N55 E70 FBO and Pure Stage 1 Turbo Dyno

[Arizona_Car_Dude]

Hi Folks,

New member here, long time auto enthusiast. I have a 2013 X5 xdrive35i with 102k miles. I recently installed a Pure Stage 1 N55 turbo along with catless DP, charge pipe, turbo inlet pipe, intake, etc. Basically a full bolt on (except intercooler) for the N55 E70. I was hoping for about +75HP/TQ. I had the vehicle tuned by DynoComp in Scottsdale AZ on crappy Arizona 91 octane gas. I am not a fan of canned/internet tunes, etc... It costs more, but I feel it is safer. The numbers came back a little lower on HP than expected but she is a torque beast. Keep in mind drivetrain loss... so i figure my minivan is just shy of 400hp 500tq? Lmk your thoughts and questions.

[Sophisticated Redneck]

Originally Posted by Arizona_Car_Dude

Hi Folks,

New member here, long time auto enthusiast. I have a 2013 X5 xdrive35i with 102k miles. I recently installed a Pure Stage 1 N55 turbo along with catless DP, charge pipe, turbo inlet pipe, intake, etc. Basically a full bolt on (except intercooler) for the N55 E70. I was hoping for about +75HP/TQ. I had the vehicle tuned by DynoComp in Scottsdale AZ on crappy Arizona 91 octane gas. I am not a fan of canned/internet tunes, etc... It costs more, but I feel it is safer. The numbers came back a little lower on HP than expected but she is a torque beast. Keep in mind drivetrain loss... so i figure my minivan is just shy of 400hp 500tq? Lmk your thoughts and questions.

Decent numbers but if were me I would add a few gallons of E85 and an octane booster (boostane professional, lucas, or royal purple are all excellent) and bump up the boost. Add a JB4 so you can do it yourself and tweak the performance to your preference. Its what I am running on my N63 and love it.

[mitch808]

E85 or a WMI kit, will really wake things up. Additional win for a WMI kit, is no carbon build up from DI. It steam cleans your internals.

[Arizona_Car_Dude]

Thanks for the feedback. I know the 91octane is the limiting factor for me. The dyno tuner was only able to push about 14-15psi boost because of this. E85 isn’t very popular or available in Arizona (afaik) so not really an option. I’m hesitant to add a JB4 and screw things up after I just dropped a grand for the custom tune with safe A/F ratios. Also I don’t want to be changing tunes each time I fill up with or without e85, octane booster etc. Trying to keep it simple I guess.

I was already toying with the idea of meth injection and may go that route. Any estimates on gains with a meth kit? I would likely need the vehicle re-tuned for proper gains if I add meth... right?

[mitch808]

If you do pure water alone, there are still tremendous gains where you may not need an intercooler, but there are no power gains. Still cleans the valves too.

Do a 50/50 meth/water ratio and you can expect a nice octane boost, and will need a retune to take advantage of it. Expect 5-10% gains.

[Thecastle]

When I was in Phoenix last and had a car tuned for 93/100 octane. I went to here https://www.thethumb.com/

For 95 and 100 octane pump gas. There are stations in Phoenix that sell better than 91 octane. Even seen some with 106.

[Thecastle]

Though e85 is a better option from a cost perspective when you can find it.

[Sophisticated Redneck]

Originally Posted by Arizona_Car_Dude

Thanks for the feedback. I know the 91octane is the limiting factor for me. The dyno tuner was only able to push about 14-15psi boost because of this. E85 isn’t very popular or available in Arizona (afaik) so not really an option. I’m hesitant to add a JB4 and screw things up after I just dropped a grand for the custom tune with safe A/F ratios. Also I don’t want to be changing tunes each time I fill up with or without e85, octane booster etc. Trying to keep it simple I guess.

I was already toying with the idea of meth injection and may go that route. Any estimates on gains with a meth kit? I would likely need the vehicle re-tuned for proper gains if I add meth... right?

I am in AZ too and E85 is a bit spotty to find but there are stations around that have it and as Castle mentioned, the Thumb has 100 and 95 octane, there is also a few E85 stations in that area, or if you are close to the Ahwtaukee/Chandler area, Love's gas station off the I-10 South of Chandler has 100 and 106. Couple more E85 stations around south Gilbert area too.

Like Mitch said, meth wont do much unless you tune for it. Same for running higher octane gas. While the DME can adjust a bit for higher timing to make a bit more power, a tune is really needed OR a JB4.

I am big advocate of running a tune AND a piggy back. Use the tune to get you where you want on pump gas like you already have, then use a piggy back like a JB4 to tweak your performance to whatever you have in the tank or for here in AZ, depending on the time of day.

I would not recommend trying to push 20+psi no matter what the octane is in the tank on a heat soaked engine in AZ when its 118 out and you have been sitting in traffic and the IAT's are hitting 180 degrees. However later that night it may only be 89 degrees out and your on a open road and you want to open it up, takes 2 seconds on the JB4 to change if from being disabled to adding another 4-6+ psi.

If you get one make sure to get the bluetooth adapter, makes it even easier to change and adjust settings. Being able to adjust the settings on the fly and create your own custom maps not to mention it can also act as your meth controller makes it one of the best, even if doesn't come with squat for a manual and you are left to surf the forums to figure out how to set everything up.