E90Post
 


The Tire Rack
 
BMW 3-Series (E90 E92) Forum > E90 / E92 / E93 3-series Powertrain and Drivetrain Discussions > N54 Turbo Engine / Drivetrain / Exhaust Modifications - 335i > Ram Air?



Reply
 
Thread Tools Search this Thread
      06-23-2009, 06:40 PM   #1
roozie2001
Just some guy
roozie2001's Avatar
United_States
49
Rep
1,531
Posts

Drives: 2008 White 335i sedan
Join Date: Apr 2008
Location: Houston, TX

iTrader: (4)

Ram Air?

We've all seen RAM air setups on alot of cars whether theyre on the sides like the old Mr2s or right on the hood. I wonder if such a setup would be alot more beneficial to the 335.
Im also not talking about a cold air intake type of setup like STETT has. Even though im sure its slightly more beneficial than DCIs or stock intake boxes i dont think its thattttt much of a difference. Ive had cold air setups on other cars.

I wonder what an intake setup would be like that maybe included a whole new hood. Maybe two of these vendors can work together and one can make a ram air CF hood and the other an intake that directly draws air from the front of the car to the intake or do u guys think that would be an absolute waste of money and a hideous look for a bmw hood?

by the way god knows i dont want the car to look like a mustang or eclipse but im just showing examples.



__________________
2008 BMW 335i/Sedan/Alpine White/Terra/Steptronic/Premium Package/Sports package/Comfort Access/USB/Sirius
Appreciate 0
      06-23-2009, 08:22 PM   #2
Sniz
Lieutenant General
Sniz's Avatar
648
Rep
10,587
Posts

Drives: e92 335 - gone // e36 M3 turbo
Join Date: Mar 2007
Location: Ellicott City, MD

iTrader: (1)

ram air on a turbo car is pretty pointless

or any FI car for that matter.

The only benefit your are going to get is the cold air and that can be done w/ out a full ram air setup.

edit: before someone blows up on my comment, its only pointful on HIGH HP cars, the stock n54 twins have no need for that much air, they cant move it.
__________________
Appreciate 0
      06-23-2009, 08:47 PM   #3
roozie2001
Just some guy
roozie2001's Avatar
United_States
49
Rep
1,531
Posts

Drives: 2008 White 335i sedan
Join Date: Apr 2008
Location: Houston, TX

iTrader: (4)

so even with guys that are runnin close to 400 whp u dont think the amount of air comin in would make a difference? cuz everyone is always complaining about heat soak etc. and i know that oil cooler and FMIC do wonders but wouldnt the cold air being inducted in at a higher volume especially at higher speeds be extremelyn beneficial?
__________________
2008 BMW 335i/Sedan/Alpine White/Terra/Steptronic/Premium Package/Sports package/Comfort Access/USB/Sirius
Appreciate 0
      06-23-2009, 08:51 PM   #4
Sniz
Lieutenant General
Sniz's Avatar
648
Rep
10,587
Posts

Drives: e92 335 - gone // e36 M3 turbo
Join Date: Mar 2007
Location: Ellicott City, MD

iTrader: (1)

Quote:
Originally Posted by roozie2001 View Post
so even with guys that are runnin close to 400 whp u dont think the amount of air comin in would make a difference? cuz everyone is always complaining about heat soak etc. and i know that oil cooler and FMIC do wonders but wouldnt the cold air being inducted in at a higher volume especially at higher speeds be extremelyn beneficial?
it certainly wouldnt hurt! I dont see it being highly beneficial until you swap on larger snails.

Love to see someone prove me wrong.
__________________
Appreciate 0
      06-23-2009, 08:59 PM   #5
roozie2001
Just some guy
roozie2001's Avatar
United_States
49
Rep
1,531
Posts

Drives: 2008 White 335i sedan
Join Date: Apr 2008
Location: Houston, TX

iTrader: (4)

Quote:
Originally Posted by Sniz View Post
it certainly wouldnt hurt! I dont see it being highly beneficial until you swap on larger snails.

