N55 Turbo Side Intake Progress

JPuehl

Corporal
Jul 24, 2019
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Greater Seattle area (a.k.a. Zombie Land)
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2011 135i 1M clone N55e DCT
I just received a larger air filter and as seen in the pic of my current and the new filter, the current filter is being slightly pushed on by the hood, so I'll change the orientation of the filter a bit, probably just need to shorten the 90* intake section a bit to lower the filter.
20231221_101017.jpg


Also took delivery of the 3" AL 90* section of tube so I have a choice of tubes to use as a replacement for the Pure silicone tube. Most likely I'll go with the AL tube since the bend is smoother and the material thinner and takes up less space. Once I get the fitment where i want it I might get both the AL inlet and outlet ceramic coated to hopefully prevent the pipes from heating up.
20231221_101544.jpg
 
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mwpa71

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Sep 26, 2022
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Looking good mate. That's a much better sized filter. I'm hoping you can get some cool air to it.
It must be super tight with that silicon bend especially when compared to that ally section.
Look forward to seeing completed product. Good work.
 
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JPuehl

Corporal
Jul 24, 2019
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Greater Seattle area (a.k.a. Zombie Land)
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2011 135i 1M clone N55e DCT
Hot the new hot side intake faded today, still need to install it however. The zip tie in the pic was just there to hold everything in place while I checked fitment. I also need to make a support/stay to support the intake since I'm not using the stock support or the one from Pure. There's so much more room now using the AL tube. I'll probably have the inlet and outlet ceramic coated to help keep heat out of the IATs.
 

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wheela

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Jun 4, 2021
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Twin Cities, MN
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2015 e84 X1 35i Msport
Hot the new hot side intake faded today, still need to install it however. The zip tie in the pic was just there to hold everything in place while I checked fitment. I also need to make a support/stay to support the intake since I'm not using the stock support or the one from Pure. There's so much more room now using the AL tube. I'll probably have the inlet and outlet ceramic coated to help keep heat out of the IATs.
Nice! Is that PCV port a 3d printed part you made? Also, how does the ID compare between the silicone pure inlet and that aluminum?
 
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JPuehl

Corporal
Jul 24, 2019
121
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Greater Seattle area (a.k.a. Zombie Land)
Ride
2011 135i 1M clone N55e DCT
Nice! Is that PCV port a 3d printed part you made? Also, how does the ID compare between the silicone pure inlet and that aluminum?
Houtan printed the PCV part for me. The ID of the aluminum is only slightly smaller which is fine because the adapter that attaches to the inlet on the turbo is also smaller than the silicone hose. When you order the PS750 with the silicone inlet the inlet of the tube is machined lager than if using a stock sized or aftermarket inlet, so I couldn't use the VRSF inlet I already, so the actual inlet is already larger even when using the aluminum tube I have.
 
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mwpa71

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Sep 26, 2022
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Hot the new hot side intake faded today, still need to install it however. The zip tie in the pic was just there to hold everything in place while I checked fitment. I also need to make a support/stay to support the intake since I'm not using the stock support or the one from Pure. There's so much more room now using the AL tube. I'll probably have the inlet and outlet ceramic coated to help keep heat out of the IATs.
Thanks for the pics Jim.
That's a nice compact solution. Even without a cold intake I would be surprised if the iat at turbo entry would be any more than running any long tube coldside intake over the engine/turbo/manifold. And the benefit of much higher flow!
 
