Performance upgrades

[Taskmaster]

Originally Posted by @thomasvancil

Im looking into AA headers but im worried about the smell and how loud it'll but. Did you just put in an oem 135 axle back?

If you're doing headers and don't have an exhaust, it won't sound too much different from stock, but you do give up potential power gains.

[satinbmw1]

I'm pretty new to this forum I'm getting a supercharger for my 128I and I'm thinking to just do it myself rather having it done thru the shop. Any of you guys have experienced installing this supercharger i talked to the ESS guys and they said its 100 percent bolt on. I just dont want to get my self in the situation that i'm way over my head on this install

[SayHack]

Originally Posted by satinbmw1

I'm pretty new to this forum I'm getting a supercharger for my 128I and I'm thinking to just do it myself rather having it done thru the shop. Any of you guys have experienced installing this supercharger i talked to the ESS guys and they said its 100 percent bolt on. I just dont want to get my self in the situation that i'm way over my head on this install

Don't . You are going to destroy your engine....Personally i love superchargers more than turbo but any day i rather get a 135 than supercharge a 128. The n51/52 engine is well built but running boost even at single digits you are asking for trouble, not to mention throwing away 5k for a supercharger kit.

[Taskmaster]

Originally Posted by satinbmw1

I'm pretty new to this forum I'm getting a supercharger for my 128I and I'm thinking to just do it myself rather having it done thru the shop. Any of you guys have experienced installing this supercharger i talked to the ESS guys and they said its 100 percent bolt on. I just dont want to get my self in the situation that i'm way over my head on this install

Check on the e90 side, a few people have done it.

[rjahl]

Ya, if you keep your goals modest you should be fine.

The N52 is a solid motor, just don't expect the internals to hold up like the N54. Keep things light and it should be fun and reliable. Don't get greedy.

Do your own research, everyone has their own comfort level.

.

[satinbmw1]

Oh okay thanks for the heads up by the away what do you guys think about stage 3 manifold, intake and tune as mod?

[varoadking]

Originally Posted by satinbmw1

Oh okay thanks for the heads up by the away what do you guys think about stage 3 manifold, intake and tune as mod?

The 3 Stage Manifold, intake, and tune seems to yield good results on the N52. Put MILVs and an exhaust upgrade on your to-do list as well.

[PORTMOODY]

Originally Posted by varoadking

Installed my West Coast Riots Racing big bore throttle body on my 128i today.

https://westcoastriots.com/shop/auto...ne/light-tire/

Acceleration is much smoother and more responsive, even before racking up miles or time for adaptations.

Looking forward to another dyno at some point to see what it means there.

I emailed them asking if they have a dyno on this and they never responded.

[varoadking]

Spoke with CobraMarty last night...thought I'd pass this along.

He bought 24 MILVS install tools from China. Hopefully they will arrive.

He is now working on exhaust cams. Have N52 and N55 cams to get 'cam doctored' and spec'ed. Then hopefully a regrind for +1mm more lift.

Let me know if you need to get in touch with him...

[chris82]

Originally Posted by SayHack

Don't . You are going to destroy your engine....Personally i love superchargers more than turbo but any day i rather get a 135 than supercharge a 128. The n51/52 engine is well built but running boost even at single digits you are asking for trouble, not to mention throwing away 5k for a supercharger kit.

I think with single digit boost you'd be fine. There are a few people with the kit on the e90 forum and I haven't seen issues over there yet. Long term reliability would obviously be questionable.

[Rmtt]

Originally Posted by chris82

I think with single digit boost you'd be fine. There are a few people with the kit on the e90 forum and I haven't seen issues over there yet. Long term reliability would obviously be questionable.

I agree. I've seen plenty of cars with FI that wasn't really intended for it. You look at the material the connecting rods are made out of on some of the earlier Z and Infinity engines, and I know a lot of people running FI for long periods of time on that platform. 6-7 psi is pretty safe.

It's all in the tune, being conservative with your A/F ratios and tables, and building in safety factors such as "knock" tables, etc.

Plus being FI doesn't mean you have to thrash the car all the time.

[SayHack]

Originally Posted by chris82

I think with single digit boost you'd be fine. There are a few people with the kit on the e90 forum and I haven't seen issues over there yet. Long term reliability would obviously be questionable.

True but is it really worth investing all that money for single digit boost that might or might not be reliable after 5 or so years ? To me its a bad investment of money. But yeah I know exactly what you talking about in regards to the e90 guys.

