05-12-2021, 11:32 PM | #1 |
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Upgrade priorities
First time BMW owner. Love my 2015 M235i! I made the mistake of letting my wife drive it. Now she wants a sedan. Which model is a question for a different day and probably a different forum. My question, is with two boys in college, I need to prioritize and maximize my upgrade dollars. My car is completely stock with 38K miles. What upgrades do you guys recommend to 1: Protect the car and 2: Best prepare it for tuning? From the reading I've done and what little knowledge I have, these seem to be a few things I should do.
1. Replace charge pipe. 2. Replace intercooler. You have to drop the intercooler to change the charge pipe so you might as do both at the same time. 3. Change down pipe. Not thinking catless. Thinking high-flow. 4. BM3 or similar tune. Starting out Stage 1 91 octane. 5. Air intake. 6. Suspension upgrades. Thanks for the suggestions! |
05-13-2021, 09:52 AM | #2 |
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1. Tell the boys to get a job
2. Go catless, it's less money and more power. The tune will take care of the code it causes. 3. Go straight to stage 2 with those mods. Otherwise you're just throwing money out the window when you have to pay for the additional tune later. |
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05-13-2021, 09:54 AM | #3 |
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Welcome to the Forum!
Good list, for the Air Intake, get a drop in like K&N or AFE. If you're going with the FMIC, CP and DP, that will take you to Stage 2 bm3, which now will let you load multiple maps and you can switch between them! I haven't done any suspension mods yet, so someone else can chime in on that. Chris |
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05-13-2021, 03:19 PM | #4 | |
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Since I am Catbacker, I can't in good conscience go catless... |
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05-14-2021, 03:14 AM | #6 |
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Save $$ for now on intake, and simply get K&N filter + AFE scoop. Put difference into replacing all the plumbing down there while replacing intercooler. Turbo inlet / charge-pipe / turbo outlet. Just go with the catless, as BM3 takes care of that. Then tell the kids Holidays aren't happening, and order LSD. There's more gains with catless downpipe + stock mid-pipe + stock axle-back than with high flow catted downpipe + aftermarket mid-pipe + aftermarket axel-back. Mid-pipe + Axle-back is probably your worst power per $$$. Great for end of build when you're shining it up, and putting a bow on top.
Last edited by Boostleak235; 05-14-2021 at 03:22 AM.. |
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05-14-2021, 08:50 AM | #7 |
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While the intake isn't going to get you a ton of power gains the sound difference alone is well worth it. In fact, I'd say that it should be your first mod. That is if you love the pssssssshhh sound like I do. Letting off the throttle still makes me grin. I also went with an exhaust first. Obviously I'm more about sound than power. Now that my warranty is up (and covid is kinda sorta behind us) I'm getting to the rest of the bolt-ons. High flow cat, CP, IC, and piping.
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05-14-2021, 09:18 AM | #8 | |
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05-17-2021, 12:57 PM | #9 |
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Aftermarket Charge Pipe before anything else; most people crack the stock CP even at factory boost levels. I did what you're considering, and swapped out the intercooler while I did the CP. 2 years of a Stage 2 BM3 tune and they're still holding strong.
While it's not a mod, you should buy a new coolant line for when the expansion tank line cracks. These are notorious for breaking around 40,000+ miles. $30 for piece of mind and not being stranded seems more than worth it.
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2016 M235i 6MT | VRSF Intercooler | Active Autowerke CP | VRSF Catless DP | M Performance Muffler | BM3 Tuned | 18" Alzor 030 Wheels | 8.8" Display & Apple CarPlay retrofit
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05-17-2021, 01:26 PM | #10 | |
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05-17-2021, 02:42 PM | #11 |
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If you're ever in Kansas City, look me up. I've done the following to my 2016 M235 6MT:
- MP LSD (this should be very high on your list) - Dinantronics Stage 2 piggyback - HJS Euro 6 catted downpipe - FTP charge pipe - MPPK/M2 lower airbox - MP exhaust - Wagner EVO I Competition intercooler - Dinan lowering springs and lift spacers (springs on the rear axle only) - Bilstein B6 Damptronic shocks on the rear axle only - 245/35R18 square tire setup with wheels - MP interior and exterior goodies - Speaker replacements Maintenance done by myself over the years (car has 50K): - Oil changes every 5K - Coolant hose replacement - Spark plugs - Belt tensioner and belt replacement - Cabin and engine filters
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05-17-2021, 02:51 PM | #12 | |
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05-17-2021, 04:07 PM | #13 |
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It is looking like I can get a package deal on a Mad charge pipe, Mad 5" intercooler, and the BM3 software for $1050 or the Mad 7" stepped intercooler for $1150. My mechanic said he would charge me $200 for the charge pipe intercooler installation. Don't think you can beat that for a significant upgrade. Does anyone know if the 7" requires any modification to the car or is it a direct replacement?
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05-17-2021, 04:13 PM | #14 | |
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05-17-2021, 05:10 PM | #15 | |
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I haven't read much of anything regarding owner reviews of any of the MAD products. They are still relatively new to the BMW game.
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05-17-2021, 10:49 PM | #16 |
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Fin density on the MAD units is pretty poor, you’re better off with VRSF Competition or ER’s intercooler. Don’t bother going with anything smaller - they’ll perform worse and cost more.
I’ll also say skip the intake and just do a drop in filter, but I’ll sell my M2 lower intake box if you want the extra ‘whoosh’ noise. Besides, some of the intakes cause drivability issues, and I found stock just works better. Turbo inlet and DV actually improved drivability a bit, and I would recommend if you’re a manual - otherwise, I would probably save it for last. Finally, for suspension, what’s your goal? |
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05-19-2021, 10:45 PM | #17 | |
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05-20-2021, 08:13 AM | #18 |
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Intercooler:
VRSF 6.5 Competition Intercooler Charge pipe: Chargepipe Chargepipe(VRSF one works with their intercooler as well) Intake: Intake filter For Downpipes - if you want it to be CEL free, there are only 4 options: CG Precision, Active Auto, FabSpeed and Akrapovic. Do the cheapest one, because it's still good. If you don't need the CEL free guarantee, any other Catted downpipe will work Downpipe (CEL free): GC Precision downpipe Active Autowerke downpipe Downpipe Catted (no CEL guarantee): VRSF Catted downpipe
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Last edited by AmuroRay; 05-20-2021 at 08:31 AM.. |
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12-05-2022, 09:06 AM | #19 |
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12-05-2022, 10:23 AM | #20 |
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Upgrade priorities: update
Update:
1. Replace charge pipe. Done. VRSF 2. Replace intercooler. You have to drop the intercooler to change the charge pipe so you might as do both at the same time. Done. VRSF 3. Change down pipe. Not thinking catless. Thinking high-flow. Not done. Leaning towards staying with VRSF. Catted version 4. BM3 or similar tune. Starting out Stage 1 91 octane. Not done. Purchased software but having connection problems. (see other thread) 5. Air intake. Not done. Leaning towards this Injen: https://x-ph.com/injen-bmw-f-chassis...35-injevo1107/ 6. Suspension upgrades. Not done. Not really done any research. Not an upgrade, just maintenance but new coils and one-step colder plugs to go with the stage 1 tune. |
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12-05-2022, 06:03 PM | #21 | |
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I’d recommend an open intake over a closed box one - Injen, CTS are very popular. Most importantly update your plugs and coils if you haven’t already! |
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12-06-2022, 08:46 AM | #22 | |
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Active Autowerke is an excellent option. If emission is not a concern, as AmuroRay suggested, get the MAD one, the price/value is hard to beat.
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