Anyone Considering A Blowoff Valve for their 135i?

Axiom · 01-15-2009, 11:02 AM

http://www.1addicts.com/forums/showthread.php?t=901

Scroll down to Air Ducting Overview. There is no MAF on this engine like was stated previously so the ECU does not care weather or not air is reintroduced back into the intake from the bypass valves.

In short, having a BOV on the N54 will not change preformance or engine longetivity. All you get from putting one on is the sound. Maybe reliability if the stock valves turn out to be junk but we wont know that for a long while.

/thread

Evolution Racewerks · 01-15-2009, 05:58 PM

There is a lot of misinformation from the earliest posts so I recommend whoever is reading to disregard the early posts. Only the later posts (2008) have more relevance and is correct.

As mentioned earlier by someone, the car is a speed density system that utilizes a MAP sensor. The MAP sensor read vacuum/pressure in part with the o2 sensor to calculate fueling needs. Since a blow off valve/diverter valve/bypass valve/pop off valve (or whatever fancy name you want to call essentially what is the same thing) will not negatively hurt performance as the car will detect the change in pressure from the valve releasing and compensate correctly.

In a MAF sensor system, the MAF actually "reads" the airflow and that "metered" air is used to calculate fueling needs. When the blow off valve releases pressure, there is no way the car knows that metered air is released and it still adds fuel as if that metered air is still there, causing a rich condition. Now normally, that air is dumped back into the system AFTER the MAF sensor so that the metered air is still in the system, just recirculated to the front of the track.

Now, there is a performance aspect of the blow off valve and that is why it is replaced. It's not for the sound. The sound is just an after effect that many seem to like. The OEM diverter valve/blow off valve etc... is designed to operate on a OEM car. The spring used inside the diverter valve is rated around what maximum boost should be on a car. Since aftermarket tuned cars typically run almost double the boost of what a stock car runs, this may become a problem as the diverter valve may open slightly under boost when it's not suppose to, bleeding off boost pressure. Running an aftermarket blow off valve will prevent this as the spring will be stronger and capable of keeping the valve closed.

Another thing, aftermarket blow off valves also react faster, giving a better throttle response. The after effect is the high pitch screech. OEM valves typically react (open/close) slower as they do not want that high pitch.

Now, if you don't want the high pitch sound, just have it rerouted back into the intake like OEM does and that will greatly reduce the sound as it is muffled in the intake tract.

mikeo · 01-15-2009, 07:21 PM

Fred,
Wouldn't a quality after-market diverter valve with stiffer springs (Forge comes to mind) accomplish the same thing if you don't want the "noise"?

01-15-2009, 11:02 AM	#133
Axiom New Member 2 Rep 9 Posts Drives: Join Date: Jan 2009 iTrader: (0)	http://www.1addicts.com/forums/showthread.php?t=901 Scroll down to Air Ducting Overview. There is no MAF on this engine like was stated previously so the ECU does not care weather or not air is reintroduced back into the intake from the bypass valves. In short, having a BOV on the N54 will not change preformance or engine longetivity. All you get from putting one on is the sound. Maybe reliability if the stock valves turn out to be junk but we wont know that for a long while. /thread
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01-15-2009, 05:58 PM	#134
Evolution Racewerks Captain 140 Rep 863 Posts Drives: 20 M340i,15 M4,12 328i,08 135i Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Azusa, CA iTrader: (3)	There is a lot of misinformation from the earliest posts so I recommend whoever is reading to disregard the early posts. Only the later posts (2008) have more relevance and is correct. As mentioned earlier by someone, the car is a speed density system that utilizes a MAP sensor. The MAP sensor read vacuum/pressure in part with the o2 sensor to calculate fueling needs. Since a blow off valve/diverter valve/bypass valve/pop off valve (or whatever fancy name you want to call essentially what is the same thing) will not negatively hurt performance as the car will detect the change in pressure from the valve releasing and compensate correctly. In a MAF sensor system, the MAF actually "reads" the airflow and that "metered" air is used to calculate fueling needs. When the blow off valve releases pressure, there is no way the car knows that metered air is released and it still adds fuel as if that metered air is still there, causing a rich condition. Now normally, that air is dumped back into the system AFTER the MAF sensor so that the metered air is still in the system, just recirculated to the front of the track. Now, there is a performance aspect of the blow off valve and that is why it is replaced. It's not for the sound. The sound is just an after effect that many seem to like. The OEM diverter valve/blow off valve etc... is designed to operate on a OEM car. The spring used inside the diverter valve is rated around what maximum boost should be on a car. Since aftermarket tuned cars typically run almost double the boost of what a stock car runs, this may become a problem as the diverter valve may open slightly under boost when it's not suppose to, bleeding off boost pressure. Running an aftermarket blow off valve will prevent this as the spring will be stronger and capable of keeping the valve closed. Another thing, aftermarket blow off valves also react faster, giving a better throttle response. The after effect is the high pitch screech. OEM valves typically react (open/close) slower as they do not want that high pitch. Now, if you don't want the high pitch sound, just have it rerouted back into the intake like OEM does and that will greatly reduce the sound as it is muffled in the intake tract.
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01-15-2009, 07:21 PM	#135
mikeo Santa Fe Concorso 103 Rep 2,984 Posts Drives: '11 M-sport 328i, '13 X1 28i Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Santa Fe, NM iTrader: (3)	Fred, Wouldn't a quality after-market diverter valve with stiffer springs (Forge comes to mind) accomplish the same thing if you don't want the "noise"? __________________ Santa Fe Concorso - The Southwest's Premier Automotive Gathering.
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