Travis1807's 2013 X5M

[m5james]

Originally Posted by Travis1807

Do you like your Velos stage 2 tune? Like I said before I have been talking with PP-Performance about their tune and they are claiming 718hp which I believe is a significant amount more then the other 2 tunes that I have considered which are the Velos stage 2 or VF Engineering's stage 2. I realize that the 718 hp claim is arbitrary do to the differences in dyno machines and I'm assuming that the PP-Performance claim is not from a reading taken at the wheels unlike the other companies. PP-Performance did also include with the price of their tune 2 different pulls on their dyno 1 before the tune and 1 after. I'm curious to how you like your Velos tune? I know how highly everyone speaks of their customer service and I have talked to Omar briefly and would agree with the popular consensus. I'm just weary of going balls to the wall and blowing another engine b/c like you said it doubtful I will find one in a junk yard.

718hp at the flywheel would be 568hp at the wheels assuming there is a 21% loss between the two. I'm pretty sure that 21% is the correct loss from engine to rear wheels for an automatic car but please correct me if I'm wrong.

Aren't their numbers also including F10 M5 headers? SoLo, another custom intake designer like yourself, is running Pure Turbos bolted to M5 headers, but I'm not sure what tune he's running. Since you're familiar with meth, have you looked into that for the X5M? I've never used the stuff, so I've only read and asked questions on the M5 boards about it...but I'm scared to pull the trigger.

[m5james]

Originally Posted by Travis1807

As promised here are some pics of how the new intake is coming. I can't wait to hear the BOV and turbos spooling once this is fully complete. It looks like it won't be finished till Tuesday but I'm sure it will be worth the wait!

So

Much

Want!!!!

[Travis1807]

Originally Posted by m5james

I almost got a carbon fiber hood but the seller backed out. If my X5M was black, it wouldn't be an issue, but being Alpine White I was going to paint it like this.

WOW!! Love the hood! I think I just found what direction I'm going in. Thank you very much for the inspiration.

[Travis1807]

Originally Posted by m5james

In hindsight I should have done wrapping on the downpipes as well, but I'll be doing it again once pipes come down to the sub $500 range. In the meantime I just gutted the factory cats. I didn't even know they made turbo blanket until a few weeks ago.

What muffler/resonator are using using in your system? After doing the downpipes, I've got a little drone, so my plans to do a complete muffler delete had been put on hold. It was earlier this week that I saw muffler systems like the ones you've posted, so I'm back to looking into doing the delete again. My tips are already powdercoated, so now it's just getting a resonator, deciding on if I'm going to proceed with the x-pipe and overall design.

I have the stock resonators in place and will be running 2 Vibrant Ultra Quiet Resonators, 3" inlet/oulet Part No: 1142. From the research I've done they kill just about all drone. I will post pics as soon as the exhaust is finished or if I can some pictures of the progress.

[Travis1807]

Originally Posted by m5james

Aren't their numbers also including F10 M5 headers? SoLo, another custom intake designer like yourself, is running Pure Turbos bolted to M5 headers, but I'm not sure what tune he's running. Since you're familiar with meth, have you looked into that for the X5M? I've never used the stuff, so I've only read and asked questions on the M5 boards about it...but I'm scared to pull the trigger.

Their numbers aren't with the headers but it was numbers taken from the motor not the wheels. I got an estimate from a company that installs the PP-Performance tune and they estimated the horsepower at the wheels to be 515-525hp.

I decided to go with the VF Engineering stage 2 tune b/c unlike the PP-Performance tune it comes with the option of being able to reload the stock tune yourself. They also offer additional tuning if I add a large air to air intercooler, m5 manifolds (or custom) and upgraded turbos like a plan on.

[Travis1807]

Originally Posted by m5james

Having had pillar gauges in the past, I've always hated them causing the strain from being right in your face...not to mention every time someone sees them, suddenly they wanna race. Albeit a completely different vehicle, I had these custom grafted into the dash of my fully built Harley F150. My 740iL has some custom engjne work as well and I thought about grafting gauges onto the HVAC vent on top of the dash. Seeing that the X5M has a speaker on the dash, once considered deleting the speaker if I ever decided to go physical gauges. It looks cleaner and is far easier on the eyes to adjust being on the same plain as the rest of the gauges. Just an idea.

