[Mike@VIP Tuning]

Well I must admit, from start to finish, this was a very interesting project to get everything together and readied for NOPI here in South Florida.

From beginning with that huge XS Engineering FMIC, custom fiberglassing it to the stock E90 bumper, and custom fitting the charge pipes around the carbon fiber splitters on the bumper, that project seemed to be the easiest.

Next on the list was moving the coolant resovoir from the left side of the engine bay to the right side in order to give us access to the stock turbos and to supply room for the big snail to be mounted in that empty space.

The turbos were a bit difficult to get off the car and out of the car, but we managed and made it happen. We began fabricating the exhaust manifold once we got the turbo in and the intake manifold we are waiting on a custom built unit from a reputable manifold shop. They are always backed up because they do Nascar manifolds.

We knew we'd be able to get the car from point A to point B on the stock intake manifold, so we weren't too worried about not having the custom manifold just yet. With any sort of boost from this turbo, that manifold will just blow up.

We fabricated the downpipe which we thermal wrapped and added O2 bungs for use of the O2 sensors and the wide band system. The downpipe comes straight off the turbo and straight down, no twists or bends of any sort.

We didn't have the time to tune the car before the show, and also because we haven't decided which tuning system to use. It will either go to Motech or EMS. This week the car will be tuned and the DI system will be upgraded to accomodate the tuning we will be doing. Once we become familiar with the new management system, my car will be getting that same unit as it offers more control of the N54 and thus will allow us to tap into areas the current Chip Torque or even Haltech can't do.

The car made a 50 mile trip to NOPI, there and back. It cruised at 70 mph the entire time, however, it was under absolutely no boost whatsoever. The car wasn't a huge fan of the new snail, but tuning will ease our woes.

It's hard to say exactly what the car will put down with the new wheel, but we feel that with what it did on stock turbos (400 whp pump gas) at 14-15 PSI, it can make mid 500's WHP on pump gas at max 20 PSI, if we decide to boost that much.

We have had the car make over 500 on nitrous, so internals aren't the biggest concern on a system like this. However, it's R&D and we could have a blown N54 any time of the process so you never know.

The car has a great possibility of putting 10's down with the tranny work it has and this setup, on race gas. Once we have it tuned the way we want it, I will put the dynos up. Should be impressive. If anybody has any questions, please feel free to ask. However, I must add that there are some things I was instructed not to disclose so I might not be able to address a few things.

Without further ado, I present the pictures I have gathered throughout the process. Keep in mind, these pictures are of the whole process so some might seem a bit redundant since they've been posted before.





Turbos come off.



The new kid on the block and the reject.













At NOPI.

[BSM 335I]

Congrats I saw you guys leaving today when it started to rain around 5.

[Mike@VIP Tuning]

Too bad you couldn't get a close look, we'll be at the BBQ this weekend with my car and his car, hopefully Vince will be in town. Love my new XS Engineering FMIC! Can't wait 'till I do the new intake...gonna be some sick power.

[e90AW335I]

Congrats?

[Mike@VIP Tuning]

Thanks.

[1clean335i]

got any more pics? congrats!

[musc]

Originally Posted by e90AW335i

Congrats?

lol

[nico]

thats crazy. any vids?

[imaznumkay]

goood ****!

[CEA 3]

Wow... that looks like a pretty intense project!

For sure keep us posted on how the tuning goes.

What are you going to do as far as the DI goes?

[sccxvely]

interested in seeing the reliability with that turbo.

[thegeneral101]

it turned out great Mike...that turbo is HUGE. thanks for keeping us up to speed.

[BMW_TT]

wow. starting to look like a 2jz engine bay with that snail.

[sccxvely]

btw what rims are those mike?

[Mike@VIP Tuning]

Those are a limited edition set of Volks that have been discontinued (limited edition). They are made of magnesium...

Thanks for the compliments, guys. It was a long road, but we still have a little bit more to do to get it putting power down.

If it gets tuned this week (we hope), I'll provide updates on the DI system and what we did for tuning, as well as videos and dynos once it's tuned.

As far as reliability, at least we know we won't have to worry about the turbo reliability as 20 PSI is a very conservative boost pressure for this turbo so it really won't be working too hard.

Funny thing is how the turbo is mounted almost where I see most single turbo 2J turbos mounted. Our friend was at the show with his 875 WHP 2J GS300..that motor is sweet. We got a couple big weeks coming up here so once the tuning gets done, I will have more updates to follow.

A couple other guys have more pictures, this is all I could snap because we were so busy. There were a couple 20 hour days put into this before NOPI.

[Former_Boosted_IS]

I am sorry, but since no one asked, where in the heck are you going to put the intake piping on that thing? It looks like it is just stuck on there. Are those actual pictures of it mounted?

[JACQUE@VIP_TUNING]

we will be using HKS super hybrid (mushroom style) filter, yes that is the way it is mounted, clearance of the hood close and position is mounted absolutely perfect, pics will be posted up more

[Former_Boosted_IS]

Originally Posted by JACQUE@VIP_TUNING

we will be using HKS super hybrid (mushroom style) filter, yes that is the way it is mounted, clearance of the hood close and position is mounted absolutely perfect, pics will be posted up more

So you are going to just stuff the mushroom on the front? No piping? Don't you think getting air to that turbo will be a problem since the turbo and filter are mounted nearly on the hood. Jacque, I have to admit the location seems really awkward to say the least.

[JACQUE@VIP_TUNING]

stuff? not at all, it will have good clearance.Piping? hmm that i think will not fit and plus piping = restriction, i would love to have a velocity stack on the turbo but to drive everday with no filter is not likely. Awkward location, that is what you call top mount.

[Former_Boosted_IS]

Originally Posted by JACQUE@VIP_TUNING

stuff? not at all, it will have good clearance.Piping? hmm that i think will not fit and plus piping = restriction, i would love to have a velocity stack on the turbo but to drive everday with no filter is not likely. Awkward location, that is what you call top mount.

Jacque, I guess I have never seen at top mount that close to the hood. Maybe it is just the angle of the picture. The bottom line is if it makes power, then so be it.

[BMW_TT]

how come on the pics where the single is mounted you have the stock intake manifold?

[JACQUE@VIP_TUNING]

As previously posted, we are having the intake plenum bench flowed and tweaked through testing to make sure on having the right adequate power produced.

[sccxvely]

I know your talking about getting around 500 hp but will the tranny hold? what kind of tq numbers are you looking at?

[Down4it]

I want to see a picture of the custom exhaust manifold...

[Sniz]

any pictures w the turbo AND the manifold installed?