A high-revving, sweet-sounding V-8 is a marvelous thing, and BMW's 4.0-liter V-8 in the M3 is a prime example. The tuners at Dinan, however, weren't satisfied with the factory-supplied 414 horsepower and thus have boosted output of the car to a tire-vaporizing 527 horsepower and 407 pound-feet--more than the V-10 powered M5. Best of all, the new package, dubbed the Dinan S3-R, is as easy and comfortable to drive as the stock M3--but this one can take you to speeds well above 200 mph.
Starting with the stock M3 V-8, engineers bore and stroke out the cylinders for a gain of 608cc of displacement. A new carbon-fiber high flow intake system and new throttle bodies also allow the engine to breathe better, as does a new sports exhaust system.
And the story does not end at the engine like so many of these stories do but continues on to the practical, with suspension upgrades to match the newly found power and the massive amount of rubber now beneath it.
Dinan’s wheel and tire combination put 275mm tires on the front and chunky 295mm tires in the rear on a one piece forged wheel that weighs just 19 pounds, significantly reducing unsprung weight. To handle the power and torque delivered to the larger wheels the suspension was upgraded with new springs, a front anti-swaybar and new front strut braces made out of carbon-fiber.
Anyone considering installing Dinan’s upgrades to their brand new BMWs needn’t worry about things breaking down. Dinan backs its high-performance package that matches the manufacturer coverage for up to 4 years/50,000 miles.
[Dinan]
