[Biginboca]

Does anyone have a stock or 3 stage IM lying around they can measure the ID of the vacuum ports on?

I want to start ordering fittings to add the vacuum ports to the N54 Mani but don’t want to take my car off the road yet to measure mine.

I think there’s only 2 ports, the one from the valve cover for the PCV and a second one on the back side of the manifold (fuel tank vent?). Are there any others?

[cwlo]

The o.d. of the vacuum port on the manifold is .90". The i.d. is .74". There is also a flare to keep the fitting on.

A barb fitting and hose clamp will be a lot easier than trying to duplicate the manifold specs, with their internal o-ring setup. However, if you do go that route, use the stock fitting end pieces, and then you can use rubber hose in between in place of the corrogated plastic oem.

[Biginboca]

Originally Posted by cwlo

The o.d. of the vacuum port on the manifold is .90". The i.d. is .74". There is also a flare to keep the fitting on.

A barb fitting and hose clamp will be a lot easier than trying to duplicate the manifold specs, with their internal o-ring setup. However, if you do go that route, use the stock fitting end pieces, and then you can use rubber hose in between in place of the corrogated plastic oem.

That’s great, thanks! Is there only one port for the pcv? I thought three was a second port also? (Or they are both the same?)

[Phyrexia]

I have my stock 328i manifold in the garage, I can get back with you after our scrum meeting here in a second with pictures and measurements

[Biginboca]

Originally Posted by Phyrexia

I have my stock 328i manifold in the garage, I can get back with you after our scrum meeting here in a second with pictures and measurements

Perfect thanks!

[Phyrexia]

@Biginboca here we are

[Phyrexia]

That's a $9 harbor freight caliper, but it should be accurate enough for our purposes. It was good enough to accurately measure my S54 valve shims a year and a half ago.

[Biginboca]

The first 2 measurement pics are the sensor port correct? The N54 manifold has that port.

The second 2 measurement pics are the PCV to the valve cover port, correct?

And in those 2 second IM measurement pics there’s a port next to the one you measured that you didn’t show measuring, that’s the same as the one that you measured?

Are those 3 (2 really because the first ones a sensor) the only vacuum ports on the IM?

[BudVlad]

Measurement in the firs picture is a sensor port. You have to use sensor from your N52 manifold.

[Phyrexia]

Sorry, brain fart. Didn't attach the pictures. Here is the last port:

[Phyrexia]

There are just three ports on my single stage manifold (aside from the ports to the head and the throttle body, hehe)

[Biginboca]

Originally Posted by Phyrexia

There are just three ports on my single stage manifold (aside from the ports to the head and the throttle body, hehe)

That’s extremely helpful, thanks!

So if I recall correctly from my 3 stage install, the 2 ports next to each other both share that single PCV vent hose back to the valve cover? (the one that always breaks on 3IM installs)

[The Nightman]

Originally Posted by Biginboca

That’s extremely helpful, thanks!

So if I recall correctly from my 3 stage install, the 2 ports next to each other both share that single PCV vent hose back to the valve cover? (the one that always breaks on 3IM installs)

Yep. Part number is 11157559528:

[Phyrexia]

It's worth noting my intake manifold is for the later motor, the N52K, with the internal PCV system. Original N52s with the magnesium valve cover may have different intake manifold ports due to the external PCV. I'd have to check RealOEM to be sure.

Also, that "angle connector", PN 11618638014, has an output nipple that is 24mm OD, 18mm ID. I didn't include those in the first post. I'm not sure if you'll even need the part if you're rigging something up to the N54 manifold, but the nipple on this right angle connector is what the above hose is actually inserted into. You can see how the two connections are offset.

[Biginboca]

Originally Posted by Phyrexia

It's worth noting my intake manifold is for the later motor, the N52K, with the internal PCV system. Original N52s with the magnesium valve cover may have different intake manifold ports due to the external PCV. I'd have to check RealOEM to be sure.

Also, that "angle connector", PN 11618638014, has an output nipple that is 24mm OD, 18mm ID. I didn't include those in the first post. I'm not sure if you'll even need the part if you're rigging something up to the N54 manifold, but the nipple on this right angle connector is what the above hose is actually inserted into. You can see how the two connections are offset.

You are THE MAN! Thanks for all those measurements!!

So I received the N54 manifold today and started cleaning it up and going over it. There’s a place on the underside that looks ideal to install a port for that fitting you measured with the brass. Looking at my manifold it almost looks like BMW intended to put a vacuum port here and had the mold prepped so the hole just needs to be opened:

post images

The ID looks like it can align (or easily be made to align) with the OD of the fitting you measured with the brass. (That fitting is the one with the wired sensor, correct?)

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Does that fitting have offset mounting screws like what my manifold would have if I drilled those 2 side holes in my first pic out for screws? And do they measure about this distance apart?

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Lastly there’s a small nipple for a vacuum line next to the throttle body mount. This is something I guess I’ll just have to plug or cap off. Can’t remember the N52 manifolds having anything like this:

[Biginboca]

I see that vacuum line thing I’m calling a sensor is actually called a “Angle Connector with Heating Element”. PN 11618638014

So if I can just open up that blank port area on the manifold and drop this into it then the swap should not be too bad.



Just need to figure out the throttle body to Airbox connection.

[Biginboca]

Also, does anyone know what the skinny hose is shown in the pcv service kit sold by ECS? They are calling it an “Extraction Line” and I dont ever remember seeing that.

Maybe that needs to go to the skinny nipple on my N54 manifold?



Close Up:

[Phyrexia]

Nothing like that little hose on the N52 to my knowledge. Certainly nothing like that when I did the manifold swap.

There's already a pressure sensor that goes in the first port. You can see the connector in my first shot, the body of the sensor is perpendicular to the manifold. Three wire connector. PN 13628657300. The N54 manifold looks like it has a hole that will fit this sensor, but the N54 sensor is a different part: 13627585492

Then the brass "angle connector" guy is the heating element for the PCV system. Two wire connector. It does look like there's a spot on the N54 manifold for it if you drilled it out, but it's not in the right spot to use the N52 hose.

Not sure what exactly the little nipple is for on the N54 manifold but it's surely boost related. Maybe goes to the wastegates? Cap it off. I'd think there'd be a check valve in the N54 PCV system somewhere too.

It does look like the factory plugged port on the N54 manifold would work if you drilled it out, but it's in the wrong place for the OE N52 hose.

I am being paged for dinner.

[Biginboca]

Phyrexia thank you for all your help with this my friend! I have a good idea of what I need to do from here.

[Biginboca]

Making great progress on this so far. Got the 3IM out of the car in like 30 mins!



I already the throttle body intake mocked up.

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Lining up the TB to my AFE wasn’t too hard by cutting down the Rev Motoring silicone tube and modifying the factory adapter a bit. I’m being careful that I can turn everything back to the way it was if I desire...

Now I am working on the vacuum lines. I’ve got the PCV vent from the valve cover solved by opening that existing port blank and installing the heated angle adapter there.

There’s a second line that looks like it comes from the fuel tank and vents into the stock IM next to the throttle body.

I’m torn between installing a second port just for this line or making a T junction and sharing the same port as the crankcase pcv. I’m leaning towards a second separate port because a heating element near fuel tank vent seems like a bad idea, lol

[Noir]

you're a beast, big!

[Torgus]

Nice work man!