35i intercooler and remap.. wow

[Nick9one1]

In my experience any inpa k+dcan cable will work (I have 3).

The ones with a switch on are better as they let you connect to pre 2005 BMW's too.

You also need a usb otg cable to change the large size usb from the OBD2 cable to the smaller type your phone uses (either mini or usb C).

 

[R.E92]

What cable did you buy for interfacing with MHD? Seems to be a hit or miss buying online.

Buying a cable that works on cars built after 2007 can be hit-and-miss as they moved to the DCAN protocol. A lot of eBay cable sellers will list the cable as supporting DCAN but often the conversion logic is missing in the cable.

You can take a risk and buy an eBay cable for £10~.
Or buy a guaranteed DCAN cable from here for £42: https://www.cable-shack.co.uk/products.php
Or buy a BimmerGeeks cable for £45 here: https://www.bimmergeeks.net/product-page/bimmergeeks-pro-cable

I went through the cable buying rigmarole 8 years ago. I tried an eBay cable first which turned out not to support DCAN equipped vehicles then ended up buying a cable-shack one which works flawlessly.
I then found out about the BimmerGeeks cable so I bought one of them as it communicates twice as fast as other cables so flashes which normally take 20min in MHD will take only 9 or 10min. The 2 minute map changes take only 1min instead of the normal 2min.

 

[Nick9one1]

Might have to buy one of the bimmergeeks cables. The full flash takes 40 minutes on all of mine

 

[R.E92]

Might have to buy one of the bimmergeeks cables. The full flash takes 40 minutes on all of mine

It doesn't seem like much of a big deal to begin with, but once you start flashing maps or doing any work with BMW tools like ISTA then it really shines. Even simple things like the initial module scan and diagnostic in ISTA is twice as fast.

 

[Nick9one1]

I'm sold.

Ista is great but it can be painfully slow with the cable I have.

 

[Nick9one1]

I serviced the car today, and decided to change the spark plugs based on advice I've read for tuned N54 engines.

As a rule of thumb, spark plugs should go 1 step cooler for each 100bhp gained.

The NGK 5992 / ILZKBR7A-8G are 1 step cooler than the OEM Bosch ZGR6STE2. But you need to gap them to 0.022" or 0.56mm. They are supplied at 0.8mm.

A secondary advantage is they have an Iridium coated centre electrode, not Copper like the Bosch plugs.

Iridium > Copper.

On offer at ECP at the moment.

 

[Wingman]

Hi Nick. So after the mods (downpipe and intercooler) did you notice much power gain? Also does anything have to be done regarding any re-tuning after both parts have been fitted?

 

[Nick9one1]

There is a massive difference in power with intercooler, downpipes and MHD. It feels like a different car.

I haven't run the car with only intercooler/down pipes and no MHD so I can't comment on what they are like alone.

I think you might get error codes from installing downpipes without MHD as the secondary set of O2 sensors are used to monitor the catalytic converter efficiency. Although like I said previously, you can buy just the flasher module of MHD (£50) and run a stock map. You still get access to all the exhaust burble, O2 bypass (for downpipes) settings.

 

[stijohnny]

Hi Nick. So after the mods (downpipe and intercooler) did you notice much power gain? Also does anything have to be done regarding any re-tuning after both parts have been fitted?

Hey Wingman - I added decat downpipes and a stage 2 remap, that gave me 385bhp and 450lb/ft torque. Am going to add bigger intercooler and BMS air intake soon. I started a post with details including 3 x MOT exhaust gas readings (1 before and 2 after decat), all passed ok.

 

[Miyli]

I have this. Cheap and functional

https://www.ebay.com/itm/UK-For-BMW-E82-E88-135i-1M-E90-E92-335i-E89-Z4-Front-Mount-Intercooler-Kit-Black-/222599514476?hash=item33d3f7096c:g:5aoAAOSwutFZgElj&vxp=mtr

 

[sunnydays]

There is a massive difference in power with intercooler, downpipes and MHD. It feels like a different car.

I haven't run the car with only intercooler/down pipes and no MHD so I can't comment on what they are like alone.