[SayHack]

Originally Posted by Rmtt

I agree. I've seen plenty of cars with FI that wasn't really intended for it. You look at the material the connecting rods are made out of on some of the earlier Z and Infinity engines, and I know a lot of people running FI for long periods of time on that platform. 6-7 psi is pretty safe.

It's all in the tune, being conservative with your A/F ratios and tables, and building in safety factors such as "knock" tables, etc.

Plus being FI doesn't mean you have to thrash the car all the time.

The way i see it, 6-7 psi is nothing worth the 5k+ for the kit....I would rather sell my 128 and get a 135, run a much higher boost.

[Rmtt]

Originally Posted by SayHack

The way i see it, 6-7 psi is nothing worth the 5k+ for the kit....I would rather sell my 128 and get a 135, run a much higher boost.

Oh...I agree. You have to know what your plans are when choosing your platform. I went with the 128i as it is supposed to be my fun daily driver that I can still "tinker" around with to have fun.

My other car satisfies my "more power" urges.

[PORTMOODY]

personally, i'd keep the n52 NA. I don't think I'd mess with a 135i at all due to all the issues. A 128i with mods is a super fun car with plenty of capability all around.

[SayHack]

Originally Posted by Rmtt

Oh...I agree. You have to know what your plans are when choosing your platform. I went with the 128i as it is supposed to be my fun daily driver that I can still "tinker" around with to have fun.

My other car satisfies my "more power" urges.

Same here man. It's my daily (currently my only car too but have plans to get a weekend car soon).

[Rmtt]

Originally Posted by SayHack

Same here man. It's my daily (currently my only car too but have plans to get a weekend car soon).

It's a very fun daily driver!

What kind of weekend cars you looking at? I've had a quite a few different ones, but keep coming back to Corvettes for some reason. I typically wait for the newest model to come out, than buy the previous generation as you get some very good deals.

Plus a Corvette owner is like a lot of BMW enthusiasts. They document everything!

[SayHack]

Originally Posted by Rmtt

It's a very fun daily driver!

What kind of weekend cars you looking at? I've had a quite a few different ones, but keep coming back to Corvettes for some reason. I typically wait for the newest model to come out, than buy the previous generation as you get some very good deals.

Plus a Corvette owner is like a lot of BMW enthusiasts. They document everything!

Probably something with ///M (I have owned 2 e36 M3 in the past)...I was thinking of maybe F80 M3 (if i get a good deal on it) or E90......but recently the Audi S4 has my attention (2013-2016 range). Not sure yet but as of now, I'm pushing a little more on the S4....Corvettes are nice too but im leaning more on a 4 door (i have owned 4 cars in my lifetime and they all were coups lol )

[Rmtt]

Originally Posted by SayHack

Probably something with ///M (I have owned 2 e36 M3 in the past)...I was thinking of maybe F80 M3 (if i get a good deal on it) or E90......but recently the Audi S4 has my attention (2013-2016 range). Not sure yet but as of now, I'm pushing a little more on the S4....Corvettes are nice too but im leaning more on a 4 door (i have owned 4 cars in my lifetime and they all were coups lol )

I love Audi's....But the maintenance is a nightmare with some models...timingchain tensioners, etc.

They are beautiful, but research the shortcomings as all cars have their little perks!

[rowsdower]

Originally Posted by Rmtt

I love Audi's....But the maintenance is a nightmare with some models...timingchain tensioners, etc.

They are beautiful, but research the shortcomings as all cars have their little perks!

Agreed. The timing chain is on the back of some engines with timing chain issues.

[asbrr]

Originally Posted by rowsdower

Agreed. The timing chain is on the back of some engines with timing chain issues.

Yea that was for the V8s....for the S4 you're ok because it's a supercharged v6. Like all german cars, the electronics and bad seals (VCG etc) is what gets you.

[SayHack]

Yes I did look into them, need more research before I pull the trigger. I appreciate the feedback. Surprisingly the supercharged V6 seem to hold well then I expected. Again I need to look more into them but the few people I talked to , and couple videos on youtube, all seem to point to semi-reliable engines....but yes electronics is another story. I am not sure if you guys are familiar with Eli from Ignitiontube but basically I did ask him on his opinion for weekend use, and he said I should daily it lol. He himself has one that is nicely tuned with over 100k on it and he drives the crap out of it (of course he did have to change few things here and there but again overall seems to hold well)