aFe intake
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From: New York, New York
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Don't do it dude. This is most reviled mod on these forums. Many respected members ripped that POS out of their rides. If you want to go slow, get the aFe intake. If you want more power, get the RPI scoop with BMC filter.
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Joined: Jan 2008
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From: So. Cal (SFV)
My Ride: 2011.5 Alpine White E90 M3 | Black Novillo Leather | Carbon Fiber Leather Trim | ZCP | ZP2 | M-DCT | Navigation | Moonroof | 6FL Mods: TMS 12.5mm spacers all around l Hawk HPS Brake Pads l OEM M3 Edition Grills l Paint Matched Side Gills l Key Hole D
sound would be more prevalent with the afe or any open air cone/hot intake, however performance will suffer. With an RPI set-up you are still utilizing the enclosed stock air box and air filter. However some report a slight increase in sound when using an aftermarket air filter (BMS or K&N). If you have an NA engine you can also remove the charcoal filter as well to increase air flow and sound. The N54 engines do not come with the charcoal filters....
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Joined: Mar 2008
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From: Birmingham AL
My Ride: 2010 VW Passat Wagon 2.0l Tsi
Grey/Grey Budapest 18"
Lost to HPFP issues:
08 535i sport pkg
Lost to Dreaded E61 Sun roof leaks:
07 E61 530Xi
No to the AFE....
Ask the multitude of 535i owners that returned them
The AFE is a "HAI" vs the Rpi "Scoops" being a Air Ram with no stock air box modifications. Replace the stock air filter and you have proven performance gains.
"HAI" Hot Air Induction
Ask the multitude of 535i owners that returned them
The AFE is a "HAI" vs the Rpi "Scoops" being a Air Ram with no stock air box modifications. Replace the stock air filter and you have proven performance gains.
"HAI" Hot Air Induction
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From: Thousand Oaks, California
My Ride: 2008 550i Jet Black on Black Leather, SAT with Paddles, Logic 7, Comfort Seats, NAV, Sport Package, PDC, Xenons, Sirius, Trinity 12W LED Angel Eyes, RPi GT Exhaust, M rear spoiler, ACS Roof Spoiler, Tinted Tail Lights, Bimmian Carbon Fiber Pillar Trim, Bimmian Shadow 550i emblem, RPi Scoop, E60 Forum Cling, Mtec bulbs in fog lights, Mtec 2W LED for License Plate Light Bulbs, K&N Filter, Bimmian LED Smoked Side Markers, Blackout roundels, Carbon Fiber Kidney Grills.
Retired Rides - 1989 325i convertible, 1995 M3, 2002 X5, 2005 545i, 2008 X5 (Lemon)
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Joined: Apr 2010
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From: Brea, CA
We've had several people try this intake on a 135i, 335i, and 535i. We're also currently running the Stage 2 Sealed Intake on our Project 135i. We've been recording great power on this item verified on aFe's dyno (Mustang Dyno) and also on independent dyno tests (Dynojet).
Our car initially LOST 30 hp right off the bat. It did take about 300 miles for the ECU to adapt the fuel trims. After the ECU adapted, we were consistently pulling higher numbers on the dyno.
Again, this is more hype than truth in my opinion. We've seen what happens when you install this right away and head to the dyno. I'd like to see the procedure they followed before taking the car to the dyno.
Ours with the aFe Stage 2 Sealed Intake, aFe downpipe (prototype), aFe exhaust, and BMS JB3 is currently pulling 368.8 hp at the wheels on a Mustang Dyno.
This same issue has been discussed to the 135i guys, 335i guys, and now the 535i guys. Allow the ECU to learn and I'm sure we'll have a lot more positive results on the dyno. Like we experienced with out own project car.
Our car initially LOST 30 hp right off the bat. It did take about 300 miles for the ECU to adapt the fuel trims. After the ECU adapted, we were consistently pulling higher numbers on the dyno.
Ours with the aFe Stage 2 Sealed Intake, aFe downpipe (prototype), aFe exhaust, and BMS JB3 is currently pulling 368.8 hp at the wheels on a Mustang Dyno.
This same issue has been discussed to the 135i guys, 335i guys, and now the 535i guys. Allow the ECU to learn and I'm sure we'll have a lot more positive results on the dyno. Like we experienced with out own project car.
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Joined: Dec 2007
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From: St. Louis Burbs, USA
My Ride: 2007 530i. Purchased 6/28/07. Titanium Silver Metallic, Black Dakota Leather, Dark Poplar Trim, Steptronic, Premium Package, Cold Weather Package, Bluetooth, Adaptive Control Xenons. 10/30/07 Added OEM 124s with 245/40/18 & 275/35/18 Michelin Pilot Sport A/S tires. Installed red Cal Covers� from BavAuto. 11/21/07 Added OEM all-weather floor mats (for winter, carpet in summer) and coat rack. 6/26/08 installed M5-style rear spoiler. 6/30/08 put on red reflectors. 8/22/08 Euro turn signal stickers applied. 3/20/09 Installed Shadowline Trim. 3/27/09 Added Matte Black Kidney Grilles from Trinity. 4/03/09 Installed Bimmian Shadow Matte Black 530i Badges. 4/04/09 Installed LED license plate lights from Trinity. 5/01/09 Installed Brabus Interior LED Kit and White Angel Eyes. 5/02/09 Put in Brabus 6K Fogs. 5/14/09 Removed charcoal filter. 5/15/09 Installed light smoke LED side marker lamps from Trinity. 5/21/09 Sprint Booster. 6/12/09 Painted exhaust tips flat black. 6/13/09 Pulled red Cal Covers and painted calipers low gloss black. 6/27/09 RPI Ram Air Scoop from Trinity. 8/15/09 Installed Brabus's silver invisibulbs front and rear. 9/24/09 Installed R-Dash license plate LEDs from Brabaus (John).
aFe FTW (in Iceland)!
