[The_redmen]

I really enjoy my car, it's my first BMW and my daily driver but should I just do some aesthetic modifications and wait until the future and purchase a better performance car like a 335i or M series then do performance mods on that?

[Welcome to NBA Jam]

The 3-stage intake manifold mod is the best bang for your buck. That'd the main one I'd recommend if you're looking for something noticeable.

The intake manifold will run you $750-$1,000 new, but you can find them used on eBay. The software will be another $500. In the end you should net around 30Hp.

[RealJ22]

The only thing worth doing for "Performance"

3 Stage intake - Largest gains - Best and only mod if you do it.
Charcoal delete / Filter / Elbow - Increased throttle response and a little better top end
Secondary cat delete - Instant 5-10 horsepower and some pops / burbles

All of those combined will make the vehicle very fun and quick. Can be done for under well under a grand.

[jt335i]

Originally Posted by The_redmen

I really enjoy my car, it's my first BMW and my daily driver but should I just do some aesthetic modifications and wait until the future and purchase a better performance car like a 335i or M series then do performance mods on that?

Congrats on your ride.
You can find a lot more info, ideas, and answers to your questions in the
NA Engine (non-turbo) / Drivetrain / Exhaust Modifications section.

There are various threads from others you with posters arguing the pros and cons of modding a NA N52, but it's your car so do what makes you happy.

Enjoy!

[dakotap80]

If you're only talking about mods for more power, then I'd lean towards no, not worth it in terms of HP per $.
Suspension mods and a good set of non-runflat summer tires are VERY worth it though.

[rick100]

Originally Posted by dakotap80

If you're only talking about mods for more power, then I'd lean towards no, not worth it in terms of HP per $.
Suspension mods and a good set of non-runflat summer tires are VERY worth it though.

So you are saying roughly 500$ for 25 hp on a na car is not worth it??


Either u have no idea about thr 328 or u just talking nonsense

[porsche959]

Originally Posted by rick100

So you are saying roughly 500$ for 25 hp on a na car is not worth it??


Either u have no idea about thr 328 or u just talking nonsense

Yes it’s not worth it on an n52. Turbo hp/$ makes the n52 look stoopid expensive. Suspension mods yes, power mods only if you enjoy burning dollars for something that will top out at v6 accord numbers.

[tcphoto]

I would put the money into maintenance, suspension upgrades and minor esthetics. The car is not worth a lot and odds are it has over 100K miles on it and you'd probably push something to the point of failure. I'd make sure that nothing leaks, the paint is in good shape and it remains a reliable vehicle.

[tlow98]

Originally Posted by porsche959

Yes it’s not worth it on an n52. Turbo hp/$ makes the n52 look stoopid expensive. Suspension mods yes, power mods only if you enjoy burning dollars for something that will top out at v6 accord numbers.

Just bc something is more expensive than another thing doesn’t make it the wrong thing to do. In reality the 3SI manifold can be had for <$200 and the software is easily found on here for free.

Do you like NA response and want more of it? The main benefit of the manifold and software is the torque, not the hp.

The real question is how industrious are you and what are your goals? Broad questions sent to peanut gallery will only get opinions that don’t align with your particular objectives.

If the question were “which car should I buy for the best tunable hp/$?” Sure, we could actually that question. Otherwise all shades of grey

[porsche959]

Originally Posted by tlow98

Just bc something is more expensive than another thing doesn’t make it the wrong thing to do. In reality the 3SI manifold can be had for <$200 and the software is easily found on here for free.

Do you like NA response and want more of it? The main benefit of the manifold and software is the torque, not the hp.

The real question is how industrious are you and what are your goals? Broad questions sent to peanut gallery will only get opinions that don’t align with your particular objectives.

If the question were “which car should I buy for the best tunable hp/$?” Sure, we could actually that question. Otherwise all shades of grey

Ive never seen a 3SI manifold for under $200. At $500, which is the average cost all in (maybe?), id say pass. The difference between a 200hp/tq car and 220hp/tq car is meh on 3300lbs+. That’s why it’s not worth it. Suspension and tires you should feel more imo.

[hassmaschine]

Originally Posted by rick100

So you are saying roughly 500$ for 25 hp on a na car is not worth it??


Either u have no idea about thr 328 or u just talking nonsense

you can do it for way less than $500.

Originally Posted by porsche959

Ive never seen a 3SI manifold for under $200. At $500, which is the average cost all in (maybe?), id say pass. The difference between a 200hp/tq car and 220hp/tq car is meh on 3300lbs+. That’s why it’s not worth it. Suspension and tires you should feel more imo.

it's not just power, it's torque. I presume you're talking about whp/wtq. It's a big difference in how the car drives.
BMW did a lot more than just change the manifold when they neutered the 328i.

For our E91 I only paid $150. Tuning cost me nothing.

