Race Precision Inc. Intake Scoop For The Z4M & Z4 (01/2006+)

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BimmerZealot

Member
Hey guys, this thread is all about the new RPI intake scoop for the Z4. Originally it was made for the Z4M and a few test fits found it to not fit the non-Z4M.

Well upon many hours of research, I discovered they changed the piece that the hood latch brace bolts onto. This was done 01/2006. So any car built after 01/2006 the scoop WILL fit your car. The Z4 and Z4M share the same identical front bumper components and mounting points, same reason why the Z4M bumper is a direct fit.

So I went up to RPI in Paramount, CA this morning and we test fitted the scoop, success! Fits perfectly, even better then the Z4M because of a little bit more room behind the Non-M front bumper vs the Z4M. Of course Eloy wasn't happy with it just fitting it's gotta produce gains.

So we put my car on the dyno and did 3-4 runs to get the highest stock HP. Keep in mind my car is completely stock (engine wise) except for I removed my carbon filter.

The car dynoed at a peak horsepower of 202.8 HP technically this number might be lower because we had already taken off the stock intake scoop (a.k.a dubbed Half-Bra) so with the more restrictive stock scoop in place the numbers would have been slightly lower. None the less it was our base run data.

dynostocksmallxg5.jpg


Next Eloy installed the scoop in a few minutes, very simple install. I opted for the red scoop and to tell you the truth its barely noticeable on my car, of course black would be invisible. I like the look of the red scoop peeking from behind the grills

So, back onto the dyno the car went. The car was dynoed once again, I think this time it was 4-5 times. The first run was the same as the base HP, then the following run the HP dropped, normal as the ECU was shocked by the sudden influx of air. Each run after that provided us with a higher and higher number. Finally on the 5th run I think it was we settled on a final number of, 208.1 HP. Keep in mind the car was dynoed with the hood closed and one run after the other. You know you have a great part when you can run the car multiple times and still get performance gains. A combination of heat soak, the ECU learning, and the heavy concentration of exhaust gases as opposed to fresh air in the shop led us to see these numbers as underrated.

dynojustscoopsmallyt7.jpg


But, none the less, clearly the scoop is doing a great job in boosting top end HP and torque. With just a few minutes of the ECU adapting we averaged a gain of about 6 HP. I have no doubt that driving around for a week or two and dynoing it again the numbers would be even better.

dynorpivsstocksmallqv9.jpg


All in all, I just wanted to let you guys know that the scoop DOES fit the 01/2006+ production cars, that includes the Z4 3.0i Roadster, Z4 3.0Si Roadster and Z4 3.0Si Coupe along with the Z4M line as well. As you guys can see the performance numbers are there so what're you waiting for, call Eloy and order yours today!

On a side note, I think there was a combined HP in that shop of well over 1000HP between the two M5s, two Nobels, and Eloy's turbo charged Saturn Sky, my lowly 3.0Si was definitely the odd ball out. The guys are RPI run a top notch shop with great customer service. Eloy even ordered some pizzas when lunch time rolled around while we waited. Great people, great service, great parts, and a strong dedication to proven performance. Not much more you can ask for from a shop. :thumbsup:

For you pre-01/2006 guys if someone is local and wants to drop their car off for a few days, I think Eloy may be willing to designed a new scoop for you guys.

I took a few videos of the dyno run with my camera phone but I doubt its even worth posting so I just attached the dyno sheets for your viewing pleasure.

Thanks Again Eloy

http://www.RacePrecision.com

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They retail for 129$ so < 200$ for 5.3 HP. Keep in mind that is with just a few minutes of the ECU adapting and multiple dyno runs without cooling between. With further ECU adaptation and a fresh dyno run the numbers would be more impressive. The numbers are very conservative
 
BimmerZealot, Nice work getting to the bottom of this :thumbsup: :thumbsup:

& +1 on the real world gains should be much greater than the dynos.
Hats off to a vendor that does very pessimistic testing w/o over inflating the benefits of his product.
... a very rare occurrence these days.
 
inTgr8r said:
BimmerZealot...& +1 on the real world gains should be much greater than the dynos.
Hats off to a vendor that does very pessimistic testing w/o over inflating the benefits of his product.
... a very rare occurrence these days.
Click to expand...

Amen to that.

Then there is the story about a certain air filter supplier that stated there is one "in development" for the Z4. After 2 years or so I got the feeling he is full of bs.
 
Great job on the testing and validating real improvements in a controlled environment. I have no doubt that those are true power gains. HOWEVER, ~3% power gain!!!??? While it's measureable, you'll never notice it on the road...just a butt dyno placebo. But for only 129 bucks...you could convince me even if it was just for the moding fun and coolness factor :D
 
Thanks for the comments guys, ya the Dyno Dynamics at RPI is known as the heart-breaker because it always reads much lower then the more commonly used Dyno Jets. But, the most important part is that the gain is there even in the worst of conditions. I'll continue to update this thread as I drive my car more and more. All you 01/2006+ Z4 guys now is the time to get one for yourself, call Eloy @ RPI and he'll get you squared away.

On a side note, the BMC filter that RPI has been using for the Z4M, M5, M6 in conjunction with the RPI Scoop is sadly not available for 01/2006+ Z4, there is a K&N option out but I haven't dwelled on it much yet.
 
Very interesting. It would be good to find out the real world gains since intake scoops create the most power when the car is moving and therefore creating a ramair effect or semi forced induction. I fitted the GruppeM intake to my Alpina and while it sounded great and make a couple of more hp on the dyno it lost hp on the move because I'd lost the ramair effect that BMW had so well created. It has now been removed! If this is an improved ramair system over the original I'd certainly be interested in one.
 
It is actually an improvement on the original BMW intake. The opening of the stock scoop is about 1" and is perpendicular to the flow of air, strange..In actuality the stock intake is more of a suction pathway rather then a ram air. The RPI scoop changes this and creates the ram air effect which allows the engine to take in more air, the faster the speed of the car the more air is funneled in. What year is your car?
 
BimmerZealot said:
It is actually an improvement on the original BMW intake. The opening of the stock scoop is about 1" and is perpendicular to the flow of air, strange..In actuality the stock intake is more of a suction pathway rather then a ram air. The RPI scoop changes this and creates the ram air effect which allows the engine to take in more air, the faster the speed of the car the more air is funneled in. What year is your car?
Click to expand...

Yeh, I understand how ramair works that's why my GroupeM had to come off, because I lost that effect. What I was saying is that it would be interesting to hear what the improvments are on the road as the ramair can't really work while the cars stationary on a dyno. My cars a 2004 but I'll find a way to make anything fit!
 
Oh okay, ya I definitely noticed my 6th gear pull around 80mph on the freeway on the trip back from the shop were much smoother, more responsive, and passing was effortless.
 
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