N63TU 50i tunes, mods, numbers (1/4, 0-60 etc) dyno thread

[DuSh]

Let's all discuss N63TU related things here.

Easy mods available for N63TU so far:

1. Air filters swap. Either for X5M (14% more flow)- $100 for both oem X5M filters. Direct fit. Or some aftermarket intake - Dinan has a very good one, but expensive.
http://f15.bimmerpost.com/forums/sho...0&postcount=48

http://f15.bimmerpost.com/forums/sho...8&postcount=19


2. Muffler delete mod. Mainly to unleash V8 sound. Also, saves a bit of weight 40lbs. My guess is it does make engine breath a bit better and maybe even gain a couple of hp? http://f15.bimmerpost.com/forums/sho...5m+air+filters

3. Extra weight savings: swap stock oem battery to lightweight Deka. Saves another 35lbs. I'm driving on it already for 3 months and no issues. However, I am in AZ, so I can't guarantee how it will behave in colder states.
4. Seat removal and swap for a sport Recaro or Momo) or other lightweight brand). Rear seat - about 75lbs saving. Both front seats - about 150lbs saving. Good sport seat like Recaro weighs about 20lbs. So in total you can get about 200lbs savings. Yes, I know only 1% crazy enough will do it, but hey, I've done it. You can always go back easily.
5. Tune. This is biggest mod. Decide for yourself which one to get.
6. Downpipes - another 20-40whp on the table, but we need more info. Don't think anyone have done it yet on 50i on the forum.
7. Spark plugs from X5M or maybe NGK ones that are 1 step colder and need to gap them down to 0.6mm. There is a thread about it by Maverick: http://f15.bimmerpost.com/forums/sho....php?t=1505161

8. Meth kit. Meth helps with cooling down IATs and boosting octane. For those in AZ where we only have 91 octane - it's a cheapest way to get "100 octane" equivalent and get cooler IATs - that will allow tune to get better ignition timing and possibly better boost. I'll post later my experience, as I'm most probably going to add meth kit soon.

9. Brake upgrades. Couple options available. Either 4-piston Brembo brakes from previous gen. X5M E70/E71 - they are basically direct plug-n-play or 6-piston F85 X5M (even better option if you can find it for a good price). There is also a MPBK available if you just want new kit. Here's a thread about brembo 4-pot brakes (too many pages, but hopefully you can get enough info to do a DIY if you'll like the looks and decide to do it): http://f15.bimmerpost.com/forums/sho...ir+filter+swap

10. Lowering X5. Eibach, H&R (1st gen. was stiff and bumpy, but H&R just recently came up with 2nd gen. of lowering springs). Here's an excellent write up for Eibach: http://f15.bimmerpost.com/forums/sho...ghlight=eibach

Repair manual/electric schemes etc: https://www.newtis.info/tisv2/a/en/f...xdrive50i-sav/

OEM BMW Rim/wheel catalog with pics: http://felgenkatalog.auto-treff.com/

Blackstone oil analysis thread for 50i: http://f15.bimmerpost.com/forums/sho....php?t=1507693

OBD BMW error codes: see pdf attachment

[DuSh]

My dyno from BPC Stage 1 - done on DD (DynoDynamics which typically reads lowest):

[DuSh]

Vlado dyno on Dynojet, Stage 1 BPC:

[DuSh]

Dyno that AZTWW posted, done by 50i owner Stage 1 BM3 OTS map:

[DuSh]

Numbers so far:

Stock X5M: 493rwhp 499rwtq (taken from here: http://f15.bimmerpost.com/forums/sho...53&postcount=4)

Stock X5: 366awhp 428awtq this is done on Mustang Dyno (so it reads lower than Dynojet, taken here from CT335xi: https://f15.bimmerpost.com/forums/sh....php?t=1481608)
Stock X5: 352awhp, 390awtq - done on Mustang dyno by another member Rotzy on his 50i at stock: check his post here: http://f15.bimmerpost.com/forums/sho...&postcount=161

50i Stage 1 BPC: 485awhp 602awtq

50i Stage 1 BM3 OTS map: 532awhp 574awtq

50i RaceChip Ultimate Setting C: 400awhp, 437awtq - done by Rotzy on Mustang dyno: http://f15.bimmerpost.com/forums/sho...&postcount=161 (setting D showed a bit higher numbers, but Rotzy said power delivery wasn't good)

Let's not forget that AWD has additional loss in drivetrain - so numbers posted for 50i are awesome

P.S. as we'll add more dyno graphs - we will start to see a bigger picture. Some numbers are a bit outliers like that 532awhp on BM3 flash - but keep in mind we don't know what fuel owner used etc. For now we can work with this and as more data comes in - we will nail it down I hope.

