3.0i mod???

[Emory39]

Originally Posted by bcredliner

. how much do you want to spend?

I Know that the 3.0engine on this X are not the best for the weight ratio.
I was planning an intake exhaust and tuning. That’s about how much I was thinking on spending in the X. on the exhaust I am not going to put BMW specific because they want crazy $$$$$. I was thinking of removing the resonator and putting an X-pipe in its place a changing the muffler with others
.

[bcredliner]

Originally Posted by Emory39

I Know that the 3.0engine on this X are not the best for the weight ratio.
I was planning an intake exhaust and tuning. That’s about how much I was thinking on spending in the X. on the exhaust I am not going to put BMW specific because they want crazy $$$$$. I was thinking of removing the resonator and putting an X-pipe in its place a changing the muffler with others
.

In your case the X pipe will change the sound more than anything else. The performance benefit is extraction but I don't think you could measure the difference on a dyno with the lower restriction exhaust. It won't hurt so if you waited until you did the rest of the mods and didn't like the sound you could add it later. The Xpipe tends to raise the octave and make it sound a little raspy. The tune is the key to getting the most out of your plan. Torque gets you going, horsepower keeps you going. Compare HP/TQ curves of available tunes, I think the best choice for 0-60 improvement will be a tune where torque ramps to peak at the lowest rpms. I think your plan is a good value for the results you will achieve.

[Green Dragon]

I'm going to be posting some videos and pics in another thread. I have some more filming to do first. My lil' 3.0 sounds pretty mean and might give you some ideas. Definitely pretty quick. I'll let you decide. The one thing I wanted to share right off the bat was a tuned ECU that I purchased off ebay that I absolutely love! I've been running since this spring. (I've shared it privately with other members----- hang tight Tecboy99). I can speak from experience having run the shark injector, as well as the stock tune the 3.0 came with. The tune I am running is a modified BMW Euro 2 tune. The ignition tables are stock (for reliability), but everything else is adjusted. Feels like a different car! Ill send you his link. You have a ton of options, and on top of that, you keep your stock ecu unaltered. Instant swap. No issues/worries with bricking it. You can always re-tune the modifed version to fit your needs. Technically you can flash your own for free, etc, but I wanted a good place to start tinkering. The whole deal costed $175 bucks and in my opinion, is worth it.The seller is awesome, great to work with and will tune it how you want it within reason. Check out the listing for details. I'm running cat-less headers for the last month, and it works even better. I like it better than the shark injector tune. Hate to say it, but seems hotter. Just the butt dyno and opinion here....

BMW E46 E39 M54 Tuned ECU EWS Delete Headers 330 325 530 525 x3 X5 | eBay

Next subject, AFE Intake. Works great, except it still pulls some hot underhood air. I'm about 20 degrees warmer than ambient temp. That said, my headers are adding some heat to the fire. I've been running Dash Command and have been monitoring the Intake temps. I will put the stock airbox in for a day and let you know. I'm going the custom route, to try a few things as well. I've got a pile of mods to do still, but I think I'm doing the custom intake very soon.

Next subject, Exhaust. Losing the rear muffs(do it!) adds some ponies, some mpg gains and depending on what you replace it with, some drone. 2-2.8k is what I'm dealing with. Its not bad, I just notice it more. There are some things to try including a j-pipe or hemhlltzer (spelling?) pipe. I'm also cutting the middle resonator out and putting in a resonated x-pipe. Magnaflow and Jones both make one. The Jones is half the cost and uses ceramic packing and rock wool I believe. I'm running their Areo ceramic packed AR20's as the rear mufflers and they sound great. The Magnaflow straight through 4 inch rounds (4''x 24'' I think?) sound amazing too. I ran that on my previous I6 E53 with and without headers, and sounded great both ways, come to think of it, amazing with headers. I think the magnafows delt better with the drone as they were longer, and were packed with only rock wool. (rock wool has a shorter life compared to ceramic, but acoustics seem different, perhaps better?)

Ton of info and opinions here to digest. I think your expectations and goals are realistic and very easy to reach with not much money which is a bonus.Check out e46 fanatics. They have TONS of info! Hopefully I've helped. There most definitely is some marginal power/fun factor left on the table. My E53 6M is a total different animal and I've loved watching the transformation. I could have bought a 4.4 or 4.8, but my 6M for me is something special and unique. I will be going forced induction ultimately at some point, but for now, I'm loving it as it is. Good luck and keep us posted.

[victell]

ESS Tuning Stage 1 Supercharger Kit - 320 HP, or Stage 2 - 345 HP

[Fifty150hs]

Originally Posted by victell

ESS Tuning Stage 1 Supercharger Kit - 320 HP, or Stage 2 - 345 HP

They don't have superchargers for the M54. At least that I could find. Just ECU tuning software for $695.

[Joshdub]

There are a few different supercharger kits out there for the m54b30. They will work on yours. They just don't list them for X5s because it's not exactly a big (if any) market.

[Fifty150hs]

Originally Posted by Joshdub

There are a few different supercharger kits out there for the m54b30. They will work on yours. They just don't list them for X5s because it's not exactly a big (if any) market.

Interesting. thanks

[g300d]

GD, been wondering if you would drop by.

Thanks for the tip on the ECU! I'd love to get an ECU tuned with all the things daniel_f and group have been doing like new throttle maps, adjusted thermostat opening for cooler running, etc, but I just cant wrap my head around how they do it yet lol! That way sounds like a great way to learn!

Question though, what happens if you want to put in your original ECU? Mileage will be off against the LCM and cluster, you will get a tamper dot right?

[Emory39]

Green Dragon//// thanks and I will be waiting for the videos, and the custom filter. It's sounds like you are having a lot of fun.

[Green Dragon]

G3ood,
Sorry for the delayed follow-up. No worries about the tamper light in reverting back to the stock original ecu. No tamper lights, no issues. If you swap gauge clusters without aligning it with the ews, I think you'd get a tamper light. I reached out to the tuner and verified for us. Hope that helps.

Emory, pics are being released late tonight.