Really like the gauge placement on the dash they all came out super clean. I also like the idea of using the stock dash speaker location as a possible place to put a gauge cluster. I have a all leather dash so I'm not sure how tough it will be to make it clean but I need to start looking into this. Once again thanks for the inspiration and I will let you know what I come up with.

[m5james]

Originally Posted by Travis1807

I have the stock resonators in place and will be running 2 Vibrant Ultra Quiet Resonators, 3" inlet/oulet Part No: 1142. From the research I've done they kill just about all drone. I will post pics as soon as the exhaust is finished or if I can some pictures of the progress.

I'm trying to find the happy medium of mufflers/resonators where they absorb the drone but are a straight thru design so I can have as much flow as possible and be able to hear the turbos better.

[m5james]

Originally Posted by Travis1807

Their numbers aren't with the headers but it was numbers taken from the motor not the wheels. I got an estimate from a company that installs the PP-Performance tune and they estimated the horsepower at the wheels to be 515-525hp.

I decided to go with the VF Engineering stage 2 tune b/c unlike the PP-Performance tune it comes with the option of being able to reload the stock tune yourself. They also offer additional tuning if I add a large air to air intercooler, m5 manifolds (or custom) and upgraded turbos like a plan on.

Long story, but I went with www.morepower.dk and their stage 2 tune that I can flash on my own as well. The power difference is night and day, but since I'm reading the same boost level pre and post tune while still having lingering "reduced power" warning, I'm assuming my boost issue is directly related to my warning issue. I read countless threads about all tunes for our vehicles being a base tune from a company called BR, then each "tuner" tweaks it a little...jury is still out to get 100% verification, but it's what I've gathered from reading on the M5 boards where my tuner resides since that's what he drives.

[m5james]

Originally Posted by Travis1807

Really like the gauge placement on the dash they all came out super clean. I also like the idea of using the stock dash speaker location as a possible place to put a gauge cluster. I have a all leather dash so I'm not sure how tough it will be to make it clean but I need to start looking into this. Once again thanks for the inspiration and I will let you know what I come up with.

I have the all leather as well, but that speaker pod is removable, so the hardest part would be matching the leather or having to paint it if leather can't be wrapped tightly around each gauge pod. Either way, you've got his number if you're so inclined.

[m5james]

Updates

[Travis1807]

Originally Posted by m5james

Updates

I went up to VF Engineering on thur and on my way up I got a check engine light. It was a half engine symbol and said something about reduced power. Long story short I got the tune and did a few pulls on the dyno but I kept throwing dummy lights. Below are the codes that I kept throwing but I believe the 30FF is a vacuum leak. So i had the guys at VF Engineering put my stock tune back in just in case I need to go to the dealership.

I got home and drove hard on the way back and didn't throw any dummy lights and the truck felt like it was pulling harder (faster) then normal. Upon inspection I found some oil around the CCV connection into the intake and some more build up around one of the vent pipe connections for the CCV system on the same side as the other leak.

So the plan for now is to order the new intake duct and vent pipe and install them ASAP. I have the new tune on my computer so I will upload that after I get this leak handled. Once the tune is in I will see if my butt dyno notices the difference or if I keep throwing dummy lights and then just take it from there. If I fix the problem I plan on going to go back up to VF Engineering on Mar. 28th to get some more pulls on the dyno.

I also got a set of Brembos for all corners and need to get them powder coated. I think I'm going to go either candy apple red or a fluorescent green/yellow. Any input on color is appreciated.

Also who with aftermarket Brembos is using pads other then what they originally came with? I want to get some new pads but can't seem to locate any part #'s to search for when looking for them on the internet.


Here are some pictures from the last few days.


// ECU Type : Siemens DME MSD85.1
// Vehicle Manufacturer Ecu Hardware Number : 7639217
// Vehicle Manufacturer Ecu Software Number : 7649743
// Hardware Reference Number : 0049ZC0I860SSO7X3
// Vehicle Identification Number : 5YMGY0C59D0C11759
// Ecu Manufacturing Date : 02.08.2012
//
// 1) 2A12 No Fault Code description found !
// 2) 2B27 No Fault Code description found !
// 3) 2A18 No Fault Code description found !
// 4) 2DC3 No Fault Code description found !
// 5) 30FF No Fault Code description found !
// 6) 310B No Fault Code description found !
// 7) 29F4 No Fault Code description found !
// 8) 29F5 No Fault Code description found !

