3.0 Power Adder Options

[7to3_enthusiast]

Originally Posted by nick325xit 5spd

I literally referenced a member of the forum with a blower on his M54 in this thread.

Went back through but still didn't see this reference, maybe an issue on my end. Can you share again?

[7to3_enthusiast]

Originally Posted by Bdc101

I also tow a camper trailer regularly with my 3.0i/5MT X5. I weighed the trailer last year on a trip home, and it ends up around 4,000-4,500lbs, with a gross vehicle weight of over 9,000lbs fully loaded. So my X5 with trailer is probably slightly lighter than your X5 with trailer, but has a lot more aerodynamic drag on the highway, being a short but full-width and full-height trailer.

Of course with the 3.0 it takes a lot of effort to maintain speed while climbing hills, but I am able to maintain speed on the highway without downshifting. Especially at sea level I don't have any trouble on the highway in 5th gear unless I am trying to go 75mph or there is a serious headwind. (I live at 4,000ft and there's a noticeable difference at my elevation, but still it is possible.) Granted I do not own the automatic trans, but based on this experience I would assume something is wrong with your transmission if it is overheating just trying to maintain speed on the highway with your trailer.

(On a further note: I climb a mountain pass with my fully loaded trailer at least once every year, going up to about 5,500 feet on steep grades in the middle of the summer. These trips always have multiple climbs where I am spending 10 or more minutes at WOT, usually switching between third and fourth gear, at 95+ degrees outside, and I have never had a problem. I'd challenge anybody to think up a scenario that's tougher on a motor/transmission combination than spending ten straight minutes at WOT in between 4,500-6,000 rpm!)

Great info, thanks for sharing! My total weight with the GTR and trailer is about 6300 lbs (I know I know), and it goes into limp mode going up hills at anything over 70 mph. I can put around at 60 mph all day long. But it sounds its just some maintenance will fix most of this.

[nick325xit 5spd]

Originally Posted by 7to3_enthusiast

Went back through but still didn't see this reference, maybe an issue on my end. Can you share again?

User is Happy. See post #2.

[7to3_enthusiast]

Originally Posted by nick325xit 5spd

User is Happy. See post #2.

Oh I definitely read that sentence wrong lol

[Bdc101]

Originally Posted by 7to3_enthusiast

Great info, thanks for sharing! My total weight with the GTR and trailer is about 6300 lbs (I know I know), and it goes into limp mode going up hills at anything over 70 mph. I can put around at 60 mph all day long. But it sounds its just some maintenance will fix most of this.

Well you are definitely exceeding the tow rating of your vehicle (it is either 5,500 or 6,000, I think it's 5,500 but I might be wrong).



However a good aftermarket transmission cooler should probably be enough to help you tow that weight reasonably without overheating. Along with regular transmission maintenance.

[Happy]

Originally Posted by 7to3_enthusiast

I've seen several stock motor M54 from our local BMW shops push 400-450 whp unopened so not too worried about the motor.

500 flywheel hp on a stock M54 should be treated with a bit of respect. That is a lot of power for that particular power plant stock. I personally worry at times.

Originally Posted by 7to3_enthusiast

my RPMs typically are around 4500+.

The M54 will handle 4500 rpm’s no problem .

E53 RiPPeR
XOuTPoST jUNkiE
ReVELaTiON 22:21

[Happy]

Originally Posted by Bdc101

Sounds like a great job for a V8 :P

I was riding around in 4.4is the other day, and I can confidently say that, this is the best advice.


E53 RiPPeR
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ReVELaTiON 22:21

[PropellerHead]

Originally Posted by Bdc101

Sounds like a great job for a V8 :P

Originally Posted by Happy

I was riding around in 4.4is the other day, and I can confidently say that, this is the best advice.

+1

I did the math in.. when was that? 2011? I was set to strap on (intentional euphemism) a blower to my '04 3.0. I'd owned it for 7 years and it had ~100k miles. Of course, I would have followed the same path as I had on my SC'd 540: Brakes, big ass aluminum radi, ALLL the suspension stuff, and for the automatic- an uprated cooler. At the time, I would have dropped north of $12k to prep the i6 *AND* add a blower. SC should be considered the very LAST thing to add after prepping the drivetrain for big changes.

Instead, I found a 4.8is with something like 11k miles. I sold the 100k mile i6 and dropped about $13k more to purchase the 4.8is. I netted WAY more power than the simple bolt-up SC would give the 3.0, and it was EVERYwhere, as designed. The platform was designed for the engine delivering it. With the purchase, I got a ton more bells and whistles, most of which I have since changed or upgraded.

Of course, in the 12 years and 164k miles since then, I have dropped more than twice what I paid for the car in alll SORTS of silly stuff- including one of those fancy, bullet proof radiators. But, only ab the $ price of my 3.0 was spent on bullet-proofing the cooling, seals, and alll the other stuff. And that's me being obsessive.

I am pretty stubborn, so I would probably still be driving the 3.0 if I hadn't sold it to my neighbor. Their kids handed it down until they sold it last year with something like 230k on it. They were unhappy with the cost of maintaining the i6 as well.

I don't know what's out there now. I have since purchased another N62 (masochist?). It only had 32k when I bought it in 2019. 55k now and she's just as purtty as you please.

Funny story ab that one: Yep. I sold an '01 3.0 with a touch over 130k miles to buy the '04 V8. We'd purchased the '01 3.0 new. The upgrade to an '04 with XDrive, nav and a HOST of stuff beyond the motor cost me ab as much as a blower would.

[Happy]

Originally Posted by PropellerHead

I have since purchased another N62

Man.. I like N62 power!! Sweet plant! And the sound…


E53 RiPPeR
XOuTPoST jUNkiE
ReVELaTiON 22:21

[PropellerHead]

Originally Posted by Happy

Man.. I like N62 power!! Sweet plant! And the sound…

It was a nice day today, so I was zipping home a little after dusk in the freshly washed E30. Behind me then, I see some very white halos, but 'odd,' think I. They're too round to be so white? And what of this obvious odd height? That's no E39? I see a reflection off the under ride protection and think, 'Ahhhh... That's lil wifey in my X5!"

Sure enough, she passed me- windows down (of course) and I got a rare chance to hear what others hear and also see what they see. Damn thing sits as perfect as one of those new Audi SUV Q-what's-it's-nuts(?). I only got to follow for a minute 'cause we were around the corner, but oooo that sound!