[Antoans4]

Originally Posted by NoGuru

Looks like you can get FMIC, downpipes, and charge pipe all for about $600.
Seems like a pretty good deal.

the Question is how good are their products?

[e92ben]

Contact Buraq / ********. He can send you some excellent tunes for your iS. And you can use you AP. No reason to get rid of it.

[Jarrod]

Originally Posted by GATORB8

I also just ordered the ARM FMIC, in "Stealth Black" though.

Did you decide to do anything on the intake side?

Cool, it should be interesting to compare notes on the FMIC. I was going to get a high-flow panel filter for the stock airbox but after reading up on it I'm not sure if I'm even going to do that....it seems those achieve their flow by simply reducing the effectiveness of filtration. I may instead just develop a habit of changing out the stock filter at ~10k/annual intervals to keep it free of microscopic clogs, etc.

The thing that for sure performs is inlets, but I think that's a pricey (or at least very difficult to install) overkill for my goals here.

I'm sure you'll have some improvement with the walnut blast, mine was caked with carbon buildup. What equipment did you pick up?

I got the BMW wand (81292208033) and shopvac <-> intake adapter (81292208037). Also picked up a remote starter switch. I already had the Harbor Freight gravity/siphon feed media blasting setup and even leftover walnut shells from other projects. I still need to adapt the wand onto the HF gun/siphon.

[Jarrod]

Originally Posted by Antoans4

the Question is how good are their products?

Indeed. It could just as easily turn out to be a waste of $600 if they don't perform. There is a youtube video (on the vendor's channel, so take that for what it's worth) where they install the FMIC and put it through its paces. It "feels" like a legit video to me. Legit enough to wager $300 on the FMIC anyway.

[GATORB8]

Originally Posted by Jarrod

I got the BMW wand (81292208033) and shopvac <-> intake adapter (81292208037). Also picked up a remote starter switch. I already had the Harbor Freight gravity/siphon feed media blasting setup and even leftover walnut shells from other projects. I still need to adapt the wand onto the HF gun/siphon.

If you have the grey "portable" blaster, you may want to consider picking up the 20lb pressurized one for ~$60. I used both and the pressurized version significantly outperformed, both in speed and cleaning power.

[Jarrod]

Originally Posted by GATORB8

If you have the grey "portable" blaster, you may want to consider picking up the 20lb pressurized one for ~$60. I used both and the pressurized version significantly outperformed, both in speed and cleaning power.

Yep I wondered about that. Did you have issues with clogging? Seems like a lot of people complain about that which has kept me from upgrading. Also which size media did you use?

[GATORB8]

Originally Posted by Jarrod

Yep I wondered about that. Did you have issues with clogging? Seems like a lot of people complain about that which has kept me from upgrading. Also which size media did you use?

No issues with clogging with either blaster, I did not reuse media though. IIRC, I used the fine media. I had gone through an entire box of media with the portable blaster and hadn't even finished the second cylinder. I swapped to the pressurized one and finished in less than a box.

[Jarrod]

Originally Posted by GATORB8

Did you decide to do anything on the intake side?

Hey Gator - after more reading/research I decided to go with a Green Filter USA drop-in replacement panel for the OEM airbox. They claim to filter down to 5 microns (better than K&N, etc) but still with increased airflow vs OEM, on par with the other "high flow" solutions. The catch is that you are supposed to clean the filter every 5-10k miles.

If I ever upgrade my headers I'll probably get one of these intakes:

https://www.ecstuning.com/b-afe-part.../54-76306~tms/
https://www.ecstuning.com/b-ecs-part...m/000951ecs~a/

Originally Posted by GATORB8

No issues with clogging with either blaster, I did not reuse media though. IIRC, I used the fine media. I had gone through an entire box of media with the portable blaster and hadn't even finished the second cylinder. I swapped to the pressurized one and finished in less than a box.

Picked up the HF 20lb media blaster and another box of fine shells on Saturday. Thx for the feedback on that.

[BKBMW335I]

Originally Posted by Jarrod

Picked up an N54 Cobb APv3 to tune my 335is and am formulating a plan to get it up and running. First up will be a walnut blast and plugs - got all the equipment for that sitting on deck, just need to find the time.

From what I understand you need at minimum high-flow catted down pipes (or preferably catless) to safely run the Stage 2 tunes. However, I'm not willing to modify the 335is exhaust and so I think that limits me to Stage 1+. Right?

Which FMICs should I be considering? I would really rather not do any cutting at all, and considering that I'm only shooting for a Stage 1+ tune, I shouldn't need a giant FMIC. Wagner EVO1 is at the top of my list. Are there other good performers that don't require cutting?

