[DgjoX6M2016]

Well I have the manifold off to fix oil housing gasket and have some time on hands. I am not super familiar with upgrades to higher mileage N52s, so any suggestions for a little more zip out of the old e91? It is bone stock. Runs great. I have car is great shape with new axles, CSB, brakes, trans flush 2x, valve cover gasket, and now new oil filter housing. Solid rig. Any recommendations for perhaps some better sound or perhaps a few more ponies? Don't want to go too crazy. Have a f86 for that.

[Smgs1992]

N54 swap

[colorado.e9x]

Intake and exhaust of course lol.

Intake: Charcoal delete, k&n drop in, silicone inlet hose
Exhaust: PE

[tlow98]

OE bmw 3 stage intake manifold is probably the only thing worth doing if you’re in an emissions restricted state. 25hp and 20lb-ft across the board.

[Thorin]

For sound, pp82dsp + BavSound Stage 1.

[DgjoX6M2016]

Originally Posted by tlow98

OE bmw 3 stage intake manifold is probably the only thing worth doing if you’re in an emissions restricted state. 25hp and 20lb-ft across the board.

Thanks. Would not get into that kind of mod, though, for minimal gain.

Perhaps simply a better sounding exhaust? The car has zero sound character...except for the sweet screaming at 7k rpm.

I like the idea of the Bavsound. A nice upgrade to the stereo would be excellent.

[JonOhh]

The 3 stage intake manifold will make the biggest difference, and installation is pretty straightforward. If you're looking for non risky mods, this is it. It's a genuine BMW part, and completely changes the character of the N52. There's a lot more to power than the peak numbers.

[scanspeak]

The 2 best mods I did was the 3 stage intake manifold (with tune) and diff swap (from 3.23 to 3.73). Happy camper.

[nsjames]

Originally Posted by DgjoX6M2016

Thanks. Would not get into that kind of mod, though, for minimal gain.

Perhaps simply a better sounding exhaust? The car has zero sound character...except for the sweet screaming at 7k rpm.

I like the idea of the Bavsound. A nice upgrade to the stereo would be excellent.

it's easy.
it's factory parts
it's what the n52 was before BMW neutered it to sell 335s.

it will make a substantial difference in driveability.

[Biginboca]

Originally Posted by DgjoX6M2016

Thanks. Would not get into that kind of mod, though, for minimal gain.

Perhaps simply a better sounding exhaust? The car has zero sound character...except for the sweet screaming at 7k rpm.

I like the idea of the Bavsound. A nice upgrade to the stereo would be excellent.

If 10% more power for a couple hundred bucks OEM mod doesn’t make sense to you then it baffles me what you could possibly be looking for in your “N52 Stress Free Performance Mod” thread.

What on earth could be better than that, it’s like exactly what you are looking for. And you even have half the work done since your manifold is off

[CDirks]

Originally Posted by Biginboca

If 10% more power for a couple hundred bucks OEM mod doesn't make sense to you then it baffles me what you could possibly be looking for in your "N52 Stress Free Performance Mod" thread.

What on earth could be better than that, it's like exactly what you are looking for. And you even have half the work done since your manifold is off

This.

OP this is the best bang for your buck you'll find for the N52 platform. If this swap doesn't sound appealing then I don't know what will

[DgjoX6M2016]

Originally Posted by Biginboca

If 10% more power for a couple hundred bucks OEM mod doesn't make sense to you then it baffles me what you could possibly be looking for in your "N52 Stress Free Performance Mod" thread.

What on earth could be better than that, it's like exactly what you are looking for. And you even have half the work done since your manifold is off

10% power gain for a couple hundred makes complete sense, but I would think a BMW manifold is at least 1k. Haven't researched yet...was waiting for this post to age a bit. Christ one coolant hose to the oil housing was $100, so a manifold must be a significantly cost.

[OLI77]

Fleebay has some for ~300.

[Biginboca]

Originally Posted by DgjoX6M2016

10% power gain for a couple hundred makes complete sense, but I would think a BMW manifold is at least 1k. Haven't researched yet...was waiting for this post to age a bit. Christ one coolant hose to the oil housing was $100, so a manifold must be a significantly cost.

https://www.e90post.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1715304

There is a classified section on this site where you can find deals on them weekly. Above is just the first link I saw scrolling down the page, can’t vouch for that seller but they are always available.

[colorado.e9x]

I've seen them for as low as $200 on eBay

[nsjames]

Originally Posted by DgjoX6M2016

10% power gain for a couple hundred makes complete sense, but I would think a BMW manifold is at least 1k. Haven't researched yet...was waiting for this post to age a bit. Christ one coolant hose to the oil housing was $100, so a manifold must be a significantly cost.

I bought one with working DISA valves for $150.

you're a fool if you go buy a new one. They used them on a ton of stuff and they're prolific secondhand parts.

[DgjoX6M2016]

Originally Posted by Biginboca

https://www.e90post.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1715304

There is a classified section on this site where you can find deals on them weekly. Above is just the first link I saw scrolling down the page, can't vouch for that seller but they are always available.

Thank you!! Appreciate the help.

[DgjoX6M2016]

Originally Posted by nsjames

I bought one with working DISA valves for $150.

you're a fool if you go buy a new one. They used them on a ton of stuff and they're prolific secondhand parts.

Wow. Thanks for help guys. I haven't showed my e91 the love it deserves so this is great.

I understand the concept of altering the runner length for more precise timing of air/fuel into combustion chamber. I remember my first car, a 89 SHO Taurus with the Yamaha motor that had that developing variable distance intake runner tech. Beast of a 3L motor at 220 hp back then!

What I am not sure of is if I need to have a tune of some sort for my MY 09 N52 to make this work. I would rather not get into a tune, so hopefully not and this is a true plug and play?

Thanks again to the best forum community I have ever been part of!

[Biginboca]

Originally Posted by DgjoX6M2016

Wow. Thanks for help guys. I haven't showed my e91 the love it deserves so this is great.

I understand the concept of altering the runner length for more precise timing of air/fuel into combustion chamber. I remember my first car, a 89 SHO Taurus with the Yamaha motor that had that developing variable distance intake runner tech. Beast of a 3L motor at 220 hp back then!

What I am not sure of is if I need to have a tune of some sort for my MY 09 N52 to make this work. I would rather not get into a tune, so hopefully not and this is a true plug and play?

Thanks again to the best forum community I have ever been part of!

If you install the manifold without a tune your engine runs unchanged. You can download the OEM BMW tune to activate it once installed for free and gain the 25hp/20tq. Or you can purchase an aftermarket tune to get a little more power with it for around $500-700 depending on who you choose.

So you really can get the power for only a couple hundred dollars. There’s threads on how to download the free oem tune if you google a bit.

[nsjames]

Originally Posted by DgjoX6M2016

Wow. Thanks for help guys. I haven't showed my e91 the love it deserves so this is great.

I understand the concept of altering the runner length for more precise timing of air/fuel into combustion chamber. I remember my first car, a 89 SHO Taurus with the Yamaha motor that had that developing variable distance intake runner tech. Beast of a 3L motor at 220 hp back then!

What I am not sure of is if I need to have a tune of some sort for my MY 09 N52 to make this work. I would rather not get into a tune, so hopefully not and this is a true plug and play?

Thanks again to the best forum community I have ever been part of!

go into the n52 forum.

find hassmachines' giant cloned the DME thread.

learn about the free software based on factory software that you can download from bimmer labs.
flash yourself with a bimmer geeks adapter and an old laptop.

keep old laptop and adapter for future diagnostics and coding.