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      10-25-2021, 05:30 PM   #1
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Buy a 340i or PS2 turbo upgrade?

Looking for some advice here. I have been on the hunt for a 340i for a few months now. I've been wanting a 340i because of how fast they are with just downpipe, hpfp (full e85), and tune. They easily run 10's all day, and reliably. However, I am picky, I have a fully optioned out 335i, so I've been looking for a comparable 340i and haven't had much luck. Every time I do find one, it ends up being like $40,000. So I started looking for M340i's and turns out those aren't really tuneable yet because BMW can lock the ecu over the air with updates. My 335i is paid off. So my question is, should I just do a PS2 upgrade on my 335i and call it a day? I just crossed 50k miles on my car and it runs great still, and it's spec'd out exactly as I would want it. Are there any other turbo upgrades for the N55 that puts it closer to the pure800 power of the B58 (650 whp~) and is still reliable?
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      10-25-2021, 05:53 PM   #2
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You can do a basic cost-benefit analysis to inform your decision. Just make sure you consider all supporting mods besides the turbo, and labor if you will not install yourself. You will probably want (adding to your sig mod list):

Turbo, inlet, TIC, race IC, DV, HPFP if doing any ethanol, and LPFP (+maybe EKP) if doing over E50 or so.

There's only 1 person on here ive seen in the 650 whp range. There's others im sure, but very little data/info available. kfardan had the thread on it i believe, can probably find his thread if you search by his user name.

You CAN make that much power, but you are really starting to push the trans with that amount of power/torque. A good stopping point is mid 500s whp/wtq.
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      10-25-2021, 06:06 PM   #3
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Personally I'd look for a newer platform. If you are at BM3 stage 2 you are nearing 400 whp. I would look for the newest 340i you can find and have fun modding it.
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      10-25-2021, 06:20 PM   #4
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definitely do whatever strangers on the internet tell you to do.
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      10-25-2021, 07:50 PM   #5
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Big boost now offers gtx series turbos

https://bigboostturbo.com/collection...ries-turbo-kit

I would opt for this if you can swing it comfortably.
Steven at wedge performance pushes over 700whp on his n55 m235i with dct swap. Seems to be pretty robust set up, he has some videos on his channel using these kits
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      10-25-2021, 08:34 PM   #6
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Quote:
Originally Posted by thejeremyman9 View Post
You can do a basic cost-benefit analysis to inform your decision. Just make sure you consider all supporting mods besides the turbo, and labor if you will not install yourself. You will probably want (adding to your sig mod list):

Turbo, inlet, TIC, race IC, DV, HPFP if doing any ethanol, and LPFP (+maybe EKP) if doing over E50 or so.

There's only 1 person on here ive seen in the 650 whp range. There's others im sure, but very little data/info available. kfardan had the thread on it i believe, can probably find his thread if you search by his user name.

You CAN make that much power, but you are really starting to push the trans with that amount of power/torque. A good stopping point is mid 500s whp/wtq.

Man, I totally forgot you have to upgrade all that stuff on the N55 cars. It's crazy how much the B58 guys are getting away with on stock parts. That's true I would probably want to stop around 575~ whp just to keep the trans happy. I wish the PS2 upgrade made just a little more with needing meth and stuff.
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      10-25-2021, 08:35 PM   #7
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Originally Posted by Pussiwillow View Post
Big boost now offers gtx series turbos

https://bigboostturbo.com/collection...ries-turbo-kit

I would opt for this if you can swing it comfortably.
Steven at wedge performance pushes over 700whp on his n55 m235i with dct swap. Seems to be pretty robust set up, he has some videos on his channel using these kits
Dam I didn't realize they dropped these GTX series kits for the N55. Good to know!
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      10-25-2021, 08:36 PM   #8
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definitely do whatever strangers on the internet tell you to do.
100%!
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      10-26-2021, 09:47 AM   #9
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definitely do whatever strangers on the internet tell you to do.
This, also I would get a B58.
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      10-26-2021, 11:26 AM   #10
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Depends really on how far you plan on going. If you're set on the 650 region as you mentioned and are looking for "reliability" which we all know you pay to play, I would forgo the first gen B58 and opt for the S55 platform. I do admire and enjoy seeing how the B58 platform has developed I just personally feel a bit uneasy with one of the concerning points that kern417 pointed out in one of his videos if you're looking to get a lot of power out of the motor.

