Page 3 - #bmw

Interested in purchasing our F30 intake system? Check out our product page for more information!

Mishimoto BMW F30 Performance Intake!

We already knew our BMW F30 intake system looked fantastic within the engine bay of the F30. With our final prototype design fully complete, it was time to see if our intake system would produce any improvements in both intake sound and power output.

Dyno Runs

We strapped our test vehicle to the Dynojet and began making pulls. This particular vehicle was equipped with a aftermarket tuning device, and we would be checking data both with and without this software as a means to compare the stock intake system to our prototype design.

During the development of our new intake system for the 1999-2005 BMW 3-series, we identified yet another component that would be a vital upgrade as the E46 chassis begins to age (gracefully though, right?). With a lack of support in offerings for a silicone E46 intake boot set, we decided to design a set that would replace the failure-prone stock rubber units. If you've ever owned a BMW (E30, E36, E46, etc.) that utilizes such rubber intake elbows and hoses, you may have experienced failure at some point. Typically the area of flex begins to develop cracks and tears over time. The unmonitored air entry results in a rough running straight-six " not exactly ideal. So let's get to the project!

Stock Intake Boots

First, check out the factory-equipped boots!

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Interested in picking up our E46 intake system? Check out our product page for more information!

Mishimoto BMW E46 Performance Air Intake

Final Intake Images

With successful testing data acquired from our first prototype, it was time to make a final prototype and perform our last test fit before producing a batch of final intake systems. Check out a shot of the shroud, intake hose, and filter!

Mishimoto E46 air intake shroud, intake hose, and air filter

The airbox is constructed of powder-coated steel, and we line the

Interested in picking up this aluminum E36 expansion tank? Check out our product page linked below!

BMW E36 Aluminum Coolant Expansion Tank!

The time has come and the anticipation is over. Our final prototype unit has been constructed, and we are ready to check fitment! On to the pictures!

Final Expansion Tank Images

Mishimoto expansion tank prototype

Interested in purchasing our F30 intake system? Check out our product page for more information!

Mishimoto BMW F30 Performance Intake!

Time for an update on our F30 intake project! Check out the continued progression of our development below!

Airbox Base Fabrication

We left off last time with the completion of our intake pipe fabrication that leads to the airbox. Next on the list: assembling our airbox and refining the design to the appropriate shape we wanted to achieve.

We started with the base of the box, which will be utilizing the factory air duct to acquire a cool stream of airflow.

Airbox base cardboard template

Interested in picking up our E46 intake system? Check out our product page for more information!

Mishimoto BMW E46 Performance Air Intake

After completing our initial prototype it was time to strap this E46 to the dyno and make a few pulls. We would be evaluating power output, monitoring vital engine sensors such as AFR, and collecting sound clips for comparison against the stock intake system.

Dyno Testing

E46 on dyno for intake testing

Quick project update! As noted in our last post, we had finished collecting data points and dimensional information for the stock tank and were setting our sights on creating a tank of our own.

After pulling our engineers out from under shop vehicles, we set them behind the computer to get this project moving. Check out some of our initial 3D models!

Mishimoto expansion tank, 3D model

Mishimoto expansion tank, 3D model

Interested in picking up this aluminum E36 expansion tank? Check out our product page linked below!

BMW E36 Aluminum Coolant Expansion Tank!

Time to break open the stock tank and see what lies within. If you follow some of our other development projects, you would know that we recently split an E46 3-series expansion tank and found quite a complex system including both internal and external features. Although this added some complexity and difficulty to the project, it seemed like our engineers enjoyed the challenge.

Stock Expansion Tank Internals

First, before we slice this guy in half, a look inside the tank from the cap.

Interested in purchasing our F30 intake system? Check out our product page for more information!

Mishimoto BMW F30 Performance Intake!

BMW F30 on dyno

After wrapping up some loose ends with our E36 and E46 projects, it was time to turn our attention to one of the new offerings from BMW. The  4-cylinder turbo N20/N26 caught our eye as a very interesting new engine, and we decided to bring one into the shop for an initial look at the vehicle and to begin developing a few products for this chassis.

Stock Intake System

Before pulling out the welder and aluminum, we needed to evaluate the stock intake system to determine our game

Interested in picking up our N54 oil catch can system? Check out more details on our product page linked below!

BMW N54 Baffled Oil Catch Can Kit

After selecting a catch can location and fabricating a mounting bracket, we needed to fully install the can/bracket combo and begin putting together a set of CCV lines to complete our kit.

Catch Can Lid

Before doing so, the functional prototype of our catch can lid arrived for evaluation by our team. Check it out!

Mishimoto CNC-machined catch can lid