Just about to order BCS back boxes....after owners thoughts

AldridgeZ4 · Post by **AldridgeZ4** » Sat Mar 10, 2018 6:50 pm

After speaking to Nige at powervalve and listening to and reading lots of reviews, I have decided to pull the trigger and order a pair for the M.
I was wondering, people who have had them for a while, what are your thoughts? Is the build quality/condition still good after a few years on the car? Has the sound changed at all as the system has aged? Are you happy with your choice or with hindsight would have chosen differently?

mr wilks · Post by **mr wilks** » Sat Mar 10, 2018 7:08 pm

Depends what you are wanting from your car , i had sets on both my ZMRs , top quality product & i loved them but if / when i go Z///M again i would opt for a Gruppe M induction (decision arrived at after spending hundreds of ///Miles in France with "srhutch"s Gruppe fitted MR ) & simply upsize the tips on the stock boxes as for me the originals just don't look right in the cut outs

almost like the outer sleeves are missing

Additionally & this is purely my own opinion i wouldn't have aftermarket boxes & induction kit together , gives a confusion of senses & if you do have a Gruppe you really wouldn't want to hear anything else .
Ultimately its down to user preference , do you want to give a great tone out of the rear or do you want to amplify the mechanical theatre of the S54 & hear it up front ?

AldridgeZ4 · Post by **AldridgeZ4** » Sat Mar 10, 2018 7:34 pm

Additionally & this is purely my own opinion i wouldn't have aftermarket boxes & induction kit together , gives a confusion of senses & if you do have a Gruppe you really wouldn't want to hear anything else .

I was also just about to order a Gruppe M from Australia and fit both ready for the spring season.

mr wilks · Post by **mr wilks** » Sat Mar 10, 2018 8:10 pm

AldridgeZ4 wrote: ↑Sat Mar 10, 2018 7:34 pm
Additionally & this is purely my own opinion i wouldn't have aftermarket boxes & induction kit together , gives a confusion of senses & if you do have a Gruppe you really wouldn't want to hear anything else .
I was also just about to order a Gruppe M from Australia and fit both ready for the spring season.

Well i doubt you will be disappointed with either tbh , my own thoughts are purely that & i know "Rally" is currently running your proposed combo & "stevo///m3" is running BCS with Eventuri , both totally happy chaps

TomK · Post by **TomK** » Sat Mar 10, 2018 8:29 pm

mr wilks wrote: ↑Sat Mar 10, 2018 7:08 pm Depends what you are wanting from your car , i had sets on both my ZMRs , top quality product & i loved them but if / when i go Z///M again i would opt for a Gruppe M induction (decision arrived at after spending hundreds of ///Miles in France with "srhutch"s Gruppe fitted MR ) & simply upsize the tips on the stock boxes as for me the originals just don't look right in the cut outs almost like the outer sleeves are missing
Additionally & this is purely my own opinion i wouldn't have aftermarket boxes & induction kit together , gives a confusion of senses & if you do have a Gruppe you really wouldn't want to hear anything else .
Ultimately its down to user preference , do you want to give a great tone out of the rear or do you want to amplify the mechanical theatre of the S54 & hear it up front ?

I'd agree with all of that. For me the S54 cries out to have it's induction sound amplified, it's one of the great old school sounds that you just don't hear anymore in these days of turbo this and that. If you go down that route (which is great as it can be as quiet as stock unless you open the taps) any added exhaust noise just ends out cancelling the enjoyment of the above. I should know, I've pretty much masked the beautiful sound of my csl box with crappy exhaust noise from my (reason why i have them) lightweight backboxes.

mr wilks · Post by **mr wilks** » Sat Mar 10, 2018 8:34 pm

Not ever been near a CSL airboxed S54 I can only read & imagine that any further amplification from Gruppe levels must be off the scale

The OE boxes are ridiculously heavy & also 10/12 yrs old most likely be getting past their best anyway , i would look into replacements for various reasons but not for noise . The S54 mechanical induction noise is like nothing else ive experienced in any cars ive owned , its pretty special

Truth · Post by **Truth** » Sat Mar 10, 2018 8:40 pm

AldridgeZ4 wrote: ↑Sat Mar 10, 2018 7:34 pm
Additionally & this is purely my own opinion i wouldn't have aftermarket boxes & induction kit together , gives a confusion of senses & if you do have a Gruppe you really wouldn't want to hear anything else .
I was also just about to order a Gruppe M from Australia and fit both ready for the spring season.

