With E46’s majorly coming down in price, we’re starting to see performance products made for the car do the same. From overstocked items that need moving to used items coming off old e46s, now is the prime time to make a bid on certain parts that used to cost much more when the e46 was in its prime popularity.
For example, take this awesome oem performance intake made for the M54 engine. 10 years ago it would have cost $1,000 and that’s for some extra noise and 3 more horsepower. Hardly worth the $1000, but I was able to score one for only $300 off of a used 3 series that was being converted back to stock in preparation to be sold. For this low amount, the extra grunt the engine made and the smoothness and extra refinement in throttle response was well worth the price.
For anyone who is interested in this modification. GET IT. You will not regret it. The car now has a very mean and deep growl to it especially from 1st, 2nd and 3rd gear. There is a very slight woosh! noise that sounds really cool and very different from the high pitched whining noise that come from cheaper after market cold air intakes. Usually it’s pretty vague what kind of power aftermarket intakes produce, but the oem BMW one makes a verifiable 3 horsepower which, of course, can’t be felt at all but it’s nice to know that it’s an actual quantifiable result. 187hp > 184hp am I right? Add some headers, an exhaust, a larger Dinan throttle body and this car could produce just about 200hp which would basically make it keep up with modern day entry level sport sedans. The difference is that this engine actually sounds good, and not like a turbo 4 cylinder 😉
