Help planning my first build

ipayincash · 05-28-2023, 02:37 AM

Victim : 21 X5Mc 15k miles

Let me start by saying I am planning out my first build and I'm brand new to the BMW world, and I'm overwhelmed with the community lol

Never knew this existed. Okay so the build, I am obsessed with the sounds I've heard tuned catless x5m turbos make but don't want to tune it since I'd have to ship ecu to Finland and all that. With that being said, I'd like to maximize performance while keeping it safe and reliable as it is my daily. So far I'm looking at full Akrapovic link and exhaust, Redstar secondary downpipe, Eventuri intake soon as it comes out in 5 weeks, and I'm undecided on the primary catted downpipes as I want a guarantee no CEL but thinking going either Evolution Racewerks or Redstar. Also really thinking on pulling the trigger on RKautowerks stage 2 turbo upgrade but not sure how all this would affect reliability since I'm not going to tune it. Any knowledge, experience, or recommendations is greatly appreciated, I know there is a wealth of knowledge collectively on here so I had to make this post before I just start ordering parts to a shop. BTW I will probably do some aesthetic mods as well but that doesn't really concern me atm mostly just worried about functionality of all these other performance upgrades and negative effects it could have that Im not aware of. Thanks in advance

AUSX5M · 05-28-2023, 03:16 AM

I’m going down the same path, though you’ll want to factor in rods & pistons as well as the rods will let go before you the stock turbos run out of puff.

Eventuri intake
Redstar Catless down pipes
Akropovic system
Rod & piston upgrade
CF charge coolers
Custom tune (not a piggy back)

ipayincash · 05-28-2023, 04:29 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by AUSX5M

I’m going down the same path, though you’ll want to factor in rods & pistons as well as the rods will let go before you the stock turbos run out of puff.

Eventuri intake
Redstar Catless down pipes
Akropovic system
Rod & piston upgrade
CF charge coolers
Custom tune (not a piggy back)

Which brands are you going for regarding the rods, pistons, cf charge coolers, and did you decide you is doing your custom tune ?

AUSX5M · 05-28-2023, 04:52 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ipayincash

Which brands are you going for regarding the rods, pistons, cf charge coolers, and did you decide you is doing your custom tune ?

Evolve sell the rod & piston upgrade for 7k delivered to Australia. Carbahn alos do a swap out long block for 25k, CF charge cooler link below.

Going with the custom tune as I don’t trust piggy backs fooling the ecu, have to pull the ecu and get them unlocked in Finland them sent back for tuning.

https://carbahn.com/product/cb463-60...d-from-4-2019/

https://csfrace.com/csf_products/dir...oling-systems/

https://f90.bimmerpost.com/forums/sh....php?t=1800359

https://f90.bimmerpost.com/forums/sh....php?t=1937466

AUSX5M · 05-28-2023, 04:54 AM

Will also do a meth injection like in the link.

ipayincash · 05-28-2023, 06:01 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ipayincash

Which brands are you going for regarding the rods, pistons, cf charge coolers, and did you decide you is doing your custom tune ?

Oh wow okay so after looking into all of that I think I will leave the stock turbos the way they are as I don't think I will be stressing the car out more than stock. I will only be improving the airflow and sounds which is what I'm going for lol not trying to go deep into engine work and tuning, def in the future just not now lol have to crawl before I start running lol I did forget to mention I am using the race chip currently so will probably continue using it after mods unless I find it unnecessary anymore. Thanks for those links def explained a lot. Cant wait to see yours finished hopefully you'll post some nice videos in the future once complete

r33_RGSport · 05-28-2023, 10:37 AM

Nice list of mods. Downpipe wise, I do recommend ActiveAutowerke catted.
It is advertised not to throw CEL.

ipayincash · 05-28-2023, 05:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by r33_RGSport

Nice list of mods. Downpipe wise, I do recommend ActiveAutowerke catted.
It is advertised not to throw CEL.

jokerswld34 was running the catted ActiveAutowerke and he got a CEL, I believe he's now selling it so I'm staying away from that company for that reason.

r33_RGSport · 05-28-2023, 06:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ipayincash

jokerswld34 was running the catted ActiveAutowerke and he got a CEL, I believe he's now selling it so I'm staying away from that company for that reason.

I see.
Many of my customers been happy with AA catted.
Both brands are using same brand of Cat, weird.

ipayincash · 05-30-2023, 06:33 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by r33_RGSport

I see.
Many of my customers been happy with AA catted.
Both brands are using same brand of Cat, weird.

You mentioned both brands are using the same brand of cats ? Which 2 brands AA and Redstar ? Also have any of your customers that used catted AA have a CEL ? Really curious if a lot of others aren't having that issue

r33_RGSport · 05-30-2023, 08:51 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ipayincash

You mentioned both brands are using the same brand of cats ? Which 2 brands AA and Redstar ? Also have any of your customers that used catted AA have a CEL ? Really curious if a lot of others aren't having that issue

Both AA and RedStar, both are using GESI 400 cells cats.
So far I haven’t heard any report of CEL from my customers.

