N52 intake shootout

[hoveringuy]

With adam.nonis at the dyno this morning, here's the punchline.

-N52 DISA intake clearly makes the most low-end torque but then peters-out (red) No surprise there.
-N54 suffers on the bottom and only shines because it can sustain power at the very top (green)
-The M50-style intake did pretty good on the bottom end but not as well as DISA in a narrow range, but broadly outperformed both DISA and N54 intakes from 3800 all the way to 7200. (blue) Further, it made more peak power at a lower rpm and just feels more responsive driving.

272hp on this dyno is about 258+/- on a Dynojet.

[hoveringuy]

With adam.nonis at the dyno this morning, here's the punchline.

-N52 DISA intake clearly makes the most low-end torque but then peters-out (red) No surprise there.
-N54 suffers on the bottom and only shines because it can sustain power at the very top (green)
-The M50-style intake did pretty good on the bottom end but not as well as DISA in a narrow range, but broadly outperformed both DISA and N54 intakes from 3800 all the way to 7200. (blue) Further, it made more peak power at a lower rpm and just feels more responsive driving.

272hp on this dyno is about 258+/- on a Dynojet.

[adam.nonis]

Here's one that's just M50 style vs DISA


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[adam.nonis]

And just M50 style vs N54




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[Digitalwave]

I think the only fair way to make these comparisons is to have a "good" tune that is tailored to each intake.

[adam.nonis]

Ideally that gives you a good final result, but for troubleshooting (methodology wise) you want to only change one thing at a time. The DISA and N54 intakes are really know quantities which closely match the numbers in the dyno sheets (peak power at xx RPM). So, tuning would help smooth out some things in the middle and “might” make more power, but likely not less. Results are results


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[Digitalwave]

I think it's fine to compare the custom intake to the N54 on the same tune (an N54 tune). The 3-stage intake is too different to work properly with an N54 tune, and vice versa.

[adam.nonis]

I think it's fine to compare the custom intake to the N54 on the same tune (an N54 tune). The 3-stage intake is too different to work properly with an N54 tune, and vice versa.

Correct, but this is all on the DISA tune, and we already have a dyno graph (very early on) that shows an N54 intake tuned for N54 intake.

Also, the gains to be had by tuning an N54 intake would also apply to this intake since they're both “log” plenums with unencumbered runners.


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[adam.nonis]

I look at it this way. If I swap out exhaust manifolds for headers, and it shows more power(or different power curve), I think “sweet”. Can it be optimized with a tune, likely. Will it all go away with a tune, not likely.


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[hoveringuy]

I think the only fair way to make these comparisons is to have a "good" tune that is tailored to each intake.

That would be ideal, but I already have a wealth of data from the other intakes running on that dyno.

I would love same car, same day, optimized tunes, but it was already pretty expensive just swapping intakes for the data. Pulling the tuner in would have made it a multi-day affair and much more $$.

A/F is close on all of them so the difference in power is strictly due to the V/E differences between intakes and I was really looking for validation that the other intakes perform, and that was accomplished!

Next step is to refine the "M50" intake a bit more (carbon plenum??) and then go back to optimize the tune on just that intake.

More importantly, the feel of the intake is better than either N54 or even DISA. It feels crisper pulls strongly to reasonably high rpms and is easy to live with.

I'll take it to the track Friday night, as well

[digger]

Is there a reason why you aren't using the plenum style from the N52 vintage thread?

[adam.nonis]

Is there a reason why you aren't using the plenum style from the N52 vintage thread?

Just trying to position the throttle body closer to the regular (center) position. I may make another one like that for my car.


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[TobyB]

I'll take it to the track Friday night, as well

Lap times are sometimes the best evaluator of how 'good' a part is- it might not make
any more horsepower or any more torque, but if it makes it easier to consistently get the car right
up against the edge of what it can do, you'll go faster...

t
tries not to underestimate driver comfort.

[hoveringuy]

Is there a reason why you aren't using the plenum style from the N52 vintage thread?

In my case it doesn't work as well because it doesn't give me room for the MAF (which is actually optional) and filter.

Otherwise it's perfectly legit!

Note: I will also be printing a combined MAF housing and intake piping that will connect the cone filter to the silicone 90.