328 tuning

I was looking on the web the other day for info on tuning the 2.8 M52 engine and I came across several references to modified throttle bodies and inlet manifolds on other BMW discussion forums. From what I can gather this guy in Essex who goes by the name Alpine527 modifies standard inlet manifolds and throttle bodies to give good increases in top end power and drivabillity. He will sell you the modiifed parts, on an exchange basis, for around £300 or slightly more if you have anti slip control.

Has anyone heard of this guy before?

Has anyone fitted these parts to their car?

 

 

 

  

I have also been looking into induction kits but there are very few companies that seem to do them for the 328. I used to have a K&N fitted to a Sierra I once owned and it sounded awsome. To be honest it didn't bother me that it didn't seam to make any difference to the performance, it was worth it for the noise alone

I had heard that quikshift racing would make one. You can also buy one with a heatsheild already fitted from a couple of places in America. www.kormanfastbmw.com and another place called Bavarian Autosport. They are not cheap mind, about $300 plus the cost of shipping.

The reason the throttle and manifold mod caught my eye was the cost versus the claimed increase in performance. Trouble is it sounds to good to be true and I am always very wary of parting with my hard earned cash unless I am very sure.

 

I've got a BMC CDA fitted to my 328i coupe - http://www.bmcairfilter.com/infoCDA.asp. A wee bit more noise under heavy acceleration and the 'butt dyno' suggest maybe a pony or 2 extra. The dyno plot fo a US M3 shows a gain of 19bhp!

Alpina527 is a well reputed vendor who provides (and can fit) a quality HFM and throttle body for the 328i. The logic goes that the OEM manifold and throttle body were designed to restrict the 328i output to keep it from jumping up a German tax band. His manifold flows significantly more air than the OEM one (250cfm vs 175cfm IIRC). Dyno plots are harder to find - I found 2.

One was an american who fitted an HFM only. His power went up ~20bhp but his torque curve was annihilated! Not good.

The other is a UK chappie (T1000) who uses E36coupe.com. He's having more luck. With the (alpina supplied) HFM, throttle body and quality induction kit he dyno'd at 224bhp (ish) with no nasty effects on torque.

14bhp for $1200 is a bit steep.

thing is, to benefit a bigger throttle you'll have to get a sports filter anyway, as the OE box restricts even the std set-up slightly anyway.

Polished and ported head isn't really recommended, unless your beast is eating alot of revs and has cammy cams, bhp and torque reductions have been seen from just polished heads.

The filter I have is a stainless steel one and gives a nice rattle bark above 5,000rpm, well worth it for the sound!!

But if you get one from Quikshiftracing, don't get the 328 induction kit as your paying £20-30 extra for a zip tie, extendable foil cool air tube and a little metal bar to hold the filter, which you don't need.

I've just used the filter straight on the AFM and it sits nicely on the charcoal canister. They do sell the filters 'universaly' just specify the right size for your car! Just need to make the cold air box now!!!

If you decide to try alpina527's manifold and throttle body, would like to see what results you get as i am thinking of trying his ideas or something similar. At the moment i have a K+N panel filter and a Superchip but would like a bit more power for not so much wonga. has anybody out there fitted a SCORPION exhaust to their 328 and if so, is it any good or is there a better system?

dimension wrote: on the k&n filters, is the air filter kits different to the 57i kits you see advertised, i wouldnt mind one on my 328 for the sound more than anything but ive heard loads of people say that after market induction is crap on beemers cuz of it sucking hot air, whats  you views lads, and how hard is it to make a heat sheild?

When the car is warmed up enough to boot it a bit, it really pulls, esp. at higher revs! But once fully warm i.e, the radiator is warmed up and blowing nice warm air over the filter, you can tell the power reduction, but not loads.

The cold air box is quite simple, I'm making a template first out of cardboard then out of metal, then powder coated.

When its successfully finished, I could make more and sell them - cheaper than the offical ones of course!!

Alpina527 is a genuine Guy

 

I have met him on several ocasions and also know quite a bit about his M52 intake modification.

The throttle body is  precision machined and you get an overal increase in diameter resultng in much better airflow.

The intake manifold is superb.

If you want to see actual dyno results of both these mods then see link below.

He got very good gains from the mods and coould have got alot more if a custom remap were to be carried out. 

http://www.328sport.dsl.pipex.com/

The M52 engine was very very resricted to keep it below certain german tax brackets.  For about £500 (inc airfilter) you can get a realistic 220bhp.

Get it remapped on a rolling road and it will be more.

 

Get a second hand pump......

Getting a second hand pump from FAB. It will cost £65 + VAT + £8.50 shipping. Fitting it myself, if it ever stops raining! A bit better than £280 to supply and fit a new pump.

Martin,

I had heard something similar about the manifold. In fact if you follow the link from E30Alpina the guy describes the manifold he has fitted as a modified M50 manifold.

What is a little suspicious is that he only shows the standard dyno results from 4300rpm, so it's not possible to see if the mods have lost him any low end torque and power.    

Check out this page as it had the closest details to what I described above

http://www.eurospeedperformance.com/Articles/328m50.htm

Martin