Order direct from Japan and save a load or money. Pm me for info. All the best

Truth · Post by **Truth** » Sat Mar 10, 2018 8:46 pm

Having spent some time with a csl owner. The induction sound is sweet and on point. Perfect I’d dare say but at the price it costs on our cars I’d go the Gruppe m route. Polish them Exhaust tips or like mr W says upsize them. U won’t be dissapointed by the Gruppe m. Though at £660 all in its expensive. Money can be spent better elsewhere in life. I think sometimes as petrol heads we have money burning holes in our pockets and forget to appreciate and enjoy what we have in terms of car! Just get out burn some rubber and petrol. £660 for Gruppe m or £875 for Bcs backboxes could pay for a few nights and meals and fuel in a nice northern pub/hotel.

mmm-five · Post by **mmm-five** » Sat Mar 10, 2018 9:01 pm

mr wilks wrote: ↑Sat Mar 10, 2018 8:34 pm Not ever been near a CSL airboxed S54 I can only read & imagine that any further amplification from Gruppe levels must be off the scale
The OE boxes are ridiculously heavy & also 10/12 yrs old most likely be getting past their best anyway , i would look into replacements for various reasons but not for noise . The S54 mechanical induction noise is like nothing else ive experienced in any cars ive owned , its pretty special

The CSL intake & exhaust is beautifully balanced - and a sound I was trying to emulate with my Rogue Diablos and Gruppe-M. It might also help that the CSL has a larger cabin to smooth/round the sound.

Unfortunately mine is nothing like the CSL sound. But I think that's mainly down to the Rogue Diablos being too loud and drowning out the Gruppe-M.

I guess it will have to be velocity stacks to balance it back up

DPG · Post by **DPG** » Sat Mar 10, 2018 9:04 pm

Pretty much agree with what has been said above.

I had an Eventuri fitted then went with Stromung back boxes which drowned out the induction noise.

If I was in a S54 again then it would just be Eventuri or GruppeM.

AldridgeZ4 · Post by **AldridgeZ4** » Sun Mar 11, 2018 2:49 pm

I think you might be right. I am going to order the GruppeM and live with that for a while before deciding on the exhaust.

Thanks for all your advice......

bradz · Post by **bradz** » Sun Mar 11, 2018 4:10 pm

Also look at the Supersprint Powerloops - Adore mine!

mark seeker · Post by **mark seeker** » Mon Jun 18, 2018 11:24 pm

AldridgeZ4 wrote: ↑Sat Mar 10, 2018 6:50 pm After speaking to Nige at powervalve and listening to and reading lots of reviews, I have decided to pull the trigger and order a pair for the M.
I was wondering, people who have had them for a while, what are your thoughts? Is the build quality/condition still good after a few years on the car? Has the sound changed at all as the system has aged? Are you happy with your choice or with hindsight would have chosen differently?

Hi

I just wondered how you got on with your new exhausts? Did you go with BCS in the end?

AldridgeZ4 · Post by **AldridgeZ4** » Tue Jun 19, 2018 8:31 am

After speaking to a few people on this forum, I decided to go down the GruppeM intake route instead, and I have to say I'm pleased that I did. The noise is very addictive, but not too intrusive.
I still may go down the BCS route next year, but for the time being I'm happy with my GruppeM.

abar121 · Post by **abar121** » Wed Jun 20, 2018 2:01 pm

That's great.

A friend just fitted Remus back boxes to his Z4MR. I do love the sound and prefer the lack of drone over stock, but you do loose some of that lovely induction note. I guess more induction mods are needed to compensate.

So I'm a bit split on what to do now as for me, a BMC panel filter on an otherwise stock Z4MR has a great balance of induction noise / exhaust, particularly with the roof down. The drone a low revs is a bit annoying in traffic though.

On a Coupe, I would certainly mod both induction and exhaust.

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