E60 523

[Kelv]

Car handed over to wife, but before I did, some basics done,
as per the advise of some folks here.

Thanks guys...

 

[ac323]

Re: E60 523

Folks... Can anyone advise what is the compression ratio & torque, of the stock E60 523?

1) I'm looking for cams & pistons to see some massive increase in torque (I am also looking into valve springs, retainer, cam pully modifications, where needed).
2) Any advise where I can get my hands on them, and what ECU can manage them?
3) Already gotten my 525 intake manifold, but should there be bigger intake manifold that I can transplant my DISA actuator over, I am willing to try also.

As to suggestions on TC or SC, I would prefer not to put the true origins of this stock NA engine to shame.
No offense to anyone. Just a personal preference of NA.
Hence, can any seniors offer some advise, on any hardware that I can get my hands on, for this engine.

Thank you again.

Hi Kelv,

523i: 190hp and 230nm ( if i am not wrong ), have you install BOSS Powerbox?
don't think this N52 engine can be SC or even TC.............maybe can install KW v2 SC........

suggestion is to just drive and enjoy the Sheer Driving Pleasure, just souped-up the handling will do or change to a much more powerful car............no point do here and there then only gain abit of power...


cheers

 

[Kelv]

Re: E60 523

Hi. Thank you for your advise.
I do totally agree & afew of the helpful forum friends here, have also offered me this same advise.
I am in the midst of buying another car now, & have passed this E60 to my wife.
But even my wife is complaining of it's pick-up, & I am at the verge of giving up & selling this car.

Before I approach that last option, I was hoping for advise on where I can purchase cams & pistons, to give it 1 last try.
Tuning is not my style, hence powerbox is out, as it's mainly cleaning up minor details & minimal torque curve difference.
I'm not looking for any targets, for BHP increase. Purely Torque needed.

Hence any recommendtions for places to buy these hardware, will be greatly appreciated.
Hoping to be pointed in the right direction, since nothing much can be done, due to the plastic top block area (unlike the older aluminium top blocks).

Thanks again.

 

[ac323]

Re: E60 523

Hi. Thank you for your advise.
I do totally agree & afew of the helpful forum friends here, have also offered me this same advise.
I am in the midst of buying another car now, & have passed this E60 to my wife.
But even my wife is complaining of it's pick-up, & I am at the verge of giving up & selling this car.

Before I approach that last option, I was hoping for advise on where I can purchase cams & pistons, to give it 1 last try.
Tuning is not my style, hence powerbox is out, as it's mainly cleaning up minor details & minimal torque curve difference.
I'm not looking for any targets, for BHP increase. Purely Torque needed.

Hence any recommendtions for places to buy these hardware, will be greatly appreciated.
Hoping to be pointed in the right direction, since nothing much can be done, due to the plastic top block area (unlike the older aluminium top blocks).

Thanks again.

Hi Kelv,

why not just give it a short for PBox..........heard quite good review on this product (is a value for $ mod)..................am on it so i am pretty happy with it...
what kind of pick up are you looking at? 0 to 100? 6 seconds?

* by the way what rims size are you on? maybe can change to lighter rims......

cheers

 

[C3P0]

Re: E60 523

Kelv, do u feel that the pickup is slow when u drive in sports mode?
If not, then nothing to do with torque. It is because in normal mode the throttle sensitivity has been set for a normal driver in normal daily very safe driving condition, even for a 60 year old bimmer driver.
Just get a sprint booster or velocity.

However if in sports mode u feel that pickup is slow, then u will need to change to 535, ha ha.

 

[ac323]

Re: E60 523

Kelv, do u feel that the pickup is slow when u drive in sports mode?
If not, then nothing to do with torque. It is because in normal mode the throttle sensitivity has been set for a normal driver in normal daily very safe driving condition, even for a 60 year old bimmer driver.
Just get a sprint booster or velocity.

However if in sports mode u feel that pickup is slow, then u will need to change to 535, ha ha.

not M5?





cheers

 

[Kelv]

Re: E60 523

Nah. Not looking at 0-60sprints, but at least some decent torque.
Perhaps my expectations are still dragged by the circuit-driving memories.
But am not looking at any BHP here, nor something tht would overkill the stock transmission.

I am hoping to up my torque by a humble 15-20%, with a nice dyno curve.
I guess that's not too much to ask, since the bhp for this stock engine is so low, to begin with.
Prefer not to consider engine swaps, though I heard from workshops, that many have done that.
Higher displacement would be great for high-speed, but all I require is a humble torque increase.

So I reckon tht there's no aftermarket ready cams or pistons, for this engine?
Hmm...


PS: Thanks for the advice on Sprint Booster & PB. Indeed popular.
But for now, I hope to look at hardware upgrades first (I prefer to keep the full throttle modulations).
Hopefully there is even any hardwares available...