Love to see someone prove me wrong.
anyone have an e90 hood they dont need that they wanna donate to science. lol. I'll hook u up with a ram air intake for free if i can figure out to put it together and make it happen. im gonna need to cut a hole in a hood and make a fiber glass scoop on top and go from there.
__________________
2008 BMW 335i/Sedan/Alpine White/Terra/Steptronic/Premium Package/Sports package/Comfort Access/USB/Sirius
Appreciate 0
      06-23-2009, 10:09 PM   #6
Tortfeasor 335xi
Corporate Hack
Tortfeasor 335xi's Avatar
United_States
4
Rep
288
Posts

Drives: '08 335xi Coupe
Join Date: Mar 2008
Location: Princeton, NJ / Philly, PA

iTrader: (0)

Well, regardless of HP of the car, or size of the turbo, making your intake tract less restrictive will help alleviate pumping losses (by both the turbo and the engine). Also, any way to get colder air into the car will help make more power. That being said, I am going to agree with Sniz, in so far as that I think the power you could gain is small when you compare it with the power the same engine would make with DCI or the lid of the airbox removed. Specifically I don't think the ram air will significantly out perform a DCI or a properly executed CAI such that butchering your hood or body makes sense.
__________________
New Car: 2008 335xi Coupe
Earlier Car: 2004 STi (got stolen)
Earlier Earlier Car: 1995 Mustang GT (416 whp and a blown engine)
Really Much Earlier Car: 1988 Mazda 626 TURBO
Appreciate 0
      06-24-2009, 04:02 PM   #7
SV Concepts
SV Concepts's Avatar
United_States
360
Rep
5,859
Posts

Drives: Vorsteiner E60 M5
Join Date: Mar 2006
Location: 1460 White Oaks Rd. Suite F. Campbell, CA 95008

iTrader: (10)

That's kind of the idea behind these...


"Scoops" as they are called are made by aFe, Riss Racing, and RPI (We carry all 3).
People have told me they noticed a difference after installing them, but it may be placebo effect. I'll let them comment on that.

Hope this helps
JL
Appreciate 0
      06-25-2009, 10:46 AM   #8
scheherazade
Major
36
Rep
1,467
Posts

Drives: 09 GTR (& 93' accord!)
Join Date: Sep 2008
Location: DC metro area

iTrader: (8)

Quote:
Originally Posted by Sniz View Post
ram air on a turbo car is pretty pointless

or any FI car for that matter.

The only benefit your are going to get is the cold air and that can be done w/ out a full ram air setup.

edit: before someone blows up on my comment, its only pointful on HIGH HP cars, the stock n54 twins have no need for that much air, they cant move it.
The more pressure you have coming in, the slower your turbos will spin to generate the same output pressure.

So it's at least good for that.

-scheherazade
Appreciate 0
      06-25-2009, 11:02 AM   #9
JBiddy
Brigadier General
United_States
197
Rep
3,840
Posts

Drives: F82 ///M
Join Date: Apr 2008
Location: Northern/N.J

iTrader: (9)

the scoops dont work, i have them! its all placebo lol. they do look hot tho! lol thats why i got them
__________________
///M
Appreciate 0
      06-25-2009, 03:22 PM   #10
roozie2001
Just some guy
roozie2001's Avatar
United_States
49
Rep
1,531
Posts

Drives: 2008 White 335i sedan
Join Date: Apr 2008
Location: Houston, TX

iTrader: (4)

Quote:
Originally Posted by Jlevi SW View Post
That's kind of the idea behind these...


"Scoops" as they are called are made by aFe, Riss Racing, and RPI (We carry all 3).
People have told me they noticed a difference after installing them, but it may be placebo effect. I'll let them comment on that.

Hope this helps
JL

definately not the same as a ram air. definately a scoop would make no difference. definately not what im thinking of.
__________________
2008 BMW 335i/Sedan/Alpine White/Terra/Steptronic/Premium Package/Sports package/Comfort Access/USB/Sirius
Appreciate 0
      06-25-2009, 04:03 PM   #11
SV Concepts
SV Concepts's Avatar
United_States
360
Rep
5,859
Posts

Drives: Vorsteiner E60 M5
Join Date: Mar 2006
Location: 1460 White Oaks Rd. Suite F. Campbell, CA 95008

iTrader: (10)

Quote:
Originally Posted by roozie2001 View Post
definately not the same as a ram air. definately a scoop would make no difference. definately not what im thinking of.
Fair enough, sorry about that
Just note that it costs a LOT of money to make a new mold Might want to go custom, though I don't think it's going to make a difference for a car that is already FI. If you want more boost, get the Juice Box and call it a day. Then you can get a Vorsteiner vented hood to get the heat out of the engine to prevent heatsoak.
JL
Appreciate 0
      06-25-2009, 05:54 PM   #12
roozie2001
Just some guy
roozie2001's Avatar
United_States
49
Rep
1,531
Posts

Drives: 2008 White 335i sedan
Join Date: Apr 2008
Location: Houston, TX

iTrader: (4)

