135i Turbo Engine (N54 / N55) *General Questions Thread*

[bryce]

i'll respond to the meth question tomorrow @ work

[bryce]

meth- used for two purposes. it cools the intake charge, post-intercooler, which results in higher power. it's possible to get to ambient (or even below) charge air temp, which results in lower knock possibility and more oxygen for the combustion cycle. also, meth is an octane booster, which also promotes lower knock possibility and higher power.

i haven't added meth to my car yet because i'm waiting to see what other kits are released this year. plus, it's a little more maintenance with meth, and i've been driving 1k miles plus a month lately. overall, a meth kit should be used in conjunction with a tune w/ failsafes (jb3/4, procede) to fully protect the engine.

[mineo77]

Byrce,

i just got my Vishnue kit in the mail yesterday! Looks nice. Debating cutting my OEM charge pipe for the included meth elbow or going with aftermarket charge pipe and DV or BOV. Will eventually do the HPF BOV kit, what sucks is they are NOT providing meth bungs in the charge pipe cause the fuel rail/manifold for the stage turbo kits with have 5 meth bungs with the standalone tune.

[bryce]

Originally Posted by mineo77

Byrce,

i just got my Vishnue kit in the mail yesterday! Looks nice. Debating cutting my OEM charge pipe for the included meth elbow or going with aftermarket charge pipe and DV or BOV. Will eventually do the HPF BOV kit, what sucks is they are NOT providing meth bungs in the charge pipe cause the fuel rail/manifold for the stage turbo kits with have 5 meth bungs with the standalone tune.

hey Tim,
that's cool you got your meth kit

that's understandable about the HPF charge pipe, but it's frustrating no doubt. and if i remember correctly, a meth elbow (say from AR design) won't work on your car because it's a '10 with a different stock charge pipe. it's a tough choice but i think i would:

-buy a cheap charge pipe w/ meth bung(s) and bov. i've seen them for relatively cheap on the forum, can't remember the brand.
-keep your stock charge pipe un-cut for when you part out or go to the dealership
-sell the aftermarket one once the HPF setup is released




regardless, good luck! i'm looking forward to your review of the meth kit. BTW- i did notice the bug in the V5 firmware; it's when you switch from the n/a mode back to one of the autotuning maps. the car studders a little until the map is adapted. i read how to reset some adaptations w/ the procede command center, but i think shiv is releasing new firmware soon that will do that automatically

[bryce]

TTT for general performance mod questions

[oman135]

all the N54 mid pipes will work on the N55 without cutting ?

[bryce]

Originally Posted by oman135

all the N54 mid pipes will work on the N55 without cutting ?

everything that i've seen indicates YES. berk technology, CP-e, other full dp-back exhausts originally for the n54 have been proven on n55 vehicles.

[oman135]

thanks bryce
but will the mid pipe really make difference in the n55 because the stock 1 already has no cats

[bryce]

Originally Posted by oman135

thanks bryce
but will the mid pipe really maked ifference in the n55 because the stock 1 already has no cats

you'd be getting slightly larger midpipes and higher-flowing resonators. so yes, i think it'd be worth it if you were already doing an axle back.

[mineo77]

Originally Posted by bryce

hey Tim,
that's cool you got your meth kit

that's understandable about the HPF charge pipe, but it's frustrating no doubt. and if i remember correctly, a meth elbow (say from AR design) won't work on your car because it's a '10 with a different stock charge pipe. it's a tough choice but i think i would:

-buy a cheap charge pipe w/ meth bung(s) and bov. i've seen them for relatively cheap on the forum, can't remember the brand.
-keep your stock charge pipe un-cut for when you part out or go to the dealership
-sell the aftermarket one once the HPF setup is released




regardless, good luck! i'm looking forward to your review of the meth kit. BTW- i did notice the bug in the V5 firmware; it's when you switch from the n/a mode back to one of the autotuning maps. the car studders a little until the map is adapted. i read how to reset some adaptations w/ the procede command center, but i think shiv is releasing new firmware soon that will do that automatically

So i ended up purchasing a Stett charge pipe, has 2 meth bungs. debating on the BOV type...but leaning towards the TiAL BOV over the HKS and synapse at this point.

