Tuning e39 523i to 525i - it is possible?

[WGT523]

Dear SifuCan anybody share of performing tuning upgrade of e39 523i to 525i spec? It is possible?:wink:

 

[Jerman]

Dear Sifu

Can anybody share of performing tuning upgrade of e39 523i to 525i spec? It is possible?:wink:

bro,
If I understand you correctly, do you mean to increase the 523i bhp & torque to match a 525i? If yes, it's possible via ECU remapping which a few club members have done. It will increase your bhp & torque by about 10-15%. But remember the 523i is running on M52 engine while the 525i is using M54 engine which will give you better throttle response due to the "fly-by-wire" system. On paper, the 525i will produce 192bhp with 245Nm torque while the 523i churns out about 170bhp and 230Nm torque (if I remember correctly)

 

[WGT523]

bro,
If I understand you correctly, do you mean to increase the 523i bhp & torque to match a 525i? If yes, it's possible via ECU remapping which a few club members have done. It will increase your bhp & torque by about 10-15%. But remember the 523i is running on M52 engine while the 525i is using M54 engine which will give you better throttle response due to the "fly-by-wire" system. On paper, the 525i will produce 192bhp with 245Nm torque while the 523i churns out about 170bhp and 230Nm torque (if I remember correctly)

Hi Jerman, sorry for the late reply. Was outstation.
Thank for your reply. Would like to know if this tuning throught ECU remapping is reliable and is 523i gear box or other part able to cop with such upgrade of software. BTW, which mechanic provide such service and $$ costing?
Cheers and Gong Xi fa Cai.

 

[feisaldzul]

no point in upgrading yr engine from 523 to 525 for that amount of money.

523 to 528 or 530 then u are talkin.

otherwise if your 523 is the single vanos, go for the M50 manifold swap and do a remap.
m50 manifold should be around rm200 to rm400 at chopshops.
remap at rm1k plus.
no issues with gearbox.

 

[loafer]

no point in upgrading yr engine from 523 to 525 for that amount of money.

523 to 528 or 530 then u are talkin.

otherwise if your 523 is the single vanos, go for the M50 manifold swap and do a remap.
m50 manifold should be around rm200 to rm400 at chopshops.
remap at rm1k plus.
no issues with gearbox.

You'll need to fabricate some piping and stuff for the manifold swap as well which could set you back a couple of hundred depending on the machinist.

Good luck

 

[bimmerholic]

You'll need to fabricate some piping and stuff for the manifold swap as well which could set you back a couple of hundred depending on the machinist.

Good luck

Or you can buy a complete M50 manifold swap set incl. hoses and pipes and what not directly form the States. I've came across some website that offers this service.

 

[shiva73]

Or you can buy a complete M50 manifold swap set incl. hoses and pipes and what not directly form the States. I've came across some website that offers this service.

Guys..Will this M50 complete swap generate any significant boost?

 

[bmw7833]

The M50 manifold will give u a better pick up but lower your top speed.

 

[WGT523]

The M50 manifold will give u a better pick up but lower your top speed.

Sorry to ask this, how low the top speed will be? cheers

 

[loafer]

Or you can buy a complete M50 manifold swap set incl. hoses and pipes and what not directly form the States. I've came across some website that offers this service.

Yeah but they're quite pricey. Saw one ages ago going for between USD300-400. That's not including shipping. Forgot the website but the design and finishing on it looks amazing.

I did mine for a total of around RM700 and that includes the manifold, installation and pipe fabrication etc.

 

[moots]

loafer,apart from rm700 for the hardware,how much were you charged for the remap?
and where did u have this done?from the writeup in many forums,this simple mod liberates about 30bhp to bring it up to around 220bhp.i am keen.

 

[fabianyee]

Tuning alone is not enuf, need to change the intake manifold too...
Read somewhere that the 523i (M52B25) manifold has smaller runners compares to the E39 525i (M54B25) runners, improving low and mid range torque but restricts high rpm power..
M50tuB25 manifold has the biggest runners (compared to M52B25 and M52B28) which gives good high rpm power - can feed more air at high rev... But not so efficient at low rev bcos a big runner doesn't give low volume air the momentum it needed to 'charge' into the combustion chamber... Imagine 2 water hoses of different sizes, the smaller hose can spray water further compared to the bigger hose..

 

[fabianyee]

The M50 manifold will give u a better pick up but lower your top speed.

Based on what technical argument that u come to this conclusion?

 

[loafer]

loafer,apart from rm700 for the hardware,how much were you charged for the remap?
and where did u have this done?from the writeup in many forums,this simple mod liberates about 30bhp to bring it up to around 220bhp.i am keen.

I didn't do a remap actually. Just a simple battery pull to reset the ECU. In fact I've never done any remapping for my car with the mods I've done on the engine. Figured it would be better to just do all the mods and then get a standalone management in the future.

If you're interested in remapping services you can call Lionel Koh. His number is 012-220 7630. He's got a contact who does remapping and is pretty reliable. Good review too. Not too sure if the M50 manifold swap would really unleash 30bhp but if it's tested and proven by others I don't see why you shouldn't do it.

The M50 manifold will give u a better pick up but lower your top speed.

Agree with fab on what he said!

From the minimal research (i'm lazy ) I've done on the M50 manifold swap, it's supposed to allow the engine more breathing capabilities at higher RPMs thus giving it more pulling power.

Personally for me I felt a little loss of power in the lower RPM ranges and my engine is more alive from the mid to higher ranges. You might be able to get more out of it with a proper remap, which I did not do however.

 

[loafer]

Here's a comparison of the M52B28 intake manifolds with the M50B25 ones.

http://328compact.co.uk/m50-intake-and-bbtb

Most people who did this mod did the BBTB mod as well. Seems to work better together.

 

[bmw7833]

Based on what technical argument that u come to this conclusion?

Give me some time, i try to dig out the old topic in other forum.

May be i terbalik kot..pick up will scarified but increase the top speed.

 

[dzuljazz2001]

Here's a comparison of the M52B28 intake manifolds with the M50B25 ones.

http://328compact.co.uk/m50-intake-and-bbtb

Most people who did this mod did the BBTB mod as well. Seems to work better together.

:top:great post loafer:top:

 

[WGT523]

Yeah but they're quite pricey. Saw one ages ago going for between USD300-400. That's not including shipping. Forgot the website but the design and finishing on it looks amazing.

I did mine for a total of around RM700 and that includes the manifold, installation and pipe fabrication etc.

Hi Bro, where you did yours? please provide contact of the workshop?
Mine is 523i Double Vanos year 1999. Not sure if it is M52 or M54. But I hope to increase the power a bit.
thanks

 

[bimmerholic]

Hi Bro, where you did yours? please provide contact of the workshop?
Mine is 523i Double Vanos year 1999. Not sure if it is M52 or M54. But I hope to increase the power a bit.
thanks

yours has to be M52TU instead...

 

[loafer]

Hi Bro, where you did yours? please provide contact of the workshop?
Mine is 523i Double Vanos year 1999. Not sure if it is M52 or M54. But I hope to increase the power a bit.
thanks

Try calling Danny How 012-3058382. Speaks only Cantonese or Malay though . Tell him you got your contact from loafer. Cheers.