[MaximusJ]

Got my hands on a used, but mint condition used BMW Performance intake. Should have it on within a week.

Did you put a K&N filter in it Marcelo? From what I can see, its the same filter as OEM?

[e90pilot]

Mine came with a K&N from Ticher. I can't remember if I ordered it separately or if it just comes that way from the factory. But the PI reuses half of your stock airbox. The part with the charcoal filter and MAF sensor is reused. Also the air filter is the same. The factory one will fit since it uses one half of the original airbox.

[MaximusJ]

Brand new, it comes with a blueish paper filter; compared to the yellow oem paper one.

I already had a K&N filter coming in (in fact, its in my mailbox as we speak) to put on my OEM box and just wanted to be sure i'm still gonna use it in the PI.

If I knew I would run 4 different intakes setup in 10 days, I would had liked to do some CFM testings! We're gonna have to go with my butt dyno on that!

[e90pilot]

Remember, let the K&N dry our a bit before you drop it in or you will cover your MAF in goo.

[MaximusJ]

Yeah I know, they put way too much oil.

I'm still driving a mazda 6 for now anyway so I got time. LOL

[MaximusJ]

Filter was so dipped in oil that the whole box is mushy. LOL

[MaximusJ]

And it was damn humid... Pretty happy with the results! Looking forward a next dyno session with ideal conditions to get the true numbers.

[jc5988]

hey MaximusJ, how come your HP peak out at 6k rev, usually peaks out at 6600... perhaps retune on the ecu might get you more?

[MaximusJ]

The ECU was tuned by Active Autowerke maybe two months before the dyno. I dont think that a re-tune would do any good;

But I still feel like I could get some extra ponies; but with another kind of remapping; thus another software.

[ray_futbol]

I have a 328i xDrive and just about to order 3 stage manifold parts.
am i good with these parts?

11617559523 Intake Manifold
11617559530 Vent Hose
11617579114 Adjustor Unit
11617560538 Adjustor Unit 2
11617547242 Gasket set
11617535850 x2 Screw 50x35
11617535849 x5 Screw 50x20


I'm not sure if the parts needed for the swap are the same as the 325i. do i need more parts or less?

Thanks for your help!!

[4corners]

Originally Posted by ray_futbol

I have a 328i xDrive and just about to order 3 stage manifold parts.
am i good with these parts?

11617559523 Intake Manifold
11617559530 Vent Hose
11617579114 Adjustor Unit
11617560538 Adjustor Unit 2
11617547242 Gasket set
11617535850 x2 Screw 50x35
11617535849 x5 Screw 50x20


I'm not sure if the parts needed for the swap are the same as the 325i. do i need more parts or less?

Thanks for your help!!

California 328xi SULEV's (N51) come with the 3 stage manifold.

[MaximusJ]

Originally Posted by ray_futbol

I have a 328i xDrive and just about to order 3 stage manifold parts.
am i good with these parts?

11617559523 Intake Manifold
11617559530 Vent Hose
11617579114 Adjustor Unit
11617560538 Adjustor Unit 2
11617547242 Gasket set
11617535850 x2 Screw 50x35
11617535849 x5 Screw 50x20


I'm not sure if the parts needed for the swap are the same as the 325i. do i need more parts or less?

Thanks for your help!!

You should be good to go but you're one screw short. Double check which kind of vent hose you need. Maybe you'll save $80.

[4corners]

Originally Posted by MaximusJ

You should be good to go but you're one screw short. Double check which kind of vent hose you need. Maybe you'll save $80.

Ok, so if I already have a 3 stage manifold in my California SULEV, can I update the software to increase the performance?

[MaximusJ]

You can buy a performance software, yes; but your stock programming already exploit the intake you got.

This is more crucial for somebody with a single stage that mods with the 3 stages; your software need to take the new intake manifold into account or else its not worth it.

