Cost effective performance N51

[Blutactical]

I recently got a 2013 128i w/ Steptronic auto(n51) and I was wondering what the best upgrades for performance would be, mainly improving my 0-60 time. I like the idea of the BMS powerbox because it would fix the pedal delay but it doesn't offer much HP gains from what I can tell. I'm also interested in the BPC and AA tunes but not sure if I want to change headers because I am in California and it would be a pain in the ass to smog it. Looking for any tips and most cost effective ways to improve speed; Maybe lighter wheels? I'm new to cars but I would really like to learn. I'm not sure how much performance a cold air intake or exhaust would add, feel free to make any suggestions. Thank you

[desertman123]

MILVS + BPC tune, along with some sort of transmission tune are your best options

AFe makes cat headers too

[rowsdower]

There isn’t a lot. MILVs sound great but are relatively untested and I am wary of messing with the valvetrain that way. I have to assume BMW would have made those pieces with less material to get more power if it didn’t impact reliability.

Truly, stepping up to a 135i is probably the answer, but the costs and time involved with doing that might be prohibitive.

[asbrr]

Originally Posted by Blutactical

I recently got a 2013 128i w/ Steptronic auto(n51) and I was wondering what the best upgrades for performance would be, mainly improving my 0-60 time. I like the idea of the BMS powerbox because it would fix the pedal delay but it doesn't offer much HP gains from what I can tell. I'm also interested in the BPC and AA tunes but not sure if I want to change headers because I am in California and it would be a pain in the ass to smog it. Looking for any tips and most cost effective ways to improve speed; Maybe lighter wheels? I'm new to cars but I would really like to learn. I'm not sure how much performance a cold air intake or exhaust would add, feel free to make any suggestions. Thank you

A tune for the N51 will provide some measurable gains, and as desertman123 stated you can get AFE headers but as far as I know there is no tune specifically made for them (I had briefly considered them, BPC does not do a tune for them). So they would provide gains but no optimized software.

[Blutactical]

Originally Posted by asbrr

A tune for the N51 will provide some measurable gains, and as desertman123 stated you can get AFE headers but as far as I know there is no tune specifically made for them (I had briefly considered them, BPC does not do a tune for them). So they would provide gains but no optimized software.

Can you tune the car without changing the headers? What is most necessary for say a BPC tune?

[asbrr]

Originally Posted by Blutactical

Can you tune the car without changing the headers? What is most necessary for say a BPC tune?

Yes - you can get a "stage 1" tune which is just the tune alone. New software will be uploaded to your ECU, and provide some performance benefits. BPC provides an electronic device that will perform the reprogramming, they will email you the file you upload into the car.

Have a look here:

https://bimmerperformancecenter.com/...i-n51-n52-tune

[Blutactical]

Originally Posted by asbrr

Yes - you can get a "stage 1" tune which is just the tune alone. New software will be uploaded to your ECU, and provide some performance benefits. BPC provides an electronic device that will perform the reprogramming, they will email you the file you upload into the car.

Have a look here:

https://bimmerperformancecenter.com/...i-n51-n52-tune

Thank you for the help, would you say that a stage 1 is worth it or should I bite the bullet and go for more mods?

[Taskmaster]

MILVs, 3 stage and a tune.

[Blutactical]

Originally Posted by Taskmaster

MILVs, 3 stage and a tune.

If im not mistaken, doesn't the N51 have the 3 stage?

[Taskmaster]

Originally Posted by Blutactical

If im not mistaken, doesn't the N51 have the 3 stage?

It does - I missed that. Then your two options are the tune and MILVs.

[Blutactical]

Originally Posted by Taskmaster

It does - I missed that. Then your two options are the tune and MILVs.

Thank you, where are MILVs sold? Ive heard of them but I'm not sure what they do.

[chris82]

I'd do the AA tune, cut the charcoal filter out of the airbox, rev motoring intake hose, BMW PE

[Taskmaster]

Originally Posted by chris82

I'd do the AA tune, cut the charcoal filter out of the airbox, rev motoring intake hose, BMW PE

The MILVs cost less than all of those combined (save the tune) and actually change the car for the better - zero trade off.