YES, i will swap out to the HPF BOV kit, but at a future date when i am using their standalone tune and meth kit....until then i will keep me happy with the Stett!!

[oman135]

Originally Posted by bryce

you'd be getting slightly larger midpipes and higher-flowing resonators. so yes, i think it'd be worth it if you were already doing an axle back.

thanks
am getting the berk sport system but i will install it in the dealer
how much do u think should i pay for axle+mids installation ?

[BMW86]

Originally Posted by mineo77

So i ended up purchasing a Stett charge pipe, has 2 meth bungs. debating on the BOV type...but leaning towards the TiAL BOV over the HKS and synapse at this point.

YES, i will swap out to the HPF BOV kit, but at a future date when i am using their standalone tune and meth kit....until then i will keep me happy with the Stett!!

Nice one Tim. Is this a subtle hint in saying HPF is falling behind again for their BOV kit release? I know they said it will be released around Spring but they never said specified if it would be 2011

[bryce]

Originally Posted by mineo77

So i ended up purchasing a Stett charge pipe, has 2 meth bungs. debating on the BOV type...but leaning towards the TiAL BOV over the HKS and synapse at this point.

YES, i will swap out to the HPF BOV kit, but at a future date when i am using their standalone tune and meth kit....until then i will keep me happy with the Stett!!

nice, that's probably exactly what i would've done. tial is definitely a good choice for a bov. i'm very familiar with tial bov's and wastegates, they're worth every penny

Originally Posted by oman135

thanks
am getting the berk sport system but i will install it in the dealer
how much do u think should i pay for axle+mids installation ?

i'd recommend doing the install yourself. it's not very complicated at all, and with some jackstands and a socket set you can probably knock it out in an hour or two. you'd get valuable experience working on the car, in addition, in case you ever needed to go back to the stock exhaust.


if you still want to get it installed at the dealer, be prepared for the equivalent of a few hundred dollars US. dealerships are notorious for marking up labor excessively

[The1]

Originally Posted by bryce

i'd recommend doing the install yourself. it's not very complicated at all, and with some jackstands and a socket set you can probably knock it out in an hour or two. you'd get valuable experience working on the car, in addition, in case you ever needed to go back to the stock exhaust.


if you still want to get it installed at the dealer, be prepared for the equivalent of a few hundred dollars US. dealerships are notorious for marking up labor excessively

it's an easy install, especially since our cars are so new, the nuts and bolts will still come apart easily.

[oman135]

anyone who has the berk exhaust the sport or race without dps please post a video
i want to know how it sounds on the N55 before ordering!

[oman135]

bryce did u hear the sport and race systems (berk) in person ?
cant really decide which 1 to get am worried that the sport will be slightly louder then stock and the race will be very loud! is the sport system noticeably louder then the stock exhaust (n55) ?

[oman135]

guys if i install the berk tech or any other exhaust what happens to vacuum line in the stock exhaust?
went to the dealer to ask him if my warranty will be voided when installing exhaust he said its okay if u dont remove the vacuum line /operater?
new to mods please explain !

[oman135]

Originally Posted by oman135

guys if i install the berk tech or any other exhaust what happens to vacuum line in the stock exhaust?
went to the dealer to ask him if my warranty will be voided when installing exhaust he said its okay if u dont remove the vacuum line /operater?
new to mods please explain !

anyone ?

[FDfranklin]

Originally Posted by oman135

bryce did u hear the sport and race systems (berk) in person ?
cant really decide which 1 to get am worried that the sport will be slightly louder then stock and the race will be very loud! is the sport system noticeably louder then the stock exhaust (n55) ?

In the same boat, can't find any videos with stock downpipe

[oman135]

Originally Posted by FDfranklin

In the same boat, can't find any videos with stock downpipe

i hope someone will post a video soon i actually prefer the muffler version but i dont want to spend 1000 for a slighty louder exhaust!

[Impervious]

What is the cheapest, most efficient exhaust or way to make my car louder? By this I mean, new muffler, test pipe, etc. By louder I'm looking for loud but not obnoxiously loud.

Smart asses need not apply: i.e."take all the pipes off"

Thanks in advance!

[oman135]

get the berk race exhaust resonated mids+ axle back with no mufflers but this exhaust will definitely drone.