No doubt it's a more capable and easier starting point to begin modding though taking into account the number you mentioned along with some semblance of reliability, those two we all know is hard to objectively see coexisting happily together.

We're at a point where all the F chassis have aged really well where there's an excess of resources from to make and informed decision on the cost to happiness analyst
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      10-26-2021, 08:28 PM   #11
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Quote:
Originally Posted by thejeremyman9 View Post
You can do a basic cost-benefit analysis to inform your decision. Just make sure you consider all supporting mods besides the turbo, and labor if you will not install yourself. You will probably want (adding to your sig mod list):

Turbo, inlet, TIC, race IC, DV, HPFP if doing any ethanol, and LPFP (+maybe EKP) if doing over E50 or so.

There's only 1 person on here ive seen in the 650 whp range. There's others im sure, but very little data/info available. kfardan had the thread on it i believe, can probably find his thread if you search by his user name.

You CAN make that much power, but you are really starting to push the trans with that amount of power/torque. A good stopping point is mid 500s whp/wtq.
I've read cautions about EKP overheating from aftermarket LPFP's but haven't found a situation where that is the case. All of the Precision Raceworks LPFP's use Walbro units. All of them claim no EKP upgrade needed
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      10-26-2021, 08:42 PM   #12
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At the 340i prices I would instead jump into a well used f80 that someone has already done typical maintenance on. Two turbos are better than one.
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      10-26-2021, 08:52 PM   #13
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Quote:
Originally Posted by johnung View Post
Quote:
Originally Posted by thejeremyman9 View Post
You can do a basic cost-benefit analysis to inform your decision. Just make sure you consider all supporting mods besides the turbo, and labor if you will not install yourself. You will probably want (adding to your sig mod list):

Turbo, inlet, TIC, race IC, DV, HPFP if doing any ethanol, and LPFP (+maybe EKP) if doing over E50 or so.

There's only 1 person on here ive seen in the 650 whp range. There's others im sure, but very little data/info available. kfardan had the thread on it i believe, can probably find his thread if you search by his user name.

You CAN make that much power, but you are really starting to push the trans with that amount of power/torque. A good stopping point is mid 500s whp/wtq.
I've read cautions about EKP overheating from aftermarket LPFP's but haven't found a situation where that is the case. All of the Precision Raceworks LPFP's use Walbro units. All of them claim no EKP upgrade needed
yeah, I have stock ekp that I modded.. haven't had an issue with my vaders solutions 2.5 lpfp
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      10-27-2021, 01:28 AM   #14
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Quote:
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I've read cautions about EKP overheating from aftermarket LPFP's but haven't found a situation where that is the case. All of the Precision Raceworks LPFP's use Walbro units. All of them claim no EKP upgrade needed
Depends not only on the pump itself but how hard its working. PI works the LPFP hard, and it draws more current. Installing a big pump and not working it hard doesnt make it overheat.
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      10-27-2021, 09:03 AM   #15
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For that kind of power, i recommend getting a 340 instead
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      10-27-2021, 11:03 AM   #16
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At the 340i prices I would instead jump into a well used f80 that someone has already done typical maintenance on. Two turbos are better than one.
340i's are $32-36K, a clean F80 is $51-60k. For that price, I'd just jump into a brand new M340i.
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      10-27-2021, 11:46 AM   #17
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Quote:
Originally Posted by xnick101 View Post
Quote:
Originally Posted by Logicoeur View Post
At the 340i prices I would instead jump into a well used f80 that someone has already done typical maintenance on. Two turbos are better than one.
340i's are $32-36K, a clean F80 is $51-60k. For that price, I'd just jump into a brand new M340i.
"Well used" is the key word here. Something in the 70-80K mi range is likely to have already done major maintence and sell for low 40s, mid 30s on occasion.
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      10-28-2021, 01:38 AM   #18
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Just like Miata, B58 is always the answer
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      10-31-2021, 10:27 AM   #19
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Just like Miata, B58 is always the answer
The far more expensive answer 🥲
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      11-01-2021, 02:35 PM   #20
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The only thing that gives me pause with the 340 is the B58`s somewhat rare but very catastrophic problem of failure of the plasma arc coated cylinder coating. It seems to happen more in modified B58s. If that coating fails, the short block has to be replaced. That's a 5 figure repair. As with any modded BMW, it's best to have a well funded rainy day account and be a DWYER.

