[N54.Dave]

Brand new they are like 1300 which is a lot then the tune is like 500. Buying a used one from a 330i is it a smart choice? The guy says it has 33k miles on it no problems and he can even install it for me with new gaskets all for 600. What to look out for and is it good price etc? I also wanna get the intake manifold and tune at the same time so I can get the full power. Whoever knows a lot about the little mods we can do to the n52 please shed some light I want more power my car has 23k miles on it also getting a n54 isn't an option right now don't got the time or money to deal with it

[DDDGGG_M]

I think that's a decent price for one with 33k miles. I bought my DISA manifold for $600 with 15k miles on it. I didn't even replace the gaskets since they were so new.

You definitely need a tune or else you're engine won't get any benefits from the DISAs. If you want to save money you can try the stock 330i tune that hass and terra are working on. They're going to publish the tune for free soon.

[N54.Dave]

Originally Posted by BimmerGeeks

Just make sure the manifold itself is in good shape & the Disa flaps don't have any play in them.

As far as the tune, are you a 328i or a 325i?

2011 328i

[Zajac1]

In my opinion You should Install 3 Stage intake manifold and other performance parts such as exhaust, air intake, etc and drive with it for a little bit before you will add tune. Parts needs to adapt to the car.

[N52UNED]

I purchased a used manifold a few weeks back and plan on adding a BPC tune ... but was wondering if just a CPU Reflash would work for a while.

(I'm planning on doing the BPC tune myself ... but the manifold will be installed at a regular garage that works on BMW's ... not a "speed" shop)


A number of times in the forums I've read comments noting that without a tune ... you're not getting everything out of the 3 stage intake manifold. With just a CPU Reflash, wouldn't you get the same performance of a stock 330i ?

[MAMSport]

I did the manifold conversion and waited a few months (through the winter) before installing the BPC software. There are gains from the manifold and gains from the software, and doing them individually means they would be incremental each time instead of a larger difference if doing both together. I could tell the difference with each step, but neither alone is dramatic.

FWIW, mine is a 2013 128i with 22,745 miles as of software install. Also have euro intake box and BMW performance exhaust.

[DDDGGG_M]

I might be off base here, but I can't imagine how you would make any gains with the 3-stage and no tune. The stock intake manifold and 3-stage are identical except for the DISA valves. The 3-stage therefore doesn't make any additional power without the use of the DISA valves which cannot be activated without a tune.

In my opinion you have two choices:
1. Get stock 330i flash from hass & terra for free, but wait a few months until it is ready
2. Get BPC tune which will produce a little bit more power than stock 330i (has anyone verified this) and will cost you $500

[DDDGGG_M]

Originally Posted by BimmerGeeks

The stock tune still operates the disa valves, just not optimally.

Wow so the stock 328i operates the DISA valves even though the engine didn't come with them from the factory?

[Terraphantm]

Hass goes into detail about it in this post: http://www.e90post.com/forums/showpo...78&postcount=6

Cliffs notes: The 1st stage is activated at 4500 RPM (real 330 tune activates it at 3270), and 2nd stage is never activated (real 330 activates stage 2 at 4470). The DME also doesn't correctly account for the difference in airflow with the 325/328 software.

[rjahl]

Originally Posted by BimmerGeeks

Terraphantm or hassmaschine can confirm 100% for the 328i.

I can 100% confirm the 325i does. I'm 95% sure the 328i does as well. But as mentioned, the actuation points are not optimal.

Yes, the wiring is there and the DME can communicate with them. The only issue is the stock 325,328, 3.0i, 525 etc calibration files/tune does virtually nothing with them.

[e90dum]

Originally Posted by Minilogo63

Brand new they are like 1300 which is a lot then the tune is like 500. Buying a used one from a 330i is it a smart choice? The guy says it has 33k miles on it no problems and he can even install it for me with new gaskets all for 600. What to look out for and is it good price etc? I also wanna get the intake manifold and tune at the same time so I can get the full power. Whoever knows a lot about the little mods we can do to the n52 please shed some light I want more power my car has 23k miles on it also getting a n54 isn't an option right now don't got the time or money to deal with it

I bought mine with 200k+ miles, and did not check the disa valves. You'll be fine.

[Zajac1]

Originally Posted by dgaultiere

I might be off base here, but I can't imagine how you would make any gains with the 3-stage and no tune. The stock intake manifold and 3-stage are identical except for the DISA valves. The 3-stage therefore doesn't make any additional power without the use of the DISA valves which cannot be activated without a tune.

In my opinion you have two choices:
1. Get stock 330i flash from hass & terra for free, but wait a few months until it is ready
2. Get BPC tune which will produce a little bit more power than stock 330i (has anyone verified this) and will cost you $500

I think tune from BPC cost $675 not $500 : ) If 330i tune will be for free it's even better than spend that amount of money for a few hp...

[boro92]

Despite the talks about the tunes, it sounds like the upcoming release of the work of hass and terra will be the only solution to make full use of the 330IM. Please correct me if I'm wrong. In the thread hass started, he details out changes which needed to be made -- ones which for a variety of reasons were not able to be addressed through Typical tunes iirc

[arciga18]

Long story short I planned on doing this mod in 2015, but just got around doing this LAST WEEK. LOL.

-Used intake from dismantler in WI
-New DISA, Hose, gaskets ETC.

I have an AA tune and I like what I have. The car continues to pull in the higher RPMs/ MPH. This could all be placebo.



