[exE36M3]

Hey guys, I'm starting my recipe list for 400hp for my 435i.
Are any of you guys pushing +/- 10hp of that with CARB compliant stuff (or close to it, e.g. keeping a catalytic converter)?

If so, what was your list?
And yes I have searched but it's not totally clear what people are running.
Like name of tune, intercooler, piping, boost pressure, etc.

Happy to follow a link if you got one too. Thanks!

[yoon_209]

most people who are FBO are pushing around 360whp/400 torque

and most of them will have catless dps and a tune in and of itself will not be CARB compliant

[louielouie]

The Fabspeed HFC uses the HJS 200 cell and won't trigger a CEL, but still isn't CARB legal.

I'm not sure what you mean by close to CARB compliant. Is this to build around smog testing in California? You either fail or you don't.

[exE36M3]

Thanks guys... to clarify. I'm good with tunes and basic bolts on to get me closer to 400hp. But not on board with pulling the catalytic converter as I feel that's the No. 1 pollution reducing thing on our cars.

So the tunes or devices don't have to be CARB certified, but at least emissions friendly when not on the gas.

That make sense?

[louielouie]

Originally Posted by percychow

Thanks guys... to clarify. I'm good with tunes and basic bolts on to get me closer to 400hp. But not on board with pulling the catalytic converter as I feel that's the No. 1 pollution reducing thing on our cars.

So the tunes or devices don't have to be CARB certified, but at least emissions friendly when not on the gas.

That make sense?

An aftermarket will get you the best gains out of all the bolt ons but that is up to you if you want to swap it out.

I've had an amazing experience thus far with Fabspeed's high flow catted DP. I'm unsure about pollution metrics vs stock, but there's no terrible smell. It's also ~90% as efficient as catless. It will set you back $1,400 though.

[exE36M3]

Thanks, so apart from the cat upgrade... are we talking just a good stage-whatever tune and that's it?

FWIW - I've got 20+ years on the NA side as well as Turbos and Superchargers - but I'm still in the mechanical and chipset mentality.

The web that is the F30 turbos et al with active software systems... that's seems like a minefield of sorts.

Has anyone done or have a clean recipe or list?

[grassy_91]

When I had my 335, I pulled 410whp and 467 or 476wtq with the following mods:

- catless dp (evolution racewerks)
- jb4 (with ewg harness)
- intercooler (evolution racewerks)
- chargepipe (evolution racewerks)
- 3.5 gallons e85 on map5

Dyno was performed at European auto source in Anaheim, Ca January 2017

You’ll never be carb compliant in this state. As long as your car isn’t obnoxiously loud and you’re polite if you get pulled over by a police officer, you’ll be fine.

[exE36M3]

Thanks Grassy - if I backed-out the catless set-up and e85... what do you estimate the power to the wheels would be?

[louielouie]

Originally Posted by percychow

Thanks Grassy - if I backed-out the catless set-up and e85... what do you estimate the power to the wheels would be?

If you're not planning on changing the downpipe, the only bolt on giving you noticeably more power is the FMIC but it will be incredibly restricted by not changing your downpipe.

The CP doesn't increase power but is preemptive maintenance as the plastic OEM is known to blow (stock or not).

You may be better off just changing the charge pipe as a precaution and flashing stage 1.

[exE36M3]

Thanks Louie - agreed. The intake charge pipe and IC are kind of the easy ones followed by a tune. Some threads mentioned a catted high-flow downpipe which is something to consider too. But my past experiences with non-OEM DP are that they tend to last barely 4 years (smog to smog check).

[grassy_91]

Originally Posted by percychow

Thanks Grassy - if I backed-out the catless set-up and e85... what do you estimate the power to the wheels would be?

Probably around 330-340. I only did the IC to keep my IAT’s low. After an oil cooler I was going to be done modding but the car got totaled. Be sure to buy the EWG harness if you want to do e85. It raises the max psi and makes a big difference in map5

[s2kvee]

400hp legally in California? on a F30 N55, lol NOPE.. you might as well sell your 435i and buy a m3 / m4 if you're worried about legal issues..


an option to avoid catless DP due to pollution would be to use the AFE 400 cell high flow catted downpipe. it will pollute more than original DP but with a 400 cell. its a pretty restricted HFC..

if youre looking to push higher power, running a JB4 with about 3-4 gallons of E85 on map 5. you should get a small kick. Be sure to upgrade your Charge pipe as they are prone to break even on stock boost..

my current set up is Catless DP, ER Charge Pipe, VRSF Intercooler, AFE Momentum Intake, MPE Exhaust, running BM3 on Stage 2 as well as the occasional e30 mix.