I think you might get error codes from installing downpipes without MHD as the secondary set of O2 sensors are used to monitor the catalytic converter efficiency. Although like I said previously, you can buy just the flasher module of MHD (£50) and run a stock map. You still get access to all the exhaust burble, O2 bypass (for downpipes) settings.

Screenshot_20181026-173124.jpg

OP, in your screen shot you have OEM/Catted DP's checked. Shouldn't that be unchecked as you have after market downpipes?

 

[mcbutler]

If you check the intercooler and downpipe text in my previous post you'll see they are already links to where you can buy them

Cat removal isn't an issue for the MOT, the secondary cats are more than capable of reducing the levels well below the fail mark.
I posted an image of my co2/HC readings in another thread some time ago - There was no difference before/after cat removal.
I think the primary cats are designed for reducing the emissions when cold. As soon as the car warms up the secondaries are more than good enough.

Exhaust note is a little more 'raw', definitely louder but not a lot.

I thought recent mot rules meant a fail if the system has been tampered with in any way? :?
Rob

I think it's primarily diesels and more related to DPF at the moment.
I am quite sure that before long rules will tighten to include all petrol cars as well, I am holding off downpipes for this reason.

 

[mcbutler]

I wonder what Improvement I could get on my 35i with a stage 1 map plus a larger intercooler. Mine has a Miltek system with middle cats deleted.

if you have 365BHP you most likely already have a stage 1 map.

 

[mcbutler]

$116 delivery!!!! Is it coming by helicopter to my door direct.....

 

[Jollyjoiner]

I wonder what Improvement I could get on my 35i with a stage 1 map plus a larger intercooler. Mine has a Miltek system with middle cats deleted.

if you have 365BHP you most likely already have a stage 1 map.

Sorry I should have worded my reply better, mine has a stage 1 map already, I was wondering what a larger intercooler would add

 

[sunnydays]

I wonder what Improvement I could get on my 35i with a stage 1 map plus a larger intercooler. Mine has a Miltek system with middle cats deleted.

if you have 365BHP you most likely already have a stage 1 map.

Sorry I should have worded my reply better, mine has a stage 1 map already, I was wondering what a larger intercooler would add

You could run higher boost, make more power, run for longer with out heatsoak, reduce IAT temps.
A stage 2+ MHD car makes circa 420bhp, intercooler and downpipes

 

[Jollyjoiner]

if you have 365BHP you most likely already have a stage 1 map.

Sorry I should have worded my reply better, mine has a stage 1 map already, I was wondering what a larger intercooler would add

You could run higher boost, make more power, run for longer with out heatsoak, reduce IAT temps.
A stage 2+ MHD car makes circa 420bhp, intercooler and downpipes

Yes thats what I thought but mine still has the standard downpipes so just adding the intercooler would not be enough.

 

[sunnydays]

Yes thats what I thought but mine still has the standard downpipes so just adding the intercooler would not be enough.

You could add just the intercooler, and run the MHD stage 1+ map, that should see you around 390 - 400bhp

 

[Jollyjoiner]

Yes thats what I thought but mine still has the standard downpipes so just adding the intercooler would not be enough.

You could add just the intercooler, and run the MHD stage 1+ map, that should see you around 390 - 400bhp

I'm running a slt custom map at the moment so would need that re doing if was to add a larger cooler. something else to think about :wink:

 

[mcbutler]

if you have 365BHP you most likely already have a stage 1 map.

Sorry I should have worded my reply better, mine has a stage 1 map already, I was wondering what a larger intercooler would add

You could run higher boost, make more power, run for longer with out heatsoak, reduce IAT temps.
A stage 2+ MHD car makes circa 420bhp, intercooler and downpipes

you will also increase the life of certain engine components, specifically turbos which are highly stressed as performance increases. It’s also worth keeping in the back of your mind that every power jump will decrease the life of the engine. That’s one of the main reasons BMW don’t sell them with larger output.
My main reason for staying with stage one is I can still enjoy the car on wiggly roads, the more power the more of a straight line/track car it becomes.
My C63 was typical of this, sooooo fast but useless and actually bloody dangerous on ‘fun’ roads.