[Ruca]

Was bored a few weeks ago on a day off so I thought I'd take a ride down to Bavarian Autosport, its like a 20min drive and they had DCIs in stock. Why not, they're cheap money and I'll need them down the road.

Install was cake and done in 30 min and, whats that? Good weather yields down windows and, for the first time in the year of ownership I can actually hear the delightful sound of two small mollusks at work getting that precious atmosphere into the combustion chambers. Nice

Fast forward two weeks, I see a JB4 in the FS section, and so it begins again.

I take delivery of the G5 Iso and, in my experience with computers over the years (I've built maybe a half dozen) I feel confident in tackling the job.

Install was a bit arduous, came together completely (or so I thought), went to button it up after starting the car and it seemed to be running fine.

I take the thing on the road and I'm having stuttering issues above 3500 rpm, similar to a misfire (which Iv'e been fortunate enough to experience in this car), and no turbo spool. This incited near panic in that it was already past 11PM and I had to work at 8 the next morning.

After parking the thing in the driveway and frantically scouring the internet forumspace I found the complete install guide PDF (I had used the video on burger's site). The icing on the cake that is the last step was the red power cable that I misunderstood to be something else entirely.

Who knew this seemingly magical device would actually need power?

After tearing it all down again and properly "plugging in" the unit, fast farward 10 minutes and another beer (it was a 2 beer job) I was on the road and boosting in map 0.

Progress!

Now lets try map 1.

Sixth gear and 2/3 throttle yields the raise of an eyebrow... what is this?

I pull over and tell my room mate, who also enjoyed a beer/ some of the relative stress of the install, that felt different.

First gear... hmm that's interesting.

Second- jaw hits the floor.

I can almost precieve his heart sink as he realizes that his 370z is now merely a pretty face in the driveway.

Yeah it makes a difference alright. Iv'e driven a few fast sedans, namely an 09 CTS-V with the supercharged Corvette 6.2 under the hood. This takes the E90 to biblical proportions for a daily driver and, is every bit as exhilarating as the V, if for no other reason than the fact that you have a complete sleeper hitting 60 in the low 4s.

Needless to say- after a few days the car is running fantastic and I am overjoyed as soon as the flashers indicate it's once again above 160°.

Loving the map and setting switching on the fly, steering wheel controls, gauge sweep on startup, and a host of other features that I have yet to scratch the surface of.

Can't wait until I grab the VRSF downpipes next month. Then who knows, intercooler, sway bars, brakes... world domination?

[stupordave]

It's dangerous... I said no mods were necessary to my wife. Now $10k later I'm still thinking what can I do next. Enjoy!

[E90Company]

I would reccomend doing an intercooler over downpipes, if you haven't ordered already.

[SouthfloridaE92]

Originally Posted by E90Company

I would reccomend doing an intercooler over downpipes, if you haven't ordered already.

No.

[135Pats]

Originally Posted by E90Company

I would reccomend doing an intercooler over downpipes, if you haven't ordered already.

Agreed. Though since OP is in New Hampshire, charge temps won't be as much of an issue outside of summer.

[infidel335]

Dude I am totally hitting you up!

[E90Company]

Originally Posted by SouthfloridaE92

No.

Yet in a thread you posted today looking for an FMIC, you have personal experience in this? What makes you say no? Intercooler is much more important than downpipes on this car period, no matter what your climate is. When you increase boost, the pressure drop on the stock core and flow characteristics of the stock end tanks and connections are hard on your turbos, making them spin much harder to reach boost target. If that alone isn't important, it's the absurdly high IAT's that will cause the DME to pull timing.

[Ænema]

Originally Posted by E90Company

Yet in a thread you posted today looking for an FMIC, you have personal experience in this? What makes you say no? Intercooler is much more important than downpipes on this car period, no matter what your climate is. When you increase boost, the pressure drop on the stock core and flow characteristics of the stock end tanks and connections are hard on your turbos, making them spin much harder to reach boost target. If that alone isn't important, it's the absurdly high IAT's that will cause the DME to pull timing.

THIS.
Toss the stock IC in the garbage... or donate it to a local mechanical engineering college for use as a demsontration on how not to design an air to air heat exchanger.

[e92oholic]

Try map 5!

[cwarren]

i think this is the same reaction as everyone on this forum when they tune this car . very easy and fairly cheap hp..

[infidel335]

Just finished my JB4 install today and had a blast! The only thing I was a bit suspect of was the rather violent reaction the car had at 3400RPM. I think it corrected itself as it only did it for a few miles, otherwise the car is viciously fast.

[ken1137]

The only fix (Rx) is sell your car

Same...my famous last words to the wife "no more mods" spent $14K on the 135 and still modding the 335i

BTW...FMIC before DPs but I would recommend the same time

[Ruca]

Originally Posted by stupordave

It's dangerous... I said no mods were necessary to my wife. Now $10k later I'm still thinking what can I do next. Enjoy!

Originally Posted by ken1137

Same...my famous last words to the wife "no more mods" spent $14K on the 135 and still modding the 335i

I understand how these builds can get expensive quick, tuning the car opens up so many areas that need attention. I'm thinking laser jammier might be integral.

Originally Posted by ken1137

The only fix (Rx) is sell your car

BTW...FMIC before DPs but I would recommend the same time

This ins't going to happen anytime soon, its waaay too much fun getting on the gas and watching the needles dance haha. This new mistress is worth the money, even if I have to wine and dine her with a few expensive jewels a month.

Also its starting to look like this might be the best way to go, IC and downpipes at once. I got some boost studdering in map 5 as in, I was seeing 13-14 psi for maybe half a second then noticing the pressure drop back to 10 psi under WOT and then shooting back up to 13- 14 again. Couldn't help but think about the turbos choking with all that extra inertia on ither side of the turbine.

Thus-far, rationalizations have been expensive with this car haha.

Originally Posted by E90Company

I would reccomend doing an intercooler over downpipes, if you haven't ordered already.

The only reason I might do the opposite at this point is the fact that, because of an injector issue earlier this year, my pre cats are gone. It smells like independence day every time i jump on it and the windows are down/ sunroof is open.

Originally Posted by Ænema

THIS.
Toss the stock IC in the garbage... or donate it to a local mechanical engineering college for use as a demsontration on how not to design an air to air heat exchanger.

I was surprised when I had to replace it last October (there was a hole) at the poor design, I mean plastic come on! Was looking at the VRSF 7" and their downpipes for when I eventually pull the trigger.

Originally Posted by infidel335

Just finished my JB4 install today and had a blast! The only thing I was a bit suspect of was the rather violent reaction the car had at 3400RPM. I think it corrected itself as it only did it for a few miles, otherwise the car is viciously fast.

How are you finding map 5 after a few miles? Tried mine out but felt some disconcerting stuttering in the upper mid rev range, almost felt like a misfire, so its back to map 1 now. I really need to install my USB cable and do some logs...

[Envuks]

Yeah, when I bought it I said the e92 was the one car I didn't need to mod... FBO one year later... Whoops! It's just SO good with the extra goodies.

[Ruca]

Speaking of extras, just picked these up from Turner today, Stop Tech front rotors and pads, they go on tomorrow along with a new sensor!