330i Dyno results: Dinan CAI, TB, exhaust, software

Here are my before/after Dynojet results for the Dinan CAI, throttle body, exhaust, and stage 3 ECU software. Both before and after graphs are each the best of 5 runs.

2003 330i SP 5-speed. Ambient temperature 48 degrees. 93 octane premium. Pictured runs in 4th gear. We experimentally tried 3rd and 5th gear, and it made little difference.

I was hoping for better gains, but my pre-mod numbers were quite high - 204.9 HP/206.3 ft-lbs. The dyno tech said if you get a lucky "strong" engine, they often don't respond as well to simple bolt-on mods.

On the plus side there are no drivability issues. No unpleasant induction noise, exhaust droning, idle problems, etc.

Wow... good strong numbers...

Correct me if I'm wrong but I think these are the highest non-boosted M54 Dynojet numbers we've seen here.

Originally Posted by Kaz

Correct me if I'm wrong but I think these are the highest non-boosted M54 Dynojet numbers we've seen here.

I believe it is.

Congrats to joema!

I do think that your numbers are stronger (even as stock) compared to fso_BamBam. Reason being I see that your tech smoothed out the graph. A dyno graph with smoothing certainly has a lower maximum value than a non-smoothed graph. Dynojet s/w provides graph smoothing from 0 to 5, in order of smoothness. I personally prefer smoothing just because it provides a better picture of the expected transition between the data points collection.

can yo u actually feel the gains?

Originally Posted by Robbyrh10

can yo u actually feel the gains?

To be honest, no. But keep in mind the total max HP/torque gain was fairly small, percentage-wise.

Also I can't tell much difference in 0-60 time. Both before and after it's about 6.2 sec, measured by either stop watch or G-Tech. So despite the superficially high Dynojet numbers, it didn't translate into obviously faster acceleration.

However there's definitely a throttle response difference. The Dinan ECU software remaps the throttle so power builds faster as RPMs climb. That makes it feel faster, although peak power isn't much higher. A downside is it's almost twitchy under some conditions, mainly when cold.

In general if you want significant, unmistakable power increase, forced induction is the only way.

joema's numbers are superb.

He already explained the small difference in power increase, due to having such a strong stock baseline to begin with. I've been running Chevron 92 octane since the dyno day, and plan on dynoing again in a couple of months. Hopefully, it'll be closer to 210/210 this time.

I think however that joema's stock numbers are the exception, not the norm. He simply has a freakishly strong stock engine. So, the Dinan mods really didn't have much else to extract out of that. For most us, I think 190-195 whp stock is probably a more realistic number.

Originally Posted by fso_BamBam

joema's numbers are superb.

He already explained the small difference in power increase, due to having such a strong stock baseline to begin with. I've been running Chevron 92 octane since the dyno day, and plan on dynoing again in a couple of months. Hopefully, it'll be closer to 210/210 this time.

I think however that joema's stock numbers are the exception, not the norm. He simply has a freakishly strong stock engine. So, the Dinan mods really didn't have much else to extract out of that. For most us, I think 190-195 whp stock is probably a more realistic number.

I dunno. That's 4 out of 4 "exception rather than the norm" type cars that members here have. There's another dyno posted earlier in the week, Doeboy's DHP, and Tanin's old 330i...All showed higher than expected HP ratings. If I'm not mistaken, another 330i pulled at the same dyno showed higher than published number as well.

I think BMW just understates the HP numbers, period.