[AndyN]

So I'm about to pull the trigger on the RB turbos, have been thinking about it for a while and am now set on it.

The E93 is performing fantastically with FBO Stage 2 mods but needs that little bit extra to make it truly special I think.

I've reached out to a couple of specialists for fitting costs but wondered if anyone here has replaced their turbos? Anyone have any experience of the RB turbos and know of any pitfalls or installation gotchas I should consider?

What's a decent installation price and would you recommend anywhere in particular, London or SE ideally?

I understand it's a good 2 days worth of work to do.

Cheers,

A

[Dave2013]

be interesting to know the cost of this ready for when my OEM ones give out...

[AWSAWS]

I think Idnan had his fitted at Darren Woods.

[gangzoom]

I would budget £3.5-4K? I've thought about this before, but I'm done modding the 335i arrival of a new car in the family has made me realise how far technology has moved on, and I've got eyes on something newer.

Good luck with your install though, and let us know how you get on

[Cerbera9]

Have you considered the Turbo Dynamics stage 2 turbos, they're not advertised on their website so you will need to make contact with them but they are considerably cheaper than RB's and apparently they conservatively rate them at 575+ bhp!

[Lawton438]

Are you currently running meth?

My understanding, could be completley wrong is that without running meth or and upgraded fuel pump to run ethanol you wont really gain that much for the expense of running rb's as you can't fuel for them.

Ben

[AndyN]

Thanks guys.

I hear lots of good things about Darren Wood, Stockport is a little bit of a trek though!

I actually looked at the Turbo Dynamics turbos, their stage 1's are individually priced at £1600 each, so comes in at a bit more than the RB including shipping and fitting kit so I didn't bother asking about the stage 2s, I'll mail them and find out though. Thanks for the headsup.

Interesting comment about the meth Ben, no, not currently. I emailed Rob Beck about it and stated to him that I wasn't intending to run meth which he said was fine, as well as I'd only need to consider upgrading the LPFP for over 575rwhp+ applications.

The RBs with shipping and a couple of upgrades, factoring in customs duties to around £3k. I figured perhaps 600 - 900 for fitting so that feels about right.

[Lawton438]

Well another route you could do is to go the meth route on standard turbos which would see around the same power gains for a lot less of the cost, unless your turbos need replacing in which case ignore what I said lol

[Cerbera9]

The price you quote for the Turbo Dynamics stage 1's is the outright turbo purchase price correct? I think if you send them your turbos they will stage 1 or stage 2 them for £750/£900 + VAT respectively per turbo (best check with them first on the prices though!)
The problem with buying from the US is the import duties and VAT to be added to the price and then there is the $600 surcharge until you ship your turbos back to them.
With the mods you have and upgraded turbos Meth should be considered even if just used to aid cooling and the rise in octane is a benefit.

[AndyN]

Originally Posted by Cerbera9

The price you quote for the Turbo Dynamics stage 1's is the outright turbo purchase price correct? I think if you send them your turbos they will stage 1 or stage 2 them for £750/£900 + VAT respectively per turbo (best check with them first on the prices though!)
The problem with buying from the US is the import duties and VAT to be added to the price and then there is the $600 surcharge until you ship your turbos back to them.
With the mods you have and upgraded turbos Meth should be considered even if just used to aid cooling and the rise in octane is a benefit.

Yep, that's the outright price. I've mailed them about upgrading the existing turbos so will let you know how I get on, good call, thanks!

[AndyN]

Originally Posted by Lawton438

Well another route you could do is to go the meth route on standard turbos which would see around the same power gains for a lot less of the cost, unless your turbos need replacing in which case ignore what I said lol

Bugger it, I knew I'd need to start thinking about meth at some point, it's been on my radar for a while but I was trying to avoid it and you know, I can't actually think of a good reason why!

Probably worth me rethinking, getting meth sorted first and then worry about turbos a little later. As you say, it's nowhere near the cost or hassle and it also gives a good foundation to new turbos anyway.