[Dchl21]

"also got a set of Brembos for all corners and need to get them powder coated. I think I'm going to go either candy apple red or a fluorescent green/yellow. Any input on color is appreciated"

I would suggest silver with black brembo decal

[Dr.Duct_Mossburg]

Yellow Brembo would look sick/

[gixxerboy63]

Originally Posted by Dr.Duct_Mossburg

Yellow Brembo would look sick/

I like yellow too.

My thinking is that the theme shouldn't have too many colors going on. In my case; Space Gray/Titanium Gunmetal Wheels (very monochromatic) and Acid Green Calipers (Porsche) would have looked awesome, but all that changed once I ordered Matte Bronze wheels... I will have to get them on the vehicle before I can make a decision about any color change now...

[m5james]

I've gotten a few codes as well, getting the same reduced power warning, replaced some PCV lines (#1 & #8 come as complete assemblies in the right picture, #1 & #2 were replaced with used ones for free but he said #3 was very brittle in the left picture) and still getting the same codes, so I'm at the point where I'm just going to replace all the remaining lines now.

Do you have pics the complete intake system? Any idea on pricing yet?

[xpl0sive]

on my car, lines 1,2 and 3 in the left picture all failed, which caused a very rough idle and CEL. I would start by replacing those and go from there

[Travis1807]

Originally Posted by gixxerboy63

I like yellow too.

My thinking is that the theme shouldn't have too many colors going on. In my case; Space Gray/Titanium Gunmetal Wheels (very monochromatic) and Acid Green Calipers (Porsche) would have looked awesome, but all that changed once I ordered Matte Bronze wheels... I will have to get them on the vehicle before I can make a decision about any color change now...

ACID GREEN... That's the name of the color that I have been drooling over. I think it looks sick behind any variation of silver I have seen up to this point.

[Travis1807]

Originally Posted by m5james

I've gotten a few codes as well, getting the same reduced power warning, replaced some PCV lines (#1 & #8 come as complete assemblies in the right picture, #1 & #2 were replaced with used ones for free but he said #3 was very brittle in the left picture) and still getting the same codes, so I'm at the point where I'm just going to replace all the remaining lines now.

Do you have pics the complete intake system? Any idea on pricing yet?

I am still waiting on the final set of filters which will be a pair of BMC Filters. I had to have them special ordered from Italy as they are an abnormal size and aren't commonly stocked by anyone in the U.S.A. I expect the new filters to not only make a difference in air flow but to make a difference in aesthetics and to produce an even more noticeable sound improvement.

The current K&N set up is considered a round tapered style.
part# RU-5111
3" Flange to mount to intake pipe
4.5" bottom
3.5" rubber top
5.75" length

The new BMC filters are a conical style filter with a twin air design.
part# FBTW80-151P
3.14" flange that mounts to intake pipe
5" bottom
6.7" long

I think I'm trying to match the BMC red with the color I do for the Brembo brakes.

[m5james]

Stop teasing us...let's see the final piping design

[m5james]

Going completely off course here, but I've always wondering if wastegate rattling is something that I'm hearing on my X5M since it's a known issue on the N54 engines as well. I heard this guy mention 30FF and thought of you, so if you've got what appears to be wastegate rattle at idle like I do, the N54 guys might be onto something that likely could be something we'll start seeing as well. I've written Turbo Labs of America (lots of YouTube videos) and he's looking into wastegate repairs kits for our turbos just in case.

[Travis1807]

I replaced some of the the piping on the CCV system as well as the air duct on the 1-4 side of the engine. After the new parts I'm not seeing any dummy lights.

Installed the stage 1 tune and drove that around a few days and really was impressed with the power. The stage 2 got installed just before I drove up to LA for the dyno session and the X5M is a completely different animal all together. Just from using my butt dyno this thing would have held its own against my previous Jeep which was putting down +600 hp numbers at the wheels.

At VF Engineering now taking some pulls on the dyno. I will post dyno charts tomorrow but from just the initial pulls I'm looking at a HUGE increase in power. Measurements where taken on a Mustang Dyno and are considerable amount higher then what VF Engineering is advertising on their website.

Until tomorrow...

[Travis1807]

Originally Posted by m5james

Stop teasing us...let's see the final piping design

Still need to get some pictures with filters on but I will try to update tomorrow.