[Maverik259]

What's really main performance difference in the S63 compared to the N63? Is it just the larger better turbos? Or is there something else? Again just strictly speaking power increase. Not like more durable parts in the engine bay. Obviously that goes without saying in an M. At least it better for that price difference.

[DuSh]

Originally Posted by Maverik259

What's really main performance difference in the S63 compared to the N63? Is it just the larger better turbos? Or is there something else? Again just strictly speaking power increase. Not like more durable parts in the engine bay. Obviously that goes without saying in an M. At least it better for that price difference.

AFAIK S63TU has a bit larger turbos (but not overly so), larger Intercoolers and a crossbank intake, different oem tune obviously.

We can also look into possibility to swap X5M intercoolers or ones from M5 maybe. Another even cheaper option is to install meth kit - it will lower IATs even more than bigger intercoolers (plus will raise octane to allow for more timing - which will yield more power gain). Also, heard that meth cleans valves and pistons - especially needed for our direct injection engines - but not sure how true it is.

[Maverik259]

Originally Posted by DuSh

AFAIK S63TU has a bit larger turbos (but not overly so), larger Intercoolers and a crossbank intake, different oem tune obviously.

We can also look into possibility to swap X5M intercoolers or ones from M5 maybe. Another even cheaper option is to install meth kit - it will lower IATs even more than bigger intercoolers (plus will raise octane to allow for more timing - which will yield more power gain). Also, heard that meth cleans valves and pistons - especially needed for our direct injection engines - but not sure how true it is.

Hmm doesn't seem like enough to get over a 100 more ponies. Anyone know what PSI the M runs at? Stock 50i is like 13-14 right?

[Katsumoto]

Originally Posted by DuSh

Vlado dyno on Dynojet, Stage 1 BPC:

just to be more clear :

OEM X5 M air filters
X-pipe after resonators
muffler delete
OEM M- performance 21'' style 599 ( front 285's rear 325's - very heavy )

[DuSh]

Originally Posted by Maverik259

Hmm doesn't seem like enough to get over a 100 more ponies. Anyone know what PSI the M runs at? Stock 50i is like 13-14 right?

I can't find a definite answer about N63TU stock boost, but previous generations had max boosts: N63 0.8bar (11.5psi) vs S63 1.3bar (18.5psi). So I think you are right - X5M has bigger turbos, but also run at higher max boost.

For N63TU, I was trying to find info, but I couldn't find anything. If anyone will find out, please share. I know S63TU (current generation) has 1.5bar max boost (21.5psi). So BMW increased it by 0.2bar (3 psi). Maybe same was done to N63TU? But I'm not sure yet.

[bravnug]

Do you have any dyno runs of Dinan stage 1 on 50i ? Only mod so far is Dinan intake and some coding.

Thanks... Dan

[DuSh]

Originally Posted by bravnug

Do you have any dyno runs of Dinan stage 1 on 50i ? Only mod so far is Dinan intake and some coding.

Thanks... Dan

Hey Dan, I can't find anything recent, but if you'll do a dyno - please share with us. It'll be interesting.

[Maverik259]

Is Dinan state 1 just the air intake? If so then don't expect much.

[AZTWW]

I think one of the guys in the Bm3 mentioned that the n63tu stock boost was like 14.1 psi. X5M was around 18-18.5 or something. I haven't logged with the BM3 dashboard but am sure I am hitting around 18-19psi with the tune. A 4-5psi increase is not crazy by any stretch considering my stock n54 was 9psi and hitting 20-21 psi FBO and e85.

The numbers need validated however. Again, this was just from the other forum when I asked the same question.

[Maverik259]

Those 50i guys with the dinan intake. How do you all like it? Worth the extreme price for some filters and a single piece of carbon fiber? Lol. Could you notice a difference. And are you with or without a tune?

[Katsumoto]

Originally Posted by DuSh

Dyno that AZTWW posted, done by 50i owner Stage 1 BM3 OTS map:

How you do that ? Any issues ? How many miles so far ? BPC had that option to do bootmod 3

[AZTWW]

Originally Posted by Vlado

How you do that ? Any issues ? How many miles so far ? BPC had that option to do bootmod 3

i will see if he is part pf the forum and if he can come join and partake in this conversation.