Lastly, I don't believe for a second that any BMW running 50%+ more power than stock will be reliable. The motor might be OK for a while but other things are going to be taxed. Also, you'll be dealing with lots of annoying little gremlins all the time.
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      11-01-2021, 05:24 PM   #21
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Lastly, I don't believe for a second that any BMW running 50%+ more power than stock will be reliable. The motor might be OK for a while but other things are going to be taxed. Also, you'll be dealing with lots of annoying little gremlins all the time.
Conceptually I somewhat agree with the first point in that pushing hardware too far almost unavoidably causes some form of increased wear and tear, the question is where that threshold is and if the increase is negligible or not. Quantitative data doesn't really exist, but all anecdotal evidence for the N55 (EWG in particular) suggests that running OTS maps with supporting hardware and the necessary maintenance isnt compromising reliability in any ways with all else being equal (i.e., driving the tuned car the same way you would the stock car). I will caveat that with saying i think things like aggressive custom tunes and BM3 stage 2+ are too aggressive for stock turbo if you are going to track the car or otherwise push it hard. (Edit: This is my opinion/tolerance level.)

As to the 2nd point, the "annoying little gremlins" are things that are likely going to occur regardless of your tune/increase in power output. Those are the typical issues that occur on even stock N55s.

So yeah, not disagreeing fundamentally or trying to argue, but I just don't want someone to read this and think "omg if i tune im going to cut my car's life in half". It's a bit more nuanced than that and most people aren't as deeply involved in the forums as we are so they don't have the benefit of seeing what does and does not happen.

Last edited by thejeremyman9; 11-01-2021 at 08:26 PM..
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      11-01-2021, 07:17 PM   #22
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Quote:
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Originally Posted by XutvJet View Post
Lastly, I don't believe for a second that any BMW running 50%+ more power than stock will be reliable. The motor might be OK for a while but other things are going to be taxed. Also, you'll be dealing with lots of annoying little gremlins all the time.
Conceptually I somewhat agree with the first point in that pushing hardware too far almost unavoidably causes some form of increased wear and tear, the question is where that threshold is and if the increase is negligible or not. Quantitative data doesn't really exist, but all anecdotal evidence for the N55 (EWG in particular) suggests that running OTS maps with supporting hardware and the necessary maintenance isnt compromising reliability in any ways with all else being equal (i.e., driving the tuned car the same way you would the stock car). I will caveat that with saying i think things like aggressive custom tunes and BM3 stage 2+ are too aggressive for stock turbo if you are going to track the car or otherwise push it hard.

As to the 2nd point, the "annoying little gremlins" are things that are likely going to occur regardless of your tune/increase in power output. Those are the typical issues that occur on even stock N55s.

So yeah, not disagreeing fundamentally or trying to argue, but I just don't want someone to read this and think "omg if i tune im going to cut my car's life in half". It's a bit more nuanced than that and most people aren't as deeply involved in the forums as we are so they don't have the benefit of seeing what does and does not happen.
Well said. I'm curious to hear more about your comment about BM3 Stage2+ being to aggressive on stock turbo. The purpose of that tune is to gain more power out of the stock turbo if it's had a HPFP upgrade and access to ethanol.

The one negative I have heard with this tune is to be careful not to use under E30, so using say E40 is a good idea. But that's similar to telling someone running a 93 octane tune not to put 91 octane in the tank.

Curious if you heard of issues tracking with the BM3 Stage2+ E30 tune?
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