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BMW 3-Series (E90 E92) Forum > E90 / E92 / E93 3-series Powertrain and Drivetrain Discussions > N55 Turbo Engine Tuning and Exhaust Modifications - 335i Tuning > Why the N55 needs an upgraded Charge Pipe!!



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      02-27-2012, 08:46 AM   #1
Mike@N54Tuning.com
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Why the N55 needs an upgraded Charge Pipe!!

AS many of you are probably aware the stock charge pipe is a real weak link on the N55, and over the last month or two we are getting more an more reports of Charge Pipes letting go. I guess this is due to more cars on the road and more cars being tuned. We get about one order a week from customers with cracked charge pipes desperately trying to get one shipped out ASAP because there car is parked.

Just wanted to give everybody a heads up that it might not be a bad idea to upgrade your CP, and if not upgrading check your charge pipe periodically to ensure there are no cracks.

I am attaching some pics from the last failure.

Mike
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Last edited by Mike@N54Tuning.com; 02-27-2012 at 10:41 AM..
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      02-27-2012, 08:58 AM   #2
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      02-27-2012, 09:08 AM   #3
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From what I hear, even if your OEM CP is not damaged it still not a good piece and you can tell the difference once you swap them out.
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      02-27-2012, 09:47 AM   #4
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      02-27-2012, 10:38 AM   #5
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Mike,

Did this car have an intercooler?
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      02-27-2012, 10:41 AM   #6
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Andrew@ActiveAutowerke View Post
Mike,

Did this car have an intercooler?
I don't believe so..

Mike
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      02-27-2012, 12:36 PM   #7
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Hey Mike, great you got my pics and posted them!

To answer the question, No, I don't have an upgraded intercooler YET!!, thats probably my next future upgrade.

And for people here, LISTEN to the PROS and if they suggest something when making an upgrade or a mod, just listen and do it. Because of me being stubborn, now I have to wait for the ordered charge pipe.

This one is for me---------->
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      02-27-2012, 02:22 PM   #8
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Upgraded charge pipe is an absolute must if you're going to alter your boost levels. Stock piece is the flimsiest piece of crap part I have ever seen on a BMW.
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      02-27-2012, 03:10 PM   #9
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Im really glad I saw this post before ordering my JB4 this morning.
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      02-27-2012, 03:18 PM   #10
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Sara504 View Post
Im really glad I saw this post before ordering my JB4 this morning.
Sara, been following your other thread. If you're wanting to stick with the DP and not do a CP as well, for money or whatever reason, I'd still recommend the JB4 over the CANtool. Just run the JB4 on map 0. Only reason I'd recommend it is if you DO decide to tune you won't be the money out for the CANtool doing what the JB4 would do for you.

Just my $0.02
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      02-27-2012, 03:21 PM   #11
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Quote:
Originally Posted by ronny214 View Post
Sara, been following your other thread. If you're wanting to stick with the DP and not do a CP as well, for money or whatever reason, I'd still recommend the JB4 over the CANtool. Just run the JB4 on map 0. Only reason I'd recommend it is if you DO decide to tune you won't be the money out for the CANtool doing what the JB4 would do for you.

Just my $0.02
How much is the charge pipe and am I going to be able to install easy?
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      02-27-2012, 03:59 PM   #12
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Originally Posted by Sara504 View Post
How much is the charge pipe and am I going to be able to install easy?
I'm reading excellent stuff about the ETS and will most likely make my purchase tonight. Michael at ETS is doing them for $199 shipped, which isn't bad from what I've seen. I requested a black one to help blend in with the rest of the car and look more stock by the dealer, and no bungs for meth since I don't plan on doing meth. They say the install is really quick and easy, taking about 30 minutes to do.

Check this thread: http://www.e90post.com/forums/showthread.php?t=647806
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      02-27-2012, 04:11 PM   #13
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Quote:
Originally Posted by ronny214 View Post
I'm reading excellent stuff about the ETS and will most likely make my purchase tonight. Michael at ETS is doing them for $199 shipped, which isn't bad from what I've seen. I requested a black one to help blend in with the rest of the car and look more stock by the dealer, and no bungs for meth since I don't plan on doing meth. They say the install is really quick and easy, taking about 30 minutes to do.

