[steviewonder]

So my car is bone dry stock right now (2011 335xi) and im trying to figure out my first move with what to mod first. My warranty ends next october and im afraid to install a JB4 because i feel like something is going to go wrong with my car the second my warranty is up. Any advice on mods or JB4?

[aren93]

Originally Posted by steviewonder

So my car is bone dry stock right now (2011 335xi) and im trying to figure out my first move with what to mod first. My warranty ends next october and im afraid to install a JB4 because i feel like something is going to go wrong with my car the second my warranty is up. Any advice on mods or JB4?

Get a downpipe first then intake then charge pipe then intercooler then JB4

[yas_e92]

I have an 08 335xi. i got the jb4 and intakes first, then the catless downpipes and FMIC.
if you dont want to void your warranty just take the jb4 out before you go to the stealership.

[Jsoboti]

Originally Posted by steviewonder

So my car is bone dry stock right now (2011 335xi) and im trying to figure out my first move with what to mod first. My warranty ends next october and im afraid to install a JB4 because i feel like something is going to go wrong with my car the second my warranty is up. Any advice on mods or JB4?

JB4 and intake first. Then Catless DP. If you don't have a tuner to clear codes then when you put the DP on you'll have to live with a check engine light.

Also, when you start upgrading your cars breathing (intake and down pipe) you need a tune to take advantage of the extra flow, otherwise you won't be utilizing the cars potential and IMO wasting money on the mods

[Schmidty335i]

+1 on the JB4 (with flex fuel wires) first! then intake or just drop in filter. i had a intake to start with but thought it looked "cheesy" when i had the hood popped. went back to the stock box with a K&N air filter, didnt feel any difference in performance and i felt it looked way better under my hood. i would go with the charge pipe next which i did last but lucky for me i never blew the damn thing up lol. then go down pipe i really didnt feel a big difference with this mod but i know it is treating my turbo ALOT better than the stock cat would have and the sound you get from your exhaust after wards is totally worth the install anyways. around this time i would start dumping some e85 in your car. then either go FMIC or Meth or go both if you just wanna, you know be sure those IAT stay in check haha. Then go with a upgraded turbo! thats pretty much where my car is so you are hearing from trial and error on my part. i am very happy with the car but once Pure comes out with thier stage 2 i am gonna be all over it! good luck with your mods!

[Sidewinderpb]

1.) JB4
2.) Chargepipe
3.) Downpipe
4.) Intake (optional; negligible performance gains)
5.) FMIC
6.) Turbo, ProTune
7.) Upgrade to better car

[steviewonder]

Originally Posted by aren93

Get a downpipe first then intake then charge pipe then intercooler then JB4

Yea but i feel like if i do all of that first without the JB4 it wont get the full potential along with screw up my car. My first idea was to do downpies first but then i figured since i was changing the back pressure to the turbo, i would have had to do a JB4 to compensate for the downpipes.

[Mike@N54Tuning.com]

I would start with JB4 and Intake. You can always get the JB Stage1 as its pretty mild and you can always upgrade it to the full JB4 later on once you get your feet wet

Mike

[M.a.r.k.u.s]

Originally Posted by steviewonder

Yea but i feel like if i do all of that first without the JB4 it wont get the full potential along with screw up my car. My first idea was to do downpies first but then i figured since i was changing the back pressure to the turbo, i would have had to do a JB4 to compensate for the downpipes.

chargepipe should easily be the first thing on the list unless you want to risk blowing your stock one, which happens way too easy. Obviously it won't give you any power gains but it also won't leave you in limp mode if the stock one blows. I'd wait with the dp until you have a tune. As you said, without the tune, the dp doesn't really do much other than throw a CEL and make your car sound better. On my car, I did CP, JB4 and intake at the same time, followed by a dp a couple weeks later and then a fmic a few weeks after that. I believe you said you have an Xdrive. If that's the case, you might consider getting some KW's first. The stock suspension is so floaty it's scary. With more power it just makes it worse.

[JETmn]

JB4 w/FF wires and charge pipe. That is the huge upgrade. Small upgrade with DP after that and eliminate some heat soak with a FMIC. JB4 and E40 will be by far the biggest gain.

[aren93]

Originally Posted by steviewonder

Yea but i feel like if i do all of that first without the JB4 it wont get the full potential along with screw up my car. My first idea was to do downpies first but then i figured since i was changing the back pressure to the turbo, i would have had to do a JB4 to compensate for the downpipes.

Oh well they way I did it was Downpipe, Intake, Charge Pipe, Intercooler and I did the JB4 last so I really felt the difference of a FBO with/without a tune. JB4 made a huge difference and it was worth the wait. But its up to you. Car was driving fine without the tune though, no problems with the backpressure/downpipe.

