Coming from an obd1 honda world, intake manifolds can make or break your powerband. I don't see any aftermarket for the r53!

Is there a "this year flows better than that year" intake manifold? Or is that not a thing with high end cars?

 

It's a very different game with forced induction....
When the simpler, cheaper stuff is done, the intake CAN be ported and polished for a bit more power, but it is simply not a limiting factor till you hit 250+ hp...so there are better places to spend $$.

 

They do exist. No endorsement intended.

http://www.sneed4speed.com/r53-mini-...take-manifold/

http://www.madnessmotorworks.com/mad...take-manifold/

http://www.*********************/for...old-parts.html

(This url is blocked - Google "RMW r53 billet intake manifold).

 

sneed4speed is the only one with an off the shelf manifold that I know of. theres a few vendors that will port and polish one as well. usually they are mated with a larger flowing head

 

I have done the basics, can't afford a tuner right now though :( I finally got my suspension and wheel setup where I'd like it. The 15% pulley, intake, and exhaust just doesn't feel like enough. So I was looking at trying to increase my flow to get a little bit out of it...but at 500$ a manifold I might as well buy a tuner

 

MINIs do well with some head work, but if you don't want to spend more than $500 then just get a remote tune from Jan and call it a day.

 

I'm looking more at the bytronic setup (I know I spelled that wrong) I have a little experience with hondata, have a friend well versed with his ARM standalone, so for me to pay for an email tune when I want to tinker is a little out of my range.

 

I'm a ByteTronik guy all the way, but be aware, BMW tuning is a specially all it's own, as long as you know and understand this going in, then you'll be just fine.
And if doing your own tuning doesn't pan out, there's still their remote tune options.

 

Get a cam, under $500 installed and can net 10hp without a tune.

 

How do you like the bytetronik setup? I get mixed reviews, mostly from guys who have no tuning experience...not much input from experienced people, I can read a data log, I understand timing and fuel maps, but I keep remembering this is a 5000$ motor, not a 50$ craigslist honda motor.

 

**This** is a very important point to remember.
I was one of the first to get the software when it came out, and it is exactly as it claims, the full version is very powerful software that will absolutely allow you to do what is needed to tune your car.

BUT....

It Will In No Way Teach You How, it's only access software, and unfortunately BMW / Siemens tuning can be very overly complicated, from knowing which of multiple fuel and timing maps to actually make your changes to, to learning how to work with adaptations that are built into the algorithms that can not be bypassed. It's not impossible but takes time and patience to learn.

I personally am not a tuner, I originally purchased the software to learn, but just didn't have the time that was needed, and then with the introduction of the Sprintex into the mix on my car, I decided to let the professionals at Mynes do the tuning for me remotely, with the ByteTronik software.

Talk with the ByteTronik team, they can help you to figure out which may be the best way for you to go, besides the complete ByteTronik package, which will of course let you or anyone that you choose, tune the car, they should still have a "light" version that will work for their remote tuning options instead.

 

might as well just remove the head: have a machine shop done mild ported intake and exhaust sides, then tell them to port the intake manifold to match the head. This way you know you have everything done correctly with flow matching. All can be done under 500. Bigger cam would help really nicely rmw street/dominator

 

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