[CW123]

I had a 09 e92 328 and I absolutely love the feeling of driving it but I would like to up its game a bit. What is a good first preformance mod that is a noticable upgrade?

[gtuttle05]

3 stage intake with tune

[CW123]

Originally Posted by gtuttle05

3 stage intake with tune

Stage 3 intake manifold?

[3PedalJake]

https://www.e90post.com/forums/showthread.php?t=37444

[gtuttle05]

Originally Posted by CW123

Stage 3 intake manifold?

I forget 1 word and buddy is mad

[oVeRdOsE.]

Originally Posted by gtuttle05

I forget 1 word and buddy is mad

wut

[CW123]

I wasn’t mad I truly didn’t know.

[CW123]

What is a good brand to buy from or what is the most common one?

[Cyril Sneer]

Agree with 3SIM (I really need to install mine lol).

Easy & cheap/free mods:
Clutch stop if manual (if auto, sell and buy a manual first 😉 )
Pull alignment pins on strut tower, max out factory camber.

[3PedalJake]

Originally Posted by CW123

What is a good brand to buy from or what is the most common one?

There is no aftermarket part for this, you need a intake manifold from an '06 330i. It is also the same part number on 328i with the SULEV N51 engine, also found on the X3 and maybe some others. It's part number 11617559523, look on Ebay or marketplace. You'll also need DISA valves and a tune (can get for free from Bimmerlabs).

[CW123]

Originally Posted by 3PedalJake

There is no aftermarket part for this, you need a intake manifold from an '06 330i. It is also the same part number on 328i with the SULEV N51 engine, also found on the X3 and maybe some others. It's part number 11617559523, look on Ebay or marketplace. You'll also need DISA valves and a tune (can get for free from Bimmerlabs).

Will it be a direct bolt on?

[3PedalJake]

Originally Posted by CW123

Will it be a direct bolt on?

Yes it's a direct bolt on, the only thing different about it is it has 2 big holes for DISA valves, the mount points and everything else is identical. You're pre-wired for it, if you look at the left side of the manifold you'll find the 2 connectors for the DISA valves clipped to the manifold waiting for this upgrade. After that you just need to flash the ECU to the 328i to 330i tune. It's not as intimidating as it sounds, the tune is free and all the instructions you need are here on the forum. This should gain you ~25HP or so, in line with a 330i rated at 255hp.

https://www.e90post.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1736657

https://bimmerlabs.com/

Edit: This is the best of really only three performance mods you can do to the N52. Another is MILVs, which involves going under the valve cover and adding some shims to the valvetrain. https://www.bimmermilvs.com/. Lastly on the performance list is headers, good for another few HP.

After that you're left with minor external stuff like a 330i or aftermarket performance exhaust, air intakeand that's about it. If you have a 6MT you could swap a lower ratio diff, I have a 3.64 in my 330i, it doesn't add any power but it feels like it does, really wakes it up thru the gears.

The N52 is a great engine, but you can't get much more out of it than that. If you really want something you can pile on the mods until you have a monster get a 335i.

[StradaRedlands]

CW123 Is your 328iX an auto? If so, you have the heaviest, slowest, least performance oriented variant of the E90 (E93 maybe in the running). Heavy steering, extra mass, motor that does not lend itself to mods, auto trans programmed for effeciency. I'm sure you love your car, but if you really want to lean into the go-fast side, you need a N54 or N55 RWD car, preferably with MT. Or try to find a MT 128i which will be a lot lighter (how much so???). Commonality is the lack of auto. You'll enjoy an under-powered MT a lot more than an AT with more horses (to a certain degree anyway). An '06 330i MT splits the difference by giving you an extra 30 or so hp for free, but still, find a MT car!

Originally Posted by 3PedalJake

If you have a 6MT you could swap a lower ratio diff, I have a 3.64 in my 330i, it doesn't add any power but it feels like it does, really wakes it up thru the gears.

I've been thinking about getting the diff from an AT 330i to do just this. I did it on my old E30 and it was a riot to drive in that 30-60 zone! Only reluctance is that I don't want to make it too buzzy at highway speeds, but in reality I don't drive freeways in this car that much.

[CW123]

Originally Posted by StradaRedlands

CW123 Is your 328iX an auto? If so, you have the heaviest, slowest, least performance oriented variant of the E90 (E93 maybe in the running). Heavy steering, extra mass, motor that does not lend itself to mods, auto trans programmed for effeciency. I'm sure you love your car, but if you really want to lean into the go-fast side, you need a N54 or N55 RWD car, preferably with MT. Or try to find a MT 128i which will be a lot lighter (how much so???). Commonality is the lack of auto. You'll enjoy an under-powered MT a lot more than an AT with more horses (to a certain degree anyway). An '06 330i MT splits the difference by giving you an extra 30 or so hp for free, but still, find a MT car!



I've been thinking about getting the diff from an AT 330i to do just this. I did it on my old E30 and it was a riot to drive in that 30-60 zone! Only reluctance is that I don't want to make it too buzzy at highway speeds, but in reality I don't drive freeways in this car that much.

Yes it is an auto, when I was looking I was considering the 335i but from what I have heard about the N54 I was worried about atleast some reliability. Some people have said that they have had a great experience and some said it was awful. Atleast for the winter I am going to stick with what I got because I live in Maine but most likey in the spring I'll go looking. What years should I stay away from?