But I have already ordered a Tuning Cable and will try their file immediately.

[Terraphantm]

Originally Posted by boro92

Despite the talks about the tunes, it sounds like the upcoming release of the work of hass and terra will be the only solution to make full use of the 330IM. Please correct me if I'm wrong. In the thread hass started, he details out changes which needed to be made -- ones which for a variety of reasons were not able to be addressed through Typical tunes iirc

It's hard for me to comment without seeing what aftermarket tuners do. I imagine most of them studied factory 3-stage tunes to some extent to figure out what the important parts that need to be changed.

I think what hass and I built is probably the most comprehensive with regards to being as close to a factory 330i flash as you can get. Aftermarket tunes will make more power, though we might eventually release some tunes that will make a bit more power (those however likely will not be free unlike the "stock" 330i stuff).

[boro92]

Originally Posted by Terraphantm

It's hard for me to comment without seeing what aftermarket tuners do. I imagine most of them studied factory 3-stage tunes to some extent to figure out what the important parts that need to be changed.

I think what hass and I built is probably the most comprehensive with regards to being as close to a factory 330i flash as you can get. Aftermarket tunes will make more power, though we might eventually release some tunes that will make a bit more power (those however likely will not be free unlike the "stock" 330i stuff).

Would be interesting to eventually pop them up on a dyno and see.
I know that AA doesn't change disa points (they even make mention of this), or does OFT/Shiv. No idea on BPC. So there's something left on the table for those tunes - especially now knowing that the 2nd DISA never gets engaged! Wow.

[hassmaschine]

Originally Posted by Zajac1

In my opinion You should Install 3 Stage intake manifold and other performance parts such as exhaust, air intake, etc and drive with it for a little bit before you will add tune. Parts needs to adapt to the car.

Sorry but this is nonsense. The adaptation routines are fast, and if you tune it you should reset them anyway, so whatever adaptations you had before are worthless.

[hassmaschine]

Originally Posted by boro92

Despite the talks about the tunes, it sounds like the upcoming release of the work of hass and terra will be the only solution to make full use of the 330IM. Please correct me if I'm wrong. In the thread hass started, he details out changes which needed to be made -- ones which for a variety of reasons were not able to be addressed through Typical tunes iirc

well, not necessarily true - depending on who tunes it. Some tuners are certainly aware of the changes required (but definitely not all).

In any case, without a tune, there's a lot more than just DISA settings that you are missing out on. There lots of differences between the 325i/328i tune and the 330i tune that result to lower power, 3 stage swap or not. You probably do gain something with the 3 stage and no tune (low end torque bump). If you can't afford a full tune, the "stock" 330i flashes we'll have are a good solution as you'll at least be equal to a 330i in terms of performance.

[N54.Dave]

Originally Posted by hassmaschine

well, not necessarily true - depending on who tunes it. Some tuners are certainly aware of the changes required (but definitely not all).

In any case, without a tune, there's a lot more than just DISA settings that you are missing out on. There lots of differences between the 325i/328i tune and the 330i tune that result to lower power, 3 stage swap or not. You probably do gain something with the 3 stage and no tune (low end torque bump). If you can't afford a full tune, the "stock" 330i flashes we'll have are a good solution as you'll at least be equal to a 330i in terms of performance.

Any thread link or soemthingn so I can checkout this tune? And with it I could take it to a dyno and have them give me a better tune but keep the disa etc working if you get what I mean

[Bluewater328iT]

I bought a used manifold without DISAs and bought a brand new pair for about $550 from ECS Tuning. I got the manifold installed for $200 by a BMW mechanic who did things like this on the side. I also had a quote from an independent mechanic who said he would do it for $350. Some mechanics will not install used parts, so check beforehand. I bought all of the parts needed for the swap from ECS Tuning and eBay. Carparts.com sells those manifolds as well. I did not want used DISAs, so I bought a manifold without them. I got lucky at $88, but they are out there for $125 to $250 without DISAs.

I got an ESS Tune for $950, because they did in the BMW mechanic's garage immediately after the intake install, but you can get cheaper tunes from TMS and BPC. This is one of the best mods you can do.

Here is a thread on my intake mod:

http://forum.e90fanatics.com/showthread.php?t=1095889

[hassmaschine]

Originally Posted by Minilogo63

Any thread link or soemthingn so I can checkout this tune? And with it I could take it to a dyno and have them give me a better tune but keep the disa etc working if you get what I mean

it isn't published yet, but there have been discussions about it in various threads - I think in my "cloned MSV70" thread. it's basically just a copy of the 330i stock tune for various DMEs - so as far as power, it should be identical to a stock 330i.

[N52UNED]

Originally Posted by Zajac1

I think tune from BPC cost $675 not $500 : ) If 330i tune will be for free it's even better than spend that amount of money for a few hp...

For anyone who's looking at BPC it's $675 ... plus another $18 shipping charges. So $693.00 all in. An appropriate comp is the AA Tune + Simon 3 module is $684 shipping included. (BUT since I live in FL, I get hit with $47.88 in taxes so $731.88 ... although I'd just have it mailed to a friend in another state, then to me ... so I'd be at the same price as BPC with AA).

In my opinion, around $500 should be the price point ... $700 +/- a few bucks does seem a bit excessive. BUT that's the downside of tuning the N52's ... just not enough options out there to keep it prices down.