DISA Intake Manifold with Evolve Software Install/Review

[thumper88]

How much did these mods affect gas mileage?

[TheSt|G]

Evolve tune and headers improved my MPG. No idea on the DISA.

[jksgoh]

hmm pretty interested in this.
anyone got any thoughts on the transmission side of thing? i notice the 130i has a different transmission - looks bigger

[TheSt|G]

Originally Posted by jksgoh

hmm pretty interested in this.
anyone got any thoughts on the transmission side of thing? i notice the 130i has a different transmission - looks bigger

It looks like the 130i and older BMWs like the E46 ZHP and first gen Z4s share the same manual, which makes sense as the 130i has been out for some time now. The 128i manual seems to have replaced it for N52 applications.

I fortunately have a ZHP, so I'll throw it on the lift at some point to cross compare.

[exPat]

My goal is to install DISA + headers + Evolve. But my car hasn't even been delivered and I'm hoping to avoid potential warranty issues at least into the 2nd year.

Are there any improvements to be had with DISA only and then adding headers and tune later? Or does it make more sense to just keep power stock for now and do it all later? Unfortunately I don't have a decent tuner locally to use as a resource.

[Dafttt]

Originally Posted by exPat

My goal is to install DISA + headers + Evolve. But my car hasn't even been delivered and I'm hoping to avoid potential warranty issues at least into the 2nd year.

Are there any improvements to be had with DISA only and then adding headers and tune later? Or does it make more sense to just keep power stock for now and do it all later? Unfortunately I don't have a decent tuner locally to use as a resource.

I'd enjoy the car for a year or so. Let the car stretch it's legs and such.

But you could get a 3 stage right off the bat. It's BMW OEM. There's decent performance to be had in it too, even with the stock ECU.
No warranty issues.

[Bimmer-Bob]

If you're going to go through the trouble of installing the manifold, you might as well get a tune. From what I've read, the gains without the tune are minimal (some have even said you lose power at certain RPM's, not sure) and in any case, the power delivery is sloppy and uneven with the manifold + stock tune. I just don't see the sense in half-stepping here - the manifold and the tune are two halves of a whole, and either one by itself is not worth the effort IMO. My $0.02.

[Dafttt]

Originally Posted by Bimmer-Bob

From what I've read, the gains without the tune are minimal (some have even said you lose power at certain RPM's, not sure) and in any case, the power delivery is sloppy and uneven with the manifold + stock tune.

You're right.

Get a tune when you get the 3 stage, it doesn't really do anything alone:
http://www.1addicts.com/forums/showthread.php?t=721340

I was under an different impression from another e90post thread that, of course, now I can't find.

[TheSt|G]

With the Evolve tune you have the cable and the ability to flash back to stock at any point. I'm not sure with the AA tune. Either way, the dealer won't know if you have the DISA manifold and flash back to stock.

Furthermore, headers will only void the warranty on your stock headers. Legally, they can't do anything beyond that. So you are fine.

[thumper88]

This is fascinating stuff, started here and then dug up more in other threads, feel certain I'm going to do this but I think the start has to be finding the right intake... a full list of the different correct model donor vehicles would surely speed the search....

[AlwayzUnce]

Originally Posted by TheSt|G

With the Evolve tune you have the cable and the ability to flash back to stock at any point. I'm not sure with the AA tune. Either way, the dealer won't know if you have the DISA manifold and flash back to stock.

Furthermore, headers will only void the warranty on your stock headers. Legally, they can't do anything beyond that. So you are fine.

You certain about that? I will be out of warranty in 5000 miles anyway... but i could see my stealership saying that headers will void your electrical and wheel/tire insurance. They will always try and stiff you by me. My car needed to be re-aligned before i had 1000 miles on it. They tried to tell me that i hit a pot hole.

Just recently my windshield cracked, and while i know it was not a warranty issue, i tried to get it covered anyway. Their reasoning behind not covering it was that the windshield had "aftermarket tint".

Anyway, after i pass this test im studying for... disa, headers, tune.... (and maybe fix windshield too)

[TheSt|G]

Originally Posted by AlwayzUnce

You certain about that? I will be out of warranty in 5000 miles anyway... but i could see my stealership saying that headers will void your electrical and wheel/tire insurance. They will always try and stiff you by me. My car needed to be re-aligned before i had 1000 miles on it. They tried to tell me that i hit a pot hole.

Just recently my windshield cracked, and while i know it was not a warranty issue, i tried to get it covered anyway. Their reasoning behind not covering it was that the windshield had "aftermarket tint".

Anyway, after i pass this test im studying for... disa, headers, tune.... (and maybe fix windshield too)

The windshield isn't their issue, I can see why they would deny that.

Under the Magnuson-Moss Warranty act:

No warrantor may condition the continued validity of a warranty on the use of only authorized repair service and/or authorized replacement parts for non-warranty service and maintenance. For example, provisions such as, "This warranty is void if service is performed by anyone other than an authorized 'ABC' dealer and all replacement parts must be genuine 'ABC' parts," and the like, are prohibited where the service or parts are not covered by the warranty. These provisions violate the Act in two ways. First, they violate the section 102(c) ban against tying arrangements. Second, such provisions are deceptive under section 110 of the Act, because a warrantor cannot, as a matter of law, avoid liability under a written warranty where a defect is unrelated to the use by a consumer of "unauthorized" articles or service.

