We often get people asking about induction kits for the M5 and more often than not most of the members, including myself, suggest not to touch the standard setup as it so well developed to start with.
I was asked to test out an intake system which is similar to the GruppeM kits available for the E36 M3. Initially I refused but then thought it would be good to have some practical experience of what effect an induction kit has.
This kit has the Carbon Fibre Scoop surround and has a blue filter element which doesn't seem to be oiled.
I opened ths kit up and inside there is a trumpet just before the MAF housing which is a similar size to the factory trumpet. The whole thing sits just behind the headlights, you have to remove the headlight rear plastic shroud to get this thing to fit. The system is very well shielded against heat and does fit very well. It even has a place to put the factory air intake temperature sensor!
After a 30 min drive:
Noise:
The noise this thing made is truly entertaining. At low RPM's it sounds similar to a V8 engine with a kind of gurgling resonating noise. Light throttle input at low rpms is very muscial.
Press harder on the throttle and it's not as nice with a nasal booming noise.
Still sounds like a race car though.
Full throttle driving - think LOUD. And I mean very loud. It sounds like a race car and while not as loud as a CSL it has a similar pitch but deeper.
Opening the throttle down some high streets attracted much attention and at the same time made me feel like a boy racer.
On a day to day basis I personally could not live with it but I;m sure some people would love this sort of thing.
The noise really does make the car sound "expensive". Sorry, that's the only way I can describe it.
Power delivery:
This is where it clear that the factory setup is king. With the intake kit on there is a noticeable drop in low end and midrange torque and smoothness. Higher up the rev range no real difference felt.
In 2nd gear at 2000rpm an S38 will move fairly quickly if full load is applied and it will do it smoothly.
With this thing the car hesitated, thought about it, made some deep warbling intake noises and then started accelerting a little unevenly until about 4000rpm where it was more like stock again.
I have to point out that this is not as bad as when a K&N type cone filter is fitted. My car came fitted with a K&N when I bought it and it was truly horrendous. Previous owner was adamant it made the car faster.....yeah ok
Conclusion:
Personally not for me but I can see the appeal for some people who like to have intake noise. The S38 with this kit definately makes some very entertaining noises.
If you think a carbon gruppe M style intake system is loud on an E36 M3 - An S38 with this kit is in a different league of noise and pitch levels. On the E36 it's a nice addition which gives some proven power gains above 5500rpm.
The noise can get a little tiring especially when at crusing speeds with rpm's running between 3000-4500 rpm.
If you live in a quiet neighbourhood expect the locals to hate you.
As long as people are aware that this noise is at the expense of low end power and could be annoying
This kit should be supplied with a "CSL" badge so you can make your car read "M5 CSL" at the back. Trust me, if someone were to hear this car and they didn't know too much about BMW's they would believe there was such a thing as an M5 CSL.
I'd love to hear one of these put on a car with an Eisenmann Race exhaust - truly deafening!
I shall now delivery the intake back to the company and happily stick with my standard highly developed BMW intake. I have to admit, I will miss the noise a little though.
I will put my flame suit on just incase.
This little review has only been posted to highlight the pro's and cons of changing the intake n an S38. Lots of people think about it, people talk about it, post about it but no one really goes and does some practical real world testing.
You never know, someone who is just about to bastardise their factory airbox and retro fit a K&N may read this and decide against it. One less bastardised M5.
Thanks
Sal
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