Bimmer-Bob's 128i Belated Build Thread

[Taskmaster]

Ever try adding that SIlicone hose?

[Bimmer-Bob]

Originally Posted by TheAxiom

Ever try adding that SIlicone hose?

No, I'm pretty skeptical that it's worth a damn, despite the dynos that suggest a very modest gain. I guess I wonder if it's not just variance within a margin of error.

I guess for $65 or whatever you probably can't go wrong, but I do have other, more expensive projects in the works. Probably one day I'll go ahead and do the intake hose and a Euro air box (or just a charcoal filter delete) just for the heck of it.

[Taskmaster]

Originally Posted by Bimmer-Bob

No, I'm pretty skeptical that it's worth a damn, despite the dynos that suggest a very modest gain. I guess I wonder if it's not just variance within a margin of error.

I guess for $65 or whatever you probably can't go wrong, but I do have other, more expensive projects in the works. Probably one day I'll go ahead and do the intake hose and a Euro air box (or just a charcoal filter delete) just for the heck of it.

No charcoal delete, no silicone hose and here we are trying to figure out why they dyno numbers seem off. You have a bottleneck you need to fix, and please just skip the European airbox all together.

Otherwise I'll take the BMW PI.

[Bimmer-Bob]

Originally Posted by TheAxiom

No charcoal delete, no silicone hose and here we are trying to figure out why they dyno numbers seem off. You have a bottleneck you need to fix, and please just skip the European airbox all together.

Otherwise I'll take the BMW PI.

Is the charcoal delete really a thing? I figured people were just exaggerating.

The only reason(s) I would do the Euro box is that it's sort of an automatic charcoal filter delete, plus you get easy access to cool cone filters versus impossible-to-access panel filters.

[Taskmaster]

Originally Posted by Bimmer-Bob

Is the charcoal delete really a thing? I figured people were just exaggerating.

The only reason(s) I would do the Euro box is that it's sort of an automatic charcoal filter delete, plus you get easy access to cool cone filters versus impossible-to-access panel filters.

On my dyno test, it (charcoal delete ) made 2whp on its own. Check @tetsuo111 dyno test of the hose, as well as @ justpete, looks like it can free up some power.

[Suprgnat]

Originally Posted by TheAxiom

On my dyno test, it (charcoal delete ) made 2whp on its own. Check @tetsuo111 dyno test of the hose, as well as @ justpete, looks like it can free up some power.

2hp out of 200+ whp <1% < margin of error for the dyno (unless NASA level of control).

[Taskmaster]

Originally Posted by Suprgnat

2hp out of 200+ whp <1% < margin of error for the dyno (unless NASA level of control).

Dude.

[Gangplank]

I'm with Bimmer-Bob here. Euro intake & make some homemade scoops to draw in/direct more. Easy filter changes.

Is there some reason the BMWPI is better than the Euro intake?

[Suprgnat]

Originally Posted by Gangplank

I'm with Bimmer-Bob here. Euro intake & make some homemade scoops to draw in/direct more. Easy filter changes.

Is there some reason the BMWPI is better than the Euro intake?

There may be some advantage to the PI in that it's plenum is of a larger volume and a different (more "aerodynamically refined") shape, but unless someone were to scan it and analize it with CFD software only the engineers who designed it will know for sure.

[Gangplank]

Hmmm...,

BMWPI vs. the N52 Euro

[Gangplank]

Vs the N52 Euro.

Looks like the Euro box is bigger. The PI might have a different premium? intake section as you noted.

[Gangplank]

/threadjackover

[Taskmaster]

The Euro intake makes literally zero hp over stock. Why people are hell bent on spendin money on it is beyond me.

AFE SI
DINAN

Are the two that have my vote.

[Gangplank]

From what I've read AFE actually may lose HP (huh?)
http://www.e90post.com/forums/showth...=729933&page=3

[Taskmaster]

Originally Posted by Gangplank

From what I've read AFE actually may lose HP (huh?)
http://www.e90post.com/forums/showth...=729933&page=3

I dyno tested one same day with a couple of different intakes and the AFE made the most power.

[Bimmer-Bob]

Originally Posted by TheAxiom

The Euro intake makes literally zero hp over stock. Why people are hell bent on spendin money on it is beyond me.

AFE SI
DINAN

Are the two that have my vote.

How could the charcoal filter delete make power but the Euro air box not? The Euro air box deletes the charcoal filter! FWIW, I don't think either mod is especially worthwhile, but one ought to be just as good (or not) as the other...

[Taskmaster]

Originally Posted by Bimmer-Bob

How could the charcoal filter delete make power but the Euro air box not? The Euro air box deletes the charcoal filter! FWIW, I don't think either mod is especially worthwhile, but one ought to be just as good (or not) as the other...

Surface area of the filter would be the main difference honestly. I would go for the SI or Charcoal delete +dinan style horn (Dinan sells it dor $35)

[RedRanger]

Want to let you know that you are fighting about 2whp.

Get whatever intake you want.

[Bimmer-Bob]

Originally Posted by RedRanger

Want to let you know that you are fighting about 2whp.

Get whatever intake you want.

I didn't think we were fighting, lol, but your point is well taken.

Like I said, I don't think any of these intake mods are worth very much, and I already have the BMW Performance intake anyway.

I've just thought that, if I ever just get bored enough and can't think of anything else to do, that I might go for the Euro air box since it deletes the charcoal filter and I like the cone filter (and the much easier access for filter changes). Plus it kind of bothers me that the US version of the BMW Performance intake sort of mimics the look of the Euro air box, while still containing the same difficult-to-access panel filter.

Of course, if I swap to a Euro air box, I need to source the Euro version of the BMW Performance intake, which would be fairly expensive, and probably the main reason I haven't gone this route already.

But enough about intakes! I've got a big project in the works, plus some smaller goodies I picked up during Black Friday/Cyber Monday deals. Stay tuned!

[631twentyeighteye]

On the topic of intakes- i caved and went for the rev motoring elbow.. I haven't noticed any difference in any regards really.

[RedRanger]

I have an euro intake myself. Only reason I grabbed it was because I found it for cheap.

If I could find a bmwpi for cheap I would probably pick it up.

Also, I really didn't think you were fighting on the subject. Guess it was a poor choice of words for the forum.

[631twentyeighteye]

I got mine for cheap when i was visiting germany. I think it came out to $200 bucks or something like that for a brand new one.

Oh and in europe the "performance" intake, is just a carbonfiber lid for the euro intake.