In my opinion, I wouldnt spend too much money on a SULEV without touching the software. Simply because its not programmed to give you performance; its programmed to give you super low emissions. So changing the software might just as well correct that.

[4corners]

Originally Posted by MaximusJ

You can buy a performance software, yes; but your stock programming already exploit the intake you got.

This is more crucial for somebody with a single stage that mods with the 3 stages; your software need to take the new intake manifold into account or else its not worth it.

In my opinion, I wouldnt spend too much money on a SULEV without touching the software. Simply because its not programmed to give you performance; its programmed to give you super low emissions. So changing the software might just as well correct that.

Sounds logical to me. I contacted a couple of software providers a while ago, but no response. I assume the options are either just the software needed, or a complete ECU. How would you go about it?

[MaximusJ]

I can vouch for Active Autowerke; having their software on my car right now. They're a bit catchy to get a hold of them and you may need to troubleshoot a couple items before getting a flawless setup. In my case, I got a surging/misfiring issue; so I had to go through the whole process by myself (thank god we have this forum; since AA guys arent very available for online or phone support.). I ended up doing (in the correct order): Cleaned injectors, Swapped Short ram intake for a Perf. Intake, then changed my plugs and I finally got rid of the remainder of the misfiring issue when I changed my battery. But now my ride runs even better then a spanking new F10!

And now about the softwares...

I heard good things about Gintani/OE, but there's rumors on the forums that the provided dyno charts are exagerating the gains.

ESS / BMS, I would stay away from them.

Then there's a couple more custom tuners that I heard good things from, but the price they ask is enough for you to back off.

So in the end, for the price, I would still recommend AA; but try to find a local flash station in their autorized dealer list. A week without my ECU; added to the risk that FedEx drop or lose the box didnt help me sleep at all.

[ray_futbol]

Originally Posted by 4corners

California 328xi SULEV's (N51) come with the 3 stage manifold.

I dont have an N51 lol

Originally Posted by MaximusJ

You should be good to go but you're one screw short. Double check which kind of vent hose you need. Maybe you'll save $80.

i ordered this screw "11617535851 x1 50x66 hex head screw"

[ray_futbol]

BTW after i install the 3 stage manifold, should i let the car "learn/adapt" to the new manifold before i get the tune? or could i just get the tune a couple of days after?

[MaximusJ]

I unplugged the battery during the whole process; so the ECU had to re-adapt when I was done. I also used my BT tools to manually overide all adaptations; just in case the battery trick didnt worked.

Anyway, going for the software mod will overide your current adaptations. So it doesnt matter really what you do on your stock software before heading for AA.

[jc5988]

Originally Posted by 4corners

Ok, so if I already have a 3 stage manifold in my California SULEV, can I update the software to increase the performance?

N51 engine really been tune down at the factory to minimize the 3 stage intake manifold effect in order to match torque band of N52 328i, Otherwise N51 gonna feel quicker off the line.

I had ESS tuned my N51 and its great, Max TQ came in very early now, instead of 3750rpm now at 2750rpm and with about 10 percent increase. It almost feels like a small turbo boosting when first stage kicks in, very drivable on freeway between 65-80miles in 6th gear.

I went with ESS cuz of the tuning box for warranty purpose and its on the expensive side. If you dont have such an issue, you can go with AA or OE Tuning.

[MaximusJ]

Just so it can help you compare, I got a N52 with AA and I also got my max torque at 2750rpm.

[DJ Apex]

Originally Posted by MaximusJ

Just so it can help you compare, I got a N52 with AA and I also got my max torque at 2750rpm.

great numbers i was putting down the same with a muffler delete 2ndary cat delete injen intake and aa tune.
220hp
225tq
but from doing my research and lots of testing. Doing a muffler delete u lose HP and the injen intake didnt really help much eather i got a nice exhaust system now put my factory box back on and wow so made a world of a diff. going to dyno next month hoping to brake 230 hp and 230tq. with one more secret mod lol