Charge pipe BMW 2014 X1 35i

[NMX1]

Apparently blew my original plastic charge pipe under boost.
Any recs on aftermarket metal charge pipes for this vehicle and how easy is it to do a home install?

[wheela]

I did the vrsf n55 charge pipe and it fit great. It even came with a fresh o-ring for the throttle body connection. Very easy to do youself, google some videos. I did mine myself, the hardest part was the throttle body connection, as you have to have the 2 cylindrical portions of the two parts aligned really well to get the pipe to slide on all the way. I was lazy and did it without taking off my airbox which actually made it more challenging (hindsight...). If I did it again I'd remove the airbox first.

Be careful though when removing the air box -since then, i've removed it, and one of the metal clips that holds the top on kept wanting to fall off. It actually did fall off at one point and went into the engine abyss, but thankfully somehow it found its way through an opening and landed on the garage floor vs. getting hung up on the undertray...

[NMX1]

Perfect. I had just watched a video on the vrsf install and was planning to go with that. Glad to hear you are happy with yours. The install did involve removing the air box, by the way. I’ll order a new c clip since the old one went AWOL.
Thanks!

[NMX1]

Wheela, do you happen to have the part # on the vrsf charge pipe that will fit? I may have to go with a different manufacturer since it seems like the vrsf may be on back order. I’ve been happy with Cobb on my old Subaru.

[wheela]

I'll check and post back, I still have the box in the garage👍

[Westies]

Personally, I would go with a different brand, such as BMS or ER. My VRSF charge pipe has a weird fit, and the downpipe didn't fit well either.

[bosstones]

There was a slight rough spot on my VRSF charge pipe when I got it. A little filing resolved it and it's worked fine for me for 40k miles (ish).

I found my old order email, but it doesn't list a P/N. If it helps, the description is:

VRSF Chargepipe 2007-2013 BMW 135i / 335i & X1 N54 & N55 E Chassis
(BOV Flange: N55(No Flange), Included BOV: None, Throttle Body C-clip: No, Thank you, O-Ring: No)

[wheela]

Like bosstones, I couldn't find a part number on my box. But if you go with vrsf, what he said to get is correct - just make sure to select "n55 no BOV flange" from the drop-down box (see pic below). I think I must have also selected yes for the o-ring and c-clip options.

I'd also read of some fitment issues with vrsf, so I was nervous about getting their catless downpipe, but that also fit fine on my car (though I had a shop put that one on for me). Not sure if they had a problem that they sorted out, or it's part-to-part variation, and I got lucky

[NMX1]

I can’t find that part on vrsf web site but this appears to be it:
https://www.ecstuning.com/b-vrsf-par...CABEgL5efD_BwE

I’m a bit concerned about fitment issues but it doesn’t seem there’s a tried and true alternative from another company that is clearly better.

[NMX1]

I chatted with someone at ECS tuning and it looks like this is what I need:

[NMX1]

Order is in! By the way, ECS tuning price matched VRSF on the chargepipe and their price on C clip and O ring kit was cheaper. Plus ECS customer service was more pleasant to work with and were willing to get the order sent out to me right away.

[NMX1]

Got the charge pipe in. Solid! I can't believe BMW actually made a performance car (35i M sport) with such a weak plastic charge pipe, and that they don't offer a fix aside from replacing the shit part for the same shit part when it breaks.
Seems like the acceleration issue I had before the pipe fully blew up is improved. There’s still an initial slow ramp up before the car takes off in earnest, but not the completely dead time it used to have. I’m guessing the crap plastic charge pipe was cracked before it totally blew out.

Definitely made the job easier to remove the air filter box and the brake fluid reservoir. Of course, I also dropped one of the air filter box clips into the engine and spent a while fishing it out with the magnet on a stick tool. Also dropped a hose clamp nut and spent some more time fishing. The flexible silicone elbow helps for lining up the c-clip end of the charge pipe (took a little muscle/finesse) but it’s too grippy to slide the clamps around on it without removing the nuts.
My new charge pipe seems well machined and I had no major problems with fit. Happy I went with VRSF.