Bought a E46

Techen

Techen

Techen

Soldato
Joined
5 Feb 2012
Posts
2,650
Hey guys, I've just bought a E46 2.5l straight 6.

Am looking at a K&N Induction kit, I know these 2.5L engines suffer a lot of airflow restrictions. Am due to replace the inlet manifold with that of a 3L to increase BHP, But I was curious. Would a Induction kit have any benefits on a engine thats struggling for air as it is?

Cheers.
 
Holy cow, The cheapest one that is near me is 4 grand. Mate, I bought the 323 cause it was 1 grand. I don't have another 3 grand to spare to sink into a car lol.
 
Don't get a k&n your engine will suffer with heatsoak. It's an oil based filter so sooner or later your maf will die. Get a replacement panel filter. Preferably a piper cross because it's a dry based filter. I wouldn't bother modding it for bhp yo would have been better buying a 330 in the first place instead of spending money to make your current one faster. It simply isn't worth it.
 
Fair enough, Might just grab a piper cross panel filter and stuff it in.

As for just buying a 330 instead, Sorry but... Where do I magic an extra 3 grand in funds. Kinda confused there?
 
pepsilol said:
Sell it and get a 330i.
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Then, once you've bought that, sell it and get an M3.

Even with a proper heat shield (i.e. full cover carbon canister type arrangement) and with a proper direct air feed you won't gain any "power". Without that, you'll probably find you lose power due to increased IAT's because of heat-soak and hot air draw from the engine bay. It will sound a bit nicer though on WOT but iirc they had a habit of adding a small flat-spot at about 3,000 RPM which I had with a GruppeM on my 330ci. Can be mapped out though.

Also, if you ditch the enclosed air feed but leave the grille vent in there, the engine bay will get dirty quickly.

It's a well trodden path and generally all results point to the BMW OEM intake being best but the 330 manifold will help, assuming you get it properly mapped.
 
HummuH1 said:
Then, once you've bought that, sell it and get an M3.

Even with a proper heat shield (i.e. full cover carbon canister type arrangement) and with a proper direct air feed you won't gain any "power". Without that, you'll probably find you lose power due to increased IAT's because of heat-soak and hot air draw from the engine bay. It will sound a bit nicer though on WOT but iirc they had a habit of adding a small flat-spot at about 3,000 RPM which I had with a GruppeM on my 330ci. Can be mapped out though.

Also, if you ditch the enclosed air feed but leave the grille vent in there, the engine bay will get dirty quickly.

It's a well trodden path and generally all results point to the BMW OEM intake being best but the 330 manifold will help, assuming you get it properly mapped.
Click to expand...

I doubt I'll ever get the funds for a M3, That is just a dream for me :P

Yea, Am going to ditch the induction kit and just get a decent panel filter in. Manifold is a easy job, Like a hours work and with a decent remap I should be sitting pretty at some decent BHP which I'll be more than happy with.
 
A decent remap? Don't bother. There's no such thing with petrol E46's.

Not all 330's are £4k, I imagine one with £600 alloys can be bought for much less.
 
wingman said:
A decent remap? Don't bother. There's no such thing with petrol E46's.

Not all 330's are £4k, I imagine one with £600 alloys can be bought for much less.
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I don't really get what you mean, Am looking at squeezing a few extra BHP out of my BMW for like 200-300 quid instead of shelling out 3-4 grand for a car that does 0 to 60 in 7 seconds... compared to 8.2, It's not a major hop for how much you'd be shelling out. Know what I mean?
 
Hang on, you just bought a 323 and because a couple of people on the internet said you're looking at another car to replace it already? :P
 
p1RATE said:
Hang on, you just bought a 323 and because a couple of people on the internet said you're looking at another car to replace it already? :P
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At that price I wouldn't complain but am not about to travel to london in 8 hours to get one no.

So, I'll keep my car. I got a answer to my question anyway.
 
I mapped my 330i changed the filter full service and changed the exhaust backbox.

Remap won't give you bhp gains like on diesels but will improve the driveability and remove the flat spots.
 
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