[spacemonkey1112]

When I ordered my manifold (bought it from the junk yard) this is what it came with and the guys at LTBMW took care of the rest (they changed the gasket when they put the manifold on). As to vent hoses and such, I did not provide that and I believe they took care of the rest when I PMed longtran. I've ran 6-7 thousand miles on the car with the manifold with no service lights going off and she runs smooth w/o the tune so far.

I was the one that gave jfisher the information in obtaining his manifold for his 328 as well and these are the instructions I gave him:

"Go to WWW.car-part.com. put in the year of your car with the 330i as your car since you want the 3 stage manifold. and scroll to intake manifold for the part ...the system will look over the country for salvaged parts and their all around 200 or so ..."

My manifold also came off a 06 530i. The picture I added here is all that was shipped to me and thats all i gave LTBMW to install (+ my car of course haha).




I was a little scared of the small complication jfisher had due to his vent hoses and such (still don't get it fully) but from my understanding, 325i's and 328i's are a little different and I think LTBMW did a good job on the install.

performance wise, it pulls harder after 4500rpm, but no dramatic change in driving experience (im sure that will change after AA's stage 2 tune).

[spacemonkey1112]

Originally Posted by CEVMAN

space monkey, how does the 325 feel with the 3 stage manifold? im dying to get some more power from my 325 awd. are you able to tell the difference? and hows the gas mileage? Also what extra parts did you need since you did it for the 325? im looking to put this all together for next month and then buy the aa stage 2 shortly after.

I can't say much; I'm not going to lie and say its a huge change without the tune but if you're critical enough, I do feel like there are a few extra ponies given off the roll, but it kicks in like vtec (imo at least) after 4500rpm. If this info is of any value, I can beat my friend's rsx type s off the line (who has simple bolt on like intake and exhaust). Its close, but I can pull away. I had 2 passengers weighing around 150lbs each while he had only 1 passenger.

gas mileage is the same in my opinion; I personally think MPG varies from the driver's habit. lately I've been getting better mileage simple cause I'm on the verge of getting my license suspended for having too many speeding tickets hahaha (the last ticket i got was for going 75 on a 65! -_-')

[CEVMAN]

thanks guys. deff excited! odering manifold today. hopefully tuner motorsports will do the swap for me at a good price..

[accel]

Originally Posted by spacemonkey1112

I can't say much; I'm not going to lie and say its a huge change without the tune but if you're critical enough, I do feel like there are a few extra ponies given off the roll, but it kicks in like vtec (imo at least) after 4500rpm. If this info is of any value, I can beat my friend's rsx type s off the line (who has simple bolt on like intake and exhaust). Its close, but I can pull away. I had 2 passengers weighing around 150lbs each while he had only 1 passenger.

gas mileage is the same in my opinion; I personally think MPG varies from the driver's habit. lately I've been getting better mileage simple cause I'm on the verge of getting my license suspended for having too many speeding tickets hahaha (the last ticket i got was for going 75 on a 65! -_-')

Do you feel any dip in torque curve? Seems like some of just-a-manifiold installers have this issue.

[RazRokz.!]

Originally Posted by spacemonkey1112

I can't say much; I'm not going to lie and say its a huge change without the tune but if you're critical enough, I do feel like there are a few extra ponies given off the roll, but it kicks in like vtec (imo at least) after 4500rpm. If this info is of any value, I can beat my friend's rsx type s off the line (who has simple bolt on like intake and exhaust). Its close, but I can pull away. I had 2 passengers weighing around 150lbs each while he had only 1 passenger.

gas mileage is the same in my opinion; I personally think MPG varies from the driver's habit. lately I've been getting better mileage simple cause I'm on the verge of getting my license suspended for having too many speeding tickets hahaha (the last ticket i got was for going 75 on a 65! -_-')

Get a radar detector man. They work like magic, mine has saved me from a ticket at least 5 times...

[spacemonkey1112]

Originally Posted by RazRokz.!

Get a radar detector man. They work like magic, mine has saved me from a ticket at least 5 times...

hahaha seriously for the price i've i had to pay i wish i did... I'm just trying to drive responsibly now haha (dunno if a tune will help that but oh well hahah!)

