I found My X & My Straight Pipes on YouTube

[m5james]

The intake, exhaust and tuning on these cars are already pretty efficient, leaving very little room for performance increases. Short of going with nitrous or FI, there arent a lot of gains to be had. Unless its a car with a very restrictive exhuast or FI'd from the factory, getting 20hp or whatever arbitrary number your looking for isnt likely. These motors have been around for quite a while, so if youre looking for HP upgrades AND reasonable pricing, you honestly need to stay away from $$Dinan$$, Eisenmann, etc.

Increasing the engines efficiency is what will net you higher numbers by doing everything as a PACKAGE, not bits and pieces...better intake breathing, exhaust AND tuning to make full use of the bolt-on mods. Most people do the bolt on and them fail to get software. Cheap mods for the M62TU is larger intake tubing and/or a freer flowing filter (dry filters, stay away from oil as theyre notorious for ruining the MAF), an intake manifold from a pre-VANOS M62 (larger runners and it bolts right on) and a freer flowing muffer (straight thru design, not chambered) and complete the package with software so the engine can acctually put all this extra breathing room to good use. Bolt ons without tuning might add HP, but mostly they're just going to increase sound....ask any Honda Civic DX owner with a fart can who's still slower than piss.

[ftara]

is there any real significant gains with the exhaust system? im talking about 20+ hp? or is it only for sound and a small gain of 10hp

[m5james]

Did you read anything I wrote, man? No...and as you even posted there is only an 8hp gain w/ $$Dinan$$ and I can almost bet that it is also with a software download as well that make that a combined total of 8hp.

As I said...other than going FI, there will never be significant gains with bolt-ons and software, and unless you do everything as a system...intake, exhaust and software, otherwise you'll never get the full potential. This isnt a F350TD where you bolt on a larger exhaust and gain 80hp...mostly American cars are the ones that leave a lot of room for HP gains on the table and let the aftermarket pickup the slack. Not BMW, just about anything out there in the aftermarket in regards to simple bolt-ons might net maybe 30-40HP total if you do ALL three items as a package like im suggesting.

Intake and exhaust on these cars gains you more sound at best, and sometimes at the expense of lost HP if not done right. Don't let your ears and butt dyno fool you. Quit looking for cheap HP...you've simply bought the wrong car.

[ftara]

sorry about that i completely skipped your previous post. Ovbiously i would not have posted that if I actaully read your post.
What a complete bummer, the car is fantastic I would not change it for anything rather than the X5 M, but who the hell has 100k to throw at a car that will get abused. I have the dinan intake @ +15hp, the throttle body @ +8hp and the software stage 3 at + 5hp. The only thing i left out was the exhaust because it was over priced and i thought i could have found an actual system to help increase power. I guess i was wrong, and now im stuck with 380 hp. :-(

[m5james]

NP, I just wanted to make sure you read what I had written.

380hp? The 4.4 M62TU is 282, so unless you've got a 4.8 (not sure of the stock HP numbers off hand), how does 282+15+8+5 get you your numbers? Even with $$Dinan$$'s numbers, they're known to be conservative on their power for warranty reasons, so only a dyno will tell you true numbers. Anyone can post numbers on a website to increase sales, the real proof is in the pudding.

You haven't posted in your signature as to what year, motor, etc is in your X5, so I'm going to assume it's a 4.4l. Since you don't have the intake manifold, look at junkyards and find yourself a pre-VANOS intake manifold to complete your intake system. It bolts right on and will at least finish off the frontend work. As for your exhaust, just about anything that is freer flowing than the stock mufflers will do...just as long as you get the appropriate software to complete the package. Believe it or not, but even BMWX54.4's cheap eBay mufflers are a good fit and will get the job done since they're a flowthrough design.

I'm not sure if you've read my signature, but I've netted some decent gains on my 740iL using custom intake tubing and $224 worth of Magnaflow mufflers, albeit there was an extensive engine rebuild in there, but that only proves my point...short of going FI, you're not going to get much out of these motors with bolt-ons and software. FI, just like in the 4.4 powered X5 ///M, is the only way to get true gains short of displacement, but displacement and passing emissions has a higher ceiling. FI is the only big step you have left if you want real gains and to be able to play with the big boys.

[ftara]

Yes sorry i didnt state it i have a 4.8is, im new to the site so i havent completely finsihed my profile yet. Stock i was pushing 355 + the 15 + the 8 + the 5 = around the 380 mark. I am going to get my car dyno for you guys. i have been trying to get it up to 400hp but it seems like everywhere i call or anything i do, it is quite impossible unless i go with a SC.

[dpgx5]

I think your best bet if you have the exhaust left is the eisenmann.

[ftara]

Alot of people told me that as well, but are there any gains for the 4000$ that i will spend?

[dpgx5]

$4000? Give me that and Ill order it for you and ship it to ya. Whoever is asking for $4000 is butt raping u without any lube. Search around ive seen the cost at $1600 to $1800. $2200 the most! GL

[ftara]

hmm, damn i was told 4000$, what a rip. any idea if there any any gains?