Quick power modifications to an e39 540i

[Matt.Weaves]

Hello,
As some of you know i own a 2001 540ia and was wondering if there where some easy performance mods i can do to make my car a bit faster.
I know some people will say "Just save some money and buy an m5" but that is not an option for me I will be doing a muffler deleat for loosing weight and gaining some power. Another thing is most of dinan software is not cheap($1000+).
That being said I dont expect other mods to be cheap but I was looking in the price range of 0 to $500. Like the rear sway or something.
Please let me know of anything along with the possible hp it can produce and price.
Thanks!

[RuskiE39]

Dudmd tune. Look him up and contact him to get more info. I believe he can flash your ECU remotely and it's much cheaper than Dinan software.

[nikh23]

Hello,
As some of you know i own a 2001 540ia and was wondering if there where some easy performance mods i can do to make my car a bit faster.
I know some people will say "Just save some money and buy an m5" but that is not an option for me I will be doing a muffler deleat for loosing weight and gaining some power. Another thing is most of dinan software is not cheap($1000+).
That being said I dont expect other mods to be cheap but I was looking in the price range of 0 to $500. Like the rear sway or something.
Please let me know of anything along with the possible hp it can produce and price.
Thanks!

A decent set of tires and make sure all maintenance (i.e. Cooling system) is up to date.


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[WBAD530i]

Did you add the m5 badge to the trunk?

[BimmrMeUpSnotty]

For God's sakes, remove all those M decals, the M badge, m banners, and other crap like that, you've ruined that little old lady's clean E39 with that PepBoys customizing manuever. Spend your money wisely on things that do it justice.

[Nyc Dito]

not actually any power, but you'll feel faster... 3.15 diff if you don't already have it...

[Matt.Weaves]

Did you add the m5 badge to the trunk?

No, I dont want it to be portrayed as an m5 just an m sport 540i

[nikh23]

No, I dont want it to be portrayed as an m5 just an m sport 540i

I'm confused. You don't want your car to look like an m5 because I assume you don't want to lie about your car being something it's not. Yet your car also does not have the sport package, and you want your car to look as if it does.


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[fullthrottle540]

You can get a $500 nitrous kit and smash on M5 all day

[dannyzabolotny]

a 6-speed manual and a 3.15 diff will give you a noticeable boost in performance, along with making your car a lot more fun to drive.

[benjaminearle]

I didn't realize so much stuff from the Civic aisle at PepBoys would fit on an E39. Like noses, we all have opinions, here's mine (ironically, it's echoed by some above):

It's not an M car. The steering wheel, fine. The pumper covers, fine. All the "M...MPerformance..."rally" (WTF) stuff? No, just no.

Blue f'n lights? no, you're not Chuck Norris in Delta Force, you have no need for blue lights.

Chrome wheels? no no no. That just SCREAMS "I'M NOT AN OEM WHEEL AND I"M GRAVITY CAST"

Air filter? There's your first performance mod - delete your hot air intake and put the stock box back on. Unless you're going to run a true cold air (Dinan, in front of the radiator) intake you're not going to get any better performance from the PepBoys cone, plus you're risking sanding your engine.

If it hasn't had a radiator or alternator in the last 75k go ahead and get them in your garage. Notoriously weak cooling systems and these are unforgiving engines if they get hot - and they get hot QUICKLY.

As others have said - get a 3.15 from a wagon (sorry, no LSD), coilovers/bars, a tune and good tires/brakes (Hawk XP). That probably adds up to almost what you bought the car for.

The 6mt/M5 LSD swap is next but again you're in for north of $2500 in parts alone.

At the end of the day it's a big car. It's never going to scoot around like a Focus ST or Civic SI and shouldn't be decorated like one.

And a final note - did you do the paint work for the new bumpers yourself? Looks very nice.

[geargrinder]

wondering if there where some easy performance mods i can do to make my car a bit faster.

Well there's a question that's never been asked before*!

(* this question has been asked approximately 900,000 times per week since the first E39 rolled off the assembly line... might want to up your google game...)

