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      12-13-2016, 04:47 PM   #1
Torqu3
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Drives: 2011 335d
Join Date: Sep 2016
Location: Centralish Texas

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M57 Tuning, Maintenance, Parts and DIY MEGATHREAD

Foreword
I tried to be as fair an unbiased as possible in this thread. I have presented all of the information that I am aware of, and tried to not favor any specific company/group/person. I have my own personal opinions, and if you want to hear them you can PM me here or ask on Facebook. For the sake of this thread though, none of that is necessary. Also, this thread only covers enough to get your DPF, SCR, and EGR done. This is mostly starter mods. There are many more possibilities to chase more power, but I will not be discussing those on this thread.

WHAT'S A GOOD SCAN TOOL
Schwaben/Foxwell NT510: http://www.e90post.com/forums/showth...9#post22792919

Carly(Formerly known as BMWhat): Search for Carly on this page. There are numerous threads about it.

BimmerGeeks ProTool: https://www.e90post.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1525937

IF YOUR COOLANT TEMPERATURES ARE UNDER 88C YOU NEED TO REPLACE YOUR THERMOSTAT. SEE THE LINK TO DIY GUIDES FOR MORE INFO.

Important links before you start:
-Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/NABDOG/ I highly recommend joining this group. You'll be missing out on a lot of great information and deals if you do not.
-DIY Guides: http://www.e90post.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1390877 Please take a look through these.
-Advanced Diesel Technology Reading: https://www.bimmerfest.com/forums/sh...d.php?t=541722

-Transmission Information: http://www.bmwlogicseven.com/?p=3738...HzNi1d67vH2Umw

Parts Stores and Tuners
Bimmer Performance Center:https://bimmerperformancecenter.com/...sel-collection
AARodriguez Corp.:http://www.fixmyvw.com/bmw-diesel/
DUDMD Tuning:https://www.dudmd.net/
Rawtek:https://www.rawtekinc.com/
Malone:https://malonetuning.com/ecu-tuning/bmw-diesel
Ambient Thermal Management(Iaknown):https://www.atmspeedshop.com/collections/bmw
Diesel Ops:http://www.dieselops.com/
Whitbread Performance Innovations:Still around, but not allowed on the forums You can Google the name and it should help.
IDParts:https://www.idparts.com/
FCP Euro:https://www.fcpeuro.com/
ECS Tuning:https://www.ecstuning.com/

Glossary
Alphabet Soup - This is the conglomeration of emissions components that people try and delete when they tune their vehicles. The components of the alphabet soup are the DPF, EGR, and SCR.

BPC - Bimmer Performance Center. This is a shop in North Carolina that tunes and works on 335d(and X5d). Supplier of the BPC tune. This is why you see people write BPC Stage 2.5 or similar.

CBU - Carbon Buildup. A mix of sooty exhaust gas and oil causes CBU on your intake manifold and valves. It is a thick, nasty substance that is highly restrictive and should be cleaned out if it is discovered. Typically cleaned with a walnut blast. See EGR definition for how this happens.

DPF - Diesel Particulate Filter. This is the giant box that is the beginning of the emissions system, attached directly to the turbos. It is there to remove diesel exhaust smell as well as soot.

EGR - Exhaust Gas Recirculation. This refers to the EGR cooler as well as the valve found at the front of the engine. This takes exhaust from the exhaust side of the engine, cools it, and shoots it straight back into the intake. This sooty air mixes with oil that is inside the intake and causes CBU.

JR - JR. Short for JR Auto Performance located in Canada who writes tunes for the 335d(and X5d), which is why you see people write JR Stage 2.8 or similar. Distributed in the US by AARodriguez Corp and Whitbread Performance Innovations.

SCR - Selective Catalytic Reduction. This refers to both the urea tanks, as well as the SCR filter that is midway down the exhaust pipe. It is there to reduce the nOX emissions of the car.

