BMW Performance Intake fitted to my 130i

[gavsadler]

Hi all,

Well I bit the bullet and decided to go ahead and order one of these pieces of kit. Got it from a contact in the UK, so I managed to save a bit.

All-in-all, it took about 1 week from placing my order, to receiving the kit - via DHL. At this point I would just like to get this off my chest: it's an expensive piece of kit, and you have to be really passionate about BMW, or really stupid to fork out so much money for it (I had not decided quite where I fitted in, perhaps a bit of both)

Here's a pic after unpacking the box:


I decided I'm going to be as scientific as possible in my "analysis-review". The intake tract is noticably larger than the OEM piece, as well as the intake into the airbox. I measured the volume of the intake tract, and the BMWP part has 22% more volume, and the inlet into the airbox is 18% larger than the OEM piece.


A while back, I decided I would try something different too. Just having 1 piece of the kit in CF seemed like a skimp on BMW's side, so I decided to get creative and wrap the other bits of kit in CF wrap. I think it came out quite snazzy . I also made the effort to align the weave the same as the part on the intake. Check it out....

Here's the lid wrapped:


Here's the intake nostrils wrapped:


And the extension piece wrapped:


And everything installed:


So we'll see how this wrap lasts with the underbonnet temperature's. Hopefully it stays in place. If it does, then I'll look at giving the parts a coat of gloss paint to make it match the BMWP piece a bit better. I had to make careful use of the hairdryer to stretch the vinyl to fit around the bolt holes etc.

Next I contacted Sav from Savspeed to help me out with the Dyno, I wanted to put my car on the rollers (stock standard) and then fit the BMWP intake straight after that and do some more runs. This would probably be the most effective way to see if there is any measurable gain.

Temperatures are nice and cold lately, when I arrived at Savspeed, ambient temperature was 10Deg C, nice and cold, so that would help with the power readings.

Sav first loaded the car on the Dyno, and spent a few minutes warming up the dyno, running the car through the gear's and at different speeds etc. He then did 2 runs, and ended up with 136kW and 249Nm on the wheels. Some nice healthy numbers

I then quickly swapped over the parts, and then he spent another 10min or so using varying loads and speeds so that the ECU could 'learn' about the new intake fitted. Then 2 more dyno runs. It was apparent that the ECU was still adjusting, as the power numbers were still fluctuating up and down slightly. We let the car cool off for 10min, and then did 2 more runs. Power went up to 138kW and 253Nm.

Sav said that the car is improving, and will probably do in time as the ECU learns more about the new intake. A big thanks to Sav for the help on the day. He's friendly and down to earth.

Here's the initial dyno graph: The gains aren't huge, but they're there. And i'm sure it will improve once the ECU adapts some more in the coming days:


Driving impressions:
Having driven with the new intake for 2 tanks now, I can tell you that there is a noticable improvement at low RPM - between idle and 2500rpm. The car is much smoother on pull-off, and doesn't seem to have that "held back" feeling as it had with the OEM intake. If the dyno could read lower, I'm sure it will vouch for this too. I suspect this is most probably an increase in bottom-end torque.

From about 2700-3200rpm, there was a rather annoying boom that came from the intake. This could be heard with the windows closed or open. It was proving to be mildly annoying for me. This is probably when the 3-stage inlet manifold starts opening the other valves etc. After a bit of troubleshooting, I found that at at that RPM range, the new airbox lid would vibrate - causing the boom. I sorted this out with some sound deadening mat applied strategically.

Throughout the rest of the rev range, there is a slight difference in sound. It still sounds very sporty from inside the car and the car is more responsive and eager to rev. I honestly couldn't feel a difference in the power and torque through the rest of the rev range, but this might change with time as the ECU learns.

Overall, so far, so good. I'll see how it goes in the coming weeks as I spend more time in the car and the ECU learns. For the moment that's all I can comment on driving impressions, but I thought I'd post all my developments to date.

[San]

Great stuff !!!
The ECU would adjust and it will get better. At the Coast it will definitely feel alive...
How much was the BMWP Intake ? are you not planning on selling you orignal airbox kit ?
Where are you based, it will be lekker to test...

[zaleonardz@DentDocVPS]

Gavsadler,

Howdy man, its this kind of passion that I would love to see, paying insane prices for mods, and then taking extra time with it, you are a true fanatic.. so double

If you are close to JHB south, stop past my place over a weekend, and I shall reset your adaption settings for you

[Twinz]

Nice review and awesome kit with your creative carbon improvements

[gavsadler]

@SAN:

Quote:How much was the BMWP Intake ? are you not planning on selling you orignal airbox kit ?
Where are you based, it will be lekker to test...

It was close on R10k. I got too sick when I started working out everything based on the exchange rate, lol. No plans to sell my original bits of kit, I would probably end up selling the inktake first. I'm based in the Germiston / Alberton area.

@Zaleonardz

Quote:If you are close to JHB south, stop past my place over a weekend, and I shall reset your adaption settings for you

What do you do to reset things? Apparently the ECU adapts automatically, and in the instructions supplied by BMW, they say that it is not necessary to reset anything, it's plug and play

[David1]

Do you know if this would fit an E90 330i ?

Thanks

[MikeR]

looks really nice

[herr bmw]

looks good

if you want coat-it(ad is in speed and sound)do a permanent soloution on the carbon fibre,can withstand the heat of the engine

[ravenx786]

Looks good man.....Too bad you had to import. Dont you get it locally?

[Nixster]

Looks Great Man,

Keep da Passion!

[e46monk3y]

Nice!

I am thinking of getting one for my car.
How has it been since install, improvement in fuel economy?
Sound?
Responsiveness?

it's been 2 years since initial post so it 'should' have bedded in by now

[Twinz]

Its a great thread to revive. Really like those intakes. Yes, you can get it from your local Bmw dealership.

[Dippies]

would it also cost as much as he spend on the import

[Seaspray]

Nice... I am curious to find out how the wrap held up??

[SP33DYV]

Carbon bits are expensive!

[Jarv]

Looks awesome man
welldone
very nice write up!

[Philip Foglar]

Would love to have this fitted, but the gains are only going to be marginal - induction sound should be nicer though!

[moranor@axis]

(29-10-2012 02:27 PM)Philip Foglar Wrote:  Would love to have this fitted, but the gains are only going to be marginal - induction sound should be nicer though!

I think this kit is cheaper now or you could just fit the filter:

Click

[SP33DYV]

(29-10-2012 03:23 PM)moranor@axis Wrote:  

(29-10-2012 02:27 PM)Philip Foglar Wrote:  Would love to have this fitted, but the gains are only going to be marginal - induction sound should be nicer though!

I think this kit is cheaper now or you could just fit the filter:

Click

But then nobody will know, because you will not have the carbon bits. And the intake is a little bigger.

---

(29-10-2012 03:55 PM)SP33DYV Wrote:  

(29-10-2012 03:23 PM)moranor@axis Wrote:  

(29-10-2012 02:27 PM)Philip Foglar Wrote:  Would love to have this fitted, but the gains are only going to be marginal - induction sound should be nicer though!

I think this kit is cheaper now or you could just fit the filter:

Click

But then nobody will know, because you will not have the carbon bits. And the intake is a little bigger.

I should've maybe have clicked the link before replying.

[David1]

I've enquirer about this intake at 3 dealers in JOHANNESBURG and they ALL say that it I not available for my car (E90 330i Pre Lci)

They one reason I can think it is not listed is that we have the euro spec model and it won't do much to our cars. In the US it would make more of a difference but not much added to our cars.

If anyone knows otherwise, please let me (us) know!

Thanks