[spacemonkey1112]

Originally Posted by accel

Do you feel any dip in torque curve? Seems like some of just-a-manifiold installers have this issue.

just base off a butt dyno, i feel like its more of a jolt up in torque once i pass 4500rpm, the car just feels a bit more alive after that point. as to any dips, I personally cant feel anything when i'm coming out of a corner and accelerating

[RazRokz.!]

Originally Posted by spacemonkey1112

hahaha seriously for the price i've i had to pay i wish i did... I'm just trying to drive responsibly now haha (dunno if a tune will help that but oh well hahah!)

Ya, there's even a vendor on e90post that is able to retrofit it into the rear view mirror. Mine isn't set up like this but I'm thinking about doing it. Check it out:

http://www.e90post.com/forums/showth...radar+detector

[spacemonkey1112]

Originally Posted by RazRokz.!

Ya, there's even a vendor on e90post that is able to retrofit it into the rear view mirror. Mine isn't set up like this but I'm thinking about doing it. Check it out:

http://www.e90post.com/forums/showth...radar+detector

damn it! that ish is freakin 007 status hahah dope! but now I'm stuck between spending on this or stage 2 tune hahah thanks for the link! definitely bookmarked that ish

[PMCU]

Originally Posted by jfisher160

Your going to love the 3 stage manifold on the 328i with the tune. Car is going to be a whole different animal.

I thought the 328i in California are actually N51 engines, which already have the 3-stage intake manifold? At least that was many other threads on this forum seem to indicate, but since you've actually done the work on this, can you get a confirmation for us? (ex. yours is a Cali SULEV N51, and when you went into install the 3-stage manifold, there wasn't already one there).

Thanks!

[jfisher160]

Originally Posted by PMCU

I thought the 328i in California are actually N51 engines, which already have the 3-stage intake manifold? At least that was many other threads on this forum seem to indicate, but since you've actually done the work on this, can you get a confirmation for us? (ex. yours is a Cali SULEV N51, and when you went into install the 3-stage manifold, there wasn't already one there).

Thanks!

Not I didn't have the 3-stage manifold. The easiest way is to look for the actuator motors. I didn't have them on my stock manifold for the 328i. I know I have the n52, if you see the actuator motors then you have a 3-stage manifold. Which there is two motors one on each side of the manifold. If not then you don't have the 3-stage, plus the difference in power is crazy. I'm running just the 3-stage with the powerbox and wow. I turned off the powerbox and the car was a dog.

If I got the AA stage 2 tune it would make me wonder how much more power I would get since I'm only running the powerbox with the manifold. Plus I got the 530i manifold which comes with an oil separator which the 328i have it build in, so I had to do some custom work. But the car is a rocket now in my option.
I think the manifold is worth every penny and you don't have to get a tune right away if you have the powerbox.

I will end up getting a tune when I get Gavin's headers. No sense until then.

[SavvyByNature]

I'm with you there. I'm in the process of doing the 3-stage manifold mod as well. However, I'm patiently awaiting for AA to release their stage 2 tun for the 328i.

I have a good feeling that will get us 328'ers up to around 250-260 hp :-).

[bdl328xit]

Originally Posted by PMCU

I thought the 328i in California are actually N51 engines, which already have the 3-stage intake manifold? At least that was many other threads on this forum seem to indicate, but since you've actually done the work on this, can you get a confirmation for us? (ex. yours is a Cali SULEV N51, and when you went into install the 3-stage manifold, there wasn't already one there).

I've read into the N51/N52 E90s and found that it is rare for an xi or x-drive to have the N51 motor, and that it never ended up in the E91 xi/x-drive at all. Since some 328i did have the N51 w/ 3-stage manifold, the ECU must have provisions for the parts. Useful posts about this: http://www.e90post.com/forums/showthread.php?t=513334

[bdl328xit]

If anyone is interested, I am currently waiting for the AA tune at SCR performance. Should be complete any moment. Looking forward to the drive home as long as the snow holds off

[SavvyByNature]

Originally Posted by bdl328xit

If anyone is interested, I am currently waiting for the AA tune at SCR performance. Should be complete any moment. Looking forward to the drive home as long as the snow holds off

[bdl328xit]

Tune went well and butt dyno reports gains, seems to pull stronger at higher RPM, 4.5k+

done tweaking my ride and totally happy with it