'97 E39 Performance Upgrages?

[Mikelekan]

Hi guys! I'm new to the bimmer community and I'm glad to be a part of it by purchasing a '97 BMW E39 528i. I want to throw some performance upgrades in it for a little extra oomph! Any suggestion would be helpful

[BimmerBreaker]

I'm going to tow this to the E39 section as I suspect you'll get more relevant answers there. I'd recommend spending money first and foremost on maintenance to make sure the car is running well before even considering spending money on upgrades.

[dk500]

Turbo bruh

[Mikelekan]

I'm going to tow this to the E39 section as I suspect you'll get more relevant answers there. I'd recommend spending money first and foremost on maintenance to make sure the car is running well before even considering spending money on upgrades.

I've already changed oil, got new water pump, new fuel pump, I need to put some new brakes on it which will be my next purchase but I'm not trying to break the bank with a few upgrades

[DennisCooper]

Hi,

This question has been asked multiple hundreds, if not thousands of times over all the BMW forums. What kind of performance upgrades are you looking for, power, handling, braking, intake, exhaust, drivetrain? What kind of power increase do you want to have? what's your anticipated budget?

Depending on those main aspects, you'll get more focused responses. 'Not trying to break the bank' means vastly different things to different people.

Cheers, Dennis!

[edjack]

First, replace the VANOS seals: www.beisansystems.com

Those with an auto trans report a noticeable restoration of power.

Agree on turbo, or a supercharger. Short of those, there are no significant upgrades; most are a waste of money.

Respond to Dennis' post.

[Mikelekan]

I'm looking mainly to add a few horsies to my engine without having spending over $500 it doesn't have to be anything major but I would like to feel a little extra kick

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Or maybe not even add horsepower. What are some parts I could replace to get a good amount of oomph

[DennisCooper]

Hi,

In that case, for that budget, once you know you've resolved any issues with the engine, done the vanos seals as mentioned above, get a reputable specialist to remap the ECU. It'll 'actually' only add about 5-7 HP, but due to the better fuelling, removal of hesitancy/flat spots in the rev range the car will 'feel' more sprightly as a result. In short, it'll be a driving feel modification. If you can couple it with say a full system exhaust (middle section and backbox) you might get around 10-12HP increase, but that'll also take you way beyond $500

Cheers, Dennis!

[dk500]

I'm looking mainly to add a few horsies to my engine without having spending over $500 it doesn't have to be anything major but I would like to feel a little extra kick

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Or maybe not even add horsepower. What are some parts I could replace to get a good amount of oomph

Sorry but...

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Is it a manual? If it is start with a SSK and a CDV delete.

[JaxPlanet]

A good amount of oomph > $500 (E.g. supercharger, free flow exhaust system, LS swap, rocket boosters, warp drive, etc.)

In addition to the advice above, these items will restore or add some oomph:
Clean fuel system with BK44 (I do this before an oil change or before I change the fuel filter)
Replace factory CAI drop in filter with high flow drop in filter from K&N or AFE.
UUC Power Pulleys will reduce accessory load on engine and give a few HP back. They are aluminum so they will also improve reliability.
Big bore throttle body (http://www.westcoastriots.com/)
M50 manifold swap (http://www.bimmerforums.com/forum/sh...ld-Swap-Thread)
Swap front brakes with an e39 530i or 540i to control your added oomph

[Mikelekan]

A good amount of oomph > $500 (E.g. supercharger, free flow exhaust system, LS swap, rocket boosters, warp drive, etc.)

In addition to the advice above, these items will restore or add some oomph:
Clean fuel system with BK44 (I do this before an oil change or before I change the fuel filter)
Replace factory CAI drop in filter with high flow drop in filter from K&N or AFE.
UUC Power Pulleys will reduce accessory load on engine and give a few HP back. They are aluminum so they will also improve reliability.
Big bore throttle body (http://www.westcoastriots.com/)
M50 manifold swap (http://www.bimmerforums.com/forum/sh...ld-Swap-Thread)
Swap front brakes with an e39 530i or 540i to control your added oomph

I've tried looking for superchargers and I can't find one... Does it have to be specifically for my engine?

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Hi,

In that case, for that budget, once you know you've resolved any issues with the engine, done the vanos seals as mentioned above, get a reputable specialist to remap the ECU. It'll 'actually' only add about 5-7 HP, but due to the better fuelling, removal of hesitancy/flat spots in the rev range the car will 'feel' more sprightly as a result. In short, it'll be a driving feel modification. If you can couple it with say a full system exhaust (middle section and backbox) you might get around 10-12HP increase, but that'll also take you way beyond $500

Cheers, Dennis!

