M50 Manifold Installed (Pics) - United Bimmer Community

**komodo** · 06-28-2005, 01:03 AM

So I got my M50 manifold installed today. Here are some random pics from the install:

The differences in manifold sizes:

The parts needed:

My engine with the m52 manifold removed:

Fuel Injectors (the pink ones, haha):

Installing the m50 manifold:

**komodo** · 06-28-2005, 01:03 AM

The installation is done (look how wide those runners are in the 2nd pic):

And for when that one piece just won't fit in place right......

Everything is in and works great except I'm having a slight problem with the ICV losing pressure and causing my car to stall, but we're fixing that tomorrow morning. The DIY guide suggested 2-3 hours, but it took us about 5-6 hours to complete it, plus some time to run around and get parts. Some of those elbows are annoying. If anyone tries this conversion, buy the understeer conversion kit with all the parts in it... it's worth $300 to save you the frustruation and headaches we had.

There's a very noticable difference in performance up high, but I did lose a good amount of low end torque... however by me doing pulleys and fan delete at the same time, it reversed that loss into a bit of gain on torque too. I'm planning on dyno'ing sometime soon.

Any questions?

**zeaq328i** · 06-28-2005, 09:16 AM

Wow, just like a heart surgery.BTW just wondering are you the one with the camera or doing the work?

**komodo** · 06-28-2005, 09:40 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by zeaq328i

Wow, just like a heart surgery.BTW just wondering are you the one with the camera or doing the work?

Camera. hah

**94bmw325i** · 06-28-2005, 10:47 AM

So you noticed a bit of a difference? say 10 hp or so? Well I guess you'll find out if you get it dyno'ed.

DEATH2000 · 06-28-2005, 10:50 AM

man that looks kool. u can really see a diff in manifold sizes. that looks like a pretty worthwile upgrade

**zeit00** · 06-28-2005, 02:08 PM

Nooo.. I almost had this work out of my head.. I tell you the first time doing this, it was a pain.. But now that I see how easy it was, the next should go a lot quicker..

BTW thats me doing the work, And NO I did not use a chisel.

**projal147** · 06-28-2005, 02:29 PM

Looks sweet harry. I wish I had as much money as you seem to have

Congrats on a smooth, albiet longer install, minus the few kinks you have had with the stalling problem.... but looks great.

**xsperf** · 06-28-2005, 03:53 PM

heh, i wish i had someone here to install everything for me! here, we are the ones who isntall all the upgrades/ mods for our friends! its crazy lol

**komodo** · 06-28-2005, 04:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by xsperf

heh, i wish i had someone here to install everything for me! here, we are the ones who isntall all the upgrades/ mods for our friends! its crazy lol

Haha, Karl doesn't "install everything for me". He's a local guy who's opening his own bmw shop and does awesome work, haha. He's an active member of a few other forums and someone who is fair and you can trust on stuff. haha. Also as shown with this stalling issue, he stands behind his work 100%. I just got home (he fixed it this morning, replacing all the hoses), and it works great. Feels (and even sounds) amazing.

**xsperf** · 06-28-2005, 04:34 PM

oh, well still thats pretty cool, because here if u dont know how to do it, take it to the dealer( and i doubt they will mod your car at all for you) and if they are willin gto do it they will charge way too much anyway lol

**RealBmw 02** · 06-28-2005, 06:24 PM

great mod harry. There is such a huge difference in runner size between the 52 and the 50. I don't see why you would loose torque at low end. Maybe someone can explain why this would happen. But either way, looks great and im sure you will be making a good amount more power up top.

**Dudesky** · 06-28-2005, 06:56 PM

Was it a PITA to get the manifold off? I gotta take mine off to clean the ICV. I'm sure I'll figure it out, but are there any tricks worth mentioning?

**triggrhaapi** · 06-28-2005, 07:10 PM

you lose torque because the runners are shorter. That first pic is an optical illusion. The runners are the same cross section as the port on both manifolds. Shorter = more flow, more high end horsepower, less tq. The opposite is true for longer runners.

**triggrhaapi** · 06-28-2005, 07:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dudesky_E36

Was it a PITA to get the manifold off? I gotta take mine off to clean the ICV. I'm sure I'll figure it out, but are there any tricks worth mentioning?

Yes, wiggle the manifold once the nuts are off, sometimes they get stuck, wiggling them loosens them. However do not wiggle while you remove the manifold, they have to come straight off the studs.