"SlickMcRick" (slickmcrick)
03/06/2017 at 00:57 • Filed to: None
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"SlickMcRick" (slickmcrick)
03/06/2017 at 00:57 • Filed to: None | 5
| 11 |
Opponaut E90M3 is an angel sent from above when it comes to providing insight on BMWs. In my previous post he posted a VIN decoder site and it stated that the car came equipped with the N51, a SULEV engine which stock includes a 3 Stage Intake Manifold similar to that found on the 330i which with a simple tune can bring such an emission compliant vehicle up to spec with such a great inline motor.
At it’s cheapest the kit cost $1100+ for the genuine thing and is a common upgrade by those that have the stock N52 engine. It is then typical followed by a tune and exhaust modifications.
Now onto the more important factors. I had once been burned by purchasing an older BMW without a warranty and man did it break my pockets dooooooown. So I made it clear to the dealer that the only way I would consider taking this car off their hands is with a warranty. With a quick Google search I was starting to quickly change my mind on the car due to the higher costs of parts compared to the base N52 motor. Wouldn’t have been much of an issue except warranty on the high ticket items expire at 7 years/70k miles and this vehicle had already eclipsed the mileage marker. Upon further research I stumbled upon this little gem, several states including the one which I reside (Maryland) qualify for the extended 15yr/150k warranty.
Here are screenshot of the warranty coverages and the last page also includes the states covered by the extended warranty.
I spent and uncomfortable amount of time Saturday night well into Sunday morning learning as much as I could about this outlier engine but the more I read the more I realized this could be an enthusiast’s special and a way to secure a longer factory backed warranty simultaneously. If things work out you all will be the first to know!
E90M3
> SlickMcRick
03/06/2017 at 12:25 |
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I haven’t looked into what it would take to bring the N51/2 up to the power they got out of the one in the 330i. I know they’re the same basic engine with same displacement, I wasn’t sure if was a different intake manifold, or if the head was reworked. I’ll have to look more into it as I’m leaning toward an N52 powered BMW.
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SlickMcRick
> E90M3
03/06/2017 at 12:32 |
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Different head work, cylinder design and a few other differences. Also compression ratio. N52 10.7:1 and N51 10.0:1. So with the same mods they’ll make around the same power but the N52 may edge it out by a squeaker. But to get them on that same playing field you must come $1100 out of pocket for the intake.
I did an uncomfortable amount of research that night.
chaozbandit
> SlickMcRick
03/06/2017 at 12:42 |
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Windows tip: alt + prnt scrn will capture just the application window, instead of the entire monitor display.
ctrl + h in adobe pdf will close the tool bar on the right.
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E90M3
> SlickMcRick
03/06/2017 at 12:42 |
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$1100 for a BMW part sounds about right, that’s what a throttle position actuator cost. I would drop that for a 20-30 hp gain. You might be able to find a wrecked 330i and get the intake off of that for cheap. I guess I’ll have to look into it, I always wondered what the exact differences were in the motors in a 328 vs a 330. Based on what you’re saying is that you’d get a good gain with not too much work.
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SlickMcRick
> E90M3
03/06/2017 at 12:58 |
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$1100 for the intake plus a tune. So in all about $1800ish. But yes the only difference is the 330i came with a 3 Stage intake manifold while the 328i is a single stage. Had to detune it to make the 335i more appealing.
Saracen
> SlickMcRick
03/06/2017 at 14:08 |
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$1800 for 30 horsepower out of a high revving n/a engine is really cheap.
brianbrannon
> SlickMcRick
03/06/2017 at 14:31 |
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If you bring a car in with a different intake and a modified ECU and ask for warranty work they are going to tell you to pound sand
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SlickMcRick
> brianbrannon
03/06/2017 at 14:41 |
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It comes stock with the 3 Stage intake on the N51 which is the one I’m considering. Only thing I’d add would be a tune. There also would be no way to prove that I didn’t purchase the car that way since I purchased it used.
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SlickMcRick
> Saracen
03/06/2017 at 14:42 |
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Very true. In my case it would be about $700 since I’d only need a tune. That’s too good of a deal to pass up. So much power for so cheap.
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brianbrannon
> SlickMcRick
03/06/2017 at 15:30 |
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I’m confused by your pricing out a new intake if it already has it. And the dealer doesn’t care who modified the car when warranty is involved.
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SlickMcRick
> brianbrannon
03/06/2017 at 15:51 |
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Was doing a price comparison between the N51 and N52 and stated how you could in fact save $1100+ going with the 51 since it already has the triple stage intake. The 52 has the single stage.