I drove an 02 with dinan CAI and in all honestly couldnt tell the real difference to a stock. I am looking at ways to upgrade the car with least amount of cost. Would it be better to put the money into the limited slip diff rather then CAI. Just looking at opinions. I know now what I will be doing with the suspension and handling. So now looking at upgrading the power a bit. How much of a difference does the 3.45 gears help, is it really that noticable. I am on a budget, so looking at the 3.45s, short shifter, rears up front) or square the car), adjustable anti-sway on the rear. I am hoping to notice a great improvement upon an already great car stock. Does this seem reasonable?
Last edited by steadyp; 23rd September 2008 at 09:53.
Some truth I read here a while back with regards to mods, especially on an M5: "Cheap. Fast. Reliable. Pick two."
The best 'bang for buck' mod is a header (eg. Supersprint), but it's not especially cheap. A CAI on its own does not make much difference.
3.45 gears has the effect of shortening your gear ratios. This means that in any given gear the car will accelerate more quickly, but the tradeoff is that you will hit the redline at a lower speed in each gear. The 3.45 LSD will make the car feel quicker in terms of the shove in the back but will not actually make the car faster overall.
__________________ 2001 M5, Lemans Blue / Silverstone Standard except for a few bits & stereo: 6.5" Focal components, 10" Directed sub, IceLink, JL Audio & Directed amps (hidden). Predator ICE, Stealth bulbs, V1, Roadpilot
1990 Mazda MX-5 (brilliant) 1998 Nissan Primera GT (modded)
Some truth I read here a while back with regards to mods, especially on an M5: "Cheap. Fast. Reliable. Pick two."
The best 'bang for buck' mod is a header (eg. Supersprint), but it's not especially cheap. A CAI on its own does not make much difference.
3.45 gears has the effect of shortening your gear ratios. This means that in any given gear the car will accelerate more quickly, but the tradeoff is that you will hit the redline at a lower speed in each gear. The 3.45 LSD will make the car feel quicker in terms of the shove in the back but will not actually make the car faster overall.
+1...a CAI alone really is not worth much...you need software...and an exhaust...
headers are def. the best bang for the buck...add in an x-pipe and exhaust and you will see def. power gains.
the 3.45 dif is nice...will be quicker through the gears...lose a little up top...no biggie.
the truth is..an E39 M5 is NOT for someone looking for an easy/cheap car to mod. or maintain....everything is freaking expensive for these cars....BUT..you will always be smiling while driving
Good Luck
S
I drove an 02 with dinan CAI and in all honestly couldnt tell the real difference to a stock. I am looking at ways to upgrade the car with least amount of cost. Would it be better to put the money into the limited slip diff rather then CAI. Just looking at opinions. I know now what I will be doing with the suspension and handling. So now looking at upgrading the power a bit. How much of a difference does the 3.45 gears help, is it really that noticable. I am on a budget, so looking at the 3.45s, short shifter, rears up front) or square the car), adjustable anti-sway on the rear. I am hoping to notice a great improvement upon an already great car stock. Does this seem reasonable?
Short answer to your question....no.
__________________ 2003 Sterling Grey M5
Dinan Free Flow Exhaust, Dinan Rear Sway Bar Super Sprint Headers Custom tuned by ESS
Rogue Octane SSK and WSR
CNS Racing clutch and flywheel
DICE Ipod connectivity
Bimmian Black Kidney Grilles
AngeliBright V3 6000k LED Upgrade, HID Fogs
Ultimate Pedals
BSW Stage 1 speaker upgrade/BSW Subwoofer
Rear Wheels Up Front (275s all around) Supercharged by ESS!! (Kit number 01)
Some truth I read here a while back with regards to mods, especially on an M5: "Cheap. Fast. Reliable. Pick two."
The best 'bang for buck' mod is a header (eg. Supersprint), but it's not especially cheap. A CAI on its own does not make much difference.
3.45 gears has the effect of shortening your gear ratios. This means that in any given gear the car will accelerate more quickly, but the tradeoff is that you will hit the redline at a lower speed in each gear. The 3.45 LSD will make the car feel quicker in terms of the shove in the back but will not actually make the car faster overall.
I know I will lose top end, but shouldn't the car be quicker in accerleration. Does anyone have like 0-60mph comparisons.
