BMW Performance Intake Kit for 130i now fitted!!!!

[sootyvrs]

Great news, glad you got sorted. Do post how you get on with it.... remember to wind the windows down for maximum effect

[type one]

Ordered BMW performance intake last friday (being in Australia I was holding out for a good cross rate - which i got!)

Arrived today! Will get onto installation when I get home from work tonight...

Overall extremely pleased with shipping speed and X rate! Still four on ebay if anyone wants one! 125i or 130i drivers.

[Fireflyer239]

Thanks Sooty, excellent write-up. Still remains to be seen though, what we can see from combining exhaust and intake upgrades with an ECU tune. Together they're the "Trilogy" that make up the big "air pump". Sure the stock ECU can compensate a bit for increased airflow...but we can do better! Heck, I'm jealous you've got the 30 HP I've been robbed of here with my measley 128!! Rock on!

[sootyvrs]

We are lucky to have the 130i here in UK although sadly no longer for sale in the UK market!

I am waiting to get a remap shortly but I'm only expecting no more than 15 bhp increase.

I think the Intake and Exhaust have more effect low down and mid range than at the top end.

PS I have read that the 125i/128i is just an ECU change away from the 130i so I think a remap will have greater benefits on the 125i/128i than on the slightly higher tuned 130i.

[Fireflyer239]

I'm thinking the same thing Sooty, but there isn't much development on that front here in the states yet. Much of my experience is with Harley Davidson bikes, and I've seen the benefits of adding a properly mapped Power Commander fuel injection control module, in combination with freer-flowing intake and exhaust. Yeah I know my 128 doesn't run an air-cooled 2 valve V-Twin but I agree there are benefits to be had with a good tune. Problem is that here in the states (land of Texas-style bigger-is-always-better), the N/A engine isn't taken seriously, and so all development goes into the N54. Damn shame!

[type one]

N/A is taken seriously full stop... I am always disappointed when i see a whole list of goodies available for the 135i and nothing for the 6 cyl N/A engines.

Quick review, the BMWP intake removed a flat spot on the 2nd to 3rd gear upshift and and gives me a good amount of pull off the blocks... Overall very happy on a price/performance/sound point of view and would recommend.

[sootyvrs]

Glad you got sorted OK and took advantage of the very weak £

[Muggs]

Thanks Sooty! Great article, I got inspired after reading this and recently had one installed!

I have uploaded a sound clip for those interested:

[Bimmer-Bob]

When you say that installation was "extremely straightforward," would you reckon a novice would be able to handle it? I mean, access couldn't be easier and it doesn't look terribly complicated. Anyway, cheers for the review. Car looks great.

[sootyvrs]

Originally Posted by Bimmer-Bob

When you say that installation was "extremely straightforward," would you reckon a novice would be able to handle it? I mean, access couldn't be easier and it doesn't look terribly complicated. Anyway, cheers for the review. Car looks great.

Thanks

Yes, very easy as I'm no DIY expert.

Just 4 torx screws that you can see on the 2 air inlets at the front above the grills and then replace. The old lid comes off with around 8 torx screws around the edges and the back bit just pulls off where you replace it with new part. All you need is a correct size torx screw driver.

PS you use the same screws which are already on your car

[Bimmer-Bob]

Nice - sounds like a piece of cake. That actually makes the mod a bit more affordable and will probably be one of my first. Thanks again.

[SP 7757]

I also have sooty to thank!

Got parts fron UK and installed into my wifes 125!!

Instructions (downloadable from this site) suggest disconnecting negative pole of battery temporarily, to reset ECU presumably.

Sound slightly louder and deeper from outside; not much change inside except for noticeably improved responsiveness and "revvability".

The change in performance is greater than that of the sound.

[gts135]

Not sure why it's stated that a BMW Performance Intake is not available for the 135. As far as I know, it is. Is there something I'm missing? Here's the link to the Canadian site.

http://www.bmw.ca/ca/en/owners/acces...s/content.html

[jkp1187]

Originally Posted by gts135

Not sure why it's stated that a BMW Performance Intake is not available for the 135. As far as I know, it is. Is there something I'm missing? Here's the link to the Canadian site.

http://www.bmw.ca/ca/en/owners/acces...s/content.html

The BMW performance intake is only available for the naturally-aspirated N52 engine. There are aftermarket performance intakes available for the turbo N54 engine in the 135i, but nothing from BMW. The website you pointed to is misleading, since it says it's available for the "1-series".

[gts135]

Originally Posted by jkp1187

The BMW performance intake is only available for the naturally-aspirated N52 engine. There are aftermarket performance intakes available for the turbo N54 engine in the 135i, but nothing from BMW. The website you pointed to is misleading, since it says it's available for the "1-series".

Gotcha - guess I should read to the end of the description! thx

[1nosuchthing]

Originally Posted by type one

Ordered BMW performance intake last friday (being in Australia I was holding out for a good cross rate - which i got!)

Arrived today! Will get onto installation when I get home from work tonight...

Overall extremely pleased with shipping speed and X rate! Still four on ebay if anyone wants one! 125i or 130i drivers.

Hey type one, where did you end up getting the performance intake from and how much was the cost to Australia?
I'm living in Perth, Australia. Just want to find out what the total cost would end up being.

Cheers

[type one]

Originally Posted by 1nosuchthing

Hey type one, where did you end up getting the performance intake from and how much was the cost to Australia?
I'm living in Perth, Australia. Just want to find out what the total cost would end up being.

Cheers

Purchased the intake off ebay from a BMW dealership in the UK - can't remember the name of the dealer, but i am sure they still have a couple if you search 'BMW performance'

Cost me $950 shipped to Melbourne, better than the $1,700 the Melb dealership quoted me! That was when the pound Xrate was about 58-60?

[sootyvrs]

Contact Kevin @ Cotswold BMW UK and he will give you a price for export.

kevinandrews@cotswoldgroup.com

[Forever_BM!]

Hey sooty great thread. Thats sold it for me on getting a BMWP intake for myself! As I'm new to this and doing my homework first
But just one thing, Where did you find the intake for 400 pounds? As i tried Kevin at Cotswold BMW UK and I've gotten a different quote on the price?

I'm also beginning to do my first mod's and shopping around for the best options and mod's around! And all you guys are providing great and useful info so thanks!

[thepriceisright]

Sorry to drag up an ancient thread, but there was a bit of conversation here that got me wondering.

This picture, from the op:



And the associated description that it's a little vent that goes back to the firewall... Well, it got me thinking that it is there just to make the intake noisier in the cabin. I wonder if BMW added this to make it seem like this product actually does something, when in reality the factory intake is efficient enough.

Just putting it out there for conversation. Personally I'm tempted to buy the intake as BMW says it's more efficient, it sounds better, and I like the way it works.

[insane79]

good question, anyone can share some light if the extra intake is only for getting the noise in the cabin?

Thanks..