[Mr. 5]

Originally Posted by SoCal335i

Its a bit more complex than other intakes. It has 3 seperate pipes going into the intake box.

I figured it was going to be pretty complex, but it will make it that much more fun.

[kevE90zsp]

Can we get some good photos of this baby yet?

[canucklion]

^ look at Gruppe M's site, PLENTY of pictures of the intake

[T Bone]

THis is only for show with a little go..... $1800? Get a LSD or shoot, a Proceed and $500 bones for the ballet.


http://www.gruppem.co.jp/en/home.html


RAM AIR SYSTEM for BMW 335i Vehicle modelE90/E91/E92/E93 335iEngine typeWB35/VS35/VB35/WL35









We developed the special carbon duct case for 335i. RAM AIR SYSTEM used maximum space of 335i engine room. RAM AIR SYSTEM can stop heat temperature inside engine room and can leads cool fresh air from front section. RAM AIR SYSTEM can make more torque and maximum power from middle range rpm to high range rpm than stock intake and you can feel better accelerate and aggressive intake sound.
Product numberFRI-0315Price218,000Duct materialCarbonRemarks

[Terry335]

My $.02 is for $1,800, or $900, it should come with pipes all the way to the turbo.

[Dr_Dirt]

Originally Posted by Terry335

My $.02 is for $1,800, or $900, it should come with pipes all the way to the turbo.

It looks like someone crammed a K&N filter in there. Is that supposed to increase performance?.

[SoCal335i]

Ok so you are telling me that for $1800.00 it does not come with a pipe that replaces the one at the back of the airbox?? If you follow that pipe to the manifold it is pinched to sh!t and gets to be a very small diameter. If the replica doesnt replace that pipe then this whole first intake for the 335 is a waste of time and money. That pipe being pinched is causing more flow problems than the restriction of the airbox itself. I will probably just wait for a good product to be released.

[sflgator]

Thanks for doing this; I'm sure it's helpful to some ppl. Personally, like many others on here, I don't think spending $1,800 or even half that, $900 for the "replica" air intake (that's been discussed recently) is worth doing for a 7WHP/4 lb.-ft RWTQ gain.

That said, I would consider buying it for less than $300 (if it was an easy DIY install)...that would be in the ballpark of what a 7WHP gain and a slightly better sound at WOT from an air intake is worth to me...I guess I don't fit their demographic.

[Dr_Dirt]

hmmm $1800 for an intake and 7hp, I think I'll wait for someone to come out with some high performance heads for $3600 that give you +60hp.

[kevE90zsp]

Originally Posted by kevE90zsp

Can we get some good photos of this baby yet?

Originally Posted by canucklion

^ look at Gruppe M's site, PLENTY of pictures of the intake

Thanks, I've been there. Especially when you work your way through the BMW model applications and get the pop up with more details/photos. For those that don't know, don't just click the 'what's new' link on the homepage.

I meant some good photos. It'd be nice to get some better shots of this thing; Especially from the few who have the intake installed like the OP??? please. I know i'm not the only one who likes more pictures.

the rest from the website:

[j|rz44]

i dont get why a company would build one and call it a replica.....
how hard could it be to just build one and call it your own?
call it "The Anti-Rapist Intake" ... Done!

GL

[merritt]

I have been running around for a few days now with the Gruppe M intake on my car. It is the only mod done thus far. Well the intake isn't really mine per say... but I might just keep it. Anyway the intake noise has increased a bit as expected. I can only really hear things with the windows down though. I would like to test out downpipes in combination with the intake next and also in combination with the stock intake.

I have never really encountered so many people who weight their modifications according to price versus amount of horsepower gain. I guess I have just been brought up in a much different area of the performance world. Personally I look at price according to quality of manufacturing and ability to perform the intended function.

The product in question here in an air intake. You can't expect more of it than any other product of the same function. There is no comparing air intakes to exhausts or ecu piggy backs. They all have different intended functions. You either want an intake or you don't want an intake.

Since interpolating the numbers on a dyno sheet can be annoying here are the exact gains at a few RPM points:
4900RPM: +12WHP/+13WTQ
5850RPM: +14WHP/+14WTQ
6750RPM: +16WHP/+12WTQ

The Gruppe M intake provided about a 6% hp gain. Anyone who might desire to achieve above a 10% gain with an air intake is a bit naive. The only car I have been able to gain a substantial amount of power (10%+) with only an air intake is the '05.5+ VW Jetta. If you have seen the stock intake system on that car is it extremely restrictive with many varying cross sectional areas (the intake runs through the engine cover...)

[Carlito12]

You had eighteen hundred dollars to burn and a BMW 335i... and the first mod u did was the INTAKE ??

can I ask WHY?

