That M50 manifold on a 328 again...

sleeper wrote: hi dave! what are your feelings about the kit? before/afters

I didn't get the kit from Ian (Alpina 527) as I came across a manifold from a knacked J reg 325, so I changed it myself. So on the induction side I have M50 manifold and cone filter. I don't have the big bore throttle bodies yet (would like to know what benefits these have as a single upgrade, rather than with the manifold/air filter etc).

MG Rover released a bigger bore TB (same ratio increase as Ian's TBs) and I bought one for the MGF, although it made quite a difference to response esp. at lower revs, it didn't do much at higher revs. Maybe thats the characteristic of that combination, so would like to know what difference it makes on the 328 as the bore size is the same as the 325.

Before M50;

The revs tailled of after 5,000rpm so there wasn't much point in revving it further. I fitted a sports cone filter and this had a slight improvement. It created a nice bark over 5,000rpm.

After M50;

at first I didn't notice a big difference, possibly a smoother better power curve up the revs. But then after a day or 2 it started to get faster, possibly the ECU tuning itself to the different airflow. Now it will go straight passed 5,000rpm and will go over 6,000rpm and sometimes esp. on the track, it hit the rev limiter at about 6,500rpm. Also it was more lively mid range. The induction noise also changed at about the same revs as the old manifold started to restrict (4,500rpm), so from here it pulls notibly better!!! It now gives a nice 6cyl. induction worble at 4,500rpm where as before it just did a bark at about 5,200+rpm, then you had to change gear as it ran out of puff.

I would like to see what power it has on the RR as before the M50 manifold, I got about 200bhp. I am also considering the bigger bore TBs.

Does yours have traction? Not sure if this would cause a slight dissruption in flow as the air has to go thru 2 TBs. The non-traction induction does look simpler than with traction.

Dunk, have you got an M52TU hiding in that 'bay of yours? has the rounded off rocker cover over the vanos unit...

And I've already got it fitted now!

I am soon to be getting the BBTB and manifold kit for my 328i Saloon.

Will post results when I can

Dan

I toyed with the mod while I had the 328i...


What car do you have now, I thought you still had the 328.

My mate has a garage and gets the odd damaged car in and says hes got a 92 325, so i might be having a look-see at the big black ribbed bit!!

Yeah, seen that.

Just wanted to see the feature.

Is that your car? If not are you going to do the M50 mod?

Nearly done the cold air box, its turned out pretty much the same as the one on that link you gave.
got a nice big sheet of aluminium to make it out of, and maybe more if anybody is interested.

By the way, do you know prices of the cold air boxes?

Hans,

Could scan this article in and post them here?, or e-mail them direct to me, as I've looked for the mag but can't find it. As I'm interested in this mod!!!

still...........................4 grand!

hell fire, 4 grand would buy plenty of nappies in our house. I like Chris Rossiter, and i even had the honour of frightening him around Donington last year but, im not prepared to skint myself by lining his pocket when i know a man that does the same job for a few hundred quid!

p.s  if anyone gets the chance to ride with Chris in his E30 sport evo, then grab it with both hands. He's a very talented driver. And Chris, if you read this, i look forward to seeing you at cadwell park BDD

i had a look through the schnitzer brochure today, and they offer essentially exactly what ALPINA527 is doing. they quote an increase of 25 bhp over standard. i did'nt get a price though, but knowing schnitzer, it will not be cheap. their kit is available for 328 and is also featured on their 3.2 conversion. (this 3.2 conversion is based on the M52 328). im not sure if they modify the throttle body. as for my car, it seems to be getting better on fuel now, the e.c.u must have settled down a bit!

can anyone remember the Total BMW feature of the black schnitzer touring s 3.2 ?  i have the copy here somewhere, under all my junk.

Edited by barf