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Thread: good upgrades for 2004 545i w/ SMG

  1. #1
    Join Date
    Jul 2008
    Location
    Osnabrock, ND
    Posts
    961
    My Cars
    2004 325xi,2004 545i SMG

    good upgrades for 2004 545i w/ SMG

    Was wondering if there are any good upgrades out there for my 2004 545 SMG car. I love the car but have been getting bored with it.

    I plan on removing the rear muffler section and either getting a used DINAN muffler or no muffler at all.

    People have done intake box swaps before and I read mixed reviews on them, dinan is no longer available but others have "copied" the dual inlet set up with ok results, the others seem to be a waste of money.

    software upgrades? no sure which way to go here.

    would love your feed back on this and no, buying a m5 is not an option and really dont wana swap the trans at this time.
    Level 1 Certified BMW tech.

  2. #2
    Join Date
    Nov 2018
    Location
    cleveland
    Posts
    74
    My Cars
    2007 550i
    I had an RPI axelback exhaust/intake scoop in my 550i and it made it sound great and gave it just a smidge of extra power, but I would say if you want to make the car BETTER go with a limited slip differential. The scoop is a cheaper way to add highway hp but its not doing anything under like 45 mph
    Last edited by ignignot; 04-05-2021 at 03:23 PM.

  3. #3
    Join Date
    Jul 2008
    Location
    Osnabrock, ND
    Posts
    961
    My Cars
    2004 325xi,2004 545i SMG
    the lsd is a thought, what brands does everyone recommend. I do drive this car around to work and such so dont want a solid locked rear end.
    Level 1 Certified BMW tech.

  4. #4
    Join Date
    Dec 2004
    Location
    Charlotte, NC
    Posts
    151
    My Cars
    2008 BMW M5 SMGII
    I had an 05 545i sport, and I did the following mods:
    1) BC Coilovers - freakin' transformed the driving experience!
    2) Alcantara (hope I spelled it right) steering wheel - loved it, even though I lost the heating steering wheel.
    3) Dual exhaust conversion - really just a second crossover pipe. Looked more like an M5.
    4) Replaced the worn seats with newer sport seats. Hard job as my back was killing me for a week!
    5) New angel eyes - hard build, but worth it.

    I have an e60 M5 now, but I miss the 'drivability' of the 545. It has better 'get up and go' from a stop, and more tractable, but my M5 has a lot more peak power. Still miss my 545 to this day. Good luck

  5. #5
    Join Date
    Nov 2018
    Location
    cleveland
    Posts
    74
    My Cars
    2007 550i
    Word on the street is you want the quaife one. Its gonna run you close to $3k before you are done but you have an opportunity to change your differential ratio at the same time and really turn the thing into a dragster. I mean the e60 550i is geared to redline @ 190mph and digitally limited to 155mph ��

    I bought a used differential on ebay for $200 and im going to pay a local monster garage probably $400-$500 to weld it closed. I want to learn to swap them myself. But even then every swap isnt free ill a have to buy new diff fluid every time (or i guess maybe fcp to the rescue? )
    Last edited by ignignot; 04-01-2021 at 10:06 AM.

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