[chris82]

Originally Posted by Taskmaster

The MILVs cost less than all of those combined (save the tune) and actually change the car for the better - zero trade off.

what's the trade off with anything I listed?

everything i listed changes the car for better ....

*edit, missed the cost effective part. Yea, to improve 0-60 tune is only thing that will do anything significant

[Taskmaster]

Originally Posted by chris82

what's the trade off with anything I listed?

everything i listed changes the car for better ....

*edit, missed the cost effective part. Yea, to improve 0-60 tune is only thing that will do anything significant

I mean, everything you listed costs more and provides little to no tangible benefits on performance. I would know, I have all those mods you listed and the only one worth anything was the MILVS. You don't even have to be WOT to enjoy the added torque.

But don't just take my word for it, W37V , hassmaschine , varoadking Biginboca

[Blutactical]

Originally Posted by Taskmaster

I mean, everything you listed costs more and provides little to no tangible benefits on performance. I would know, I have all those mods you listed and the only one worth anything was the MILVS. You don't even have to be WOT to enjoy the added torque.

But don't just take my word for it, W37V , hassmaschine , varoadking Biginboca

Is the MILVs reliable over time? and how has your gas mileage been affected?

[varoadking]

Originally Posted by rowsdower

There isn’t a lot. MILVs sound great but are relatively untested and I am wary of messing with the valvetrain that way. I have to assume BMW would have made those pieces with less material to get more power if it didn’t impact reliability.

Maybe BMW didn't think of MILVs. Have you heard of even one bad report on MILVs? Me either...it's a fantastic upgrade.

The world was flat once too...

[desertman123]

Originally Posted by varoadking

Maybe BMW didn't think of MILVs. Have you heard of even one bad report on MILVs? Me either...it's a fantastic upgrade.

The world was flat once too...

BMW didn't just tune the motor for performance too. There's a balance between PLENTY of difference variables and requirements. Fuel economy, reliability, 50-state/tons of countries emissions requirements, etc.

Those are just the easy ones to name. What about motor-specific requirements? (I'm pulling these out of my ass), allowable eccentric-shaft rotational velocity (shaft torsion), keeping the geometry/forces/moments about some of the valvetrain components within the margin of safety? Fluid dynamics calculations for the intake air velocity, cylinder filling, etc. etc. I could keep going. But you get the idea.

[Blutactical]

Originally Posted by varoadking

Maybe BMW didn't think of MILVs. Have you heard of even one bad report on MILVs? Me either...it's a fantastic upgrade.

The world was flat once too...

The MILVs work with N51s also, right? Pretty much every post Ive seen is regarding the N52. Also, CobraMarty is the only source for then?

[Taskmaster]

Originally Posted by Blutactical

The MILVs work with N51s also, right? Pretty much every post Ive seen is regarding the N52. Also, CobraMarty is the only source for then?

Correct. And also correct.

Nothing negative to report either.

[rowsdower]

Originally Posted by varoadking

Maybe BMW didn't think of MILVs. Have you heard of even one bad report on MILVs? Me either...it's a fantastic upgrade.

The world was flat once too...

I haven’t heard any bad reports and I’ve been tempted by all the MILV posts, but they have only existed about a year now and in very limited numbers. So for me the question is whether we’ve heard any bad reports yet. There is certainly a trade-off, like all things, and no one ever mentions what that trade-off is, which makes me a little skeptical. Maybe it’s half a MPG decrease or maybe it’s a 50% increase in failure rate of a valvetrain component at higher mileage. Who knows? Sorta rolling the dice with MILVs a bit which is fine as long as you know you’re doing that.

[chris82]

Originally Posted by Taskmaster

I mean, everything you listed costs more and provides little to no tangible benefits on performance. I would know, I have all those mods you listed and the only one worth anything was the MILVS. You don't even have to be WOT to enjoy the added torque.

But don't just take my word for it, W37V , hassmaschine , varoadking Biginboca

Yes, you're correct. Original reply was edited before your response.