New HPFP Upgrade - SpoolPerformance Helix

[scrllock]

That is what is fun. Given the 1st N54s were sold in 2006 this makes the platform 13+ years old. There are still new products released almost monthly which is unheard of on almost any other platform I have been apart of. There is still a good deal of money to be made by the N54/N55 vendors.

The fact that the platform is so old is why it's so good now, it takes time for the aftermarket to mature to the point where you've got full fuel solutions, full ECU/TCU flashes, software rwd conversions, etc.

I'm not sure if this was asked before, but does it also need shorter fuel lines since the pump sticks out further?

Looks like it comes with an hpfp feed line of some sort.

I don't see FCP going after people for felony fraud for HPFP replacements, lol. Their warranty is their best PR, they're not going to kill that by giving a relatively small number of HPFP buyers reason to drop horrible reviews. They've been okay with people sending them back oil containers full of whatever indefinitely, no questions asked means no questions asked.

Personally still holding off on this til there's some info on the @m18performance solution, but the results out on FB today look pretty promising.

 

[SJ_1989]

Then again if you drive like our grandparrents then your probably good either way.

We know spinning the pump faster is not good for it but IMO I think for the daily driver, dyno queen, spirited driver, etc you will be fine....granted your current pump isn't near its' end of life. I forsee threads and Facebook posts saying "Helix destroyed my pump" yada yada but in reality they were probably on the original pump that came on the car that had known issues anyway. BMW spec'd out their pumps to meet a completely different application with completely different life requirements.

That said, I would not use this for a dedicated road race car though. I think you'll be replacing pumps frequently. For anyone that's interested Google Miner's Rule. Miner's rule is an accumulated damage model to quantify the impact to life of a component based on varying loads. It's all about the application it's used in.

Anyone overly concerned about reliability 1) shouldn't be modifying their car and 2) should really move away from this platform

 

[Torgus]

It is currently 100% all speculation on how long a new HPFP pump will last with this overdrive solution.

As an example: If you can get 25k that honestly is not bad. Some turbos on this platform don't even make it that long. 25k would be 2 years for the average person. Replace pump once with FCP, get another 25k or 2 years. Again all speculation. Until multiple brand new pumps have failed we don't have enough data points to make ANY conclusions. It's all FUD until then.

Again, the more fueling solutions that come to the market the better for everyone as it drives costs down and gives us more options. DI only FTW.

 

[SJ_1989]

DI only FTW.

Yup

 

[BOosted 335i]

Can someone explain the idea behind the spool product.im trying to understand how its gonna spin the hpfp without anything else,is it a gearing thing inside to spin it faster?I see the other company uses a pulley design but how does this one accomplish over driving the exsisting hpfp?

 

[SJ_1989]

Can someone explain the idea behind the spool product.im trying to understand how its gonna spin the hpfp without anything else,is it a gearing thing inside to spin it faster?I see the other company uses a pulley design but how does this one accomplish over driving the exsisting hpfp?

There is a gear set that get's bolted in-between the vac pump and HPFP. This is what takes the input speed of the vac pump and multiplies it for the HPFP.

*Edit*
See my post here showing the relationship between engine speed, vac pump, and Helix HPFP. @veer90 had similar calculations a few posts above this one.

 

[Jeffman]

Can someone explain the idea behind the spool product.im trying to understand how its gonna spin the hpfp without anything else,is it a gearing thing inside to spin it faster?I see the other company uses a pulley design but how does this one accomplish over driving the exsisting hpfp?

Yep. I asked the same thing a few days ago. It’s a set of planetary gears (aka “spinny things”) to make it go faster.

 

[9krpmrx8]

It is currently 100% all speculation on how long a new HPFP pump will last with this overdrive solution.

As an example: If you can get 25k that honestly is not bad. Some turbos on this platform don't even make it that long. 25k would be 2 years for the average person. Replace pump once with FCP, get another 25k or 2 years. Again all speculation. Until multiple brand new pumps have failed we don't have enough data points to make ANY conclusions. It's all FUD until then.

Again, the more fueling solutions that come to the market the better for everyone as it drives costs down and gives us more options. DI only FTW.

Yep and even on the stock pump it's a crap shoot. On my N55 (N54 style pump), my original has 106,000 miles and I see over 3000psi on my logs, but I have friends who replaced thiers at 50k.

 

[Weehe]

So it looks like it comes with a new, longer, outlet fuel line. But I don't see anything for the inlet. Do you have to cut down the inlet line to make it shorter?

