How hard are inlets to install? Drop subframe? Install price? - N54Tech.com

suspenceful · 08:41 AM

Last year my 135i was faster than most of my friend's cars. This winter they're all building up for ~600whp to get back at me... which means I've been looking at inlets to keep up.

I read that VRSF and MMP are both pretty cost effective. When I asked a local indy shop how much for install, they politely declined installing either option. They recommended Precision Raceworks instead and said install would be about $700 on a 135i because the subframe needed to be dropped.

If I'm going to spend $500 on nice inlets, I don't wanna fork over 140% of the cost on labor alone. How hard is this to do in a garage on jackstands? I installed my own *********, but haven't done anything too intense before. The car is put up for winter right now as I drive my 325xi in the snow.

What has everyone else paid for inlet labor on a 135i? Any Wisconsin/Illinois/Minnesota recommendations?

NOTE: I still have the stock charge pipe, so if there is a better option that upgrades the charge pipe, what is it? My charge pipe has handled 18PSI just fine

justa335i · 01-19-2016, 08:31 AM

Gotta love friendly competition! I was the fastest out of my friends until one supercharged his 5.0 and the other traded his evo in and financed a gtr.

I have the vrsf chargepipe with Tial BOV and i love it.

rhodesman · 01-19-2016, 08:39 AM

I do 99% of my upgrades in my garage. After much reading, review and other people's feedback, I called my local performance shop and scheduled them to do it. The dude who did my inlets took the rest of the day off because they were so hard. Maybe because they were his first, but it was a pain.

I am 100% happy I went that route than doing it myself. I would have cried.

suspenceful · 01-19-2016, 08:45 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by justa335i

Gotta love friendly competition! I was the fastest out of my friends until one supercharged his 5.0 and the other traded his evo in and financed a gtr.

I have the vrsf chargepipe with Tial BOV and i love it.

Haha, I had a similar experience! Put lengths on my friends SN95 supercharged Mustang. He sold it right away and bought a brand new 2014 5.0L with a whipple supercharger. Now he pulls about a car or two on me. Another friend had a built WS6 Trans Am that didn't stand a chance. Sold it right after and bought a brand new Camaro. Built it up and it's still slower

Right now I'm leaning towards a VRSF 7" intercooler and charge pipe with TIAL BOV and Precision Raceworks BOV.

Quote:

Originally Posted by rhodesman

I do 99% of my upgrades in my garage. After much reading, review and other people's feedback, I called my local performance shop and scheduled them to do it. The dude who did my inlets took the rest of the day off because they were so hard. Maybe because they were his first, but it was a pain.

I am 100% happy I went that route than doing it myself. I would have cried.

Ugh... I figured it'd be a PITA. Mind sharing what you paid for labor?

AWSAWS · 01-19-2016, 08:47 AM

my install, by a BMW independent specialist took 5 hrs. Vargas inlets.

rhodesman · 01-19-2016, 08:51 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by suspenceful

Ugh... I figured it'd be a PITA. Mind sharing what you paid for labor?

I don't remember exactly how much, but is was in the neighborhood of $180-$240 USD.

But with that said, it's 100% worth it. Even still running stock turbo's I'm pushing some very solid numbers.

suspenceful · 01-19-2016, 09:08 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rhodesman

I don't remember exactly how much, but is was in the neighborhood of $180-$240 USD.

But with that said, it's 100% worth it. Even still running stock turbo's I'm pushing some very solid numbers.

Wow, for that price I would've dropped it off in a heartbeat!

Nice kick in the pants, even with stock turbos? I'm not quite ready to pull the trigger on some upgraded twins, but that might change after doing some pulls this summer. Wait... that means I'll have to buy new inlets again, won't it?

E90Convert · 01-19-2016, 09:22 AM

My VRSF inlets took 14hrs to install - 100% worth it. The gains in top end feel unnatural for an N54

Texsquirrel · 10:27 AM

I know somewhere in the Houston area that you can get them installed cheaper than you were quoted.
It will be less than you pay for the PR inlets.
Wanna drive down to TX?

suspenceful · 01-19-2016, 10:39 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Texsquirrel

I know somewhere in the Houston area that you can get them installed cheaper than you were quoted.
It will be less than you pay for the PR inlets.
Wanna drive down to TX?

I wish I could find something cheaper up here. Texas is quite the drive

Race8877 · 01-19-2016, 10:51 AM

Rbs' inlets four hours. Front is like 30 to 45 minutes , the back is a hassle.

Zmon1300 · 01-19-2016, 11:15 AM

Shop charged me $450 to install inlets. I have the VRSF ones. took em 10 hours and they hated every bit of it lol

rhodesman · 01-19-2016, 11:21 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by suspenceful

Wow, for that price I would've dropped it off in a heartbeat!

