[Mangler]

Give me your ultimate FBO package and why.

T

[skim7x]

Search, you lazy bum

Hint: see signature.
Caution: i'm a brand whore

[RnmEvo9]

Apex SAFC
Manual boost controller @ 18psi
Upgraded HPFP
M3 exhaust
RPI scoops

600+whp!!

[Q4P]

Procede V5+PWM Meth - Must functional, safe and currently available combo for big power.
VRSF DP's - Cheapest Good DPs
ETS Intercooler - Cheapest Good Intercooler
DCI - Cheapest good Intake and comes with PWM Meth / Tune combo.

That's it... No exhaust, I like my car to be as quiet as possible without any restrictions. ...what I've named above is the best / safest way to at the present moment make good power.

[tofu-]

pretty much any combo you use is going to give you more or less the same amount of power

[LuSt4Boost]

Originally Posted by tofu-

pretty much any combo you use is going to give you more or less the same amount of power

[Mangler]

Originally Posted by tofu-

pretty much any combo you use is going to give you more or less the same amount of power

Understood, but there are products that match each other better to produce a better 'system'. You have to look at the entire setup as tuning a system.

For instance on the last engine that I upgraded, the S14 from the E30 M3. There was no use in installing cams unless you removed the AFM and went AlphaN and upgraded the exhaust path. Granted FI engines are not as touchy, but there are correct packages and paths to go down.

T

[bryce]

^not the case on the n54. your car won't care what brand of downpipes or intercooler you buy. the tune is important, but the main 3 or 4 tunes are pretty similar in power output.

[E90SoFlo]

Originally Posted by bryce

^not the case on the n54. your car won't care what brand of downpipes or intercooler you buy. the tune is important, but the main 3 or 4 tunes are pretty similar in power output.

+1

[Longboarder]

How much do you want to spend? You could spend $6K or more on a FBO package that includes a full exhaust system and will get you 430 RWHP. If you want 410 RWHP, you can spend $800 on Terry Burger's package deal: JB4, WW Meth and DCI.

But in my opinion, if you go this route, you need supporting mods to get the power to the ground, i.e. LSD and good tires.

[Mangler]

Originally Posted by bryce

^not the case on the n54. your car won't care what brand of downpipes or intercooler you buy. the tune is important, but the main 3 or 4 tunes are pretty similar in power output.

Not talking about tunes. I'm asking about hardware items.

So all downpipes perform the same? All intakes, charge pipes, FMIC's etc are all the same? So I just go for the cheapest on all these items? Not likely.

I asked what was your ultimate FBO and why. This will prepare a list of reasons why people like and dislike the same list of products and their performance all in the same thread instead of having to search a thousand threads on FMIC's, then another thousand threads on DP's.......etc

T

[Mangler]

Originally Posted by Longboarder

How much do you want to spend? You could spend $6K or more on a FBO package that includes a full exhaust system and will get you 430 RWHP. If you want 410 RWHP, you can spend $800 on Terry Burger's package deal: JB4, WW Meth and DCI.

But in my opinion, if you go this route, you need supporting mods to get the power to the ground, i.e. LSD and good tires.

This is a good response. This is the type of response that will trigger more discussions and solutions.

Don't know the budget yet. Havent made the decision on whether or not I will be tracking (road course not dragway) the car. This will of course change the products selected due to cooiling needs and longevity.

T

[tofu-]

Originally Posted by Mangler

Not talking about tunes. I'm asking about hardware items.

So all downpipes perform the same? All intakes, charge pipes, FMIC's etc are all the same? So I just go for the cheapest on all these items? Not likely.

I asked what was your ultimate FBO and why. This will prepare a list of reasons why people like and dislike the same list of products and their performance all in the same thread instead of having to search a thousand threads on FMIC's, then another thousand threads on DP's.......etc

T

all the same

Well, just avoid the AFE intake.

if you plan on getting a catback exhaust, I'd put the money you saved toward something that sounds nice (because they're all the same too in regard to power output.)

Better yet, buy everything used and save even more money.

Suspension parts... Now that's where you get picky and choosey.

[335xi_zer0]

COBB AP -- plug&play, ease of use, logging
aFe DCI -- in all honesty, just like any DCI out there, I like to look mainly.
ar catless DP -- I have an XI, only makers but proven to be superior and reliable. Would get VSRF if they made them.
AE Exhaust -- Again, XI, but also again superior gains, and has the quieter roar that I want.
Helix FMIC -- Again proven gains, no cutting.
ER CP -- Great fitment and meth bungs for anyone going that route.

AKA, My sig. I'm with skim7x... I'm certainly a brand whore. Unfortunately it looks like for an XI, I'm going to pay for it considering the limited availability and price points.

[Alessandro]

See signature.

Cheers

[bryce]

Originally Posted by Mangler

Not talking about tunes. I'm asking about hardware items.

So all downpipes perform the same? All intakes, charge pipes, FMIC's etc are all the same? So I just go for the cheapest on all these items? Not likely.