[windymissile]

How do you plan on puting the new power down onto the road..?
I've recently found out how dynamically flawed the 335i is without a proper diff.

WM

[AndyN]

Originally Posted by windymissile

How do you plan on puting the new power down onto the road..?
I've recently found out how dynamically flawed the 335i is without a proper diff.

WM

I have a quaife, one of the first things I had installed.

[windymissile]

Originally Posted by AndyN

I have a quaife, one of the first things I had installed.

WM

[KiwiRD]

I guess the N54 is a 10 year old engine design now, as is the E90/92 shape. I still think it's one of the best all-rounders available for the money, though obviously I'm biased! What are you looking at getting next?

Originally Posted by gangzoom

I would budget £3.5-4K? I've thought about this before, but I'm done modding the 335i arrival of a new car in the family has made me realise how far technology has moved on, and I've got eyes on something newer.

Good luck with your install though, and let us know how you get on

[Lawton438]

Originally Posted by AndyN

Bugger it, I knew I'd need to start thinking about meth at some point, it's been on my radar for a while but I was trying to avoid it and you know, I can't actually think of a good reason why!

Probably worth me rethinking, getting meth sorted first and then worry about turbos a little later. As you say, it's nowhere near the cost or hassle and it also gives a good foundation to new turbos anyway.

Yes mate, think that's how ide do things If i had the funds as like you say if you were then to go RB's you would see a dramatic increase in power combined with meth

[gangzoom]

Originally Posted by KiwiRD

I guess the N54 is a 10 year old engine design now, as is the E90/92 shape. I still think it's one of the best all-rounders available for the money, though obviously I'm biased! What are you looking at getting next?

Actually love the N54 engine and with all the suspension mods I've done to the car love the way it drives

It's just with the arrival of a brand new top of the range Lexus the tech/cabin of the 335i is starting to feel a bit dated.

Have looked at finances, and to be quite honest cannot really afford the cars to what I really want....Either a Lexus GS-F (not on sale yet), F10 M5 or a Tesla S, they are all £70k+ machines, and that's the kind of money I just haven't got

I would consider anything of a similar size with less than 400-450 BHP a downgrade from the 335i, things like the Golf R/M135i etc have no appeal to me.

So in reality I think I'm stuck with the 335i for now, which on reflection isn't really a hardship

[windymissile]

Originally Posted by Lawton438

Well another route you could do is to go the meth route on standard turbos which would see around the same power gains for a lot less of the cost, unless your turbos need replacing in which case ignore what I said lol

I'm not really seeing where running meth will get you near the 550+ that RB's will offer. Meth with FBO on OEM turbos, even with an aggressive tune, will only see high 400's.
You may need a LP pump upgrade to fuel the RB's. But our pumps hold up really well due to the lack of E% in our fuel.
One thing I would be looking at with RB's is upgraded inlets.

WM

[Lawton438]

I don't think rb's offer anywhere near 550 either though without either running meth or ethanol

[Lawton438]

Alls I'm saying is to get the benefits out of rb's for the cost of the install, I would personally install meth first, or an upgraded lpfp and run high quantities of ethanol which will yeild far grater results than just bolting rb's on

[windymissile]

Originally Posted by Lawton438

I don't think rb's offer anywhere near 550 either though without either running meth or ethanol

It's hard to document as most of the RB users run some E%. But RB's are now running low 600's with inlets. I think 550 would be easily achievable with inlets and no E%.

WM

[gangzoom]

Originally Posted by Lawton438

Well another route you could do is to go the meth route on standard turbos which would see around the same power gains for a lot less of the cost, unless your turbos need replacing in which case ignore what I said lol

But not all us want to be putting a tank of flammable liquid in the boot, and than having to be worried about fail-safes for it anything fails. Especially when my car get used by my wife as much as me!!

I think if the OP has the funds to stick a set of RB turbos on the 335i, why not

I would love to stick some RB turbos on mine, and than finish it all with a BBK...but small things like paying off the mortgage/starting a family means i'm having to stop modding the 335i