Check this thread: http://www.e90post.com/forums/showthread.php?t=647806
I better not break a nail doing this.
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      02-27-2012, 04:12 PM   #14
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Quote:
Originally Posted by SMOKE EM IF U GOT EM!! View Post
Trying to find one compatible for my f10 somewhere.
+1 to this (because the F10 and E70 share similar hardware components) would be nice if this fits the F10 and E70 platforms...
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      02-27-2012, 04:26 PM   #15
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Sara504 View Post
I better not break a nail doing this.
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      02-27-2012, 04:26 PM   #16
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Sara504 View Post
I better not break a nail doing this.
Its easy but no guarantee a nail wont be broken in the process.


I have seen a handful of broken n55 charge pipes including my own twice.

No problem so far with the metal charge pipe though
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      02-27-2012, 04:31 PM   #17
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Andrew@ActiveAutowerke View Post
Its easy but no guarantee a nail wont be broken in the process.


I have seen a handful of broken n55 charge pipes including my own twice.

No problem so far with the metal charge pipe though
Can you give me a worst case senario and best case senario of a broken charge pipe


*** Im sorry I ask sooo many questions I am brand new to performance mods and just want to make sure I FULLY and COMPLETELY understand the ins and outs of what can happen Im sure you get this all day long ***
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      02-27-2012, 04:37 PM   #18
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Sara504 View Post
Can you give me a worst case senario and best case senario of a broken charge pipe


*** Im sorry I ask sooo many questions I am brand new to performance mods and just want to make sure I FULLY and COMPLETELY understand the ins and outs of what can happen Im sure you get this all day long ***
Heh, no worries. I'm still really new myself. Everything I'm able to pass on I've just learned in the past few days because I'm getting ready to do much the same type of upgrades.

As to your question, your warranty would probably void if they saw that you had mod'ed the car and the CP blew. You could take off the JB4, and put on the stock DP if you changed it out too, and take it in and probably have no issues.

The main issue you have here is not only having to go through the process of having the dealer install a new one, or buying a new one yourself, but the actual breaking. I use my car as a daily driver so if my CP busted during my daily commute or something, I'd be SOL on transportation until it was fixed. More a preventative measure than anything. There may be some power/sound gain there, but I haven't done enough research to know for sure. I'm sure some of the pros here can jump in on that one, though.
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      02-27-2012, 04:37 PM   #19
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There isnt really a positive side to a broken charge pipe.. If your lucky like me it will only crack at the plastic welds which will allow you to crawl your way home.

I suggest purchasing a metal one before the factory one cracks to avoid any trips to the dealer and or headaches that will occur as a result.
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      02-27-2012, 04:44 PM   #20
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Quote:
Originally Posted by ronny214 View Post
Heh, no worries. I'm still really new myself. Everything I'm able to pass on I've just learned in the past few days because I'm getting ready to do much the same type of upgrades.

As to your question, your warranty would probably void if they saw that you had mod'ed the car and the CP blew. You could take off the JB4, and put on the stock DP if you changed it out too, and take it in and probably have no issues.

The main issue you have here is not only having to go through the process of having the dealer install a new one, or buying a new one yourself, but the actual breaking. I use my car as a daily driver so if my CP busted during my daily commute or something, I'd be SOL on transportation until it was fixed. More a preventative measure than anything. There may be some power/sound gain there, but I haven't done enough research to know for sure. I'm sure some of the pros here can jump in on that one, though.
Will I notice it break right when it happens? Like if Im driving over the bridge will I just lose engine power and my car go into limp mode? Or will I have time to drive it home or to a safe place to park without damaging the engine.
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      02-27-2012, 04:45 PM   #21
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Andrew@ActiveAutowerke View Post
There isnt really a positive side to a broken charge pipe.. If your lucky like me it will only crack at the plastic welds which will allow you to crawl your way home.

I suggest purchasing a metal one before the factory one cracks to avoid any trips to the dealer and or headaches that will occur as a result.
How much is the metal one?
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      02-27-2012, 04:47 PM   #22
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Sara504 View Post
Will I notice it break right when it happens? Like if Im driving over the bridge will I just lose engine power and my car go into limp mode? Or will I have time to drive it home or to a safe place to park without damaging the engine.
Not sure about this one. Luck to not have it happen to me yet. As for your second reply about the metal one, I think that would apply to any aftermarket CP, or at least some of the more popular ones. ETS and ER seem to be the two big ones, but some people say the ER doesn't install as easy, costs a little more, the coupling if not tightening really really well can come off, and the fit is a bit stretched. I personally have not tried the ER or the ETS, so I'm just going off the reviews I've read.
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