[oneha1980]

JB4! Along w charge pipe and intake. That's what I have now. And KW of course if you can swing that!

[mustangivore]

1) Strip off any stealership emblems/badges and throw in trashcan.

2) Tint. 35% looks good, 20% looks great - up to you & your state.

Then focus on 3) powertrain, 4) suspension, and 5) misc cosmetics.

3) If OEM, then BMW PPK+PE is good. Else JB4/Cobb + PE/DP/some high-flow exhaust + Chargepipe.

PE is probably my favorite modification (besides removing stealership badges).

4) I installed only H&R Sport springs since they work fine with my sport shocks and I didn't want to spend much. (But coil overs are recommended.) Look is absolutely awesome. Springs + F14 gunmetal 19" wheels (with PSS tires - remove the harsh run flats if you have them) completely transformed the look of the car. Car looks amazing but still with BMW class - but definitely on the aggressive, race-inspired side.

5) I added front splitters and a BMW M3 rear lip to complete the look of the bumper/trunk. BMW rubber floor mats and a Valentine Radar Detector with YaV1 Android application is a must for the interior. Also added CF emblems, which is a pain in the a55 to avoid yellowing...hardest mod to date.

[Jeff@TopGearSolutions]

If you are going to tune with something like a JB4 or Cobb I'd suggest a charge pipe as the stock one is very prone to cracking under higher boost, it actually cracks on stock boost but it just takes a bit longer.

You will hear many different recommendations on modifications, so it's really up to you what you want from your car.

I prefer to mod for efficiency and ease up front, therefore I'd suggest a Tune, Intake and FMIC. The FMIC is the most important for efficiency purposes.

Although downpipes are a good power adder they are a little difficult to install for the average Joe, compared to an FMIC. Also one achilles heal of the N55 is heat soak and the FMIC will combat that and give you consistent back to back runs and keep your ignition timing and motor happy.

[ze_german]

I need some advice on the jb4 itself. Mine has arrived to day and i will install it tonight.

I would like to know if its a must to strip out the diode and go iso firmware right away or can I run the standard firmware to get settled/familiar with the system?

I have the 7" VRSF FMIC and ER CP but no DP. I have an E85 station around the corner and I understand I can run up to E20 without the FF wires correct?

Thanks!

EDIT: also I noticed the stock jb4 firmware is from 2012, any idea at what stage the default fw will be updated?

[NoImDirtyDan]

Originally Posted by ze_german

I need some advice on the jb4 itself. Mine has arrived to day and i will install it tonight.

I would like to know if its a must to strip out the diode and go iso firmware right away or can I run the standard firmware to get settled/familiar with the system?

I have the 7" VRSF FMIC and ER CP but no DP. I have an E85 station around the corner and I understand I can run up to E20 without the FF wires correct?

Thanks!

EDIT: also I noticed the stock jb4 firmware is from 2012, any idea at what stage the default fw will be updated?

To answer your first question its no you don't have to. Personally, and I think others would agree, I would cut the diode and go ISO so you don't have to pull out the JB4 again later on. I waited until a dealer visit to do it and I think its a lot better. I have yet to see someone dislike their JB4 ISO. It only takes 30 seconds to do and its completely worth it.

[4lss]

I also have a 2011 335xi manual.
Went with JB4 and intake for a few months and finally got catless DP.
Wouldn't do it any other way. Really happy with the results.

[ze_german]

I installed my JB4 yesterday. First drove around on Map 1 with shitty California 91 gas, was pretty happy. Today I mixed the 5gal of 91 I had left with 5gal of 100 octane, set the Map to 5, did a couple of 2nd gear pulls and holy cow, what a difference.

[snaimpally]

Originally Posted by steviewonder

So my car is bone dry stock right now (2011 335xi) and im trying to figure out my first move with what to mod first. My warranty ends next october and im afraid to install a JB4 because i feel like something is going to go wrong with my car the second my warranty is up. Any advice on mods or JB4?

The JB4 has been around a LONG time and a LOT of them have been sold so it is a proven solution. I was somewhat hesitant but I ended up putting JB4 on my before the warranty ended (I did buy the BMW EVP warranty so I have another 3 years of that) and have had zero issues.

Have you had your VANOS bolts replaced under the recall? If not, I would get that done and then add JB4. If you are hesitant to pop the hood and install JB4, look at Cobb AP. A little more expensive, but you can reprogram the ECU from the OBDII port, without having to do anything in the engine compartment.

Other mods include downpipe, exhaust, intake, FMIC (you only really need FMIC if you are in a warm climate year round). But JB4 or Cobb AP will make the biggest difference.