So if they say you voided your warranty because of your headers, you can say screw you, I only voided my header warranty. The law is on your side.

[cu260r6]

My 3 stage intake is going in this week, and I'm pondering which tune to get. The AA one with their self tuner tool is $850 while the Evolve one is $900 which includes the self upload feature/tool. Anyone have any reasons why I should spend the extra $50 on the Evolve?

[andrey_gta]

Originally Posted by cu260r6

My 3 stage intake is going in this week, and I'm pondering which tune to get. The AA one with their self tuner tool is $850 while the Evolve one is $900 which includes the self upload feature/tool. Anyone have any reasons why I should spend the extra $50 on the Evolve?

Evolve vs AA. From my research looking at dyno curves (130i evolves vs AA's) is refinement. Evolve seems smoother, while AA is more choppy with some odd peaks in the middle. Both probably end up 5hp apart at some point and do deliver. Cant go wrong. Evolve does header option in a better way than AA (Tune down sensors vs turn off sensor)

You can also add www.p-torque.co.uk to the list of you are to spend on remote flasher tool. They are popular on 125i in uk. Reviews on Babybmw forums, and their facebook page and offer remote tuning. Cost competitive, I assume they handle header option like AA.

[exPat]

Originally Posted by Bimmer-Bob

If you're going to go through the trouble of installing the manifold, you might as well get a tune. From what I've read, the gains without the tune are minimal (some have even said you lose power at certain RPM's, not sure) and in any case, the power delivery is sloppy and uneven with the manifold + stock tune. I just don't see the sense in half-stepping here - the manifold and the tune are two halves of a whole, and either one by itself is not worth the effort IMO. My $0.02.

Originally Posted by Daft Auto

Get a tune when you get the 3 stage, it doesn't really do anything alone:
http://www.1addicts.com/forums/showthread.php?t=721340

Thanks for everyone's input. At this point I'm thinking SuperSprint + DISA + Evolve. I'm also thinking I'll let the car settle before I start modding the power train. Suspension, is another matter (sooner rather than later), and another thread.

[Obioban]

Originally Posted by cu260r6

My 3 stage intake is going in this week, and I'm pondering which tune to get. The AA one with their self tuner tool is $850 while the Evolve one is $900 which includes the self upload feature/tool. Anyone have any reasons why I should spend the extra $50 on the Evolve?

The evolve cable is also a code reader/clearer that displays the codes in plain English.

I bet they get more power from their header tune, too, being as they're the only SUuersprint dealer in England and all the cars they tune (130i's and 125i's) have DISA... So there, headers/tune is the go to setup (whereas AA likely hasn't seen many).

[andrey_gta]

Originally Posted by Obioban

So there, headers/tune is the go to setup (whereas AA likely hasn't seen many).

There was a funny thread on e90post about a headers and 3im with AA software 328i being not much faster than a 328i with a Pe exhaust. No idea what happened, prob driver error.

[thumper88]

Originally Posted by TheSt|G

Evolve tune and headers improved my MPG. No idea on the DISA.

Ok, maybe a better question might be what are you generally getting for mileage? I wouldnt ask you to go trouble of topping a tank and measuring it precisely, but what does your computer generally tell you for highway stuff?

Gas mileage isn't the center of my world, but if I'm going to honestly calculate the cost of the mods, I want to include any change in mileage.

$900 in mods that don't affect typical-driving-style mileage cost $900.

$900 in mods that cut mileage by 10 mpg cost, just to use an extreme but round number, might cost a total of $2,400 over 100,000 miles.

[TheSt|G]

My average MPG went from 16 to 18. I drive balls out most of the time.

[631twentyeighteye]

More power=engine doesnt have to work as hard=better mileage. All assuming you can keep your foot outta da pedal.

[Dafttt]

Originally Posted by TheSt|G

My average MPG went from 16 to 18. I drive balls out most of the time.

16MPG! Damn I thought mine was bad.
Do you even brake, bro?

Btw, I ended up with a similar suspension setup. Updates soon!
In hindsight I should've put the pieces on part-by-part, but I thought doing it at once would save me on labor.

Originally Posted by 631twentyeighteye

More power=engine doesnt have to work as hard=better mileage. All assuming you can keep your foot outta da pedal.

Had a similar dilema with the PE. They said, "..slight increase in MPG!" What they didn't account for was my significantly heavier foot from 1-4k RPM.

His headers maximize the outward exhaust flow, thereby allowing it to run smoother, cleaner, and more efficiently all-around. Same can be said for ECU reprogramming.

[Suprgnat]

Originally Posted by Daft Auto

16MPG! Damn I thought mine was bad.
Do you even brake, bro?

16 MPG... Not so bad. Try seeing what your MPG is if you keep it between 4 K and 7 K RPM all the time. 12 MPG, but so much fun. The response is amazing.