[exE36M3]

Originally Posted by s2kvee

400hp legally in California? on a F30 N55, lol NOPE.. you might as well sell your 435i and buy a m3 / m4 if you're worried about legal issues..


an option to avoid catless DP due to pollution would be to use the AFE 400 cell high flow catted downpipe. it will pollute more than original DP but with a 400 cell. its a pretty restricted HFC..

if youre looking to push higher power, running a JB4 with about 3-4 gallons of E85 on map 5. you should get a small kick. Be sure to upgrade your Charge pipe as they are prone to break even on stock boost..

my current set up is Catless DP, ER Charge Pipe, VRSF Intercooler, AFE Momentum Intake, MPE Exhaust, running BM3 on Stage 2 as well as the occasional e30 mix.

Thank you sir! I appreciate your candor. Yes, I weighed the M3/M4 route for about $20k more... but kid running off to college within the year so I'd rather that money to go her. I'll just have to buy my toys later.

Given all the responses - I'll just do the easy stuff and get the 20hp-30hp for now.

[jinxremoved]

Assuming you mean whp, not quite. But I really love my setup.

[not.ramos]

You could always go Dinan, it is more expensive but you also get warranty and its carb legal in all 50 states, like their “Big Turbo”.

https://www.dinancars.com/product/D3...e-ewg-no-core/

[exE36M3]

Originally Posted by ramos.33f

You could always go Dinan, it is more expensive but you also get warranty and its carb legal in all 50 states, like their “Big Turbo”.

https://www.dinancars.com/product/D3...e-ewg-no-core/

Ramos.33f - whoa! How did I miss that?
Thanks for the lead on that one.

But in the grand scheme of things... would this be the recipe for pushing 400hp+ then?
1. Tune
2. Intercooler and piping (upgraded)
3. Intake
4. Turbo

And that's it?

[grassy_91]

Originally Posted by percychow

Ramos.33f - whoa! How did I miss that?
Thanks for the lead on that one.

But in the grand scheme of things... would this be the recipe for pushing 400hp+ then?
1. Tune
2. Intercooler and piping (upgraded)
3. Intake
4. Turbo

And that's it?

Honestly you don’t need a new turbo man. If you just want 400 whp stick with a tune, downpipe, and intercooler. Don’t forget chargepipe too. It also depends on your budget but if you don’t need crazy power don’t get a new or upgraded turbo. I never had an intake on my car and everything was fine. Don’t forget to set jb4 to map 5 and get the EWG harness

[not.ramos]

Originally Posted by grassy_91

Honestly you don’t need a new turbo man. If you just want 400 whp stick with a tune, downpipe, and intercooler. Don’t forget chargepipe too. It also depends on your budget but if you don’t need crazy power don’t get a new or upgraded turbo. I never had an intake on my car and everything was fine. Don’t forget to set jb4 to map 5 and get the EWG harness

You can’t reach 400 horsepower without sacrificing smog-legal with N55, BMS claims 355 wheel horsepower with intake and full exhaust. An intercooler and catted downpipe may only add 30 max horspower. The next step would be to either switch your fuel system to run E85 and get a tune that is still smog legal (good luck with that) or upgrade your compressor/inlet on your turbo with either a Pure Stage 1 or Dinan Big Turbo.

Dyno Maps are down the page:
http://www.burgertuning.com/N55_JB4_...BMW_tuner.html

[not.ramos]

Originally Posted by percychow

Ramos.33f - whoa! How did I miss that?
Thanks for the lead on that one.

But in the grand scheme of things... would this be the recipe for pushing 400hp+ then?
1. Tune
2. Intercooler and piping (upgraded)
3. Intake
4. Turbo

And that's it?

Personally, in order I would have this list to break the 400 whp mark and still maintain the ability to be smog-legal:

1.) Charge-pipe (preemptive modification, no hp gains)
2.) Intake
3.) 7” Intercooler
4.) Downpipe
5.) Exhaust (MPE counts)
6.) “Upgraded” turbo
7.) Tune done at the same time as turbo unless you have JB4

Hopefully other members can add input too

[grassy_91]

You can go full dinan but it’ll cost you a lot more money. Once the time comes to smog your car just go to a shop that will pass you. You won’t even have to worry about a smog check until your car is 6 years old though. Just mod it the way YOU want to and enjoy the car