I asked what was your ultimate FBO and why. This will prepare a list of reasons why people like and dislike the same list of products and their performance all in the same thread instead of having to search a thousand threads on FMIC's, then another thousand threads on DP's.......etc

T

all hardware will perform the same, more or less. downpipes are downpipes. exhausts are exhausts. charge pipes are charge pipes. intakes are intakes.


FMIC's are slightly different, but you would be hard pressed to tell a difference in driving a car with a $900 intercooler and a car with a $140 ebay intercooler. i used to have a HPF intercooler on my 135i, i was selling the car so i sold the intercooler and put in a $140 ebay intercooler since i no longer had the stock one. i could not tell a difference. shocked, i decided to datalog and see if the IAT's, WGDC, or any other parameters were different. no noticeable difference.


bottom line: if you feel like your car is special, pay $900 for downpipes, $1200 for an intercooler, $2500 for an exhaust, etc.

just be aware you'll likely be making the same HP/TQ than someone who spent $300 on downpipes, $140 on an intercooler, and gutted their factory exhaust. especially if you both are running meth.

[bryce]

Originally Posted by tofu-

all the same

Well, just avoid the AFE intake.

if you plan on getting a catback exhaust, I'd put the money you saved toward something that sounds nice (because they're all the same too in regard to power output.)

Better yet, buy everything used and save even more money.

Suspension parts... Now that's where you get picky and choosey.

+1


pipes are pipes (downpipes or exhausts)

[nailer335]

Originally Posted by Mangler

Not talking about tunes. I'm asking about hardware items.

So all downpipes perform the same? All intakes, charge pipes, FMIC's etc are all the same? So I just go for the cheapest on all these items? Not likely.

I asked what was your ultimate FBO and why. This will prepare a list of reasons why people like and dislike the same list of products and their performance all in the same thread instead of having to search a thousand threads on FMIC's, then another thousand threads on DP's.......etc

T

I wish you luck with this. I tried a little while back to toss ideas around about not having an endless supply of new "which FMIC/DP/intake/exhaust is best" threads, but there are a few seemingly inevitable flaws with this:
1) people search for acceptance in the strangest ways. some people like to be recognized on e90post for their mods, brands, etc. and like to call attention to what they have. their starting a thread on which FMIC is best makes them feel special that they are getting (typically) generic attention and advice about what other people think they should do, which leads me to my next point-
2) lazy. There's a lot to be said about this, but what's the point really... To some people it just doesn't occur that some ideas aren't new because they just thought of it in 2012... which leads to the conclusion:
3) people want to be spoon fed. They do not want to search through the many informative threads on such topics back when these topics were fresh enough to have more data-based threads than opinion based threads. Most people don't want to study about which DP is best, they just want to be told what they should do. Whether consciously or subconsciously, they like to have others run their lives for them, so that they don't have to go through the developmental steps of having a question, understanding that it is not a new question, delving into it, and having a more informed conclusion that a bunch of opinions from people repping what they have and did (which may have even been a decision that they made based on their own "which intake should I have installed for me" type thread)...

/rant

PS- I apologize for the pessimism. e90post would benefit tons from some new sticky topics, including a sticky about how to most effectively use the search tools at our disposal, and a sticky for each main type of bolt on where people can save their starting new threads about their unique bolt-on specific inquiries, how many whp each will get them, where to buy them, whether or not they should change their oil before 15k intervals and spark plugs before 50k intervals... so on and so forth.

[themyst]

My cheapo VK pipes work great, my BMS DCI works great, my 5" ETS FMIC works great and I cut the secondary cats, no problem.

Got an el cheapo meth kit as well no problems. Car with el cheapo mods and RB turbos no problems.

Tune is the only thing you need to make a real decision on.

[nafoo]

Originally Posted by bryce

+1


pipes are pipes (downpipes or exhausts)

Not all exhausts are created equally. Pipes may be pipes, but resonators, cats, and mufflers all effect the power gains and sound.

http://grassrootsmotorsports.com/art...ive-decisions/

[bryce]

Originally Posted by nafoo

Not all exhausts are created equally. Pipes may be pipes, but resonators, cats, and mufflers all effect the power gains and sound.

http://grassrootsmotorsports.com/art...ive-decisions/

lol. the differences in the aftermarket exhausts were between 4-8 hp or ft-lbs of torque. you'll get a bigger difference in power by changing your oil and re-dyno'ing. or changing your spark plugs. or closing/opening the hood.


4-8 hp/tq on a 300 hp dyno is nothing. certainly not enough to warrant spending $1500+ on an exhaust. they should've dyno'd the stock exhaust with the secondary cats removed and the golf tee mod.

4-8 hp on a 170hp honda dyno might be significant, but not on a car that can make over 400 hp with simple bolt-ons

[bryce]

Originally Posted by themyst

My cheapo VK pipes work great, my BMS DCI works great, my 5" ETS FMIC works great and I cut the secondary cats, no problem.

Got an el cheapo meth kit as well no problems. Car with el cheapo mods and RB turbos no problems.

Tune is the only thing you need to make a real decision on.

x 2

anyone that says you need to spend $900 on downpipes, $1000+ on an intercooler, and $1500+ on an exhaust is sorely mistaken.