N55 Turbo Side Intake Progress

[JPuehl]

Looks good, but am curious why the hose clamps and zip-ties?

 

[mwpa71]

So I attempted to install the Midnight inlet today, obviously should be a 5-10 minute job, especially with how much access I have.

I had even taken some ‘you, versus the guy she told you not to worry about’ comparison images which, of course, are hilarious.

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First thing that you’ll notice gets in the way is the oil feed line.
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So persuade that onto a different route, fine, not ideal, but fine.

Then it clashes with the chain tensioner pretty badly if you want it in the standard position.

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I have since filed and hammered some clearance into the inlet to get it somewhere close to the standard location. I will have to get the inside welded and ground back because I have had to file through all the weld on the outside and then some more.

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The tab/bracket to the head also didn’t have enough clearance.
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I will tidy this all up and get it to work, I’m just a bit pissed that the inlet just doesn’t fit right. I had already put a few hours in with a die grinder to clean the weld on the inside, and then a couple more gold taping it, and now I need to undo the taping to tidy up the clearance I needed to make. I guess the other option I could have done would be to cut off the bracket that holds it to the head and remake that, which I am going to have to do anyway, but then the fit to the standard clean air pipe would be even worse! If I was happy with it clocked over like that, I could’ve just lopped the bracket off and had that re-welded on.

Here are some images with the factory clean air pipe after my clearancing, it is bolted to the valve cover. You can see how off centre the bracket/tab bolt hole is.

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Here is the same setup with the Pure inlet. It fits better to the clean air pipe, but isn’t fully seated into the turbo. The bracket that holds it to the head also doesn’t fit that well, but it aligns okay I guess.

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I’m curious to know how other people’s fit! I will drop Midnight an email and let them know.

The Midnight inlet does clear an FTP turbo outlet, so that’s good at least. Am I expecting too much? Seems to me like there’s not a ‘perfect’ inlet on the market just yet.

I just received my MM inlet. I can't comment on fitment as yet.
What I can say is, the internal weld of the pipe (the main weld that joins the 2 halves) is pretty rough. There is a high buildup of aluminium that has sagged... its a tricky spot to grind down flat.

 

[CalvinNismo]

Looks good, but am curious why the hose clamps and zip-ties?

I’ve put the cable ties on as an attempt to kink the ‘tail’ of the hose clamp to be tighter to the rest of clamp. Probably futile. I’ll snip them off before putting fluid in there for sure. It’s one of those things that probably (definitely) seemed like a better idea than it actually is.

I just received my MM inlet. I can't comment on fitment as yet.
What I can say is, the internal weld of the pipe (the main weld that joins the 2 halves) is pretty rough. There is a high buildup of aluminium that has sagged... its a tricky spot to grind down flat.

Yeah, it’d be nice if he back purged it. Mine was similar, I can’t remember if I posted up the before shots?

And after a lot of fettling with a die grinder.

 

[mwpa71]

I’ve put the cable ties on as an attempt to kink the ‘tail’ of the hose clamp to be tighter to the rest of clamp. Probably futile. I’ll snip them off before putting fluid in there for sure. It’s one of those things that probably (definitely) seemed like a better idea than it actually is.



Yeah, it’d be nice if he back purged it. Mine was similar, I can’t remember if I posted up the before shots?

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And after a lot of fettling with a die grinder.
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Thanks mate.
I had a go at fitting..omg, it's hitting on so many bits and pieces. I couldn't get it to go..I will build up some more patience and have another shot in the next few days.

 

[Richm240xi]

Hey so I had a question for you guys, everyone here is teeing into the lower coolant hose that runs from the bottom of the car into the heater core in the firewall. Would there be any difference if we ran it to the second heater core line coming out the firewall? The one that tees into the bottom of the front radiator hose? Just curious because looking at the top of the car, it just looks easier to access and I would have the tee facing in the right direction obviously.

 

[JPuehl]

Hey so I had a question for you guys, everyone here is teeing into the lower coolant hose that runs from the bottom of the car into the heater core in the firewall. Would there be any difference if we ran it to the second heater core line coming out the firewall? The one that tees into the bottom of the front radiator hose? Just curious because looking at the top of the car, it just looks easier to access and I would have the tee facing in the right direction obviously.

Are you talking about for the coolant tank? If so I don't think it matters as it's just an expansion tank. I'm sure BMW did it the way they did because the line is available by the water pump / thermostat and the tank is right above the line.

 

[Richm240xi]

Are you talking about for the coolant tank? If so I don't think it matters as it's just an expansion tank. I'm sure BMW did it the way they did because the line is available by the water pump / thermostat and the tank is right above the line.

Yes that’s what I meant, and Awsome! Appreciate it, I think just to make it simpler for myself I’ll tee into that hose

 

[Richm240xi]

Hey guys so wanted to know if any of you Mafless guys were in the tri-state, looking to get a mafless tune really soon. Tried contacting Justin at twisted tuning a few times with no avail.

 

[JPuehl]

Hey guys so wanted to know if any of you Mafless guys were in the tri-state, looking to get a mafless tune really soon. Tried contacting Justin at twisted tuning a few times with no avail.

Contact me and I'll see what I can do to help you out.