[DuSh]

So just a heads up for those flash tuned (that includes me too lol): lately already 3 owners were flagged by BMW dealerships for having a third party software flashed to their DMEs. All 3 have BM3 tune, but that doesn't mean other tunes won't be flagged. AFAIK any flash can be discovered if they really want. There are many ways for BMW dealerships to do it and apparently even flash counter reset doesn't help. So bottom line is you gotta pay to play. You can't have everything - power and warranty. I mean, you can have it until you are flagged lol. I personally am done with warranty and I went to the dark side for power, but I did it knowing the consequences. Just my opinion.

P.S. Also posting in Facebook your tunes and dyno numbers is not going to end well lol. Nowadays it's very easy to deny warranty based on such posts and it takes 5 min for BMW to search, find and print such posts with dates and names conveniently provided by Facebook lol. Again, I'm not a lawyer, but just be careful out there.

[CT335xi]

Originally Posted by DuSh

So just a heads up for those flash tuned (that includes me too lol): lately already 3 owners were flagged by BMW dealerships for having a third party software flashed to their DMEs. All 3 have BM3 tune, but that doesn't mean other tunes won't be flagged. AFAIK any flash can be discovered if they really want. There are many ways for BMW dealerships to do it and apparently even flash counter reset doesn't help. So bottom line is you gotta pay to play. You can't have everything - power and warranty. I mean, you can have it until you are flagged lol. I personally am done with warranty and I went to the dark side for power, but I did it knowing the consequences. Just my opinion.

P.S. Also posting in Facebook your tunes and dyno numbers is not going to end well lol. Nowadays it's very easy to deny warranty based on such posts and it takes 5 min for BMW to search, find and print such posts with dates and names conveniently provided by Facebook lol. Again, I'm not a lawyer, but just be careful out there.

This obviously sucks, as bmw will find anyway out of a warranty claim if your modded and if you want to keep your coverage I guess you wait to tune when your warranty has expired. Then again at that point there may not be a lot of people wanting to hold on to their 50i possibly because of the cost of major repairs? It would be nice if bmw would offer a MPPK for the 50i and x5m to keep warranty valid for somebody who wants a little boost in power , but like you said you have to pay to play if serious power is wanted at the cost of possibly giving up your warranty!

[pits200]

Ya, problem is, the ecu with a flash tune store's the values of boost, IA, and a bunch of other parameters. It's not something they find during a quick ecu scan but it can easily enough be found. I'd be curious if it was user error in flashing back or if BMW was doing a deep scan.

I'm part of the bm3 group on Facebook and there are their fair share of dolts on there who only care about burbles and fire out the exhaust. I wouldn't put it past as potential user error as to why BMW found it so easily.

[DuSh]

Originally Posted by pits200

Ya, problem is, the ecu with a flash tune store's the values of boost, IA, and a bunch of other parameters. It's not something they find during a quick ecu scan but it can easily enough be found. I'd be curious if it was user error in flashing back or if BMW was doing a deep scan.

I'm part of the bm3 group on Facebook and there are their fair share of dolts on there who only care about burbles and fire out the exhaust. I wouldn't put it past as potential user error as to why BMW found it so easily.

Yes, would be interesting to find out.

[DuSh]

I have a question to you guys and gals who know something about turbos. There's a guy that machines turbos, rebuilds them and upgrades:

So I emailed him and asked about possibility to do same upgrade for our stock Garrett MGT22S (MGT2256S). He said he no longer has power to his end mill machine to do turbine size machining, but he can upgrade compressor wheel to 50mm one (stock is 47mm). The cost is $750 (including rebuild if needed), I'm not sure yet per turbo or for 2 turbos.

I'm now thinking if upgrading only compressor wheel size by 3mm while leaving as is turbine wheel size - will this be a worthy investment or not - meaning if it will give us more power or not?

So far I researched and found out that 3mm increase - it will indeed give us an increase in air flow by about 20% with only negative been a slight increase in spooling time. 20% increase in air flow is substantial and is all we need imho. Keeping air flow increase on the conservative side is better as we don't want to create a turbo surge and blow up engine or bend rod. The beauty of this is the fact that our setup will stay same - same flanges/mounts - you just unbolt turbos, send it for upgrade and then bolt them back. There are 2 lines for coolant and oil in each turbo. Everything is bolt-on and bolt off. I'm not yet sure exactly how much it costs to take turbos off and then put them back, but if it's reasonable - then this may look like a next step in 50i tuning. I'm guessing any tune can take advantage of 20% increase of air flow - that could simply mean less psi boost will give us same power - so we can extract same power while keeping less boost. Win-Win if you ask me.

Can someone comment if increasing inducer size only (while keeping turbine wheel size same) will be beneficial?