Dinan Carbon Fiber CAI ... What Can I Expect? - The Unofficial BMW M5 Messageboard (m5board.com)

gra8fuldd ed · 23rd November 2003, 22:50

Well Boys ...

I dropped off my car at Dinan's newest dealership:

Beverly Hills BMW to have them install the Dinan Cold Air Induction Kit, Foglight Openings Kit, the Relocate Air Temp Sensor Kit and the Larger Dinan Air Flow Meters.

I'm afraid that they will also install the Dinan Stage III software.
It is a mandatory purchase when you get their Air Flow Meters.

Oh ... As long as my car was there ... I also had them install the Dinan Rear Shock Tower Brace.

The question that I have is ...

What do you guys think will be my first impression and my reactions to the way the car performs after these mods?

I have nothing BUT negative comments about Dinan's software ... Nothing speciallytowards it's software #III but ... in generalities ... It gets a lot of "Bad Press!" from this board.

I'm sure I will drive it like this for a week or two and THEN ... If I have a problem with the way the car is performing and BH BMW cannot help with anything ... Then I will take a ride a few miles down the road to Santa Monica and See the boys over at PowerChip and see what they have to say.

TCM · 24th November 2003, 00:05

I do not understand how the Dinan CAI works with their new foglight openings kit. It is basically a black box with 5 or so little pin holes to let air get into the filter sitting behind the bumper. Please let us know how you make out.

atomic80 · 24th November 2003, 01:45

All I can say is that the Dinan Stage 3 software is a waste of money. Go for the Powerchip software instead. You'll notice more of a difference that way.

gra8fuldd ed · 24th November 2003, 02:33

Quote:

Originally posted by atomic80
All I can say is that the Dinan Stage 3 software is a waste of money. Go for the Powerchip software instead. You'll notice more of a difference that way.

Jason:

I would LOVE to forego the Dinan Stage III Software BUT ... It is not possible.

I was told by BH BMW as well as by Dinan. IF I wanted to get the Dinan Air Flow Meters ... Then there was No Choice ... I had to get the Dinan Stage III software. If I did not want the Dinan Air Flow Meters ... Then No Problem ... I did not have to get the Stage III.

Your suggestions are greatly appreciated.

gra8fuldd ed · 24th November 2003, 02:35

Quote:

Originally posted by TCM
I do not understand how the Dinan CAI works with their new foglight openings kit. It is basically a black box with 5 or so little pin holes to let air get into the filter sitting behind the bumper. Please let us know how you make out.

T.C.:

As soon as I get my car back ... I will let you know. I am sure that I am be modifying the flow of those Foglight inlets ... BUT ... We'll just have to wait and see what it looks like.

If anyone already has them installed in their beast ... Please ... Don't hold back ... Come forward and speak up!!

atomic80 · 24th November 2003, 02:41

Ok that sucks big time....that means if I were to ever go with the MAF in the future then I'd have to get the software upgrade too? At least I've already paid for the software up to stage 2 so it'd be just another $100 for me to get stage 3. I'd then ask him not to put it in electing instead to keep the Powerchip programming. I'd recommend that you see about finding another Dinan dealership that would allow you to bypass the software requirement. I find it hard to believe that they'd make the software mandatory. It doesn't say that anywhere on Dinan's website.

gra8fuldd ed · 24th November 2003, 04:27

Quote:

Originally posted by atomic80
Ok that sucks big time....that means if I were to ever go with the MAF in the future then I'd have to get the software upgrade too? At least I've already paid for the software up to stage 2 so it'd be just another $100 for me to get stage 3. I'd then ask him not to put it in electing instead to keep the Powerchip programming. I'd recommend that you see about finding another Dinan dealership that would allow you to bypass the software requirement. I find it hard to believe that they'd make the software mandatory. It doesn't say that anywhere on Dinan's website.

Jason:

I said the same thing to Dinan and to the BMW Dealership ... I also told them that it doesn't say that on the Dinan website ... And then ... We went into the service managers office and pulled up the Dinan site on his 'puter ... and then he went to the Price List, which is a .pdf file and YES I was a little embarrassed by my mistake because ... There it was on pages 38 & 39 in plain old Yinglish ... right in the notes column following the Air Flow Meters (#9) refers to you to the Notes at the end of the M5 products at the bottom of Page 39 and It says that "Requires Stage 3 Engine Software." BUMMER I Thought! Here is a real case of wasted money. I pleased my case to no avail.

They did say that I did not have to get the Air Flow Meters BUT ... The "Mod-Munger" that I've become ... I couldn't do without it.

