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Aquamist HFS-2 PWM meth injection system installed - review & pictures
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04-11-2011, 03:57 AM | #1 |
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Aquamist HFS-2 PWM meth injection system installed - review & pictures
There are 2 important differences between Aquamist and the other meth injection kits used on this forum: it uses a fast-acting electric valve to inject already pressurized water/methanol into the intake manifold - much like a car injector, and it works based on injector duty cycle (IDC) and not boost, keeping a constant fuel-to-water/meth ratio. It can also work with boost if needed.
I just completed the install of my Aquamist HFS-2 kit. I bought it 3 months ago from Howerton Engineering for $600 including the tank, 3 nozzles, 2 nozzle adapters and everything needed (probably the only serious Aquamist distributor - even the Aquamist web site is pretty useless). They modify the original HFS-3 firmware to work on N54 engine. The HFS-2 is plug-and-play upgradeable to HFS-3 (HFS-3 has a flow sensor and a gauge). But since I have a flash, I can't see the point of the failsafe yet unless I will find a solution to dump the wastegate solenoids in case of a flow problem. I am proud I managed to do the install 100% on my own, including the making of the methanol elbow using an aluminium 45 degree intake tube, some silicone pipe and some JB weld . The tank was installed on the battery side, and the pump was installed beneath the trunk floor, making the install a very clean one. The Aquamist control unit was placed under the glovebox, it's easily accessible and doesn't take up storage space. There were a lot of cables that needed to be routed to the controller. I have routed the fast acting valve cable in the same way you route a boost gauge tube from the engine to the cabin, and I have routed the ECU cable in the same way you route a USB cable for the JB4/Procede from the ECU box to the cabin. There are DIYs on the forum for this. I have intercepted the wires from one of the car's injectors, it's not hard to do it. I did not tap the injector wires, but ordered some pins from the dealer and used those and some wires instead. Results: When testing, I used some duct tape to glue the Aquamist nozzles to my windscreen to observe the behaviour of the injection while driving. It was a lot of fun It's incredible how responsive the system is, the injection flow follows the accelerator pedal precisely with no delay whatsoever. For now I couldn't manage to get the GIAC Stage 2 Race to run without timing drops because I didn't have time to test various nozzles, settings and water/meth ratios. But I am confident I will manage this. On the regular GIAC Stage 2 map things seem to be improved subjectively speaking, the 3rd gear seems more powerful and the 4th gear is really improved. What's interesting is that the throttle response seems improved. Also at high speeds the 5th and 6th gear seems better with improved throttle response and power (maybe from the lower IATs and more denser air ?) Some pictures from the install below. Feel free to ask any questions if you want to do an Aquamist install yourself Last edited by tscdennab; 04-11-2011 at 04:15 AM.. |
04-11-2011, 06:52 AM | #2 |
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CLEAN! excellent review, BTW, how you're running BMW performance package and GIAC?
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04-11-2011, 07:20 AM | #3 | |
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PS: GIAC replaces the BMW Performance software with it's own software. Only the hardware part of the Performance Power Kit (upgraded fan, additional radiator) is actually used now. |
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04-11-2011, 07:46 AM | #4 |
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Congrats on the kit...There are so many places to hide the module and you chose that one! Also why did you take out the trunk button and replaced it with a switch for meth? There are so many other locations to install a switch and now you taken the function of trunk opener out! Also the dual nozzle adapter hose looks to be stressed on one of them and that might be a leaking issue there in the future...Cant really bend the fuel line or else the push fittings dont work and hold the fuel line in place...Other than that have fun with meth!
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04-11-2011, 08:15 AM | #5 | |
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I did not remove the trunk release button...I just didn't have that option when I bought the car (yes, in Europe this is possible) The push fittings are temporary anyway, I will replace them with metal press fittings but they are slow to arrive. |
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03-30-2012, 01:18 AM | #7 |
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Drives: 11 MW E92 M3
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I'm actually thinking of doing this.