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JPuehl

Corporal
Jul 24, 2019
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Greater Seattle area (a.k.a. Zombie Land)
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2011 135i 1M clone N55e DCT
Thanks for the pics Jim.
That's a nice compact solution. Even without a cold intake I would be surprised if the iat at turbo entry would be any more than running any long tube coldside intake over the engine/turbo/manifold. And the benefit of much higher flow!
I know it looks ghetto but as a temporary solution I modified the stock tube that directs air from above the grills by cutting and covering the section that used to direct air to the stock air box, and cut an opening to direct air to the new location of the air filter. This is supposed to be temporary. I have some thin ABS plastic sheet and might try to make it look a little better and more functional.
20231216_105033.jpg
 

mwpa71

Specialist
Sep 26, 2022
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I know it looks ghetto but as a temporary solution I modified the stock tube that directs air from above the grills by cutting and covering the section that used to direct air to the stock air box, and cut an opening to direct air to the new location of the air filter. This is supposed to be temporary. I have some thin ABS plastic sheet and might try to make it look a little better and more functional.View attachment 89773
That will clean up easily. Definitely a step in the right direction 👍
 
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JPuehl

Corporal
Jul 24, 2019
121
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Greater Seattle area (a.k.a. Zombie Land)
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2011 135i 1M clone N55e DCT
Just thought I'd give some more details about me using the N54 coolant expansion tank. Since the N54 tank is longer/deeper than the N55 tank I thought I'd be tricky and order the N54 hard cross-over line that has the flexible line to connects to the bottom of the coolant tank. I ended up accidently ordering the same line for a 128, which also uses the N54 coolant tank. And while I couldn't use the entire cross-over line, the line for the coolant tank had the perfect sharp, however the connector for the tank was angled downwards about 45* and put an unfavorable kink in the line. I figured that a connector with the line coming out straight would be perfect. I dug thru my collection of hoses I took off my wrecked 135 and found that the coolant lines running to the VHAC on the drivers side had just the connection I needed. I ended up using the flexible line from a 128 and the HVAC coolant line connector and have the perfect hose, no kinks, clears the turbo output and doesn't rub on the frame rail. Below are pix.

Here's a comparison of the hose connectors. The HVAC connector to the left and the 135 N54/N55 connector on the right.

20240101_113536.jpg


Here's the HVAC connector on the 128 line.
20240111_144034.jpg


Here's the 128 hard line:
20231214_101753.jpg


Here's the section of hose I used from the 128 line:
20231214_101806.jpg


And here's the reason why I went thru this exercise, this is the N54 tank and N55 coolant line:
20231202_093833.jpg


If anyone is interested and can take and post a pic of what the new line looks like connected to the coolant tank. I realized I don't have a pic of that.
 

CalvinNismo

Corporal
Nov 1, 2020
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208
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I’ve had a similar thought process, but I wanted to go for the diesel tank setup for maximum space on the turbo side.

I bought a 2nd hand E70 X5 35i coolant line because it has the same thermostat as us and just a 90 degree fitting which was cleaner than blanking the standard E8x/E9x N55 coolant tank line off.

IMG_0383.jpeg


I also bought a 2nd hand 120d/320d M47 coolant line because it had an equal tee in it.

IMG_0385.jpeg


I only used a bit of the M47 rubber hose though in the end and used the X5 Y-piece as I could plumb it in nice and cleanly. The equal tee would require too much of a bend or too aggressive a run downhill for my OCD.

Here’s the result, I need to get a NORMA straight joiner and some hose clamps, then I’m golden and give all the hoses a scrub obviously. Thanks to @houtan for sharing @bahn’s idea to tee in on the heater matrix side. I feel like it’s pretty clean and tight to the chassis leg. I used the standard N55 coolant tank 45 degree fastener and some of that hose too to get that little weird jiggle out of the tank.

IMG_0403.jpeg

IMG_0404.jpeg

IMG_0405.jpeg

IMG_0406.jpeg


It also fits fine with my PPK2 hoses and should just work with the standard intake (with light trimming perhaps) as well whilst I make a hot side intake that I like.