Quote:
Originally Posted by Jlevi SW View Post
Fair enough, sorry about that
Just note that it costs a LOT of money to make a new mold Might want to go custom, though I don't think it's going to make a difference for a car that is already FI. If you want more boost, get the Juice Box and call it a day. Then you can get a Vorsteiner vented hood to get the heat out of the engine to prevent heatsoak.
JL
now thats a better idea. My only thing is i wish that the vorsteiner vented hood had more of a scoop to it. or something similar to the power dome hood with a vent in the middle where an intake can be setup. i dont think making the ram air system is the tough and expensive part. I think the design of the hood and fabrication and compromise between looks and functionality is the expensive part. oh and i already have the JB3. Also i bought a couple things from u guys. Great service and always helpful. Thanks
__________________
2008 BMW 335i/Sedan/Alpine White/Terra/Steptronic/Premium Package/Sports package/Comfort Access/USB/Sirius
Appreciate 0
      06-26-2009, 11:43 AM   #13
SV Concepts
SV Concepts's Avatar
United_States
360
Rep
5,859
Posts

Drives: Vorsteiner E60 M5
Join Date: Mar 2006
Location: 1460 White Oaks Rd. Suite F. Campbell, CA 95008

iTrader: (10)

We live to serve Thanks for your continued support!
Appreciate 0
      06-26-2009, 11:50 AM   #14
TurboFan
Ski bum
TurboFan's Avatar
316
Rep
6,198
Posts

Drives: sideways
Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: Knee deep in the pow

iTrader: (8)

Quote:
Originally Posted by Sniz View Post
it certainly wouldnt hurt! I dont see it being highly beneficial until you swap on larger snails.

Love to see someone prove me wrong.
I think you are correct in the term "highly beneficial" if you are referring to HP gains.

For a ram air to be effective in boosting HP, you need to be at high speeds (say over 100mph) to have a significant enough rise in air pressure. Since the N54 is FI however, the air flow is a little different than NA muscle cars, and we have different issues. With a DCI and a ram air you might pick up 3-5 hp at 100 mph, maybe?

I do however see benefit if the hood were designed to flush hot air. The gain would not be seen so much on the dyno, but given the terrible heat management of the N54 design, it could be one more tool to help reduce limp modes on track days.
__________________

1999 e46 328i Ti Silver / Black[retired]
2007 e90 335xi Jet Black / Black[retired]
2011 e70 X5 35d Vermillion Red / Cinnamon
2011 e92 M3 LeMans / Fox Red extended
Appreciate 0
      06-26-2009, 07:04 PM   #15
roozie2001
Just some guy
roozie2001's Avatar
United_States
49
Rep
1,531
Posts

Drives: 2008 White 335i sedan
Join Date: Apr 2008
Location: Houston, TX

iTrader: (4)

Quote:
Originally Posted by TurboFan View Post
I think you are correct in the term "highly beneficial" if you are referring to HP gains.

For a ram air to be effective in boosting HP, you need to be at high speeds (say over 100mph) to have a significant enough rise in air pressure. Since the N54 is FI however, the air flow is a little different than NA muscle cars, and we have different issues. With a DCI and a ram air you might pick up 3-5 hp at 100 mph, maybe?

I do however see benefit if the hood were designed to flush hot air. The gain would not be seen so much on the dyno, but given the terrible heat management of the N54 design, it could be one more tool to help reduce limp modes on track days.
hmmm i wonder if the vented hoods do this. i wish we could test 2 cars temps under hood and see the difference. One stock and the other a vorsteiner vented hood
__________________
2008 BMW 335i/Sedan/Alpine White/Terra/Steptronic/Premium Package/Sports package/Comfort Access/USB/Sirius
Appreciate 0
      06-27-2009, 01:29 AM   #16
TurboFan
Ski bum
TurboFan's Avatar
316
Rep
6,198
Posts

Drives: sideways
Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: Knee deep in the pow

iTrader: (8)

send me a Vorsteiner, I'll go to the track and data log all day. Plenty of 335's here for a control study
__________________

1999 e46 328i Ti Silver / Black[retired]
2007 e90 335xi Jet Black / Black[retired]
2011 e70 X5 35d Vermillion Red / Cinnamon
2011 e92 M3 LeMans / Fox Red extended
Appreciate 0
Reply

Bookmarks

Thread Tools Search this Thread
Search this Thread:

Advanced Search

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off



All times are GMT -5. The time now is 07:44 AM.




e90post
Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.11
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions Inc.
1Addicts.com, BIMMERPOST.com, E90Post.com, F30Post.com, M3Post.com, ZPost.com, 5Post.com, 6Post.com, 7Post.com, XBimmers.com logo and trademark are properties of BIMMERPOST