That M50 manifold on a 328 again...

There is no benefit before the manifold is fitted, but after the full kit is fitted, there is definitely more power with the gauze removed.

Dave - I can't say whether the gauze itself makes any difference - but I was happy enough to take Alpina527's advice and leave it out. Any debris would have to get past my panel filter first before it gets that far.

The other part you mention, the plastic hatching inside the MAF housing (or the "big black gunsight", as I call it) - has remained: I was told this helps to direct/smooth the airflow.

I'm no expert, but I trust Alpina527's judgement - after all he has done exactly the same on his own 5 series and it's been running fine like that for 2+ years.

HF :)

Dave - having seen the kit being installed, I can only say that you were a brave man to try this yourself with just the bare M50 manifold !

I can honestly say that I wouldn't have had the skill required to relocate all the sensors etc. In that respect, the kit from Alpina527 really shines: it really is "plug and play" - but the work still takes 3hrs to do.

Earlier in this thread, the MAF gauze was mentioned: I can confirm that mine has now been removed, along with a large part of the airbox snorkel mouth which was restricting flow a bit.

HF

This is an old thread, I know, but I've just got round to having it done on my 328, so thought I'd post my opinion.

Alpina527 fitted the complete manifold and BBTB kit to my car on Saturday. It really is superb, and I can't recommend it enough: improved throttle response, much smoother shifting on the auto 'box, and generally much nicer to drive.

The installation is not trivial, so if you're thinking about doing this for a 323 or 328, I'd honestly say that Alpina527's fitting service is excellent value for money.

HF

Yes Dave. You have the correct one.

dave 328 wrote: Is that figure at the flywheel? I got 164bhp at the wheels, so about 200bhp @ flywheel - with just a sports cone air filter. What does the zorst sound like, Mine is std with the valve thingy disconnected for a bit more low down noise.

Yep, thats flywheel. She would be an animal with that at the wheels!

The zorst is unusual, but I have always had stainless before and cos they are so damn hard, they are generally louder (they don't flex as much hench reduced sound absorbtion). The supersprint is a combo of SS and MS so the piping is SS which gets hotter and the gases flow faster but the casing is MS and keeps the noise down.

Really  deep burbly noise especially when hot. best performing zorst I've had so far.

The note changed when I fitted the M50 as well... got a lot deeper.

Is that figure at the flywheel? I got 164bhp at the wheels, so about 200bhp @ flywheel - with just a sports cone air filter.

What does the zorst sound like, Mine is std with the valve thingy disconnected for a bit more low down noise.

Edited by dave 328

I'm up in sunny Manchester, Well as far east as you can go, as I'm on the foot of the Peak district.

Yeah, let me know on the fin thing - v. interested to know what the difference is.

I'd be interested on your RR figure aswell to see what the difference is. What was your previous figure and was your car std?

If you could try the manifold first then the TBs (if you're getting them) and let me know what the difference is with the TBs added after - If you do it all at once, it doesn't matter. Do you have a sports airfilter?



Edited by dave 328

dave 328 wrote: So do you live close to Ian?

Not far, about an hour driving all sensible like, much less otherwise...!!

Ian mentioned the fin thing, and you have the tip top manifold, phew! When I have the kit fitted and the ECU has settled I am going on the rollers again. Last time I had it done at bridgewater, are you in the home counties (surrey/sussex/kent) area?

sleeper wrote: I don't have traction on mine, thank god! I did have on a previous BM and although it saved my wallet once it was pretty crude in the way it intervened. If you've got it you'll know what i mean!

Yeah, I turn it off sometimes to get a better acceleration as it can really impead the performance by being a bit slow on reaction.

sleeper wrote: I had a long chat with ian the other night about said manifolds. Its interesting that you say its from a j plate 325, It must have been a 24 valver, but was it the vanos unit? probably not on a J. The reason I mention is that if you have six fins countable before the TB on the intake side of the chamber you are slightly disadvantaged (i don't know why yet but will investigate). These manifolds were also fitted to the early 525i's with the M50 lump. How many fins do you have? Having seen how much machining work ian does to get everything to fit i would be interested to know how much grief yours was to fit?

Hmm, I'll have to count them and get back to you. Do you know what the difference is, as the branch bore is a fair bit bigger, which I thought was the restriction. I was considering Ian's kit, but I got this manifold and decided to give it a go. There were alot of brackets, pipes etc to modify and make, and did have 2nd thoughts about doing it myself, but it worked out in the end, albeit with more hours in labour!! So it wasn't a straight fit, but easy to understand what needs doing, thats why when ppl have asked me about fitting, I've told them it is a fair bit of work and to contact Ian.

sleeper wrote: When you did yours did you remove the gauze from the mass meter? I am fitting on the weekend of 10/11-07 so I'll keep you posted as to the differences. Don't want much do i!?!

I haven't removed the gauze as some say it gives no benefit. The gauze in the AFM is of a bigger dia. than the TB so the area is bigger to pass thru the gauze. I'd look at it if some say it works tho.

I'd like to see what Ian does to the manifold so it fits straight away. I guess from when I compared them, is he has grafted the breather parts and black metal bracket to the bottom of the manifold as it is on the M52 manifold. This would be more or less 'plug and play'. The only modding then would be the fuel rail.

So do you live close to Ian?

Edited by dave 328