[rhave]

Hello, I'm a BMW aftermarket noob and just picked up a 135i convertible that is under warranty for another 25k or 2 years. Since it was preowned, I'd like to keep the warranty with no risks from aftermarket tuning. Anyways. To the point.

If I get the BMW PPK1 and add a cold air intake (im leaning towards BMS, but maybe AFE) will I have any trouble with the intake (CEL)? I've been searching and haven't found anything specific to this. I hear that some mid percentage of people who add intake to a stock n55 experience a CEL. Is this also the case with PPK installed? This will decide if I keep it stock... get PPK and no intake... or go another route than PPK.

[3002 tii]

No you won't (shouldn't) get a CEL, although I'm not sure how much performance you'll gain with an aftermarket intake on a rather stock tune (PPK is pretty mild). At best you'll get more sound out of it. In terms of folks getting a CEL just from adding an intake, I have to think it was from user installation error.

Btw you might get more input posting on 1addicts, plenty of 1-series owner who've gone the PPK route + aftermarket mods.

[Mike_L]

I have an aFe intake on my PPK 335. No codes. Definite power gain, because the MPPK airbox sucks, and BMW insists on double filtering the air (carbon filer and paper filter), which makes it even worse.

[rhave]

Yeah im familiar with modding cars and typically intakes dont do much for a turbo car until you start heavily modifying. Im not going for the power as much as im going for the sound and keeping warranty. BMW will have a much harder time finding out about an aftermarket intake than an aftermarket tune, and intakes are easy to take off. Having the top down with an awesome exhaust and the intake whoooshing makes me happy lol. I picked it up used and it had a Dinan exhaust on it.

[Damon44]

Originally Posted by rhave

Yeah im familiar with modding cars and typically intakes dont do much for a turbo car until you start heavily modifying. Im not going for the power as much as im going for the sound and keeping warranty. BMW will have a much harder time finding out about an aftermarket intake than an aftermarket tune, and intakes are easy to take off. Having the top down with an awesome exhaust and the intake whoooshing makes me happy lol. I picked it up used and it had a Dinan exhaust on it.

Apparently very true. The BMW intake will not support any decent engine tune. Just got back from having Dinan polished tip exhaust installed on my 435.
It sounds amazing. As other have described I drove back with the windows down just to hear the growling. As advertised there was no annoying sound or drone while cruising along. Only under acceleration did it let loose.
My favorite sounds were the gurgling on deceleration. The popping and burbling weren't heard with stock exhaust.
It is louder but not so much louder that it makes the car shake or the garage rattle.
I am totally thrilled that I chose the Dinan over the BMW MPE.
From prior posts many could not hear the difference of the exhaust note on the MPE.
I lined up my wife's 335 with MPPK with stock exhaust next to my 435 MPPK and Dinan stage 1 engine tune and new Dinan exhaust. Excellent note. Just the right amount of ferocity without being cheap. Let's face it ...it is a BMW not a Harley!
Music to my ears. It is exactly what I was hoping for. With installation it was $1799 plus $149.

The foreign car specialist dealer who only does Mercedes , Audi, Porsche, BMW did say that the bigger intake will be needed before Dinan stage 2 on the N55.The Dinan rep guessed about 500-750 for the carbon fiber CAI but today they said they are closer to a grand.
That would be plus the tune I am figuring. That's a lot of money considering I am only zooming along near Ft Lauderdale.
I have to start to rationalize the exhaust expense first before I jeopardize my marriage.