Would I have to take it to a shop to remap it? Or can I do it myself?

[Mikelekan]

Hi,

In that case, for that budget, once you know you've resolved any issues with the engine, done the vanos seals as mentioned above, get a reputable specialist to remap the ECU. It'll 'actually' only add about 5-7 HP, but due to the better fuelling, removal of hesitancy/flat spots in the rev range the car will 'feel' more sprightly as a result. In short, it'll be a driving feel modification. If you can couple it with say a full system exhaust (middle section and backbox) you might get around 10-12HP increase, but that'll also take you way beyond $500

Cheers, Dennis!

Would I have to take it into a shop to remap it? Of can I do it myself?

[Mcdiver]

Unless you are an expirenced bmw computer coder with software and hardware, I think I would leave that to the professionals.

[snaponbob]

A good amount of oomph > $500 (E.g. supercharger, free flow exhaust system, LS swap, rocket boosters, warp drive, etc.)

In addition to the advice above, these items will restore or add some oomph:
Clean fuel system with BK44 (I do this before an oil change or before I change the fuel filter)
Replace factory CAI drop in filter with high flow drop in filter from K&N or AFE.
UUC Power Pulleys will reduce accessory load on engine and give a few HP back. They are aluminum so they will also improve reliability.
Big bore throttle body (http://www.westcoastriots.com/)
M50 manifold swap (http://www.bimmerforums.com/forum/sh...ld-Swap-Thread)
Swap front brakes with an e39 530i or 540i to control your added oomph

An M50 intake on an M54? Can that even work? I have heads for both, and the intake ports are very different.
A big bore throttle body' might be doubtful as well. Doesn't do anything for S and S 50/52 applications unless LOTS of other stuff has been done.
However, an underdrive pulley WILL release some power due to less drag. I have done this on a bunch of M52 sn S52s, and it can be felt. Subtle, but noticeable.

[Mikelekan]

Sorry but...

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Is it a manual? If it is start with a SSK and a CDV delete.

I'm gonna put an E60 SSK in it but do I have to buy an actual SSK or is the E60's already short

[justinca540i]

image.jpeg

Left is E60. Right is E39.

I'm gonna put an E60 SSK in it but do I have to buy an actual SSK or is the E60's already short

The E60 is shorter than the E39. I did mine a couple weeks ago I absolutely love it.

[AquilaBMW]

With a $500 budget, you are not likely to be getting a whole lot of oomph. However you could do things like mentioned already. You can contact DUDMD (Site Vendor) and see what kind of tune he can do for you to enhance performance. Then you can add a 3.15 rear differential to improve your acceleration. That alone will transform your car.

[Mikelekan]

How much is a vanos seal replacement for my car? And if I DIY it do I need the double or single vanos seal?

[JaxPlanet]

You have M52 engine which is single VANOS: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/BMW_M52
You can purchase the rings and find instructions here: http://www.beisansystems.com/

Snaponbob > I suggested M50 swap and BBTB because engine is M52 not M54.

[snaponbob]

An M52TU28 has dual vanos. The head is basically an M54. I owned a 2001 325 touring, same engine. Check realoem. I still have the head and intake from my old Touring. Very different than an m50/52.

[auaq]

An M52TU28 has dual vanos. The head is basically an M54. I owned a 2001 325 touring, same engine. Check realoem. I still have the head and intake from my old Touring. Very different than an m50/52.

Op has the single vanos M52 engine and not the M52tu engine which is completely different. Hence, swapping in the M50 intake manifold in place of the M52 (S52 has the manifold as well) will work fine. You cannot swap intake manifolds between M52tu/M54 vs M50/M52/S50/S52 engines.

[snaponbob]

Well, finally saw the engine listing in wikipedia showing the B28 as has been said, so I have learned a thing !!. I was working off of realoem data. My bad.

That said, doing an M50 swap is certainly a bonus. If the OP pops for a tune, that swap will be even better (having done a few of these swaps on E36s). MAYBE a bit of torque loss below 3000 rpm, but the right tune can recapture much of that.

[JPR10]

Weight reduction!

[snaponbob]

That's
bwahaha.jpg

[ColtonBH]

I've tried looking for superchargers and I can't find one... Does it have to be specifically for my engine?

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Would I have to take it to a shop to remap it? Or can I do it myself?

Add another zero to the end of your budget and you'll be within supercharger range!