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..snipped...

LOL to all that...

[Matt.Weaves]

You can get a $500 nitrous kit and smash on M5 all day

hahahahah if only!

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I'm confused. You don't want your car to look like an m5 because I assume you don't want to lie about your car being something it's not. Yet your car also does not have the sport package, and you want your car to look as if it does.


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Yes but its still a 540i not changing any badging to make it seem as tho its an m5. The non sport bumpers in my opinion are hideous compared to the sport ones.

[Matt.Weaves]

Well there's a question that's never been asked before*!

(* this question has been asked approximately 900,000 times per week since the first E39 rolled off the assembly line... might want to up your google game...)

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LOL to all that...

I wanted my own answers not from someone else. I have checked multiple sites regarding this and found some useful information but wanted to ask it on this site as for new information.

[StephenVA]

Remove all interior and the 2 tons of crap in the trunk then do a Jet pack install on deck lid......

[cnsorial]

S62 swap


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[auaq]

Remove all interior, the entire a/c system, sunroof, infotainment system plus wiring, upgrade to 420G 6 speed gearbox with the I6 bellhousing configuration, drop in a built twin turbocharged S54, 3.62 LSD, roll cage, 17x10" drag radials in the back with skinny's in the fronts, lexan race windows, recaro seat, parachute, and an M5 rear subframe brace. A guaranteed 7 sec E39. :p

[geargrinder]

I wanted my own answers not from someone else. I have checked multiple sites regarding this and found some useful information but wanted to ask it on this site as for new information.

Ha! translates: millennialsnowflake is center of universe. Also waah searching is boring.

Dude there is zero anything unique about your question or situation. If anything you're sub interesting/unique in your situation. The answers are well publicized. No there's been no new $100 500hp megaturbulator mod developed in the last 10 minutes since the last time somebody asked this question.

[fullthrottle540]

I posted the most accurate answer thus far, and dude replied "hahaha"

What gives

[qcdstick]

If you need more power, try going with a bigger alternator. Easy DIY swap, several amperages to choose from. Can add many more blue lights.

[dannyzabolotny]

I posted the most accurate answer thus far, and dude replied "hahaha"

What gives

You're not wrong— a nitrous kit really is the biggest bang for your buck if all you care about is horsepower. Otherwise, get ready to spend lots of money for relatively minimal gains. The only noticeable power gains come from expensive stuff like headers, a supercharger, or an engine swap (4.6 or S62). If you want easy, cheap bolt-on power then go get a Chevy.

[Plattus1000]

not actually any power, but you'll feel faster... 3.15 diff if you don't already have it...

True dat!
All the bolt-ons in the world will add nothing without a tune. DUDMD +1

You can slowly accumulate the various Dinan parts and then Dima can tune you but honestly, the 25-30hp you can get from all the Dinan stuff (minus the s/c) won't win you a race at the drags. It'll sound better, be quicker to respond, hold a gear for longer and cost you as much as you paid for the car.

Ebay occasionally has a header for sale, supersprint, evolve etc. They are your best bet but still, tune or its just noise.

Just make it run well, keep it clean and buy small stuff until you're ready.

Oh, and Geargrinder woke up on the wrong side if the freeway today. lol

Try "Trick" racing fuel (105 octane) for a week. If nothing else, it smells nice.

[Plattus1000]

If you need more power, try going with a bigger alternator. Easy DIY swap, several amperages to choose from. Can add many more blue lights.

That's just good stuff right there.

[gmak]

Remove all interior, the entire a/c system, sunroof, infotainment system plus wiring, upgrade to 420G 6 speed gearbox with the I6 bellhousing configuration, drop in a built twin turbocharged S54, 3.62 LSD, roll cage, 17x10" drag radials in the back with skinny's in the fronts, lexan race windows, recaro seat, parachute, and an M5 rear subframe brace. A guaranteed 7 sec E39. :p

You forgot the FA coilovers with 5K in the rear.

[auaq]

You forgot the FA coilovers with 5K in the rear.

That too.