TakmaN

To be brutally honest and sorry you have to hear this but adding scoops, filter, exhaust, tuning, etc. will probably show some gains on paper but I doubt you'll really feel it or it will make a huge difference when you're actually driving. Same with adding the sprint booster (which only makes the throttle more sensitive/responsive). The best way to upgrade would be to trade for a 530, 545, or 550.

If you still want to mod it up then go with RPI scoops, BMC filter, and RPI exhaust. You might gain somewhere around 5-15 whp (which, on second thought, you actually might be able to feel) but you also get the nice roar of the RPI exhaust .

Good luck on your modding!

bha7176

Wha-What!?!? So will he feel it or not...I say hell yeah! Go for it. If you have about $8-900 bucks you can spend, and that's it, go for the RPI exhaust, scoop and BMC filter man. you'll feel a difference, but it will NOT transform your 525 into a 530 - it will set your 525 apart from the other 525's out there, and it may just satisfy your needs for a while longer until you're ready to get into a 535 or 550 - where you'll really notice the difference. Until then, make yourself happy and go for the above. You won't regret it.

porsche911targa

Arghhhhhhh, if I hear that one more time, I'm going to start dancing with old ladies....... I have driven both the 530s and 525s (06 on) and I cannot detect any discernible difference. What the hell am I doing wrong? I am naturally heavy-footed and my 525 is a freaking rocket. Could it be that the previous owner had it chipped and I don't know about it?

I am willing to take anybody who doesn't believe me on a ride. Just let me know.

Kzang

I had a 2007 525i 6 speed manual and that car was ok, it wasn't fast but ok. The lack of torque in the 525i made it slower for me... But once I got into highway speeds power was fine.
Comparing that car to my current 2010 535i, there is a huge gap in performance.
My 535i is a ROCKET, the 525i is slow in comparison.

porsche911targa

I agree, compared to the 535, the 525 is slow. Compared to the 535, the 530 is also slow, for that matter. I'm just saying that the 525 and 530 are not ALL that much different.

Kzang

You know I can't really compare the 525i and 530i since I never really drove the 530i.. but I was just making comments based on the 535i. So essentially my post is irrelavent

TakmaN

I have driven neither a 525 nor a 530 but I would assume you would be able to feel a little bit of difference in power (considering the power difference between the two is roughly 30hp and tq to the crank). On the other hand, I'm sure if you drove an '04 525i and an '07 530i then you would feel a huge difference (hp discrepancy this time would be roughly 60hp and ft/lb tq).

I wouldn't describe the 525i as a rocket though heh, especially if you have a 911, it should feel like a mule being dragged by a donkey. Funny how we all have the need for speed yet I've really never pushed my car or raced...

aretardedorange

How do you have a 525i made in 08?

I believe the 525i/530i/528i are almost the same? If not the 530i being a bit better then the 528i then the 525i being the slowest? I think for 6.5 seconds 0-60 in my 528i is still very fast. For others 0-60 in in 5.5 seconds in a 535i is slow.

if I had the chance to reconsider I would have gotten a 07 550i. My dealer had a 07 550i fully loaded, same color, with 30k miles for $37k. The twin turbo v8's scared me but I heard the 545i gets 17 City, and 28 Highway. The 550i should be around there as well.

egzen75

Driving the 2004 530 and hitting that throttle you feel it in the seat, you watch the rpm's race up and you here a strong sounding rumble from the engine. Now when I step on MY throttle (2007) 525 it lags, then struggles to gain rpm's, no strong sounding engine noise here. It's depressing...my 2007 has low miles and is in really great shape but I'm afraid I'm always gonna regret going with it. Lol. ALthough I will be able to afford wheels and some mods for the money I saved!

egzen75

Ok so I just got off the phone with a tuning shop that said "Go with the ECU only, this will remap the computer to be what the 530. The only difference then will be the less restrictive exhaust. Don't go with the cold air intake or exhaust because the stock BMW stuff is good and they will cause havoc with the computer system". Any thoughts on this.

Anyone with a 525i and ECU done out there to tell us if it was night and day difference?