 

[Jason8822]

Re: E60 523

Hi Kelv,

First, you must know if your E60 523 comes with M54 or N52 engine.
Compression ratio for M54 is 11:1 while N52 is 12:1
M54 comes in 177hp/230Nm while N52 have 190hp/235Nm.

There's SC kit for M54 but none for SC/TC for N52 engine.
AC323 is partly correct, if you have N52 engine, then power mod is like Powerbox and reflash.
If you want something wilder, you can look for Wilson at 96905511, tell him referred by AC323.

Jason

 

[zorro]

Re: E60 523

If I am not wrong all E60 523I comes with N52...only the first gen E60 520i and 525I comes with M54.

 

[davidtch]

Re: E60 523

Nah. Not looking at 0-60sprints, but at least some decent torque.
Perhaps my expectations are still dragged by the circuit-driving memories.
But am not looking at any BHP here, nor something tht would overkill the stock transmission.

I am hoping to up my torque by a humble 15-20%, with a nice dyno curve.
I guess that's not too much to ask, since the bhp for this stock engine is so low, to begin with.
Prefer not to consider engine swaps, though I heard from workshops, that many have done that.
Higher displacement would be great for high-speed, but all I require is a humble torque increase.

So I reckon tht there's no aftermarket ready cams or pistons, for this engine?
Hmm...


PS: Thanks for the advice on Sprint Booster & PB. Indeed popular.
But for now, I hope to look at hardware upgrades first (I prefer to keep the full throttle modulations).
Hopefully there is even any hardwares available...

IMHO, it is pointless to do all that because 523 is basically a detuned 525. Btw 523 & 525, most of the diff point to DISA actuator. Even intake manifold is changed, DME will not recognise it as 525.

If I am not wrong all E60 523I comes with N52...only the first gen E60 520i and 525I comes with M54.

Memory spot on.

 

[pongster]

Re: E60 523

Hi kelv, I hav done power box, ignition upgrade, volker plugs and eisenmann exhaust on my 523i. Am enjoying the ride now (I used to drive cayman S) ... Think u can also call rodney from R2D on getting more torque for ur ride... 523i is my family car, so I dun expect much from it... Haha... If I need power them then I buy M5 or X6-M cheers and enjoy the ride!

 

[ac323]

Re: E60 523

Hi kelv, I hav done power box, ignition upgrade, volker plugs and eisenmann exhaust on my 523i. Am enjoying the ride now (I used to drive cayman S) ... Think u can also call rodney from R2D on getting more torque for ur ride... 523i is my family car, so I dun expect much from it... Haha... If I need power them then I buy M5 or X6-M cheers and enjoy the ride!

Hi Eric,

your mods sound fierce for a family car ya...............i must try your ride 1 day......



cheers

 

[soong.wei.sin@gmail.com]

Re: E60 523

I read somewhete on the net that n52 not suitable to sc or tc due to aluminum and magnesium engine. N52 may not be able to take the pressures. Some info on n52 from wiki. http://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/BMW_N52?wasRedirected=true

 

[Kelv]

Re: E60 523

Thanks guys, for all your earlier advise.

I do recall a mech whch I used to patron at Paya Ubi (KST), for my previous ride.
He later opened his own little shop at the back of a gasoline station, at mcpherson area.
I noticed many of the performance cars & B-Mers followed him, to his new shop.
However last I heard, he sorta went back to M'sia.
Does anyone here recall using him before, & how to contact him?
Btw, his name is Ah Di & does circuit also.

Thanks again for all your advise.

 

[garbage888]

Re: E60 523

Further question on 523 vs 525, and i did try to read up past threads...

As i am driving a 523 LCI, and the intake manifold is changed to a 525 equivalent, coupled with Racelogic software to "trick" the ECU into thinking its a 525 (is this how its done?), i will be able to achieve the extra 10 -15 bhp of a 525?

Apologies if i am over simplyfying this, but will be great to know if ultimately, this is worth the momey and time invested.

Thanks

 

[Peterpan]

Re: E60 523

If I am not wrong all E60 523I comes with N52...only the first gen E60 520i and 525I comes with M54.

I think u are right , M54 used in 520 , Pre 2005 E60.

 

[Peterpan]

Re: E60 523

Further question on 523 vs 525, and i did try to read up past threads...

As i am driving a 523 LCI, and the intake manifold is changed to a 525 equivalent, coupled with Racelogic software to "trick" the ECU into thinking its a 525 (is this how its done?), i will be able to achieve the extra 10 -15 bhp of a 525?

Apologies if i am over simplyfying this, but will be great to know if ultimately, this is worth the momey and time invested.

Thanks

Sounds logical, Where did you had it done?