So bit the bullet and ordered some parts for 50i

[DuSh]

1. Ordered oem X5M engine air filters that were tested by onfirex5 in this htread http://f15.bimmerpost.com/forums/sho....php?t=1430312 and they yield about 15% more flow compared to X5 50i ones. This will yield some hp/tq, especially on higher rpms where stock filters platoe
So ordered from here: https://www.pelicanparts.com/catalog...BASFLT_pg1.htm Total $110 (they go $52 per filter)

Installation is very easy, they just swap instead of stock x5 50i ones and that's it. Highly recommend for those who have a tune or planning to do OBD flash in the future. We 50i owners are EXTREMELY lucky to have such option to simply swap air filters from F85 X5M for mere $110! Folks in F10 thread aren't that lucky - they are still looking for best aftermarket intake and they are not cheap. We are very lucky that x5 and x5m has probably one of the best factory intakes - basically a perfect straight line and a huge box for 2 filters right in front of intake/intercoolers - doesn't get any better than this!


2. Ordered drilled and slotted rotors for both axles (front and rear). We have 365mm disk rotors. I'll see how will they perform, but mainly ordered for aesthetics. Total came to $540 with shipping

3. Ordered stud conversion kit 90mm 14x1.25 with Racing Gun Metal Nuts https://motorsporthardware.com/produ...d-kit-14x1-25/ Total came to $180. This is for looks and convenience

similar to pic only different color

[rhite95]

Very nice !!

I might order the filters also...

[Doanster]

I never understood stud conversion kits actually. I like lug bolts because they disappear in the wheels. Stud conversion kits stand out too much for me,especially if using some other color like burnt titanium. May look at home with some crazy aftermarket wheels, but out of place for stock styles.
Not sure about the convenience factor either, but as always, this is all just my opinion. Keep modding!

[P1]

Originally Posted by Doanster

I never understood stud conversion kits actually. I like lug bolts because they disappear in the wheels. Stud conversion kits stand out too much for me,especially if using some other color like burnt titanium. May look at home with some crazy aftermarket wheels, but out of place for stock styles.
Not sure about the convenience factor either, but as always, this is all just my opinion. Keep modding!

I honestly have exactly the same thoughts. Can someone explain?

[Doanster]

Originally Posted by P1et

I honestly have exactly the same thoughts. Can someone explain?

Oops, you're too fast. Was editing my response...
Studs do save some time because you just hang the wheels directly on them when installing. With our bolts now, you have to line up the holes before installing the bolts. That's why wheel hangers are sold/included with some euro tool kits.
The time they save (actual racing notwithstanding) for me is negligible/doesn't overcome my "dislike" of them sticking out.

[Frank_NJ]

That is great about the filters and ordered a set this morning.

[Katsumoto]

[QUOTE=DuSh;22661003]1. Ordered oem X5M engine air filters that were tested by onfirex5 in this htread [

Installation is very easy, they just swap instead of stock x5 50i ones and that's it. Highly recommend for those who have a tune or planning to do OBD flash in the future. We 50i owners are EXTREMELY lucky to have such option to simply swap air filters from F85 X5M for mere $110! ...


Is that a good idea to do so with Racechip or any other piggyback tune ? If so i am going forward

[DuSh]

[QUOTE=Vlado;22662341]

Originally Posted by DuSh

1. Ordered oem X5M engine air filters that were tested by onfirex5 in this htread [

Installation is very easy, they just swap instead of stock x5 50i ones and that's it. Highly recommend for those who have a tune or planning to do OBD flash in the future. We 50i owners are EXTREMELY lucky to have such option to simply swap air filters from F85 X5M for mere $110! ...


Is that a good idea to do so with Racechip or any other piggyback tune ? If so i am going forward

Yes, it doesn't matter piggyback or flash - every-time you rev your engine at high rpms - you are getting just so much air in - limited by filter area - basically limited by intake. With larger filter area you get more air flow without strain or losses and get more air at max rpms so with everything else been equal - your engine/turbos can either be less stressed or output more. Of course on stock tune it may not be limiting factor (but who knows), but with piggyback or a flash tune it helps to yield more hp/tq. Same principle why Downpipes yield 20-30whp more due to less restriction in exhaust - same here - less restriction and more flow on intake. If you look at the 50i stock dyno graph (or even my flash tune dyno graph in my separate thread) - on both graphs you can see hp platoes after about 4500rpm and doesn't go any higher. Unlike in x5m it goes higher. Now I understand x5m has different turbos too, but partially limited air flow on intake is a bottleneck too. This may not yield 30whp of course, but I'm expecting with a flash tune to gain extra 10-15hp on top end
Just my opinion

[DuSh]

Originally Posted by Doanster

I never understood stud conversion kits actually. I like lug bolts because they disappear in the wheels. Stud conversion kits stand out too much for me,especially if using some other color like burnt titanium. May look at home with some crazy aftermarket wheels, but out of place for stock styles.
Not sure about the convenience factor either, but as always, this is all just my opinion. Keep modding!

Thanks! Yes, you are right - time savings are minimal for me too, as I don't track my car. I simply want to do it for looks. I agree with you that obnoxous color studs look weird, but I think gun metal ones will be not as out of place, while adding some aggressiveness to the looks of wheels, especially combined with drilled and slotted rotors. Also, I ordered 90mm studs because I have spacers, but it's possible to order smaller length studs too. For me any detail I can mod for looks or performance (like with x5m intake) adds up to the final build. Every little bit helps so to speak. My rims are also concave in the center, so studs won't be sticking out too much

[Dirty Cash]

Originally Posted by DuSh

2. Ordered drilled and slotted rotors for both axles (front and rear). We have 365mm disk rotors. I'll see how will they perform, but mainly ordered for aesthetics. Total came to $540 with shipping

I’m interested in a follow-up on these myself. I like the look of slotted and cross-drilled rotors. $540 w/shipping doesn’t sound too bad! Looking forward to your thoughts after you’ve had them on for a while.

