[ryanakata]

So I purchased my 2011 on April 30th this year. I had been looking since December and couldn't find one with the options that I wanted, so I expanded my range and a short flight from Louisiana to Ontario California and I was picking up my new (to me) 335i. I was picked up from the airport and we did the paperwork at the hotel.



I absolutely loved the car. The interior, the power it made over my previous car, everything about it was awesome. While in LA, I swung by Alpine Motorsports and had Alex give me the Alpina AT flash and was happy with that, and I vowed there would be no mods as the car seemed perfect. Cruised the PCH, and stopped for some shrimp tacos at Neptune's Net.



I began my 1,700+ mile drive home. Despite these signs across the state, everyone still was driving 100mph+


Back home for 93 Octane we usually pay $3.60ish a gallon, this hurt...


So we arrive in Albuquerque, NM to rest for the night. The next morning I head for a car wash to get the bugs off the front of the car. We are leaving and the street is empty. I romp on it for the first time and its fun!!!.....but the car seemed to run out of breath fairly quickly. Never mind that, it's probably just me and it seems that way because I am sleepy and out of my senses.

I arrive home later that day, check everything out, and begin using it as my daily driver. Despite being perfectly happy with the car two days ago, I decided it needed a little more. I began reading up on here and decided what I wanted.

A couple of paychecks later, and once I had license plates finally on my car, I sent out some PMs to sponsors on here.
Mike@x-ph.com was the first to reply and we had everything chosen that I would do. His service was awesome and I couldn't ask for any more! A few days later, the parts arrive.

JB4 with USB Cable
This was easily the best bang for the buck. I installed it in the parking lot of where I work in less than an hour. You do need to remove the four torx screws to get the USB cable into the cabin! Mine would not just push in. I set it to Map 1, let the car warm up and headed for a drive. I was impressed. The car definitely had more power. But still felt a little too tame...

VRSF Downpipe
The next day this arrived. I headed to my parents house roughly 2 hours north of me where most of my tools are still located. Got the car up in the air, and began snatching the old one out. The old one is huge and heavy, I do not look forward to the day I have to put it back in. My advice to anyone installing a downpipe is get some EXTREMELY long needle nose pliers to help close the clamp onto the downpipe and turbo. Also once the clamp is seated it is nearly impossible to rotate the downpipe. I am going to attempt to rotate mine this weekend as it has my exhaust in the rear slightly out of alignment. I would recommend buying on that has a bracket on it for the transmission brace, but I couldn't justify the extra $$$ just for that feature. Also when you finish this job your hands will look like you stuck them in a meat grinder.

So I get everything back together, and the first start, CANFlap Open, and Whooaaaaaa it's loud. My parent's come outside to see if anything is wrong but then it idles down and sounds just fine. I take it for a drive and am in love with the sound. You can hear the turbo spooling in normal driving. I get the car warmed up, switch to Map2, head out near the airport. This thing is a beast now, I had to use the DTC button to prevent the car from interfering with the throttle. It slams you into the seat, and sounds like an exotic after 4k RPM. Combined with the JB4, this is the way to go, and I couldn't be happier.

ER Chargepipe

No power gains expected here, but I did want to provide my install tip and opinions. I wanted one that used the factory mounting bracket, and this one did. I read reviews where people said it wouldn't fit and to leave the bolt out but mine fit perfectly.

Install the Silicone coupler on the intercooler pipe, slide the new pipe onto the throttle body with the oring installed, and put the clip on. Rotate pipe down to new coupler. Install grommet and bolt. Tighten T-Bolts. Install decal. Wipe down, clean up the blood from your hand that you didn't even realize you cut on something.

[Welcome to NBA Jam]

Great review! Thanks! You're convincing me more and more to get down pipes.

[Johnny Boost]

Congrats OP, welcome to the N55 club

[335m]

Congrats, we have the same car basically haha.

I decided to go Cobb instead of JB4 but that was only due to the fact Cobb HQ is down the street from me.

I think DP is next for me, has the smell bothered you at all yet? I'm also in the market for the B3 tune, you are lucky you haven't had to drive that AT for too long before the tune, I swear it's harder to drive than a standard.

[ryanakata]

Originally Posted by 335m

Congrats, we have the same car basically haha.

I decided to go Cobb instead of JB4 but that was only due to the fact Cobb HQ is down the street from me.

I think DP is next for me, has the smell bothered you at all yet? I'm also in the market for the B3 tune, you are lucky you haven't had to drive that AT for too long before the tune, I swear it's harder to drive than a standard.

The smell is not that bad. Windows up, you'll never smell it. Windows down you will smell it, but unless you're extremely sensitive, then it isn't that bad. My wife whom I expected to say something about it says it does smell different, but not that bad as my last car was a turbo Integra which smelled similar.

I did drive the stock AT for 10 hours, lol.

Also meant to say the JB4 helps with pedal response and feels more linear (normal).

A friend borrowed my GoPro, but once they get back I'll shoot some video.

[Knobi]

Great Review and congrats on the your new N55, you'll love this platform.
What's your next mod?
Consider a FMIC, you can never go wrong with cooling

[ryanakata]

Originally Posted by Knobi

Great Review and congrats on the your new N55, you'll love this platform.
What's your next mod?
Consider a FMIC, you can never go wrong with cooling

FMIC and catch can is next once I cool off about the downpipe install. I need to clock it a bit more and still am dreading fighting that clamp, lol.

I want an intake but like the sealed ones as the under hood temp is insane, I wish there was a nice priced CF one out.

Also forgot to add that the downpipe helps keep my garage cooler, where the cat would hold heat for hours, this one doesn't.

[Knonsense]

Originally Posted by ryanakata

I want an intake but like the sealed ones as the under hood temp is insane, I wish there was a nice priced CF one out.

http://www.e90post.com/forums/forumdisplay.php?f=177

will take some lurking, but I've seen a few CF sealed intakes. a FMIC will do more for your intake ambient temps than a sealed intake, by a looong shot

[NoImDirtyDan]

I had my VRSF DP installed a few weeks ago as well! I'm in love with the sound! You're still running stock mufflers right? Any plans for a full system?

[ryanakata]

Originally Posted by ZeroSix

I had my VRSF DP installed a few weeks ago as well! I'm in love with the sound! You're still running stock mufflers right? Any plans for a full system?

Stock mufflers at the moment. The sound is amazing with CANFlap Open, but I don't want it to be too much louder.

I was eyeballing the VRSF catback setup, but really want to make sure I can get this downpipe clocked a little better to make my stock exhaust sit level in the rear. I plan on getting under it tomorrow evening and loosening the V band clamp and hopefully getting it to rotate some, the last thing I want to do is remove the clamp again.

[335xiRT1]

Throw some e85 in there and run map 5. It's even better.

[ryanakata]

Originally Posted by 335xiRT1

Throw some e85 in there and run map 5. It's even better.

E85 in Louisiana is more rare than chicken teeth. I tried map 5 out but it feels the same as map 2 even after driving a couple of days and a few full throttle runs.

I clocked the downpipe an addition few degrees. My O2 sensor harness is now directly rubbing the underbody and I am hoping it doesn't rub through and kill it.

The gap isn't as noticeable, but it will drive me insane. Also one side is still sticking out slightly farther than the other.