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BMW 3-Series (E90 E92) Forum > E90 / E92 / E93 3-series Powertrain and Drivetrain Discussions > N54 Turbo Engine / Drivetrain / Exhaust Modifications - 335i > Aquamist HFS-2 PWM meth injection system installed - review & pictures



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      04-11-2011, 03:57 AM   #1
tscdennab
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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
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Last edited by tscdennab; 04-11-2011 at 04:15 AM..
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      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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CLEAN! excellent review, BTW, how you're running BMW performance package and GIAC?
Thanks !

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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Originally Posted by cn555ic View Post
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!
Thanks...I installed the controller in 2 other locations until I decided on that one. And after much thought, that's the best location possible. The modifications are not permanent, not one drill was made (except in the trunk so I can move it when I will find the correct settings. But I think that location is really nice.

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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      01-28-2012, 09:49 PM   #6
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Meth kit ECU wiring

Like this meth kit. Can you provide some instructions how to wire up the fuel injector and map sensor lines into the ECU? Thanks.
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      03-30-2012, 01:18 AM   #7
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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, 08:11 AM   #8
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aquamist makes the best meth kits out there, period. I love my HFS6.
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      03-30-2012, 12:32 PM   #9
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Did you tapped directly in the injector wires? it is an high voltage drive from the DME
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      03-30-2012, 01:53 PM   #10
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Quote:
Originally Posted by marconi118 View Post
Did you tapped directly in the injector wires? it is an high voltage drive from the DME
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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      03-30-2012, 01:57 PM   #11
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Syndicategt View Post
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.
as well as fuel pressure...just did an install for a friend...
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      03-30-2012, 02:06 PM   #12
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Quote:
Originally Posted by bmwe82 View Post
as well as fuel pressure...just did an install for a friend...
How about the failsafe? does it tap to the WG control or is it a hardware failsafe
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      03-30-2012, 02:12 PM   #13
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Yes it intercepts the wastegate signal wire
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      03-30-2012, 02:15 PM   #14
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Quote:
Originally Posted by bmwe82 View Post
Yes it intercepts the wastegate signal wire
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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      03-30-2012, 02:18 PM   #15
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It was really easy with the instructions they provide. It uses the washer fluid tank with a separate pickup for methanol and another tap for the flow sensor.
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      03-30-2012, 02:30 PM   #16
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Quote:
Originally Posted by bmwe82 View Post
It was really easy with the instructions they provide. It uses the washer fluid tank with a separate pickup for methanol and another tap for the flow sensor.
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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      03-31-2012, 01:44 PM   #17
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Quote:
Originally Posted by AcExSpades View Post
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?
Even if you buy HFS-2, you will get an HFS-3 controller. But yes, I eventually upgraded to HFS-3 (provides gauge and failsafe) not for a failsafe but because I couldn't stand not having a visual flow information. And I even upgraded to HFS-4 last week, will install it tomorrow. I didn't have even one technical problem with the HFS-2 or HFS-3. Worked beautifully, but it does have some configuration quirks showing the fact that it was not designed from the beginning for direct injection (like the HFS-4). I never managed to set up the failsafe correctly (there are instances in which it triggers when it shouldn't - but I don't have it connected anyway) but I am sure it will work correctly with HFS-4.

Here is my HFS-3 gauge install: http://www.e90post.com/forums/showthread.php?t=529912

Quote:
Originally Posted by marconi118 View Post
Did you tapped directly in the injector wires? it is an high voltage drive from the DME
Sort of. I did not tap into wires because I don't like to permanently alter my car's electrical cables. I used connectors (pins) bought from the dealer like the ones for the JB4 pin-out.

Quote:
Originally Posted by marv85 View Post
How hard is the install? (only time I went into the ECU was to install the JB4)

btw,was it a trunk mount ?
Mine was a trunk mount.

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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Quote:
Originally Posted by marv85 View Post
How hard is the install? (only time I went into the ECU was to install the JB4)
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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      03-31-2012, 11:24 PM   #19
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Awesome write up and review, thanks!
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