 

[Slow335is]

Just made my unboxing video and install video of the brand new SPOOL Performance helix overdrive pump for the BMW N54. I was lucky enough to be a beta tester and I’m sharing my experience with you guys. This new overdrive will now allow me to run my full E85 at higher boost without high pressure fueling issues limiting my power extremely as it extremely increases the hpfp output. This now eliminates the need for any port injection and can run straight e85 on direct injection with a a simple install item that looks oem. Please feel free to share as these are a game changing item that will be released to the public very soon! Please watch both videos as in my install video I include some pictures of comparisons from logs showing amazing results! Please like and subscribe as well to stay up to date on cool things like this and my build.

Unboxing and impressions

Install & first results

 

[buster84]

Just made my unboxing video and install video of the brand new SPOOL Performance helix overdrive pump for the BMW N54. I was lucky enough to be a beta tester and I’m sharing my experience with you guys. This new overdrive will now allow me to run my full E85 at higher boost without high pressure fueling issues limiting my power extremely as it extremely increases the hpfp output. This now eliminates the need for any port injection and can run straight e85 on direct injection with a a simple install item that looks oem. Please feel free to share as these are a game changing item that will be released to the public very soon! Please watch both videos as in my install video I include some pictures of comparisons from logs showing amazing results! Please like and subscribe as well to stay up to date on cool things like this and my build.

Unboxing and impressions

Install & first results

In your video the lpfp sensor is directly next to the pump... did you have to cut the line? Or did they give you an adapter?

The amount of thought that went into the pump is good, and I feel like spool must have already thought alot about this, but why didnt you create one that has a small 1x to 2x overdrive that connects two hpfp to it for better efficiency and output instead of 4x spinning one? Is there some kinda of technical problem preventing that?

 

[doublespaces]

In your video the lpfp sensor is directly next to the pump... did you have to cut the line? Or did they give you an adapter?

The amount of thought that went into the pump is good, and I feel like spool must have already thought alot about this, but why didnt you create one that has a small 1x to 2x overdrive that connects two hpfp to it for better efficiency and output instead of 4x spinning one? Is there some kinda of technical problem preventing that?

Why fix what isn't broke. I think people get scared too easily. Let's see how it performs, I'd bet hpfp durability is less of a concern than people think, assuming you have a healthy pump.

 

[Slow335is]

In your video the lpfp sensor is directly next to the pump... did you have to cut the line? Or did they give you an adapter?

The amount of thought that went into the pump is good, and I feel like spool must have already thought alot about this, but why didnt you create one that has a small 1x to 2x overdrive that connects two hpfp to it for better efficiency and output instead of 4x spinning one? Is there some kinda of technical problem preventing that?

I replaced my sensor and the line. You have to bend the line which they explain in the install instructions to clear starter.

 

[chrisdfv]

I'm not sure if this was asked before, but does it also need shorter fuel lines since the pump sticks out further?

In your video the lpfp sensor is directly next to the pump... did you have to cut the line? Or did they give you an adapter?

The hard line that has the sensor on it is attached to a flexible hose. I'm sure it has enough play in it that you can just push it back towards the firewall without any issues. You'll be fine.

 

[Slow335is]

Why fix what isn't broke. I think people get scared too easily. Let's see how it performs, I'd bet hpfp durability is less of a concern than people think, assuming you have a healthy pump.

I did a brand new pump to test durability

 

[Slow335is]

The hard line that has the sensor on it is attached to a flexible hose. I'm sure it has enough play in it that you can just push it back towards the firewall without any issues. You'll be fine.

Had to bend it

 

[Slow335is]

Install instructions

The provided hpfp hose is diffrent then in instructions and is too long. Should be shorter and not bent. Noticed small differences from install instructions to production stuff.

 

[9krpmrx8]

I am sure they will get the hose sorted but yeah it looks too long. A quick trip to the hydraulic hose supply shop would fix that if you are impatient.

 

[SJ_1989]

@Slow335is did you check what the overdrive ratio was? Is it 3x or 4x? There are two versions so I was told. Whether or not both are going into production I don't know.

 

[SJ_1989]

Install instructions

The provided hpfp hose is diffrent then in instructions and is too long. Should be shorter and not bent. Noticed small differences from install instructions to production stuff.

Fuel hose seems like an after thought so hopefully they'll get it sorted. Needs a 45 deg coupler on both ends and a 90 deg elbow on the fuel rail I think. You don't want the hose rubbing on the OFH or a tight bend radius like you see near the pump. Hose could fail over time.