Yes unless your going to mod the car with headers and what not...stock air box are sufficient enough imho...
__________________ Mods: 91 octane with occasional 100 octane
"Illegitimus non carborundum"
" Despite its supercar attributes, the M5 still doubles as a soberly practical, spacious saloon - only with the ability to scare four passengers in comfort all the way to the local coronary unit". Top Gear
I know I will lose top end, but shouldn't the car be quicker in accerleration. Does anyone have like 0-60mph comparisons.
When Dinan was working on their version of the CAI, they did some dynos IIRC after removing the stock airboxes completely...no change in performance. Fact seems to be that the twin OEM intakes provide far and away more air flow than the car can use with stock configuration.
As mentioned many times previously, the bottleneck on the M5 is in the header outflow system...that's why such great gains are achieved with after markdet headers.
I wouldn't waste the money on CAI alone
Brian
__________________ 2003 Sterling Grey M5
Dinan Free Flow Exhaust, Dinan Rear Sway Bar Super Sprint Headers Custom tuned by ESS
Rogue Octane SSK and WSR
CNS Racing clutch and flywheel
DICE Ipod connectivity
Bimmian Black Kidney Grilles
AngeliBright V3 6000k LED Upgrade, HID Fogs
Ultimate Pedals
BSW Stage 1 speaker upgrade/BSW Subwoofer
Rear Wheels Up Front (275s all around) Supercharged by ESS!! (Kit number 01)
The Following User Says Thank You to Blockdoc For This Useful Post:
Our Intakes are already CAI. It is just a matter of changing the filter media to a high flow filter and maybe the diameters of pipes plus directing more airflow into the intakes like the Active Autowerke Kit that also has the brake ducting. Gains are minimal. The aftermarket filtering media may even allow more dirt into the engine. The sound of the intakes may be cooler though. I don't have aftermarket intakes on my beast but on my other rides I have installed CAI's and the sound was cool plus greater throttle response.
__________________
2002 Carbon Black BMW ///M5 with MKIV, ACS rep CF Front Splitters, Black Kidneys, Shorty Clutch Stop, LED Lic Plate lights, Fogs color matched to HID's, Pad Heater on Oil Pan for winter, 3M Clear bra on hood and on newly painted refinished front bumper, new rear bumper with yummy fresh CB paint, Style 66's on Pirelli Snowsport 210's for the Winter, Interstate MTP-H9 Battery.
2004 Pearl White Pimped Out Toyota Sienna XLE for the wife and kids.
1999 Customized Candy Apple Red Chrysler Intrepid (Sold)
1998 Black Ford Explorer Limited Edition (Sold)
Last edited by sor118; 24th September 2008 at 21:45.
if you do a search on the diff, you'll find that the vast majority of board members who did 3.45 diff find the car feels quicker. Others will argue that mathmatically, it is not, since you have to shift more often etc. But, from a seat of the pants standpoint, the diff makes the car feel stronger.
Headers, and then throttle bodies, make the largest gains (assuming you've already opened up the more peripheral intake and exhaust).
i'd say 'moding on a budget' does not exist for this car, unless your budget is $20k
__________________
Mike
91 M5 Alpine White II, Silver Gray 3/90 production
17x8/17x9 M system with PS2, 20mm touring roll bar; Ground Control Coilovers; EAT Chip, CD43; bmw/nardi blackline steering wheel, 3.8 Cam Gears
08 535i / 6 speed
Space Gray; Gray; Sport/Premium/Nav
00 M5 Ti Silver; Imola/black sportiv --Sold
Engine:
Supersprint Headers, Dinan CAI kit and MAFS, Throttle Bodies, Cams, Ported heads, Exhaust, Custom dinan software, Evosport Pullies, Dinan clutch and lightened flywheel; Ignition solutions plasma coils
Suspension:
Dinan Stage 3 with front and rear Strut Tower Braces, Beastpower Sway bar brackets, Dinan Wheels with 275/285 PilotSport, X5 Thrust arm bushings, Stoptech 355mm 4 piston front, 355mm 2 piston rear brake kit, Dinan 3.45 diff
Interior/Misc:
Eurodash, updated steering wheel, Bluetooth retrofit, Sirius Retrofit, hardwired V1, Widescreen Mk4 nav, M audio retrofit, Ice Link, BSW Stage 1 speaker upgrade, bmw towbar
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