What about my intake? With this basic level of tune can't I just throw a high-flow panel filter into the stock air box and call it a day? Or will I see gains with a DCI? What about sound? Intake upgrades seem like voodoo to me but I'm a noob so what do I know.

I'm N55 but still running Stg 2 Aggressive with no catback,,,,,I'm stock other than the DPs and it is safe.

If you're not going to be doing a lot of circuit racing then the 5" stepped FMIC is just fine, if you are then go with the 7in, may require a little cutting but not too much.

Don't forget to get a better Diverter Valve too, the one from GoFastBits is awesome and you may as well change it while you're doing your DPs.

[Jarrod]

Originally Posted by BKBMW335I

Don't forget to get a better Diverter Valve too, the one from GoFastBits is awesome and you may as well change it while you're doing your DPs.

N54 has a totally different DV setup - two valves that come off the charge pipe (one valve per turbo). I don't think GoFastBits has these parts for N54 but thanks for the idea.

Hopefully Stage 1+ boost is not going to be a problem for the stock diverters?

[GATORB8]

Originally Posted by Jarrod

Yes, in bare aluminum. I'll post pics, etc. so you guys can tear it apart.

On their FB page they mention that the batch that's due in next week has a higher-density cooling fin setup than ones they shipped prior to late last year. Not sure where that puts it on the scale of FMICs but thought I'd mention that since that info doesn't appear to be on the webpage, and was a critical factor in my decision to take a flyer on it.

My ARM FMIC finally showed up after a fabrication delay. Looks to be of decent quality.

How'd your walnut blast end up going?

[NoGuru]

Looks nice. Let us know how fitment and temps are?

[Meatos]

OH so the intercooler exists! Has got updates of delayes since april from arm motorsport but now it seem to have been shipped so i hope i get it next week. Did also buy the chargepipe for additional 97$ must be a good deal

[Jarrod]

Originally Posted by GATORB8

My ARM FMIC finally showed up after a fabrication delay. Looks to be of decent quality.

How'd your walnut blast end up going?

Sweet, mine is waiting for me at home. I have not had time for the walnut blast yet. Too damn busy at work and with the kids' end of school projects, playoff games, etc.

[Jarrod]

This is what your $300 gets, with the good, the bad, and the ugly. There is a good bit of aluminum here - it weighs 16.1 (edit - 17.0) pounds. My guess is that it will perform well. Won't win any beauty contests though

[e90dennis]

Originally Posted by Jarrod

This is what your $300 gets, with the good, the bad, and the ugly. There is a good bit of aluminum here - it weighs 16.1 pounds. My guess is that it will perform well. Won't win any beauty contests though

or you can get a vrsf 7inch intercooler
I'm fbo from them, intercooler,dps, chargepipe, just have a bms dci and a catch can lol I'm trying to get a custom tune..trying to run aleast 19 pounds on a e50 mix. but can't seem to find a tuner.

[RSL]

16lbs is really light for a bar and plate that size with cast end tanks. Bottom 2/3 external bars look soldered together or is it just me? Just about anything is better than stock for IAT suppression, but will be curious if anybody pops one

[Jarrod]

Originally Posted by RSL

16lbs is really light for a bar and plate that size with cast end tanks. Bottom 2/3 external bars look soldered together or is it just me? Just about anything is better than stock for IAT suppression, but will be curious if anybody pops one

I weighed it more accurately and it's actually more like a full 17lb. The Wagner 5" Performance (B&P) FMIC is advertised as 9kg which is pushing 20lb. So yeah I guess this one is a bit on the light side in comparison to the more expensive Wagner.

Pops one?

[RSL]

You can blow a FMIC open just like anything under pressure. Doesn't happen too often, but when it does, usually along a weld or joined seam. I wouldn't worry about it and for $300, I'm sure it will beat the hell out of the stock FMIC.

[jwebb335xi]

Originally Posted by e90dennis

or you can get a vrsf 7inch intercooler
I'm fbo from them, intercooler,dps, chargepipe, just have a bms dci and a catch can lol I'm trying to get a custom tune..trying to run aleast 19 pounds on a e50 mix. but can't seem to find a tuner.

I just switched from Cobb to MHD and reached out to a couple tuners and went with Wedge. Working with Version 2 right now and it's pretty good. It took 8 revisions with PTF to get what I wanted accomplished. I'd guess most custom tuners can help you get what you want from your car if you LOG and know what you want... good luck!