DINAN Stage 2 + CAI or Perf Exhaust?

[spud]

i have a 2009 135i stock with M package.

The wife has approved the DINAN Stage 2 Software. She has also approved 1K for either the Performance exhaust or the DINAN Cold Air Intake. But not both.

Before anyone pipes up about aftermarket. Sorry, wont go there. I only do BMW warrantied parts.


Tough choice. I love the sound of the exhaust, but if the gains are superior with the CAI, then I will go that route and get the exhaust next year.

Like to hear other peeps opinions given the choice CAI or exhaust, which would you choose and why.

Thanks!

[BrokenVert]

Originally Posted by spud

Before anyone pipes up about aftermarket. Sorry, wont go there. I only do BMW warrantied parts.

Then you are SOL with Dinan parts. Because the Dinan parts do actually void the warranty on the BMW parts that they effect.

When something breaks Dinan and BMW NA talk and point fingers as to whose fault the broken part is.

[spud]

neg ghostrider. both are covered under bmw warranty and i have had experience mixing DINAN and BMW parts prior. Not a problem.

Regardless, that is all the opinion you have given the choice?

[acivick]

I would do the CAI. It's supposed to give you better gains than the exhaust and I can say it gives the car a smoother feeling, IMO. I also give it more style points than the exhaust, though the exhaust is crafted well and provides some nice notes without being annoying.

When you get the exhaust, go with the black tips, especially if you have the sports package.

[spud]

I didnt know the BMW Perf exhaust had black tips.. I know the DINAN gives you the options, but not BMW. thanks!

[Ruffan]

Here's my take: The exhaust will be more noticeable because you'll hear it every time you're in the car. According to the numbers the intake should provide more of a HP boost, but a 10hp difference just isn't that significant in a car making over 300hp. I have the dinan exhaust and love it. My dinan intake won't be on until the end of March, so this isn't firsthand experience fully.

I'd say do the exhaust and be happy with it. If you decide to allocate another $1k to mods, go for the intake and the power boost that comes with it. The car is already too powerful for it's suspension, so I'd honestly suggest suspension mods before you start going crazy with power upgrades.

[radiantm3]

Originally Posted by Ruffan

Here's my take: The exhaust will be more noticeable because you'll hear it every time you're in the car. According to the numbers the intake should provide more a HP boost, but a 10hp difference just isn't that significant in a car making over 300hp. I have the dinan exhaust and love it. My dinan intake won't be on until the end of March, so this isn't firsthand experience fully.

I'd say do the exhaust and be happy with it. If you decide to allocate another $1k to mods, go for the intake and the power boost that comes with it. The car is already too powerful for it's suspension, so I'd honestly suggest suspension mods before you start going crazy with power upgrades.

Going to have to agree with this.

I'd also go with the Dinan exhaust over BMW perf. Looks better (IMO) and Dinan supposedly optimizes the stage 2 tune slightly for their exhaust.

[acivick]

Originally Posted by spud

I didnt know the BMW Perf exhaust had black tips.. I know the DINAN gives you the options, but not BMW. thanks!

Ah, misread your first post, I was speaking about the Dinan exhaust. Not sure if the BMW Perf exhaust comes with black tips.

But yeah, you may want to consider suspension components before either as these guys say. The BMW Perf one wouldn't be too much more than your other two choices.

[IZAGLO]

go for the exhaust!!! It will be a blast as the stock exhaust is a wee bit to tame. I have the BMW Sport exhaust and had it installed before i picked up the car at the dealer and have the ICarbon diffuser coming to balance the length on this exhaust(BMW Factory exhaust is specd to fit in balance with a BMW or aftermarket CF diffuser) as well as making the rear of the car very sexy...even with the stainless tips on the BMWFactory Sport exhaust it looks better than the stocker.and man does it sound better...if you are not putting a diffuser on the car i would go with the Dinan exhaust for a better fit with the stock diffuser...but for me i worked the exhaust in the financing so it was a no brainer..with Dinan i could not...but i as well am going Dinan Stage2 this spring......$1000 for a intake Dinan and 10hp is a bit too much..and so is the tune but i agree with you and will only put parts on this car that my BMW dealership will stand behind and they are a authorized Dinan dealer and do the ECU flash right in house. AND THE DO BACK IT UP WITH A WARRANTY)..and coming from a CP-E TBE on my last ride i wanted some tone... and not as loud as my last..and the BMW Factory sound is nice and subdued and actually quiet when cruising..and am very happy with it....This is a no brainer...get the exhaust..My last ride i had 3 different intakes on the car at different times as well as 3 different blow off valve so i had my fill of wwwwssssh, flutter and odd ball sounds from the BOV valves and sucking noises from the CAI and SRI's ive tried CP-E, HKS,etcetc,...and i do not miss it in the least...i am more into some exhaust burble any day.

