Installed Intercooler and Kidney Grills

[Turbod]

So I did the same thing to my 335i back when I installed the intercooler on that car but I decided to take the front bumper off the car so I could remove the lower plastics and paint them to match the kidney grills. It also makes it easier to cut away part of the plastic behind the bumper to fit the intercooler. The project went further than I originally intended since I was already taking the car apart I decided to remove the DME and drive it up to Wedge Performance (Ken), since he is local to me, for a bench flash so I could install MHD. Since I was removing the chargepipe I switched to a VRSF pipe and uninstalled the ER pipe I had on there. I did this hoping that the new chargepipe would line up better with the lower chargepipe than it did when the ER one was installed. The VRSF pipe also has two methanol bungs which will fit my future needs. I decided to also change the spark plugs since they were now easy to get to. It turns out the car still had original plugs (45,000 miles) and they looked pretty good.

Things I did

• Installed VRSF 7 inch intercooler
• Installed ER turbo to intercooler pipe
• Switched out my ER chargepipe for a VRSF unit
• Removed my DME for bench flash unlock
• Change spark plugs
• Installed BMW performance gloss black kidney grills
• Painted lower plastics to match new kidney grills

Side by Side comparison


Top view comparison


Intake manifold and DME removed


Intake manifold with DME


Front bumper off and stripped down


Looking at how much plastic needs to be removed and was able to retain the shroud


Intercooler installed


ER turbo outlet fit nicely with the VRSF intercooler


On my 335i I had issues with the VRSF hardware so I went to the hardware store and found a better option


Paint on the lower plastics drying. I am killing off my lawn so ignore the dead grass.


This is what a normal headlight washer looks like


After having a car back into me in October this one broke and the body shop didn't replace it


The plastic broken


The bumper is fully installed. Just need to put in the fender liner and wheel well trim


The after shots of both my 335i and my X1

[Chicone]

Dayum! that is sweet Turbod

Your neighbor to the north got some catching up to do, can never find the time. Good info about the plugs, currently at 45K myself. I’m tempted to offer you something for that ER Chargepipe, was researching three chargepipe manufacturers last weekend, but haven’t pulled the trigger. The VRSF may be the best option.

Thanks for the write up, let us know how that intercooler performs at the track. bitchin!

[Turbod]

Originally Posted by Chicone

Dayum! that is sweet Turbod

Your neighbor to the north got some catching up to do, can never find the time. Good info about the plugs, currently at 45K myself. I’m tempted to offer you something for that ER Chargepipe, was researching three chargepipe manufacturers last weekend, but haven’t pulled the trigger. The VRSF may be the best option.

Thanks for the write up, let us know how that intercooler performs at the track. bitchin!

The ER pipe is great. I like that it has a bracket that anchors it to the same location as the stock unit. I'll be listing both my ER pipe and my Phoenix Racing pipe soon. My next race event is Mid April and I am expecting mid to high 12's on the current setup. I will add my methanol kit and my Pure Stage 2 turbo later this year.

[NocheDeZippeh]

Great post. With your DME now unlocked, will you be running JB4+BMS BEF, JB4+custom BEF, straight MHD with OTS map, or a full custom flash?

Also, it seems you're still with the stock dp? I assume you'll go to catless when you install the PS2?

[Turbod]

Originally Posted by NocheDeZippeh

Great post. With your DME now unlocked, will you be running JB4+BMS BEF, JB4+custom BEF, straight MHD with OTS map, or a full custom flash?

Also, it seems you're still with the stock dp? I assume you'll go to catless when you install the PS2?

For now it will be JB4 with a modified BEF by myself. I didn't have great results running methanol on MHD only and I never pinpointed the issue. I do plan to play around with MHD only as I learn my way through how to tune these cars. Yeah I have the stock catalytic converter still installed. Since it is such a pain to install on xDrive vehicles I will install it when I do the PS2. I didn't install my turbo inlet because I assume the turbulence due to the change in diameter would cancel out any potential gain with the stock turbo. When I install the PS2 I'll have the DV+, Inlet, and downpipe installed at the same time.

My end goal is to at least match my best ET of 11.7 but I don't think I will be able to trap 120+ without upgrading the HPFP.

[NocheDeZippeh]

There was a guy (Paradoxical3) on this board around 3-5 years ago that got his stock turbo N55 X1 to 12.1 @ 111 if I remember correctly with DP/CP/IC and JB4 map7 (stock flash) on ~E50 fuel (no methanol). I think he eventually upgraded to a PS1 and got 11.9 @ 116 on the otherwise same setup.

It will be interesting to see what you're able to do at the strip now with BEFs and a PS2 available. To trap >120 will definitely take a lot of fuel with all the octane you can get. Keep us updated!

[mcdanielvzw]

Originally Posted by Turbod

Yeah I have the stock catalytic converter still installed. Since it is such a pain to install on xDrive vehicles I will install it when I do the PS2.

Yes, it definitely is. I barely removed mine without dropping the subframe, despite others saying they were able to. There was no way it would have happened with the O2 sensors attached. Getting the DP in there was relatively painless though, other than the V Band clamp.