[3PedalJake]

Originally Posted by StradaRedlands

I've been thinking about getting the diff from an AT 330i to do just this. I did it on my old E30 and it was a riot to drive in that 30-60 zone! Only reluctance is that I don't want to make it too buzzy at highway speeds, but in reality I don't drive freeways in this car that much.

Go for it bro. I was a little worried about that too but my fears were unfounded. It's like 3 or 4 hundred extra revs at highway speeds, but the N52 is so buttery smooth you never even notice. 1st is a little low but you get used to it quick, and running through the gears is fun. Like you said, a mid power MT is more fun than a AT race car. And normal highway passing there's no need to downshift most times, just mash it and gooooo

[StradaRedlands]

Originally Posted by CW123

Yes it is an auto, when I was looking I was considering the 335i but from what I have heard about the N54 I was worried about atleast some reliability. Some people have said that they have had a great experience and some said it was awful. Atleast for the winter I am going to stick with what I got because I live in Maine but most likey in the spring I'll go looking. What years should I stay away from?

For winter driving, X drive will be perfect for you!!! I'm not trying to say you have a bad car and hope I didn't come across negatively. But it is a performance sapper for the rest of the time you're using it. A higher hp engine can help compensate for that. Also you can get X Delete for when you don't need AWD, and direct everything to make it RWD. But you're still carrying around a lot of extra mass and the steering rack ratio is slower as well. Plus that auto... they just inherently feel slow even if by the numbers they aren't.

I've never had a N54, but pay attention to others. Basically if you can get one that the fuel pump has been updated on and the injectors are index 12, you'll have a great base to build from. Everything else is regular BMW oil leaks and water pumps that you'll have on any BMW. Or find one that may not be updated, but budget the extra $3k or so you'll need and plan for doing it. Or find a N55 car and pay more upfront but you don't worry about any of that stuff (as much).

My rec is to either get a MT 328iX (rare) or an AT 335iX (rare, but not as rare). Then you'll have the best of both worlds in an all season DD that will be fun or fast, maybe even both!

[StradaRedlands]

Originally Posted by 3PedalJake

Go for it bro. I was a little worried about that too but my fears were unfounded. It's like 3 or 4 hundred extra revs at highway speeds, but the N52 is so buttery smooth you never even notice. 1st is a little low but you get used to it quick, and running through the gears is fun. Like you said, a mid power MT is more fun than a AT race car. And normal highway passing there's no need to downshift most times, just mash it and gooooo

OK, I'll raise this a few notches on things I'd like to do!

Driveshaft length is fine between the the two?

[3PedalJake]

Originally Posted by StradaRedlands

OK, I'll raise this a few notches on things I'd like to do!

Driveshaft length is fine between the the two?

Yeah it bolted right up, just make sure you get a diff with the 3 eared input flange not the round one like the 325/328 have.

[CW123]

Originally Posted by StradaRedlands

For winter driving, X drive will be perfect for you!!! I'm not trying to say you have a bad car and hope I didn't come across negatively. But it is a performance sapper for the rest of the time you're using it. A higher hp engine can help compensate for that. Also you can get X Delete for when you don't need AWD, and direct everything to make it RWD. But you're still carrying around a lot of extra mass and the steering rack ratio is slower as well. Plus that auto... they just inherently feel slow even if by the numbers they aren't.

I've never had a N54, but pay attention to others. Basically if you can get one that the fuel pump has been updated on and the injectors are index 12, you'll have a great base to build from. Everything else is regular BMW oil leaks and water pumps that you'll have on any BMW. Or find one that may not be updated, but budget the extra $3k or so you'll need and plan for doing it. Or find a N55 car and pay more upfront but you don't worry about any of that stuff (as much).

My rec is to either get a MT 328iX (rare) or an AT 335iX (rare, but not as rare). Then you'll have the best of both worlds in an all season DD that will be fun or fast, maybe even both!

No worries, you didn't come off negatively, my current car is my first step into BMWs so I did not know as much. I plan on getting a 335xi coupe but I am still deciding on transmission type. Does transmission type affect winter driving? Like would it affect TCS?

[3PedalJake]

Originally Posted by CW123

No worries, you didn't come off negatively, my current car is my first step into BMWs so I did not know as much. I plan on getting a 335xi coupe but I am still deciding on transmission type. Does transmission type affect winter driving? Like would it affect TCS?

The traction control is achieved through braking, the DSC is just an automatic, wheel independent master cylinder, it works the same on AT and MT cars. You have a good car to learn on and the E92 LCI is probably the best looking E9x going, so there's that too.

[StradaRedlands]

Originally Posted by CW123

No worries, you didn't come off negatively, my current car is my first step into BMWs so I did not know as much. I plan on getting a 335xi coupe but I am still deciding on transmission type. Does transmission type affect winter driving? Like would it affect TCS?

Good! You have a good car, my only point was that it's not the best platform for go-fast mods.

I think MT is the answer in all situations, but hey, that's just me!

[StradaRedlands]

Originally Posted by 3PedalJake

Yeah it bolted right up, just make sure you get a diff with the 3 eared input flange not the round one like the 325/328 have.

Cool beans! A 3.64 from a 330i AT is the one I've sorta' been looking at.