Let's talk M52TU upgrades

Hi Snikwad,

I posted my mods on my e46 328i some time ago, here it is again:
Cams reground to 254/254
M54B30 Intake manifold with adapter plate I got lazer cut to fit the original 328 Throttle body
Headers with no Cats but standard exhaust.
K&N Air Filter in standard Air Filter Box
3.46 Diff
Unichip and dyno tune
Rear Wheel KW at High Altitude Went From 112 to 128.5 (About 15%)
It made less power under 3000, 3000-3800 quit a lot more power then it dips as with the 330! but even a bit more making the same at 4000. After 4500 it is much better than before.
I can attach the dyno figures, how do I do that. its in xls format
I will test the manifold pressure soon to find out if there is any restrcition in the intake system.
Im considerig going to a freeflow exhaust, but are not sure if the power gains will justify the noise factor
I have got Autocad drawings of the adaptor plate if you are interested

Thanks bro, these are exactly the kind of mods I'm talking about, manifold swaps and whatnot.
I'll take that autocad drawing of the plate, thank you very much.
Email it to ... Snikwadr (AT) gmail (DOT) com

Besides testing the pressure here soon, is it worth it to get the plate made and run the M54 manifold? Or will the testing confirm this? Is the testing a measure to see if there is anymore restriction that can be removed or what?

The gains was a combination of the cams manifold and headers. I think the manifold is responsible for about half the gains. You can easaly see that the 328 manifold is restricted by just vissualy comparing the two manifold runners. I enjoy doing DIY mods so yes for me its worth the efford. I had the manifold so it cost me the adapter plate only.
Testing the pressure in the manifold will tell you if there is any restriction in the inlet, but wont tell you anything about the manifold itself.
I will send the Autocad drawing to you later.

Originally Posted by dloubser

The gains was a combination of the cams manifold and headers. I think the manifold is responsible for about half the gains. You can easaly see that the 328 manifold is restricted by just vissualy comparing the two manifold runners. I enjoy doing DIY mods so yes for me its worth the efford. I had the manifold so it cost me the adapter plate only.
Testing the pressure in the manifold will tell you if there is any restriction in the inlet, but wont tell you anything about the manifold itself.
I will send the Autocad drawing to you later.

Thanks man, sounds like i need to start shopping for a manifold.
before i start looking the M54B30 is the E39 530 and E46 330 manifold correct?
Do you know if the E46 325 manifold is the same?

I said so

what?

Originally Posted by Racing.Ray

You'll want to make the engine breathe more in one go. So you'll need to know where the restrictions are.

An Intake alone will not help at all if the engine can't push out the extra air.
Software just optimizes what you are dealing with already.
Exhausts are limited to what comes out of the headers, so you have an airflow restriction there.

If you wanna stay NA, go with headers (optionally with highflow cats), cams and an M54B30 intake manifold (more airflow), next to what you already have.
Those are decent mods to do for a street car.

More options are a stroker swap, engine swap, port polishing etc. But you might as well just FI for that cash.

Im not sure about the e39
I've read somewhere that the 325 is smaller than 330, but can't confirm this

Thank you both

yes Ray you said so, but then someone said the drive by wire would have to be converted to make this work...
Dloubser has found an easier way around this.

Make sure to post a DIY or something, I might be interested in this too

I know, it`s been 2 years since nobody wrote, but, If you`ll enter this thread again, please sen me also the TB drawings in AutoCAD

I think turnermotorsport sells the tb adapter you're looking for.

Yes I know, but it`s kinda difficult to buy it, I`m from Romania, not everyone ships internationaly, + it`s cheaper with drawings

have you tried, they ship internationally. just tell them to put the $25 gift value on it

Originally Posted by JD_RFTR

I know, it`s been 2 years since nobody wrote, but, If you`ll enter this thread again, please sen me also the TB drawings in AutoCAD

Whats your email address, or PM me.

Easy: http://www.turnermotorsport.com/html..._ID=TEN9990850

fits your M52TU TB onto the M54 manifold.



My bigger question is: Is it possible to keep the diameter of the B30 setup by either converting the B30 TB to mechanical throttle, or to widen the M52 TB from 2.5" to 3.0"...? I have all components here for the conversion, even that adapter. I just want to know if there is a possibility for this, because the smaller TB and following intake components would act as a restrictor...

Can anyone shed some light on the pros/cons or differences in using an M54B30 manifold versus using an E36 M50 manifold?

Originally Posted by Rayce185

Easy: http://www.turnermotorsport.com/html..._ID=TEN9990850

fits your M52TU TB onto the M54 manifold.



My bigger question is: Is it possible to keep the diameter of the B30 setup by either converting the B30 TB to mechanical throttle, or to widen the M52 TB from 2.5" to 3.0"...? I have all components here for the conversion, even that adapter. I just want to know if there is a possibility for this, because the smaller TB and following intake components would act as a restrictor...

In my vision you can adjust the TB plate, and that`s all.
You keep your throttle body, and swap only the TB plate and intake manifold.

TB plate from turnermotorsport costs 60$ plsu shipping, equals with a half of my money per 3 weeks, so it`s cheaper for me to cut it from drawings.

Well that's the problem: The M52TU TB is only 2.5" wide instead of the 3.0" that the M54B30 TB and manifold has, making it a restrictor. Of course you will still have gains, but it's not an optimal setup.
Hence my question.

Actually restriction comes from intake manifold, but you can consider TB also a restriction, you`re right. As I know if you want to swap and the TB, you must swap a lot of sensors and the gas pedal, there`s much more changes to do. So you can swap intake manifold from m54b25 or from b30, the difference is that in case of b30 you consider the M52 TB a restriciton, which in case with m54b25 is not. You have to choose.