Still trying to learn this car

[Davyhay]

As many have seen in my post, I am having a bit of trouble with my BMW 135i. So much so that I am contemplating litigation against the dealership. Anyway...
In my old car--1.8T jetta--I could actually hear the turbo spooling under acceleration with the stock air box and exhaust. However, I cannot hear the turbos spooling in my 135. Is this normal?

I am assuming that, if the turbos were not functioning properly, I would get some sort of a low boost light. What really started me thinking about this was this BMS video showing a car running in their map 8 NA mode. I am sure this car is otherwise modded, but this is exactly how my cars pulls now.

[Davyhay]

I am planning on taking an old boost gauge I have and temporarily installing it this weekend. I guess this will solve the boost mystery.

[RimasRS]

So what is your problem? You will not hear TT spool until you will install catless DPs.
Read fault codes and you will see if there is something wrong with your car.

[J-Rod]

Originally Posted by Davyhay

As many have seen in my post, I am having a bit of trouble with my BMW 135i. So much so that I am contemplating litigation against the dealership. Anyway...
In my old car--1.8T jetta--I could actually hear the turbo spooling under acceleration with the stock air box and exhaust. However, I cannot hear the turbos spooling in my 135. Is this normal?

I am assuming that, if the turbos were not functioning properly, I would get some sort of a low boost light. What really started me thinking about this was this BMS video showing a car running in their map 8 NA mode. I am sure this car is otherwise modded, but this is exactly how my cars pulls now.

You sure you didn't get a 128 with a 135 badge??? hehe anything's possible! I have jb4 on map 5, ppk2 cooling hardware (otherwise stock) and I can faintly hear my turbos spooling under heavy acceleration, and it pulls a lot harder than that car in the video.

[SfValley335i]

theres only 4 hoses you have to look at for boost leak. I'd bet the charge pipe or one of the intercooler hoses is not 100%. Take pictures and post them, your words can only help us determine so much.

[Freon]

I could not really hear the turbos with engine completely stock. Switching to a dual cone intake I can hear it now a bit. Downpipes will also increase the sound as RimasRS said. Adding more free-flowing exhaust parts will increase it even further. Not hearing the turbos, in my opinion, doesn't mean anything.

It could just be a hose popped off the wastegates and/or boost control solenoid, or a bad solenoid. Really had to tell based on what you posted. It's not really sufficient to tell. Can you take a video of your own car?

Also, the car with the stock tune really doesn't feel like a turbo car. The boost target is so low, the electronics so smart, and with DI the car hits peak boost very fast. Last time I took my tune off it really felt like the turbos were completely turned off, but it was still hitting the factory ~8psi.

[MuNkY6913]

when my car was stock i couldn't hear the turbos at all. after dual cone intake i could hear the diverter valves more but still no spool. after catless downpipes with berk race i can clearly hear them spooling now.

[Davyhay]

Thanks guys--your input is certainly part of my learning process. The target stock boost is around 9psi, correct? When I get the boost gauge temped in, I will take a video of acceleration and post it. Also, I will carefully inspect all hoses from the turbo outlets to the charge pipe.

Thanks, as usual!

[bmw0bsession]

Stock the car is meant to be pretty quiet and "Comfortable" you can not hear the spool unless you upgrade the intake or get a Downpipe.

[b1aze]

So what exactly makes you think your car isn't performing optimally?

[Davyhay]

I talk about is ad nauseum here. http://www.1addicts.com/forums/showthread.php?t=880985

It feels like an absolute pig out of the hole and won't spin a tire to save it's life. (yes, DTC is completely off) Also, it ran consistent 14.2 1/4 miles at 98mph. Yes, it was a hot humid night, yes I shifted at redline, and no the car has not had walnut blasting even though it has 90K on the clock. But, I think it still should have broken into the 13's.

Also, I am probably overly-paranoid about the turbos since they have never been replaced and the car is over 82K. But, potentially being down on power is not the only issue with the car. It was represented as never being in a collision. After some cursory investigation, I have learned this not to be the case.

[MuNkY6913]

Originally Posted by Davyhay

I talk about is ad nauseum here. http://www.1addicts.com/forums/showthread.php?t=880985

It feels like an absolute pig out of the hole and won't spin a tire to save it's life. (yes, DTC is completely off) Also, it ran consistent 14.2 1/4 miles at 98mph. Yes, it was a hot humid night, yes I shifted at redline, and no the car has not had walnut blasting even though it has 90K on the clock. But, I think it still should have broken into the 13's.