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Joined: Jun 2008
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My Ride: A Car faster than yours.....
Although the 550i is a little different, you need to really test it before you are 100% sure you are not losing power. Your intake is NOT a cold air intake unless you are in Iceland and driving around without a hood on your car. Even then, your stock intake is sucking outside of engine compartment air.
I have some free ones here for you if you want. Send me a UPS label and you can have all the hot air intakes I have from people taking them off.
No real sound difference with the scoop design.
The learning period of the ECU for that intake is incorrect. The testing methods used by AFE is flawed and cant be taken serious. The testing methods are purely for marketing and not for actual product r&d. Has no one ever wondered why the same design (induction type) work for EVERY SINGLE car they make an intake for???? lmao. When the DME is making adjustments, the adaptation is does not work like what you mentioned above. We have datalogged and tuned cars EXTENSIVELY with these types and they are NOT going to make power. The adaptive maps are cleared when they do these tests which show great numbers on the dyno. Either way, we can go on and on about this but its pointless.
FOr everyone thinking about getting an intake for the 135, 335, or 535. The best results we have seen have been from the scoop alone. I highly recommend using the stock intake filter. Yes, even the BMC for THIS particular engine does not perform the same as the other E60 NA cars.
People who are looking for mods need to understand there are tuners/shops who want to sell you something and then there are places that want your car faster. We are not going to sell one particular brand just because we sell their stuff. We do a LOT with BMC but we will NOT sell all of their products. Some of their products I have tested simply do not do any better than stock...........and in some cases perform worse.
So, E60 NA.BMC filters (2 thumbs up)
N54 BMC flters (keep the stock one)
When filter companies test their filters, they are done on a machine that tests cfm and air flow ability of the filter. You can NOT only test it like this to see if it will make power on a certain application. Intake box design, shape, etc. all will play a factor in how the intake filter performs. Anyone of you with an AFE intake, closed box, new design, 300 mile adapted, platinum plated, mustang dyno approved/tested or what not. Ill run you on a stock intake any day. Lets get the cameras up
I have some free ones here for you if you want. Send me a UPS label and you can have all the hot air intakes I have from people taking them off.
We've had several people try this intake on a 135i, 335i, and 535i. We're also currently running the Stage 2 Sealed Intake on our Project 135i. We've been recording great power on this item verified on aFe's dyno (Mustang Dyno) and also on independent dyno tests (Dynojet).
Our car initially LOST 30 hp right off the bat. It did take about 300 miles for the ECU to adapt the fuel trims. After the ECU adapted, we were consistently pulling higher numbers on the dyno.
Again, this is more hype than truth in my opinion. We've seen what happens when you install this right away and head to the dyno. I'd like to see the procedure they followed before taking the car to the dyno.
Ours with the aFe Stage 2 Sealed Intake, aFe downpipe (prototype), aFe exhaust, and BMS JB3 is currently pulling 368.8 hp at the wheels on a Mustang Dyno.
This same issue has been discussed to the 135i guys, 335i guys, and now the 535i guys. Allow the ECU to learn and I'm sure we'll have a lot more positive results on the dyno. Like we experienced with out own project car.
Our car initially LOST 30 hp right off the bat. It did take about 300 miles for the ECU to adapt the fuel trims. After the ECU adapted, we were consistently pulling higher numbers on the dyno.
Again, this is more hype than truth in my opinion. We've seen what happens when you install this right away and head to the dyno. I'd like to see the procedure they followed before taking the car to the dyno.
Ours with the aFe Stage 2 Sealed Intake, aFe downpipe (prototype), aFe exhaust, and BMS JB3 is currently pulling 368.8 hp at the wheels on a Mustang Dyno.
This same issue has been discussed to the 135i guys, 335i guys, and now the 535i guys. Allow the ECU to learn and I'm sure we'll have a lot more positive results on the dyno. Like we experienced with out own project car.
FOr everyone thinking about getting an intake for the 135, 335, or 535. The best results we have seen have been from the scoop alone. I highly recommend using the stock intake filter. Yes, even the BMC for THIS particular engine does not perform the same as the other E60 NA cars.
People who are looking for mods need to understand there are tuners/shops who want to sell you something and then there are places that want your car faster. We are not going to sell one particular brand just because we sell their stuff. We do a LOT with BMC but we will NOT sell all of their products. Some of their products I have tested simply do not do any better than stock...........and in some cases perform worse.
So, E60 NA.BMC filters (2 thumbs up)
N54 BMC flters (keep the stock one)
When filter companies test their filters, they are done on a machine that tests cfm and air flow ability of the filter. You can NOT only test it like this to see if it will make power on a certain application. Intake box design, shape, etc. all will play a factor in how the intake filter performs. Anyone of you with an AFE intake, closed box, new design, 300 mile adapted, platinum plated, mustang dyno approved/tested or what not. Ill run you on a stock intake any day. Lets get the cameras up