My first question is: Did you upgrade to HFS3? I read that you bought HFS2 and on the picture it shows HFS3. It's almost been a year now. How is it holding up? |
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03-30-2012, 01:53 PM | #10 |
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Yes you have to tap into the IDC ECU wire (it's one of the thick orange/white ones). The new HFS-4 also taps into a boost line, it will use both IDC and boost.
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2008 BMW 335i e90 - Sold - Rob Beck Turbos / PROcede V5 / Aquamist HFS-4 / AR Downpipes / AE Exhaust / ER Comp FMIC / ER CP / TiAL BOV / Custom Intake / RPI Scoops / Quaife LSD / Swift-Koni Coilovers / DSS HS / Morr VS8.2 Sig Black / Michelin PSS / P3 Boost Guage / M3 body / M3 steering wheel / Adam's Rotors / Hawk HPS / SS lines /
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03-30-2012, 01:57 PM | #11 |
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03-30-2012, 02:06 PM | #12 |
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How about the failsafe? does it tap to the WG control or is it a hardware failsafe
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'07 E92 335i 6MT- HP650, inlets/outlets, ER FMIC, VRSF CP, LPFP stg2, CSF rad, 'is Aux rad, ER OC, Ohlins, M control arms, eibach front sway bar.
'05 C55 AMG SOLD - '22 Tesla M3P | '10 E92 335i M, 6MT COBB, FBO, st2 LPFP, Mfactory LSD | '07 E90 335i, PTF COBB E50, FBO, HFS4 |
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03-30-2012, 02:15 PM | #14 |
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How hard is the install? (only time I went into the ECU was to install the JB4)
btw,was it a trunk mount ?
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'07 E92 335i 6MT- HP650, inlets/outlets, ER FMIC, VRSF CP, LPFP stg2, CSF rad, 'is Aux rad, ER OC, Ohlins, M control arms, eibach front sway bar.
'05 C55 AMG SOLD - '22 Tesla M3P | '10 E92 335i M, 6MT COBB, FBO, st2 LPFP, Mfactory LSD | '07 E90 335i, PTF COBB E50, FBO, HFS4 |
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03-30-2012, 02:30 PM | #16 |
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Thanks! I'm planning on mounting the pump in the trunk along with a reservoir. we'll see how it goes
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'07 E92 335i 6MT- HP650, inlets/outlets, ER FMIC, VRSF CP, LPFP stg2, CSF rad, 'is Aux rad, ER OC, Ohlins, M control arms, eibach front sway bar.
'05 C55 AMG SOLD - '22 Tesla M3P | '10 E92 335i M, 6MT COBB, FBO, st2 LPFP, Mfactory LSD | '07 E90 335i, PTF COBB E50, FBO, HFS4 |
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03-31-2012, 01:44 PM | #17 | |||
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Here is my HFS-3 gauge install: http://www.e90post.com/forums/showthread.php?t=529912 Quote:
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The install is very time consuming and not very easy to do. I did it myself and it took a weekend and a few days working about 2 hours a day on it. But it is the same for any meth kit. The hard parts are routing the wires from the trunk to the control box, routing the tubing underneath the car, tapping the fluid reservoir for the level sensor, routing the cables to the ECU area (see the procede USB cable DIY), routing the cables to the fast acting valve (see the Rixster gauge tubing DIY). |
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03-31-2012, 07:25 PM | #18 |
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It took Jeff Howerton and I about 8 hours to get it on my car, but it was the first one done and we tapped the bottom of my washer tank. I would say it's still a full day install, tedious but easy. Only took me 15 min to rip it out when I parted my car out.
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2008 BMW 335i e90 - Sold - Rob Beck Turbos / PROcede V5 / Aquamist HFS-4 / AR Downpipes / AE Exhaust / ER Comp FMIC / ER CP / TiAL BOV / Custom Intake / RPI Scoops / Quaife LSD / Swift-Koni Coilovers / DSS HS / Morr VS8.2 Sig Black / Michelin PSS / P3 Boost Guage / M3 body / M3 steering wheel / Adam's Rotors / Hawk HPS / SS lines /
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