turbocharger into my 350z ( 03, 69,xxx miles and it does have the bad tranny so it grinds third, which is one of the things holding me back from doing this)

or getting a 2006 m3, now i will not be getting rid of the 350z to get the m3 if i were to choose the m3 instead of turbocharging the z

my decision basically comes down to this, is putting a turbo into an engine with almost 70k miles on it and the bad tranny worth it?

or would going with the m3 then modding that be a better idea, it is an smg tranny in the m3 though not traditional manual, 44k miles

price is irrelevent in this decision so no need to ask what costs more or whats cheaper and easier for me financially, thats the last of my worries..

so give me your opinions

 

I would not do either.... going forced induction with the Z is costly, and if you are already having trans issues, I would stay away from that, or deal with your trans issues first, then build the z correctly (a good kit, with all the supporting mods and a good tune)... I would also have enough money set aside in your budget to rebuild the motor incase it blows..

the M3 is not much better, they dont respsond to bolt-ons very well, and the options for forced induction are quite limited, also the SMG would probably hold you back as well....

 

hmm..well its not really "issues " with the trans, a lot of the 03's had bad syncros so sometimes third grinds, its not like gears won't engage or anything of that nature. also how would SMG hold me back? its the same as a manual except with a hydraulic clutch.

the turbo kit i'm buying comes with almost everything to properly turbo the car and will run on stock internals at a safe 8 psi which gives roughly 380-390 whp


also i will be getting a tune with the turbo, forgot to add that part, my apologies.

 

Perhaps you should venture into the FI section of the forum. Many have posed similar questions as yours ans many others have posted up the results of their safe 8 PSI/stock internal setups. It works out well for some and disastrous for others.

 

No matter how you do it, going FI with the VQ engine WILL not be "safe". Don't let anyone fool you .

 

yea I know about the 03 syncros, as for boost, based on a number of people I know, be ready for potential issues that come with going FI, and plan for potential problems accordingly.

head over to the FI section and start doing some research before you pick a kit, and go from there.

as for the M3, SMG may hold you back if you boost the car depending on your power goals, I think HPF kit faired the best with the SMG owners, but it has been a while since I looked into it.


+1

 

Get the M3, and make the Z your "toy." Save up and do FI then.

I've seen far too many VQ engines blown up from boost. You don't want to go that route without another car to drive.

 

I have an 05 Mercedes to drive as my daily ATM so if I didn't get the m3 id still have another car

 

You already have a DD, build the Z

 

I have An 03 transmission and Im boosted. Transmission still holdIng strOng even at 15Psi 500 hP.

 

Lately, I feel that the Z's not meant to be boosted.
Just saying.

 

you need a new trans if you boost the Z or not, so i dont think its fair to include that into the equation.

 

if you think the trans $$ is holding you back then you are not prepared for the build cost of a proper F/I setup.

 

no the cost of a new trans is not holding me back, i'm just saying its an additional step i'd have to take which im factoring in to my decision

 

Get the M3 then Turbo it!!

 

Get the M3

 

get a m3 and put m3s transmission into z....aint i smart)))

 

This.

What ever you project turboing the Z will cost (built), double it and add half.

seriously.

M3's have plenty of options now for turbo stuff. Only real limitation there is the intake mani, which buying a hpf one (although imo grossly overpriced) will still be much cheaper than turboing the Z.

If I could do it all over again/was you I'd buy the m3. Piece together your own kit. Get a 6262 billet, or a 67 billet, an ebay manifold (you'd be surprised how well those things hold up with some reinforcement and rewelding, seen multiple cars with ebay manifolds, only problem with them are thin walls sched 16 piping usually and weak welds, both fixable and fine with minor cheap tweaks), hpf etc intake manifold, precision intercooler core, pay for a nice ecu (that's gonna cost ya, but go pro efi!), get meth injection, figure out what needs to be done for the tranny, fuel rails, injectors, make your own fuel system, find a welder to help you fab up the charge piping/fix up your ebay manifold and you're set (minus a tune). Easier said than done, but that's still gonna be a hell of a lot easier than messing with a z33 or g35, PERIOD.


If you're worried about the extra work of doing a direct tranny swap (no wiring pains etc), you should stay away from FI z stuff. Regardless if you're going built or not, you'll need to get a new clutch, and when you do that, a tranny swap is going to be a sinch. IMHO dude, you're not ready for FI on the Z. I wasn't when I started, and that's why my build is taking forever and costing a boatload.

 

if its a used m3 with the smg 1 i wouldnt do it, heard those shift hard and slow and have tendencies for the smg pumps to go out often, for the money if u want something fun and fast pick up a used e60 m5 those are fast and quite comfortable

 

why need a new clutch? mine is flawless atm, and i've seen a SC z with around 420 whp and using the stock clutch, also if i were to turbo im buying the whole kit ( 5,200$$) and having balisticmotorsport professionally install/tune it

still a bad idea?