[Elkwagn]

Title says it all, been to the dealer and confirmed. If its coming out maybe it should be replaced by something better? Share your experienced thoughts please and make suggestions!

[johnung]

Originally Posted by Elkwagn

Title says it all, been to the dealer and confirmed. If its coming out maybe it should be replaced by something better? Share your experienced thoughts please and make suggestions!

I don't know much about that turbo so can't help you there, but I'd start by calling Pure Turbos to see what they offer for upgrades and maybe rebuilt turbos. They have an excellent reputation.

You may have to weigh the difference between stock rebuilt and an upgraded turbo, but make sure to include the labor and miscellaneous parts needed in that consideration. Going with the upgrade may make more sense if viewed that way.

https://www.pureturbos.com/store/

I'd also look for local BMW mechanics to do the labor (unless you intend to do it yourself) on BimmerShops website. See all of them in your area and research their reputations.

Also post on your Bimmerpost regional to get local recommendations.

Good luck! Hope this helps!

[sqwinny]

The real answer is, it depends. if you ask me, if you go this route, you go down the route of never-ending money pit. Sell the car and grab a 335i/340i instead if you are given the chance after having a stock turbo replaced and looking to make more power.

Turbo upgrades will work without a tune but you won't take advantage of the larger turbo + how much more it flows. You will actually be slower. mind you most of these turbo options are $1300 or so + you need a tune + install.

Taken from Navardi's n20 tuning guide:

- Mossleman MSL35-45 "Stage 1" Turbo
https://www.mosselmanturbo.com/en/up...45#specs-table

- MHI TD04-20T "Stage 1" Turbo (stock but optimized for the size)
https://www.bimmerworld.com/MHI-N20-...-F22-228i.html

- Mambatek TD04-20T "Extreme 350HP" "Stage 2" Turbo (same as pure stage 2 but smaller by 2mm on the hot side)
https://www.shop.mambatek.com/9-6-BM...?categoryId=-1

- TTE400 "Stage 2" Turbo. (same as pure stage 2 but cheaper)
https://tteglobal.com/bmw/2-series/f...mber=SW10075.3

I have a TTE400 installed and is being tuned. Had some issues along the way (my car's age fault, adding in newer maps to older year n20 + ecu versions, my fuel injectors are old and got clogged, etc). Should be around 340-350whp (maybe more) when all said and done on 93 octane with every FBO option without opening the motor installed, but only time will tell. If I could do it all over again, I would have just bought the 335i/340i instead. But hello pandemic and paid off car, so my situation might be different than yours to have money to just "throw into the car" and build something because "race car" and I don't feel like paying inflated prices for the same car but different motor.

[Elkwagn]

Thank you for the input guys, I have been doing the research and weighing the options. Obviously the least expensive route is stock replacement, and once you've gone down the rabbit hole of mods it never ends. I will probably do the work myself, as I have a hoist in my garage and have built a lot of cars, although mostly American Muscle! I already have a racecar (900hp '69 Chevelle), so it isn't about that, its more about the whole "as long as I'm in there...". This being my first BMW though I'm just not sure how far is too far, making it unreliable! Dealership wants $5,500, local BMW tech wants $3,900. I can do a bigger Turbo with tune, intercooler, plus charge and down pipes installed by myself for about $3,600. But then what else breaks or is needed??

[sqwinny]

With the n20 you don't have the option of larger turbo or turbo kit/manifold to accommodate a larger turbo for more power down the road. It's all modified n20 turbos to be bigger at the max efficiency of the size. Things are changing, but it's a limited market compared to the n55. Custom manifold + turbo setup will be needed. Navardi tuned has retrofitted a n55 turbo to the n20 manifold with a built block and has the highest dynoed n20 im aware of.

Historically you are limited to around 370-420 whp before you have to change block internals.

N55 turbo to n20 manifold is in here.

This is n55 turbo making 398whp



There should be headroom here for more power, but this result is 93 Oct + meth injection.

[Elkwagn]

I really don't "need" that kind of power, and definitely want to stay reliable. Car ran pretty darn good with just an Active8 tuner. I have a complete brand new twin nozzle methanol injection system just sitting on the shelf.....don't give me ideas!