[porsche959]

Originally Posted by hassmaschine

you can do it for way less than $500.



it's not just power, it's torque. I presume you're talking about whp/wtq. It's a big difference in how the car drives.
BMW did a lot more than just change the manifold when they neutered the 328i.

For our E91 I only paid $150. Tuning cost me nothing.

Ok at $150 I say do it. Even I’ll do it for $150. Maybe even $200. Where’s everyone finding these deals.

[BadContrakt]

I am TOTALLY going to get flamed for saying this and I'm prepared for the backlash from you guys but I have to say it.

I really want to say no. I don't want to be a party pooper but even doing full bolt ons on a 335 isn't even hardly worth the money. I've fully bolted on a few different cars now (not all BMWs) and through the thousands I've spent, I've vowed to never do bolt ons again. The minimal gains I've gotten just don't seem worth it. I'd rather put that money toward wheels or coils or aesthetic stuff. Maybe my butt dyno just isn't calibrated right.

After doing the whole bolt on thing AGAIN with my 335 I've vowed (without my wife telling me to) to never bolt on a car again. The most I'll do is aesthetic mods and noise mods. That's it. I regret bolting on every car I've ever done. HP to $$ ratio is always too low.

[Gamb1t]

...and u will not recover money back when come time to sell.

[hassmaschine]

Originally Posted by BadContrakt

I am TOTALLY going to get flamed for saying this and I'm prepared for the backlash from you guys but I have to say it.

I really want to say no. I don't want to be a party pooper but even doing full bolt ons on a 335 isn't even hardly worth the money. I've fully bolted on a few different cars now (not all BMWs) and through the thousands I've spent, I've vowed to never do bolt ons again. The minimal gains I've gotten just don't seem worth it. I'd rather put that money toward wheels or coils or aesthetic stuff. Maybe my butt dyno just isn't calibrated right.

After doing the whole bolt on thing AGAIN with my 335 I've vowed (without my wife telling me to) to never bolt on a car again. The most I'll do is aesthetic mods and noise mods. That's it. I regret bolting on every car I've ever done. HP to $$ ratio is always too low.

we're talking about $200-300 at most. Not thousands of dollars.

[rick100]

Originally Posted by porsche959

Yes it’s not worth it on an n52. Turbo hp/$ makes the n52 look stoopid expensive. Suspension mods yes, power mods only if you enjoy burning dollars for something that will top out at v6 accord numbers.

again you are still talking non sense or have no idea about na cars

why even bring up a turbo car in this conversation ?

You obviously never drove a 328 with 3 stage intake if you think its not worth it , so again you are talking about something you have no idea about ... so why even give an opinion about something you dont know ...

[rick100]

Originally Posted by hassmaschine

you can do it for way less than $500.



it's not just power, it's torque. I presume you're talking about whp/wtq. It's a big difference in how the car drives.
BMW did a lot more than just change the manifold when they neutered the 328i.

For our E91 I only paid $150. Tuning cost me nothing.

i bought my intake for 200 $ , but i had someone install it for me for 300 $ ...

but yes , you are right , it could be done for 200$ - 300$ if you include the cable from bimmergeeks. Back when I did it , you did not have your 330 tune available yet , so I had to buy the updated tune from AA which included the headers ...

looking back , i should ve probably installed it myself , but again the person doing the install also did the aa headers install and the final tune for both , so it was an all in one package deal type of thing

[nsjames]

Originally Posted by dakotap80

If you're only talking about mods for more power, then I'd lean towards no, not worth it in terms of HP per $.
Suspension mods and a good set of non-runflat summer tires are VERY worth it though.

lol.

I picked up a 3 stage manifold for $150 and loaded the bimmerlabs hacked 330 files to it.

if $150 for a 10% gain in performance not worth it?

turbo guys pay three times that much for MHD.

[nsjames]

Originally Posted by hassmaschine

we're talking about $200-300 at most. Not thousands of dollars.

and it's factory parts, with factory software.
so where else can you get factory reliable 10% increases in horsepower for sub $200?

and I agree, the HP gain is not significant, but the driveability through the mid range RPMs is completely different.

[BadContrakt]

Originally Posted by nsjames

lol.

I picked up a 3 stage manifold for $150 and loaded the bimmerlabs hacked 330 files to it.

if $150 for a 10% gain in performance not worth it?

turbo guys pay three times that much for MHD.

MHD is about exactly 150 dollars out the door for 335i tune. Chu mean?

[nsjames]

Originally Posted by BadContrakt

MHD is about exactly 150 dollars out the door for 335i tune. Chu mean?

the flasher is $99
the monitor is $69
easch individual map is $49.

it's not hard to wrap up 3-400 dollars in MHD.

[BadContrakt]

Originally Posted by nsjames

the flasher is $99
the monitor is $69
easch individual map is $49.

it's not hard to wrap up 3-400 dollars in MHD.

Ah. I've got the flasher and the map I need for daily driving. Pretty simple. Although there's a Kwiktrip getting built near my house that will have corn so I might be buying another map here soon.