Kobe4Ever · 07-03-2023, 07:09 PM

AA by far the highest quality - no CEL here

ipayincash · 07-04-2023, 03:36 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kobe4Ever

AA by far the highest quality - no CEL here

Do you have any other mods like a race chip or secondary cat delete or exhaust ? How long have you had them for ?

Really curious if certain mods will cause it to throw a CEL.... I've had the Racechip for a while now but finally got the full Akrapovic Slip-on and Evolution Link pipe set exhaust put on accompanied with heat shielded Redstar secondary cat delete downpipes and it sounds awesome. You can hear the turbos finally, it grumbles beautifully, I am so happy I pulled the trigger, no videos truly catch how good it sounds and feels. But now that you mention you haven't had any issues with a CEL I might pull the trigger on primary downpipes lol

ipayincash · 07-26-2023, 06:50 PM

Is there anyone on here that has a x5m with full akra exhaust, secondary cat delete, race chip, and AA catted downpipes (without a tune) and can share their experience likes and dislikes ? I have all the above for the exception of the AA catted downpipes and am really thinking about pulling the trigger.

05-28-2023, 02:37 AM	#1
ipayincash Private 40 Rep 73 Posts Drives: 21 X5Mc Join Date: May 2023 Location: LA/Dallas iTrader: (0)	Help planning my first build Victim : 21 X5Mc 15k miles Let me start by saying I am planning out my first build and I'm brand new to the BMW world, and I'm overwhelmed with the community lol Never knew this existed. Okay so the build, I am obsessed with the sounds I've heard tuned catless x5m turbos make but don't want to tune it since I'd have to ship ecu to Finland and all that. With that being said, I'd like to maximize performance while keeping it safe and reliable as it is my daily. So far I'm looking at full Akrapovic link and exhaust, Redstar secondary downpipe, Eventuri intake soon as it comes out in 5 weeks, and I'm undecided on the primary catted downpipes as I want a guarantee no CEL but thinking going either Evolution Racewerks or Redstar. Also really thinking on pulling the trigger on RKautowerks stage 2 turbo upgrade but not sure how all this would affect reliability since I'm not going to tune it. Any knowledge, experience, or recommendations is greatly appreciated, I know there is a wealth of knowledge collectively on here so I had to make this post before I just start ordering parts to a shop. BTW I will probably do some aesthetic mods as well but that doesn't really concern me atm mostly just worried about functionality of all these other performance upgrades and negative effects it could have that Im not aware of. Thanks in advance
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05-28-2023, 03:16 AM	#2
AUSX5M Private 22 Rep 82 Posts Drives: 2022 x5m Join Date: Jun 2022 Location: NSW iTrader: (0)	I’m going down the same path, though you’ll want to factor in rods & pistons as well as the rods will let go before you the stock turbos run out of puff. Eventuri intake Redstar Catless down pipes Akropovic system Rod & piston upgrade CF charge coolers Custom tune (not a piggy back)
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05-28-2023, 04:54 AM	#5
AUSX5M Private 22 Rep 82 Posts Drives: 2022 x5m Join Date: Jun 2022 Location: NSW iTrader: (0)	Will also do a meth injection like in the link.
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05-28-2023, 10:37 AM	#7
r33_RGSport General 12960 Rep 18,708 Posts Drives: G09 XM, G05 X5 40, 991.2 T Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: So. Cal iTrader: (6)	Nice list of mods. Downpipe wise, I do recommend ActiveAutowerke catted. It is advertised not to throw CEL. __________________ Email:sales@rgsport.com \| IG:RGSport_USA \| Web:RGSportShop.com PM for Everyday DEALS!! MSS • iSweep • RaceChip • Sterckenn • AutoTecknic • Akrapovic • Vossen Wheels • Eventuri Active Autowerke • KW • H&R • Ohlins • Remus • and more...
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07-03-2023, 07:09 PM	#12
Kobe4Ever Private First Class 93 Rep 193 Posts Drives: 2019 X5 50i Join Date: Feb 2022 Location: St. Louis iTrader: (0)	AA by far the highest quality - no CEL here
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07-26-2023, 06:50 PM	#14
ipayincash Private 40 Rep 73 Posts Drives: 21 X5Mc Join Date: May 2023 Location: LA/Dallas iTrader: (0)	Is there anyone on here that has a x5m with full akra exhaust, secondary cat delete, race chip, and AA catted downpipes (without a tune) and can share their experience likes and dislikes ? I have all the above for the exception of the AA catted downpipes and am really thinking about pulling the trigger.
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