If Nothing Else, Do This:
EGR Block - $70 - Super easy install and helps your car run cleaner. This will stop CBU in its tracks. Can be done without a tune, but you'll have to live with the "Service Engine Soon" light until you get tuned. I highly recommend this mod as soon as possible. See also: EGR Race Pipe. Note that a race pipe will send your car into limp mode unless you have your car tuned. Blocking the EGR will not cause a limp mode. Some tunes keep the EGR valve closed permanently, accomplishing the same thing. Ask your tuner. Alternatively: http://www.e90post.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1401027

Preliminary work(Stage 0):
1.)CBU Cleaning - $LOL - Our vehicles have a tendency to produce a lot of carbon in the intake and on the valves because our EGR. It's highly restrictive, and if you want the car running at 100%, you'll want to get it taken care of. Quotes on Pricing go anywhere from $400 to $2000. Call shops around you and see what they will charge. Also, note that an EGR block or delete will stop any MORE CBU from happening, but the original CBU will still need to be removed. Installing a meth kit will also clean out the CBU over time. Link:http://www.e90post.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1058497

2.)Vacuum Lines - $30 - Putting this here for the same reason I put CBU cleaning. If you're going to get a tune, you're gonna want to make sure your lines aren't going to break and start leaking. See here: http://www.e90post.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1255573

4.)Regular Maintenance - $700 - Oil, Oil Filter, Air Filter, Cabin Air Filter, Fuel Filter, Transmission fluid, Transmission fluid filter, Brake Rotors, Brake Pads, Brake Fluid. You want to be sure you have everything in good shape for when you increase power. Tuning will stress already worn parts, and the last thing you want is to break something. See here: http://www.e90post.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1390877 and here:http://www.e90post.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1338649

5.) JBD Tuner - $300 - If you're looking for quick and easy power, then the JBD is the way to go. Tricks the car into requesting extra fuel. Link:http://www.burgertuning.com/BMW_JBD_...ance_chip.html

The Go-Fast/Reliability Parts

4.)TUNE - $1000-ish - DUDMD, JR, BPC, and Malone are the prevalent ones currently. Check out their websites to see what you like. If you have to keep the emissions equipment functional, then this isn't really the thread for you. Get whatever tune you want that will delete the EGR, DPF, and SCR(Alphabet soup). Please note that if you have any tune that will remove the DPF, you also MUST remove the SCR filter from the exhaust, either by cutting it out of the stock pipe, or by buying a new exhaust or exhaust section. If you don't this filter will get plugged up with soot and cause issues on your car. Link on how to remove alphabet soup: http://www.e90post.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1089933

5.)Exhaust - $Depends - Again, there's a few options here. Ambient Thermal Management(Iaknown), Buzzken, P&L, Unobtanium, Rawtek, PROFI, use your stock exhaust. Circuit Werks has a 335i exhaust that can be modded for our cars. You can buy a brand new Turbo-back Exhaust. You can buy no new pieces, and simply have a shop/DIY to just take the stock exhaust and gut the DPF and SCR, then weld it all closed. You can also buy a downpipe, and remove the SCR filter from your stock exhaust. The main benefit with a TB Exhaust is the weight reduction. Up to you. Personally, I removed the DPF and installed a down pipe, and then gutted out the SCR filter, and kept the stock mufflers. This is all up to personal choice, and can be any kind of mix and match you want. Again, if you remove the DPF, the SCR filter must be removed too. It will plug up with soot and cause problems.


Other Goodies:

I'll throw in a few items here that have my attention. I'll let you decide what you do and don't want. All items listed here can be done without a tune.

xHP Transmission Flash Tool - $200 - Remaps the transmission for cleaner, faster shifts. This is a giant upgrade over how the transmission originally worked. You have to have a USB-OTG compatible Android phone and an INPA cable.

Rogue Engineering Transmission Mounts - $55 - Another one of those "why not" mods. It's cheap, and I've heard good things about these.