IMG_0407.jpeg
 
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Richm240xi

Specialist
Mar 14, 2023
52
34
0
So on my last post I told you guys that my pcv valve took a shit, so I was venting it to atmosphere with the Ross racing kit. Well I installed this today in order to get some sort of vacuum back in the car at least during boost and wow it made a big difference how the car pulls! Not sure if it’s from the larger diameter inlet pipe or having vacuum again instead of fully venting but definitely made a big difference! The inlet is the shuenk inlet, I had the black wrinkle paint stripped off in order for clean welding and had my shop weld an Amazon 90 degree 1 inch pipe on it
 

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mwpa71

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Sep 26, 2022
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So on my last post I told you guys that my pcv valve took a shit, so I was venting it to atmosphere with the Ross racing kit. Well I installed this today in order to get some sort of vacuum back in the car at least during boost and wow it made a big difference how the car pulls! Not sure if it’s from the larger diameter inlet pipe or having vacuum again instead of fully venting but definitely made a big difference! The inlet is the shuenk inlet, I had the black wrinkle paint stripped off in order for clean welding and had my shop weld an Amazon 90 degree 1 inch pipe on it
Nice one..what did you have before? and what are the other parts that make up your whole air intake ..cheers
 

Richm240xi

Specialist
Mar 14, 2023
52
34
0
I’ve had a similar thought process, but I wanted to go for the diesel tank setup for maximum space on the turbo side.

I bought a 2nd hand E70 X5 35i coolant line because it has the same thermostat as us and just a 90 degree fitting which was cleaner than blanking the standard E8x/E9x N55 coolant tank line off.

View attachment 90370

I also bought a 2nd hand 120d/320d M47 coolant line because it had an equal tee in it.

View attachment 90371

I only used a bit of the M47 rubber hose though in the end and used the X5 Y-piece as I could plumb it in nice and cleanly. The equal tee would require too much of a bend or too aggressive a run downhill for my OCD.

Here’s the result, I need to get a NORMA straight joiner and some hose clamps, then I’m golden and give all the hoses a scrub obviously. Thanks to @houtan for sharing @bahn’s idea to tee in on the heater matrix side. I feel like it’s pretty clean and tight to the chassis leg. I used the standard N55 coolant tank 45 degree fastener and some of that hose too to get that little weird jiggle out of the tank.

View attachment 90372
View attachment 90373
View attachment 90374
View attachment 90375

It also fits fine with my PPK2 hoses and should just work with the standard intake (with light trimming perhaps) as well whilst I make a hot side intake that I like.

View attachment 90376
Nice! Would you happen to have part numbers for the hoses? Definitely wanna go this route when I get my turner relocation kit to make it the install as clean as possible
 

Richm240xi

Specialist
Mar 14, 2023
52
34
0
Nice one..what did you have before? and what are the other parts that make up your whole air intake ..cheers
I still had the stock inlet, so I’ve switched up a few times so far, but as of now on the car, I have

Shuenk inlet with 90 degree pcv tube welded on
MRP 3 inch maf housing
In house performance maf extension
N54 coolant reservoir for more space
Aluminum 6 inch velocity stack
6 inch Turbo guard
6 inch hydro shield sock under turbo guard

The turbo guard and hydro shield sock are temporary as of now since I can’t really get a filter of my choice on since the area is so tight, but after having them on with the stock inlet for a few months, there was no noticeable dust or any debris inside the inlet when I went to upgrade to the shuenk inlet today. Together the guard and the sock filter out anything noticeable pretty well, not that I recommend it over a proper filter, but for now it works.
 

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CalvinNismo

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Nov 1, 2020
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Nice! Would you happen to have part numbers for the hoses? Definitely wanna go this route when I get my turner relocation kit to make it the install as clean as possible
Sure! I bought the both used.

E70 X5 35i hose - 17 12 7 576 371
E8x/E9x M47 hose - 17 12 7 789 592

It’s probably not worth it to buy the M47 hose though, I only used a small amount of it. I used the thermostat connector and the Y from the X5 hose. I have since tweaked my hose setup and got it a bit shorter and cleaner in my opinion.
IMG_0475.jpeg