Also, I am probably overly-paranoid about the turbos since they have never been replaced and the car is over 82K. But, potentially being down on power is not the only issue with the car. It was represented as never being in a collision. After some cursory investigation, I have learned this not to be the case.

stock in the 13's? i'm FBO and i'm hitting 13.03 with race gas. granted i havent dialed in 1st and 2nd gear yet so that should improve as i work on my launch. 14.2 doesnt sound to far off if its completely stock if i remember what mine felt like stock. with intake and race exleback and JB4 increasing boost from 7-9 psi to 15 i was only making it around 13.5, 13.6. i think you might be expecting a little much out of your car. thats my opinion. try cleaning the valves, new spark plugs all the stuff that should probably be done to a car with that many miles on it and see if that helps.

[Davyhay]

Originally Posted by MuNkY6913

stock in the 13's? i'm FBO and i'm hitting 13.03 with race gas. granted i havent dialed in 1st and 2nd gear yet so that should improve as i work on my launch. 14.2 doesnt sound to far off if its completely stock if i remember what mine felt like stock. with intake and race exleback and JB4 increasing boost from 7-9 psi to 15 i was only making it around 13.5, 13.6. i think you might be expecting a little much out of your car. thats my opinion. try cleaning the valves, new spark plugs all the stuff that should probably be done to a car with that many miles on it and see if that helps.

I was thinking these cars did in the 13.3 second range, stock.

[Zombie1]

These cars aren't running 14.2 thats pathetic stock they should be anywhere from 13.3-13.6 with a good driver 14.2 is just bad driving or your car needs help 90K and no walnut blasting yet? To me that's the clear winner on whats wrong with your car it should of had two walnut blastings already IMHO one at 45k other at 90k any rattling at idle?

[MuNkY6913]

Not by my experience. N54 and N55. We did low-mid 13's after intake exhaust and downpipes with tune. Again I'm a novice when it comes to the drag strip so I'm sure my time will get better as I get better.

[Davyhay]

Originally Posted by Zombie1

These cars aren't running 14.2 thats pathetic stock they should be anywhere from 13.3-13.6 with a good driver 14.2 is just bad driving or your car needs help 90K and no walnut blasting yet? To me that's the clear winner on whats wrong with your car it should of had two walnut blastings already IMHO one at 45k other at 90k any rattling at idle?

No--I have listened to several youtube videos with rattling wastegate actuators and I do not have that.

[milocher]

"So much so that I am contemplating litigation against the dealership."

Good luck with that. It takes less than 5 minutes for BMW to dictate if your car has ever been tuned, regardless of whether you've cleared shadow codes through INPA or other BMW software.

Like others have said, start with a walnut blast, and move to maintenance items from there.
Good luck.

[Davyhay]

Originally Posted by milocher

"So much so that I am contemplating litigation against the dealership."

Good luck with that. It takes less than 5 minutes for BMW to dictate if your car has ever been tuned, regardless of whether you've cleared shadow codes through INPA or other BMW software.

Like others have said, start with a walnut blast, and move to maintenance items from there.
Good luck.

Huh? what does that have to do with anything? First off, I did not buy the car from BMW and secondly, the car has been wrecked and it was represented to me as a car that had never been wrecked. I'm actually an attorney.

[Freon]

Originally Posted by Davyhay

no the car has not had walnut blasting even though it has 90K on the clock. But, I think it still should have broken into the 13's.

Well, there's your problem. A lot of people are getting the intake port cleaning around the 40k mark, half your mileage, posted pictures and their ports look HORRIBLE. I can't imagine what yours looks like at 90k.

I disagree that it should still hit 13's. A It may not be unreasonable that the car is down 40hp (only 13% or so), which would explain a 98mph trap. I wouldn't consider the ET as that has a lot more to due with your launch.

I would go ahead and get the walnut blasting or some sort of intake port cleaning done and get back to us. That seems so glaring given what I've seen with people's ports. I'm only at about 36k and getting ready to do my car already.

And yes, it sucks that it has to be done. Blast the car and BMW all you want, I'll agree, but doesn't change the fact that it has to be done.

[Davyhay]

Originally Posted by Freon

Well, there's your problem. A lot of people are getting the intake port cleaning around the 40k mark, half your mileage, posted pictures and their ports look HORRIBLE. I can't imagine what yours looks like at 90k.

I disagree that it should still hit 13's. A It may not be unreasonable that the car is down 40hp (only 13% or so), which would explain a 98mph trap. I wouldn't consider the ET as that has a lot more to due with your launch.

I would go ahead and get the walnut blasting or some sort of intake port cleaning done and get back to us. That seems so glaring given what I've seen with people's ports. I'm only at about 36k and getting ready to do my car already.

And yes, it sucks that it has to be done. Blast the car and BMW all you want, I'll agree, but doesn't change the fact that it has to be done.

Oh I love the car, and from what I have read, the powertrain is about as bullet-proof as they come. But yes, it does such that some of the peripherals were not more though out.

[ASPEC135i]

Did you not test drive the car before you bought it???

[Davyhay]

Coming from a 4-banger, it is had to distinguish a low 14 second car from a mid 13 second car.