Subframe Bushings - $450 - Another thing that I have heard good things about. Plenty of options on these, and plenty of threads talking about which ones to use. Link:http://www.e90post.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1012751

Limited Slip Differential - $1800 - Helps you put the power down, and get some glorious burnouts. But it's mostly for putting the power down. Maybe. You decide. Link:http://www.e90post.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1355219

Water/Meth Injection Kit - $800 - This one pretty well speaks for itself. Keep your EGTs down and your power up. Will keep your intake manifold clean when paired with an EGR block/delete. This is not a substitute for a proper CBU cleaning. This will work on stock cars. No need to tune for it. Link: http://www.e90post.com/forums/showthread.php?p=21849968

EGR Race Pipe - $100 - If running an EGR block isn't your thing, and you'd rather have the EGR cooler removed, then this is for you. You can delete the EGR cooler on a stock tune with a race pipe, but you will have to leave the EGR valve plugged in or you will go into limp mode. It will throw codes on a stock tune. Note that some tunes keep the EGR valve closed permanently, accomplishing the same thing a race pipe will. Ask your tuner. The benefits of a race pipe over blocking or leaving the EGR in place are: 1.)allows for unobstructed air to enter the engine. The EGR valve covers up a quarter of where the intake air goes to the manifold, and a race pipe doesn't obstruct the air. 2.)Easier access to things at the front of your engine, like the thermostat and water pump. 3.)The EGR cooler is know to fail, either by leaking coolant into the exhaust gasses and ends up going into the engine, or by cracking and spewing hot exhaust gas everywhere.

Cold Air Intake - $325 - On a stock car this will only increase the sound you hear with no power gains. On a tuned car, this is good for about 15hp due to the increased airflow requirements a tuned car has.

Front Mount Intercooler - $Depends - Assists in cooling the air going into your engine. Pretty good to have for running higher boost levels. Even stock cars can benefit from this upgrade. No need to tune. We need to talk boost hoses here as well. The OE boost hose tends to leak, and the factory quick connections are known to be bad. You can replace the seals pretty cheap and easy. Quick connections are known to cause bad things at higher mileage in the VW/Audi world. Some intercoolers come with an upgraded hose that is better, but will still need new seals over time, and still uses the quick connections. Other intercoolers get rid of the quick connections completely, so you no longer have to deal with the seals leaking, or worry about the quick connections.

Swirl Flap Deletes - $50 - I recommend doing this at the same time as the CBU cleaning simply because it's insanely cheap, and the intake is already off, allowing for easy access. Over time the swirl flaps will get old and leak boost, which is something you don't want. These can be installed on the stock tune, but you have to leave the controller plugged in or you'll go in to limp mode. IT will throw codes on a stock tune.

Scoops - $60 - Mounts behind the kidney grilles and forces air up into the intake when you're moving. Possibly a slight gain in power, the people running them currently say there is a difference. Classified as a "why not" mod. Pretty cheap, and possible gains in power. I'll update this when I see tests with and without scoops. Rumored to get you laid more. Red is the superior color.

Blow-Off Valve - $462 - It has been proven that when you are tuned with stock turbos, the turbos experience compressor surge, which lowers the life of the turbos. A BOV is to prevent that. There is debate on how much wear your turbos will actually experience. You be the judge.

Catch Can - $140 - Keeps oil out of your intake so everything stays cleaner in there. Link:http://www.e90post.com/forums/showthread.php?t=941518

Injectors - $400 - Injectors tend to go bad sometimes, so if they do, read up on this link. http://www.e90post.com/forums/showpo...8&postcount=12

M3 Strut Tower Brace - $ - Strut Tower Brace from an M3 fit onto a 335d. http://www.e90post.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1367759

Final thoughts: The prices I have listed are simply what I have seen over time and was able to look up, or was quoted. Some things can be had cheaper(especially for the exhaust portion) depending on what route you decide to go. If you have questions, or comments, please just let me know. I'd be happy to add anything I have missed.

Last edited by Torqu3; 10-10-2019 at 10:05 AM.. Reason: New information
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