I mean its your money and your car... so you can do whatever you please without justifying to anyone.

But, I am really curious...

[purplewidow]

wow he did a nice review and some great comments ...esp stating how it sucks when people buy the knock off cause they didn't so the r and d like in pharmaceuticals when you buy brand name or generic....still if it is patented they have to buy the technology from the source so they make money on that also...i am a big fan of buying brand name for this reason of supporting the inventor...but damn i guarantee it didn't cost gruppe as much to make it as there price resembles!!!!!!!!!!!!! if it was 950 it would be tooooo much but would i buy one then....for sure

[T Bone]

Originally Posted by merritt

I have never really encountered so many people who weight their modifications according to price versus amount of horsepower gain. I guess I have just been brought up in a much different area of the performance world.

The Gruppe M intake provided about a 6% hp gain.

You mean people who value money?? Or people who actually have a budget and need to make tradeoffs??


6% gain on a turbo car for an intake?? Highly doubtful even with baked dynosheets.

[SoCal335i]

Originally Posted by purplewidow

wow he did a nice review and some great comments ...esp stating how it sucks when people buy the knock off cause they didn't so the r and d like in pharmaceuticals when you buy brand name or generic....still if it is patented they have to buy the technology from the source so they make money on that also...i am a big fan of buying brand name for this reason of supporting the inventor...but damn i guarantee it didn't cost gruppe as much to make it as there price resembles!!!!!!!!!!!!! if it was 950 it would be tooooo much but would i buy one then....for sure

I agree i would buy it too if it was around $900 from Gruppe M. The point is that it does not matter what it does for the car, i dont care about the gains that it gives, it is an intake system. It should be priced accordingly, not inflated because we drive BMW's and not Civics. If Gruppe M made a complex intake for a civic i am willing to bet money that i would not be anywhere near the price that it is for a 335i becuase not one person would buy it. I just dont like companies trying to rip others off because they think they have lots of money. It hurts the reputation and sales of a company and gives other people a reason to make a replica.

[BoostedBMW]

Thanks for taking the time to report your results. I am just as interested in hearing some better intake noise, as I am in gaining a few whp from it.

[crimsone90]

Funny. Everybody cries for a Dyno and when they post one everybody start complaining and ***ching about it. Its an expensive intake. It provides EXCELLENT results. Good top end gains and decent gains throughout the entire power band. If you don't like paying $1800 then pay $900 for the replica from BavDom.

Regardless, this is an excellent product

[merritt]

Originally Posted by purplewidow

wow he did a nice review and some great comments ...esp stating how it sucks when people buy the knock off cause they didn't so the r and d like in pharmaceuticals when you buy brand name or generic....still if it is patented they have to buy the technology from the source so they make money on that also...i am a big fan of buying brand name for this reason of supporting the inventor...but damn i guarantee it didn't cost gruppe as much to make it as there price resembles!!!!!!!!!!!!! if it was 950 it would be tooooo much but would i buy one then....for sure

I guess due to the nature of things one would of course assume I am of the male gender, but to set things straight this is me:
http://www.myspace.com/merritr

Ok yes I agree with people that $1800 is a rediculous amount to spend on an intake. There are a lot of other things that could be bought for that much money that are just as desireable. However I think it is pretty low to rag on people that are willing to pay the price for a product.

I think the price reflects a bit of cockiness on the part of Gruppe M. It shows in a way that they don't believe someone else can mass produce a product that has the same combination of looks and performance for a significantly lower price. I would say I would go for it, make a one off carbon fiber intake of my own, but really that would take too much time, time I would rather pay $1800 to spend doing something else.

Anyway I'm about to start development on the Spearco intercooler upgrade. Which hopefully people will think is worth the price at which it is offered. At this rate it is a bit hard to convince the sales department that enough 335i owners might be willing to buy an intercooler upgrade for the estimated cost it will take to make.

[Not Ur Avg 3]

yo bro this is badass
can u post some pics of under ur hood? wud love to see some more angles of this cf beauty

[Carlito12]

Originally Posted by merritt

Anyway I'm about to start development on the Spearco intercooler upgrade. Which hopefully people will think is worth the price at which it is offered. At this rate it is a bit hard to convince the sales department that enough 335i owners might be willing to buy an intercooler upgrade for the estimated cost it will take to make.

Offer a upgraded intercooler at a fair price, and we'll be all over it...

[WilyB]

Originally Posted by merritt

The blatant cheap knock offs make me ill... on that note I recently had the opportunity to test out the real Gruppe M 335i carbon fiber air intake.

+1

There is a vendor offering a group buy of a carbon (pun not intended) copy of the Gruppe M intake and I am surprised that most people appear to think it is cool.