Thanks!

[surfcali]

Originally Posted by Doanster

Oops, you're too fast. Was editing my response...
Studs do save some time because you just hang the wheels directly on them when installing. With our bolts now, you have to line up the holes before installing the bolts. That's why wheel hangers are sold/included with some euro tool kits.
The time they save (actual racing notwithstanding) for me is negligible/doesn't overcome my "dislike" of them sticking out.

Also makes it way easier to run spacers without changing to extended bolts

[kimsta]

Nice upgrades DuSh. Are the performance improvements from the filters noticeable?

[DuSh]

Originally Posted by kimsta

Nice upgrades DuSh. Are the performance improvements from the filters noticeable?

If you are stock - hard to say, it depends if air flow is a bottleneck or not on high rpms. As measured by onfirex5 air flow: stock engine air filters have 381cfm, while x5m air filter has 451cfm - so difference is there in flow.
Now as you know x5m s63tu engine has 122hp more - and if you look on the dyno graph the difference is mostly on higher rpms compared to our n63tu engine. So I think BMW increased intake filter area on purpose to allow more air in and accommodate increased needs. If you are tuned you are roughly gaining 100-120hp (depending on tune) that puts you right there with stock x5m territory in engine power (well almost). So still keeping stock 50i filters will have negative effect/losses - either turbos will have to work/spool harder or you simply may just hit the wall and won't get same amount of air in per every second or any other given time. My understanding is that even for stock tune - this may help turbos to spool faster with less stress/load, but I'm no expert. I will post my findings

P.S. As i see it - engine air filter is a maintenance item anyway, so you don't have to do it right away, but when time comes to replace filters - why not swap them for oem f85 ones? I mean price difference is minimal

(picture comparison of f15 vs f85 filter size is from onfirex5 thread)

[DuSh]

Just picked up from post office filters and rotors
Quality of rotors are better than I expected, I'm surprised

Included keyfob and quarter coin for size comparison. Front and Rear rotors

[AZTWW]

Originally Posted by DuSh

Just picked up from post office filters and rotors
Quality of rotors are better than I expected, I'm surprised

Included keyfob and quarter coin for size comparison. Front and Rear rotors

I did cross drilled and slotted rotors from Stoptech on my 335i just like thos. Was impressed with the he quality. Never had any issues with them.

[Silververtu]

What brake pads are you pairing with the rotors?

[DuSh]

Originally Posted by Silververtu

What brake pads are you pairing with the rotors?

I wanted to go with Hawk, but since my current pads are still 70% life left, I'm thinking maybe keep them for now. I know it's better to install new pads with new rotors, still thinking...

[Silververtu]

Originally Posted by DuSh

I wanted to go with Hawk, but since my current pads are still 70% life left, I'm thinking maybe keep them for now. I know it's better to install new pads with new rotors, still thinking...

That's plenty of meat left on the current pads. Unless you want dust free pads, otherwise no reason to change it.

On a side note, kind of surprised the stock pads aren't giving out much brake dust, compared to other cars I have had so far.

[DuSh]

Swapped engine air filters today. There's several (I think 7) small torx bolts and plastic cover comes off revealing engine air filters. Mine were not too bad, dirty outside but very clean inside, so I kept them just in case (didn't throw out)

Installing F85 filters - couple tips:
1. Wet rubber ring on each filter either with water or oil - I used water - they go easier that way, otherwise when rings are dry it's hard to push them all the way in properly
2. F85 filters go like shown on picture - they won't go any other way. Central zinc plated bolt holds them both nicely, but you need to push filters in to put that bolt initially

Otherwise it's fairly easy procedure, took me 15-20 minutes

[yewlock]

Originally Posted by Dirty Cash

I’m interested in a follow-up on these myself. I like the look of slotted and cross-drilled rotors. $540 w/shipping doesn’t sound too bad! Looking forward to your thoughts after you’ve had them on for a while.

Thanks!

+1

[DuSh]

Installed rotors, paid $200 ($100 per axle), probably could have found cheaper place, but was very tired and it was busy everywhere. They did it in 50 min

I'll post pics later, but initial bite is noticeably improved - probably due to edges of holes and slots. Feels more confident now, brakes easier. Still on oem pads. No free cheese - probably downside will be faster pad wear, but we'll see how it goes

After F85 engine air filters car pulls harder too or maybe it's a placebo effect - I'm not sure yet

[Doanster]

Originally Posted by DuSh

Installed rotors, paid $200 ($100 per axle), probably could have found cheaper place, but was very tired and it was busy everywhere. They did it in 50 min

I'll post pics later, but initial bite is noticeably improved - probably due to edges of holes and slots. Feels more confident now, brakes easier. Still on oem pads. No free cheese - probably downside will be faster pad wear, but we'll see how it goes

After F85 engine air filters car pulls harder too or maybe it's a placebo effect - I'm not sure yet

Placebo effect... regarding the rotors!
The cross-drilled holes and slots are designed to help with heat/gas dissipation to combat fade, not as a means of providing extra edges for the pads to bite onto.
Don't get me wrong, when my brakes eventually need servicing and I'm out of warranty, I'll prob go with x-drilled as well, but not because for increased bite. Pad change to Hawk, Porterfield, etc. for that.

As for the filters... that's def plausible that you could actually feel a difference. Proven increased air flow is a good thing.