[bradsm87]

I'm looking to switch from an E90 335i N54 to an F31 328i Touring F31 because I need a wagon and F31 335i wagons are not available in Australia. I want to know that I'll get what I want out of it though without spending a HUGE amount of money on mods.

I'm looking to get:

Pure Stage 2 turbo
Upgraded intercooler
Downpipe
Bootmod3 custom tune (Hopefully around 18psi flat to redline on E30 fuel)

A couple of questions:

- Is a stock F3x 335i intercooler a good upgrade from a stock F3x 328i intercooler?

- Is the factory exhaust system restrictive or any kind of power limitation or is it just the same as the 335i where only downpipe(s) add performance and the stock cat-back is fine?

- Is there any testing data out there to prove that an aftermarket intake is worth doing or is it all just claims by vendors and word spread from there?

I don't care about sound or looks. Only performance.

Thanks in advance!

[Mike@N54Tuning.com]

I would get the ER intercooler.. All BMW stock FMICs are pretty bad once you up the boost.

The biggest restriction in the exhaust is the downpipes

When you are increasing the flow with an upgraded turbo the intake is well worth it as its much less restrictive then the OEM box. On close to stock cars the gains are marginal at best, but on an upgraded turbo its important piece of the puzzle.

Mike

[mike@x-ph.com]

I suggest you add charge pipe to your mod list

If you are going to replace the intercooler go with a proven aftermarket solution



Exhaust is not restrictive
Intake will add ~5-10 whp with your mods

[David328M-Sport]

Originally Posted by bradsm87

I don't care about sound or looks. Only performance.
Thanks in advance!

JB4 piggy back tune
Catless downpipe.

Enjoy your high performance 328i

[Stubok]

Hey bradsm87

I have f30 328 n20 with Stage 2 Turbo upgrade (with GFB DV+), Intake, Chargepipe, FMIC, ER Highflow DP and Supersprint Midpipe.

I'm running ACF Performance Stage 3 tune over Bootmod3. It's pretty awesome! I'm not pushing it for now. Staying around 330lbft (around 22PSI at 3000rpm) and then holding that up to 315HP. So pretty much a Stage2+ since the torque is the same as Stage 2.

When I get my Forged internals and head studs I'll bring up the boost to around 26PSI and maybe throw a wet shot at it. My Tuner is confident we can break the 400HPwheel barrier.

For power (over the 300whp mark), the only hard parts you really need are the Turbo upgrade, FMIC and Downpipe. For longevity you should get a Chargepipe (I tried a couple and my favorite is the ER).

[bradsm87]

Originally Posted by Mike@N54Tuning.com

I would get the ER intercooler.. All BMW stock FMICs are pretty bad once you up the boost.

Sure a 335i intercooler is bad on a 335i when you up the boost. An N20 is only 2/3 the capacity and flow of a 335i though. Also with an upgraded turbo, the turbo doesn't increase the heat as much as the same boost with stock turbos.

Does anybody know the difference in dimensions between a F30 335i and 328i intercooler?

Originally Posted by Mike@N54Tuning.com

When you are increasing the flow with an upgraded turbo the intake is well worth it as its much less restrictive then the OEM box. On close to stock cars the gains are marginal at best, but on an upgraded turbo its important piece of the puzzle.

I'd be interested to see some testing here. The same is said by many in the N54 world, but proven wrong in reality. The N20 factory intake looks to be extremely good for its engine size.

Originally Posted by mike@x-ph.com

I suggest you add charge pipe to your mod list

I'm not convinced that this is a real issue on the N20. Stock boost peaks at 17psi. I only intend to run 18-19 psi (just with a bigger turbo and holding boost flat to redline). Surely just 2psi over stock peak boost won't blow a charge pipe? I'm currently running 16psi flat to redline on an N54 with upgraded turbos with a stock charge pipe, around double the stock boost.

Originally Posted by Stubok

Hey bradsm87

I have f30 328 n20 with Stage 2 Turbo upgrade (with GFB DV+), Intake, Chargepipe, FMIC, ER Highflow DP and Supersprint Midpipe.

I'm running ACF Performance Stage 3 tune over Bootmod3. It's pretty awesome! I'm not pushing it for now. Staying around 330lbft (around 22PSI at 3000rpm) and then holding that up to 315HP. So pretty much a Stage2+ since the torque is the same as Stage 2.

When I get my Forged internals and head studs I'll bring up the boost to around 26PSI and maybe throw a wet shot at it. My Tuner is confident we can break the 400HPwheel barrier.

For power (over the 300whp mark), the only hard parts you really need are the Turbo upgrade, FMIC and Downpipe. For longevity you should get a Chargepipe (I tried a couple and my favorite is the ER).

Cheers. Looks like you're doing well with your N20. I never intend to run over 19psi flat and will run E30 fuel blend for extra safety/cooling. Hoping for around 320 whp (less boost than yours but with 30% ethanol).

Is 330 ft-lb just below where the transmission starts to throw a torque limit at the DME? How does it shift? Do you know if any other transmission flashes work (eg. 335i one)? Both 328i and 335i are GA8HP45Z transmissions, but maybe different torque converter and other changes.

[Mike@N54Tuning.com]

Originally Posted by bradsm87

I'd be interested to see some testing here. The same is said by many in the N54 world, but proven wrong in reality. The N20 factory intake looks to be extremely good for its engine size.
.

The N54 is SEVERELY intake flow limited, but at the air box and the inlet tubes. With upgraded turbos inlet tubes and intake upgrades give you 30-40 high RPM hp/tq boost.

Mike

[bradsm87]

Originally Posted by Mike@N54Tuning.com

The N54 is SEVERELY intake flow limited, but at the air box and the inlet tubes. With upgraded turbos inlet tubes and intake upgrades give you 30-40 high RPM hp/tq boost.

Mike

Yes on the N54, the inlets from the turbos to the airbox are a severe restriction with bigger turbos due to necking down to a smaller size than the compressor inducer and tight bends just before the turbos.

The N20 has no such restriction. It has a huge pipe from the turbo to a huge airbox with a huge pipe going to the front of the radiator with the same intake area as the 335i. There is no way an N20 intake limits power, even with an upgraded turbo.

[bradsm87]

Also Dinan do not include any intake modification in their top N20 power package which includes an upgraded turbo. That's also a very good sign that the stock N20 intake is excellent.

[Hoberto]

Hi, We made stage 2 upgrade on my BMW 328i N20 2012. Result was around 288HP because we loosing pressure from 5000rpm. Do we need adjust wastegate or add DV+ ?

Thank you for advice.

[Billfitz]

My advice is to open a new thread, instead of tagging on to a zombie thread.

[Hoberto]

Yes, I wanted but I can not because I am new here in bimmerpost now I can,
here is new thread:

https://f30.bimmerpost.com/forums/sh...7#post26693117