Nice kick in the pants, even with stock turbos? I'm not quite ready to pull the trigger on some upgraded twins, but that might change after doing some pulls this summer. Wait... that means I'll have to buy new inlets again, won't it?

HUGE kick in the pants! I got the VTT 2" inlets, so they are future-proofed when I get the Pure Stage-2 kit.

Also, the sound of the turbo's at full spool is so ungodly intoxicating I sometimes go WOT just to hear them.

Venom77 · 01-19-2016, 11:30 AM

Took me about 2 days laying on my garage floor with jack stands. It was a pita. I have Mmp inlets, the instructions are kinda shotty and thats what took so long. However completely worth it.

suspenceful · 01-19-2016, 12:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Zmon1300

Shop charged me $450 to install inlets. I have the VRSF ones. took em 10 hours and they hated every bit of it lol

Gotcha. That's a lot better than $700.

Quote:

Originally Posted by rhodesman

HUGE kick in the pants! I got the VTT 2" inlets, so they are future-proofed when I get the Pure Stage-2 kit.

Also, the sound of the turbo's at full spool is so ungodly intoxicating I sometimes go WOT just to hear them.

Wait, so I can get the inlets for upgraded turbos and they will fit on the stock snails?

Quote:

Originally Posted by Venom77

Took me about 2 days laying on my garage floor with jack stands. It was a pita. I have Mmp inlets, the instructions are kinda shotty and thats what took so long. However completely worth it.

I can't decide if I'd rather lay on a cold garage floor for a weekend or cough up a couple hundred bucks...

ms335i · 01-19-2016, 12:15 PM

I am doing my turbos right now on jack stands. The turbos are a pain in the ass especially on jack stands. I am ordering the VRSF inlets today and will be installing them either next weekend or sometime during this week. (Depending on when I get the turbos). I'll tell you if its hard. My subframe is dropped

ms335i · 01-19-2016, 12:16 PM

They will fit the stock snails as long as you get the inlet on there pretty good. Make sure its tight on the snout.

rhodesman · 01-20-2016, 06:53 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by suspenceful

Wait, so I can get the inlets for upgraded turbos and they will fit on the stock snails?

Regardless of what others may say about the VTT 2" inlets, I haven't had a single problem running them with stock turbos.

Enfiftyfore · 01-20-2016, 06:55 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by suspenceful

Last year my 135i was faster than most of my friend's cars. This winter they're all building up for ~600whp to get back at me... which means I've been looking at inlets to keep up.

I read that VRSF and MMP are both pretty cost effective. When I asked a local indy shop how much for install, they politely declined installing either option. They recommended Precision Raceworks instead and said install would be about $700 on a 135i because the subframe needed to be dropped.

If I'm going to spend $500 on nice inlets, I don't wanna fork over 140% of the cost on labor alone. How hard is this to do in a garage on jackstands? I installed my own *********, but haven't done anything too intense before. The car is put up for winter right now as I drive my 325xi in the snow.

What has everyone else paid for inlet labor on a 135i? Any Wisconsin/Illinois/Minnesota recommendations?

NOTE: I still have the stock charge pipe, so if there is a better option that upgrades the charge pipe, what is it? My charge pipe has handled 18PSI just fine

My car is on Jacksstands right now in the middle of the inlet job. I'm out to no the vrsf on and it's a pain but not quite as bad as everyone aays.You need a big helping of patience to get it done.

najin23 · 01-20-2016, 12:20 PM

someone mentioned getting a rb for the rear one only and the front one with the canisters removed so that you still keep the coolant reservoir unmod.

SSerxR · 01-20-2016, 12:34 PM

I think VTT inlets are quite easy to install. You dont have to relocate anything.

iminhell1 · 01-20-2016, 12:34 PM

There is the TFT option for inlets. I'd sure think they would save on install time.

Far as install options in MN, try Modern Automotive Performance, http://www.maperformance.com/
They got a 335i shop car not long ago and have been toying with it ever since.

najin23 · 01-20-2016, 01:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SSerxR

I think VTT inlets are quite easy to install. You dont have to relocate anything.

for VTT, what is the inner diameter for the filter side hose? My BMS DCI has that metal coupler with outer diameter of 2.25".

SSerxR · 01-20-2016, 01:47 PM

I dont know exactly but they always say that you can install DCI filters as usual.
Look.
http://www.boostaddict.com/attachmen...6&d=1425711282

rhodesman · 02:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by najin23

for VTT, what is the inner diameter for the filter side hose? My BMS DCI has that metal coupler with outer diameter of 2.25".

I have that exact same intake, the BMS DCI. They fit perfectly w/o any modifications or adaptors. You can even use the stock airbox with the VTT inlets... but at that point, why would you?