[xcelir8bmw]

Hi.

Been looking for a real source of Boost for the M35i.

90% I think this will work. Need to go out and look at my vehicle and compare.

What do you all think?

https://nm-eng.com/products/nm-eng-b...r-tap-nm498846

Thanks!

[xcelir8bmw]

Close up.

Need to take it out to validate.

[xcelir8bmw]

With something like this, red LED: https://www.dynotunenitrous.com/stor...?idproduct=131

[xcelir8bmw]

Install square RED LED boost gauge here:

[rice_rocket88]

Looks good! I think the first one looks most likely.. the second one I'm not sure if we have a line that would fit that fitting. I do miss the nice regular boost gauges, on my last car I did it for fun and actually did find a problem when my boost slowly dropped by a few psi that I certainly wouldn't notice it without the gauge. I got an electric tapped gauge from amazon I think that had 7 multi colors. I ended up leaving it on red since it looked like the orange lights of the classic BMW at night. I still think it's weird that our cars do not switch to the orange color at night and it is a little bright for my eyes when I go into a pitch dark area.

[xcelir8bmw]

So I figured it out (I did a lot tonight so far):

Buy this: https://nm-eng.com/products/nm-eng-b...r-tap-nm498846

and

Buy this:

https://www.dynotunenitrous.com/stor...?idproduct=131

Regarding the Boost Sensor Tap, since our engine MAP sensor is on an angle versus vertical, the NM Tap might rub up against some plastic vertical fin. There might need to be minor and light dremel work.

And the only other thing, besides money (smirk) that I need to know is where in the cabin I can tap +/- 12V power.

Then it's on....

[Will Pwr]

Good call on going with the NM Eng. tap, I do think that its an overall better design (offset port), though as you said there might be some minor trimming because as tapped port is offset.

Good luck

[xcelir8bmw]

Looking for alternate methodology right now by sensor harness tapping. Stay tuned.

[xcelir8bmw]

Emailed these guys to see if they can help: https://vaitrixusa.com/products/gen2...-jl-2-0l-turbo

http://www.vaitrix.com/image/5_SUPPO...2020200519.pdf

[xcelir8bmw]

Heard nothing from Vaitrix. They are out of Taiwan and the USA store looks closed. And it is EXPENSIVE.

[//TMT]

So just MHO, the digital gauges are nice and all but you really can't read them at a glance. Nothing beats the sweep gauge, especially when you can rotate it so your boost target reads as straight-up.

[xcelir8bmw]

Emailed NM, just to validate this tap will work (with light plastic trimming). Upon response, I'll order.

[xcelir8bmw]

Out of the way, stealth placement, maybe?

Gives me more options for gauges.

[xcelir8bmw]

Maybe?

[xcelir8bmw]

Ok. Turns out this is going to be a 'weekend' project - like the good ole' days to make it clean and stealthy and pretty much easily removable across the board without anyone really noticing.

Waiting for NM to get back to me, but otherwise, here is the ~$300 parts list:

https://nm-eng.com/products/nm-eng-b...r-tap-nm498846

https://www.denniskirk.com/koso-nort...kaAqVqEALw_wcB

https://www.amazon.com/Ronteix-Unive...NsaWNrPXRydWU=

https://www.amazon.com/Upgraded-Vers..._t2_B01LMRJQVS

[xcelir8bmw]

$350 dollars later and a few more parts, this will be my weekend project.

[xcelir8bmw]

Guys -

Had a long time researching MAP sensors today and the NM product (just got off the phone with them). Long story short (I mean I can be so GD specific and explicit), the MAP sensor, the latest part number is the same sensor in all Mini's and BMW X2's, despite the B48 variant. It's 2.5 Bar, good for 36 PSI.

This boost gauge project is all coming together. Just need to receive all the parts, measure, and bench build it professionally. Then it should just be a matter of plugging in things and going.

Weird, I mean I took a 1.5 year haitus from all this car mod crap compared to the STI which was like weekly, and well - I've got the bug to just get it done and right for boost gauge and more HP albeit any tuning solution.

For the team!

[rice_rocket88]

Hehe! I get it.. I was looking into mounting my pedal tuner there.. and then snaking in my BMS cable, but that box is a little tricky to get into. You'll have to do some cutting obviously to get wires in there, but it'll be hard to look down on boost. However.. with the JB4 and a magnet mounted phone...

[xcelir8bmw]

Don't need to look down. The boost gauge has settings for max and min psi review as well as beeps. To me, that's good enough.

Also, to validate any tuning solution.

Also, I don't want to take my phone out every GD time I get into the car and mount it to see boost.

That's the point.

[xcelir8bmw]

Parts are on there way.

To take the door/box out, simple is two screws pull towards back of car. Take out black rubber mat, line up gauge inside box, open/close for validation, a couple of marks, and 3 small drill holes, 2 for mounting, one for cabling.

If you ever get rid of the car, pull out the gauge and put black mat back in to cover up 3 holes - most people would never know. And hell - you could always put a tab of glue on it so people couldn't pull it out (most people didn't know you actually could).

Then, there is the power to tap +/- 12V - that's easy enough.

And then, it's routing the cable to the engine bay through the grommet. Easy peasy.

Then measure/measure/measure/trim with dremel the intake manifold plastic, install the NM tap, put it all together, connect the vacuum line and senders, hide all of it - should be stealthy and G2G.

I'm thinking to do it the first time, slowly, on the bench, measuring, wrapping everything to look stock OEM will probably take me 3 hours. Cause I always make sure whatever I do looks stock and is never noticeable.

[xcelir8bmw]

After driving the car yesterday for an hour-ish for the testing, rice_rocket88 is right, it's pretty tough, despite the beeps, boops, and screen to view the Koso boost gauge if it is down low, to the left in the pocket box, or even if mounted above the cup holders in the center console. I mean, it sounds and can look cool, but not as functional as I would of hoped.

Therefore, I think I am going to mount this box to the left of the steering wheel, just above the horizontal vent, where there is a curve that I think the rectangle to fit into and run the wires through the left defroster vent.

Another idea is to the left corner of the windshield.

Once I get it, I'll bench power it, and figure out placement.

Definitely not going to be stealth at this point. F-it. I am going to try to keep it as clean as possible though.

[rice_rocket88]

Just stick it into the top of the steering column for testing and then tuck it back into the pocket later. Once testing is done you just need to hear the beep when you get to the threshold.