Any other suggestions on HOW my car will now perform ... Will my car now "SNAP" the hair off the back of my neck? Will the throttle response become like a Hair Trigger on PPK Walther? WHAT will the High-end Power be like?

In case anybody is curious ... My next mod will be the Dinan 3.45 Differential and the Ignition Solutions Plasa Coils along with the Densa Iridium Plugs(Both from Renn-Sport.) I would have done the Differential last week BUT ... the Dinan - BMW Dealership said that Dinan was not yet shipping those Differentials.

I still wonder WHY Dinan makes the CAI in Carbon Fiber and does not continue the same with the Direct connecting Air Flow Meters? They make thse MAF'Sin black plastic and NOT in Carbon Fiber! What a shame ... It would really look qwell in Carbon Fibre!

Chuckc · 24th November 2003, 06:05

Hey Ed,

Banker415 put the Dinan MAFS in awhile ago to augment the Dinan CAI. You should be able to do a search and find it.

It is my understanding that the Dinan MAFS and CAI are good mods if you intend to open the whole intake path by adding the trumpets too. Beastpower would have some good feedback on this because he has done the whole Dinan S2 conversion.

I added the Powerchip 91 followed by the AA CAI and UFM IATS. That made a significant improvement for not much $s. The throttle response and overall pull is like night and day as compared to stock, specifically in 3rd gear and above. The response on the freeway in 4th gear is like a trigger. Especially in these cool CA days/nights.

Once you get the MAFS, you should look into the Powerchip. You will be pleasantly surprised at the results. The nice thing about the Powerchip is that you can try it for free. I am in LA most weeks. If you want to check how those 3 mods affect an M5, let me know.

gra8fuldd ed · 24th November 2003, 06:29

Chuck:

Thanks for the offer. I will take you up on it.

As far as BeastPower's car ... I think that he purchased his M5 with the S2 package already installed.

As Far as the Trumpets ... I am not sure how much value there is in changing out the "Trumpets" unless you also increase the size of the throttle bodies. That is an expensive (about 5 g's for Dinan) mod for the bang.

I've heard that Lower Gearing using the Dinan 3.45 Differential is truly the best "Bang for the Buck." I say the Dinan Differential only because I am very concerned about keeping the balance of my "New Car" warranty and Beverly Hills BMW has assured me that if I use Dinan mods ... and they install those mods ... that my warranty will be unaffected.

To me ... That is worth a whole bunch!

The example that the dealership gave me was ... Suppose I installed a NON-Dinan differential (even for less $$$$) and the drive-shaft snapped OR the U-Joints started making noise ... ->

They, the BMW Dealership, would immediately put the fault on that Non-Dinan Differential and No Warranty would be applicable ... And Me the customer would have to pay 100% to have all the work done .. Both Parts & Labour!

BUT ... Given the same set of circumstances happening ... and it was a Dinan Differential ... The BMW Dealership would not blink an eye ... they would fix whatever the problem was without questioning or hassling me.

Chuckc · 24th November 2003, 06:49

Quote:

Originally posted by gra8fuldd ed
Chuck:

Thanks for the offer. I will take you up on it.

As far as BeastPower car ... I think that he purchased his M5 with the S2 package already installed. In addition ... I am not sure how much value there is in changing out the "Trumpets" unless you also increase the size of the throttle bodies. That is an expensive (about 5 g's for Dinan) mod.

I've heard that the Lower Gearing of the Dinan Differential is truly the best Bang for the Buck. I say the Dinan Differential only because I am very concerned about keeping the balance of my warranty and Beverly Hills BMW has assured me that if I use Dinan mods ... and they install those mods that my warranty will be unaffected. To me ... That is worth a whole bunch!

The example that the dealership gave me was ... suppose I installed a NON-Dinan differential and the drive-shaft snapped OR the U-Joints started making noise ... They, the BMW Dealership would immediately put the fault on that Differential and No Warranty would be applicable ... BUT ... If the same set of circumstances happened and it was a Dinan Differemntial ... The BMW Dealership would not blink an eye ... they would fix it without questioning me, the customer, and they would take up the issue with Dinan and figure what happened between the two of them. To me ... it's worth the No Hassle.

You are right. I was thinking I forgot the mention the throttle bodies right after I posted.

I agree with you on the warranty coverage of incidental damage caused by aftermarket parts. (We never did get an answer from Evosport on this)

I am very happy with the way my cars runs and don't plan on doing anything else. The 3.45s are suppose to work very well.

Let me know if you want to meet somewhere in LA. I am in the Glendale area when in LA.