No, throttles are probably not faster than valvetronic. At least not in a way that you'd notice. We had the throttle response tweaked to high heaven, it was actually too sensitive.
But, I do think there is potential with ITBs - but not because of the throttles specifically. the N54 manifold does work, but mostly because it just happens to bolt up. It's not like it was designed for this use either. ITBs would effectively allow you to run "without a throttle", which is also physically possible, but there'd be no fail safe. Otherwise you could just run open trumpets or add a plenum and use no throttle at all. So S54 throttles would allow you to run trumpets, either open or with a plenum, and still have a throttle backup (they stay open most of the time on the N52 anyway).
You could also command the valve lift to 100% all the time and run it on the throttles but I'm not sure what that would drive like. When people talk about S54 throttles on an N52, I don't think they're talking about using the literal throttles to control the engine. At least they don't understand how it works if that's the case. The throttle is only there for idle and startup, and for a failsafe if something happens to the valvetronic system. The rest of the time it stays open.
The biggest benefit to the N54 manifold is it's cheap, it bolts on, and it functions well while giving you more space in the engine bay. If it was literally the best manifold you could have on an N52, that would be a pretty big coincidence!
But, I do think there is potential with ITBs - but not because of the throttles specifically. the N54 manifold does work, but mostly because it just happens to bolt up. It's not like it was designed for this use either. ITBs would effectively allow you to run "without a throttle", which is also physically possible, but there'd be no fail safe. Otherwise you could just run open trumpets or add a plenum and use no throttle at all. So S54 throttles would allow you to run trumpets, either open or with a plenum, and still have a throttle backup (they stay open most of the time on the N52 anyway).
You could also command the valve lift to 100% all the time and run it on the throttles but I'm not sure what that would drive like. When people talk about S54 throttles on an N52, I don't think they're talking about using the literal throttles to control the engine. At least they don't understand how it works if that's the case. The throttle is only there for idle and startup, and for a failsafe if something happens to the valvetronic system. The rest of the time it stays open.
The biggest benefit to the N54 manifold is it's cheap, it bolts on, and it functions well while giving you more space in the engine bay. If it was literally the best manifold you could have on an N52, that would be a pretty big coincidence!
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