[spud]

thanks for the advice fella's. I can only allocate funds on a yearly basis that are within reason.

I really like the sound of the BMW performance exhaust.

I for the life of me cant get google to find a good sound clip of the dinan exhaust.

Anyone here have better luck than me and can post a link?

i wouldnt be against DINAN stage 2 and black tip DINAN exhaust....

Will do the CAI next, then suspension following.

[enigma135]

Hey spud, I went with the Dinan stage 2 and the BMW performance exhaust, I'll likely do the Dinan CAI somewhere down the road as well. Would have done the BMW performance suspension but there isn't one for the convertibles so I haven't done anything suspension wise yet.

[aisthetes]

Here are a few Dinan samples:

Outside car from rear bumper:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/wongdoo...7617008548052/

http://www.flickr.com/photos/wongdoo...7617008548052/

Inside car - highlights STG II brutal acceleration!

I agree on going with exhaust over intake. The soundtrack will add more to the overall driving experience, particularly with the performance in store for you with STG II on the way. A buddy of mine has the Dinan exhaust on his Dinan STG II 135i and it sounds very aggressive, yet still civilized. It fits the character of the car well, with a high-end tuned Germanic tone without sounding over-the-top aftermarket. Plus, the black Dinan logo etched tips look so sexy! The BMW Perf exhaust is sweet, too, but the tips do stick out too far for my taste with the OEM diffuser.

Maybe the wife will approve suspension and intake for the '11 budget.

[spud]

enigma, what was your first reaction after driving it with the upgrades? your jaw have to get surgically put back on? haha. I bet the butt dyno was off the scale.

aisthetes, THANKS!!!


Is there anyone technically smarter than me that knows what is better? Opening up the engine with the CAI vs opening it up with the output exhaust?

i was just curious which would be better to do first from a tech astoot person.

2011 will either be CAI or suspension. I am thinking fully opening it up is better over the suspension. well.. unless you guys convince me otherwise.

[UR2SLOW1]

Spud, Ya want to fill us married guys in on how you managed to get your wife to authorize a 2K Dinan Tune AND 1K in other mods I finally gave up on my wife and just bought the damn tune: Easier to ask for forgiveness than secure permission LOL

[spud]

It helps that her father restores old cars. He has an old stingray, mustang, and camero. So she grew up with cars being "tuned". haha

Everything else i have to beg.

[Ruffan]

I just make sure that I spend more on my wife than I do on my car!

[ESC OFF]

Originally Posted by spud

It helps that her father restores old cars. He has an old stingray, mustang, and camero. So she grew up with cars being "tuned". haha

Everything else i have to beg.

does she have a sister?....

j/k good luck with the mods...my $.02, Dinan stage 2 + exhaust, skip the CAI....

[spud]

haha, no sister..

yeah, im on board with DINAN and exhaust!

[spud]

Bummer news. So I totally got OBAMA'd on my taxes. I am unfortunately accounting illiterate and did not adjust my W4 when the stimulus package came out. Which essentially changed my fed witholdings to be less per month. This was the presidents idea to put more money in peoples pocket per month to spend it to get the economy moving again. Well, just b/c they withheld less, doesnt mean you wont have to pay it back. I should have changed my W4 to have them withhold more, b/c my federal "loan" is due back april 15th.

I owe 4K in taxes. So, the wife says i have to wait till late spring or summer before the Stage 2 and exhaust upgrade.

Fak!

[enigma135]

Dagger!

[spud]

to the heart!