Cheapest way to add on HP and Torque?

Hey Guys,

What's the easiest and cheapest way to add HP and Torque?

I know a few things to consider are: aFe Intake, Exhaust high flow cats, ECU Software Mod, Pulleys...

Are there anymore mods, keeping the cost down? I want to avoid an ESS kit if I could, my wallet wouldn't like that lol

A lot of threads will say tune and HFC or catless. That's your start. But depending on your budget, this list changes. These two alone I say would net on avg 30 rwhp.

AFE intake is like the last one you should get. Although I have the stage two with scoops, I sometimes feel like I should have gotten a drop in.

If you can spare it, just get a SC. After everything you just listed, a couple thousand more would get you an ESS 550, which I feel is amazing, but I still want the 585 for the IC

BPM Tune. Best bang for your buck.

biggynuts01 wrote

BPM Tune. Best bang for your buck.

Where can I get that tune? Price? Specs after tune?

C|3R1C wrote

A lot of threads will say tune and HFC or catless. That's your start. But depending on your budget, this list changes. These two alone I say would net on avg 30 rwhp.

AFE intake is like the last one you should get. Although I have the stage two with scoops, I sometimes feel like I should have gotten a drop in.

If you can spare it, just get a SC. After everything you just listed, a couple thousand more would get you an ESS 550, which I feel is amazing, but I still want the 585 for the IC

Looking at around 2k to start. What do you think?

biggynuts01 wrote

BPM Tune. Best bang for your buck.

Correct me if I am wrong but that doesnt add power or torque..just custom maps the throttle response, removes the top speed govenor and cold start and bumps the redline up a couple of hundred RPM

OP: a free flow. headers back exhaust and drop in air filter is about all that can be done..but should be good for anywhere between 30-50 HP, I personally wouldnt do a pulley..not worth it imo

BPM Stage 2 Tune $1000 ($900 right now on group buy)
Turner Test Pipes $400
Drop in Filter $75

That should get you around 30-40hp at the wheels, depending on fuel quality/weather

Vic311 wrote

Correct me if I am wrong but that doesnt add power or torque..just custom maps the throttle response, removes the top speed govenor and cold start and bumps the redline up a couple of hundred RPM

OP: a free flow. headers back exhaust and drop in air filter is about all that can be done..but should be good for anywhere between 30-50 HP, I personally wouldnt do a pulley..not worth it imo

It does add power and torque, but this is just an added benefit of everything else.

Gains are 10-30hp dependent on mods/octane/conditions.

http://www.m3post.com/forums/showthread.php?t=748613

Mike Benvo wrote

It does add power and torque, but this is just an added benefit of everything else.

Gains are 10-30hp dependent on mods/octane/conditions.

http://www.m3post.com/forums/showthread.php?t=748613

I see..didn't see specific horspowers numbers quoted here..thanks

http://www.m3post.com/forums/showthread.php?t=784717

Vic311 wrote

I see..didn't see specific horspowers numbers quoted here..thanks

http://www.m3post.com/forums/showthread.php?t=784717

I can't say that you will gain 15.463 horsepower. You might gain 16.752 or 13.259. Hard to feel a massive horsepower gain unless it's a boosted application, although the increase in midrange torque is noticeable in day to day driving. Our tuned cars even sound better because of the vanos changes

Regardless, the power and torque gain is an added benefit, not the #1 purpose we designed the tune for.

Any competent tuner can desensitize knock detection and perform other tricks to make 'dyno queens'. We prefer to err on the side of safety and reliabily extract what's 'safe' without pushing limits. We do not alter any factory safeguards in our performance software.

People focus on WOT and numbers when they should focus on feel, reliability, torque under the curve, and part throttle which is where you spend most of your time. Tune tune accounts for all of this and the actual gains are icing on the cake.

There is a dyno of my car here:
http://www.m3post.com/forums/showthread.php?t=748613

Happy new year!

AyooooJay wrote  

Looking at around 2k to start. What do you think?

2k to start? I'm assuming you want to add more in the future. There's the couple paths you can take. If sound is not an issue (like you are super set on a specific tone) a tune with cat delete and test pipes to avoid the future cost of a catless upgrade if not, give out like another 1k or so for that dream xpipe + tune.

I personally love my Velos tune and so does my friend, but no doubt you have many choices here

Omar at Velos has been a long time buddy of mine and has offered the best advice, prices, and customer service I have experienced to date. Everything I have bought has been through him.

The best way is to supercharge. The other way is to make small gains by buying many little bolt ons that will net you about a 5th of the horsepower at about half the price of supercharging.

Hell, half the people on this site could have supercharged their cars for the price they spent on wheels and tires alone.

I know an ESS kit may seem expensive but, their base kit will run you around $10K after install. My Akra exhaust was about $5K (including Delete-R). I may have picked up 12-15 HP with the Akra.

IMO, if horsepower is what you are after, I would save up for a blower instead of nickel and dimeing your way to nearly the same cost with bolt on mods.

Rshane wrote

The best way is to supercharge. The other way is to make small gains by buying many little bolt ons that will net you about a 5th of the horsepower at about half the price of supercharging.

I dont know if "best" is the correct adjective "most" power?..sure..but then you are going FI..completely different animal..

OP is looking for cheapest ways and they have been suggested..removing intake/exhaust restriction is the cheapest..lots of parts are available for sale second hand to minimize cost.

If you want a lot more usable torque then you should get rid of your heavy stock x-pipe and swap for a titanium catless unit. Should run around $1,500 installed. Car will be lighter by ~ 50 lbs and you will gain 20-30 lb ft of torque throughout the entire rev range.

Save & trade in for a MY14 or AMG



ok maybe not the least expensive

Best bang for your buck is our <$1500 package. ACM test pipes and tune for $1309 shipped. Expect 20-30whp!

Sal@AUTOcouture wrote

Best bang for your buck is our <$1500 package. ACM test pipes and tune for $1309 shipped. Expect 20-30whp!

+ ACM oem muffler mod for awesome sound!

Sal@AUTOcouture wrote

Best bang for your buck is our <$1500 package. ACM test pipes and tune for $1309 shipped. Expect 20-30whp!

+1 they will hook you up, great customer service!!!

Longboarder wrote

If you want a lot more usable torque then you should get rid of your heavy stock x-pipe and swap for a titanium catless unit. Should run around $1,500 installed. Car will be lighter by ~ 50 lbs and you will gain 20-30 lb ft of torque throughout the entire rev range.

Which Ti mid-pipe are you thinking of in this price range? I know the Akra is pretty pricey..

Maybe a dumb question, but Does the tune affect the warranty?

W Cole wrote

Which Ti mid-pipe are you thinking of in this price range? I know the Akra is pretty pricey..

I bought the MRF Engineering mid-pipe. No cats and no resonators. I paired it up with an Akra slip and it's not very loud at all.

Even though I'm supercharged, you can see the significant increase in usable torque all throughout the rev range. Look at the delta between the red and green dyno lines. That's attributable solely to the exhaust (the Akra muffler adds zero HP/TQ).

Mike Benvo wrote

People focus on WOT and numbers when they should focus on feel, reliability, torque under the curve, and part throttle which is where you spend most of your time. Tune tune accounts for all of this and the actual gains are icing on the cake.

Power under the curve is important of course, but do you think WOT is more important on a M3 compared to other cars since you have to rev the car to make power anyhow?