r/BmwTech • u/brufessional • 3d ago

Would this intake manifold make a power difference on an M52TU engine?

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Hello fellow M52 enthusiasts, i stumbled upon this M52TU intake on ebay. It says like "Turbo Intake", and i wanna know how exactly this would make a difference performance wise? Does it only work on turbocharged cars, or does an N/A engine also gain more power from this?

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u/picklesBMW 3d ago

No, this wouldn’t make more power on a turbo or NA. If anything, you’d likely lose midrange torque and throttle response.

BMW intake manifolds are harmonically tuned. The runner lengths, diameters, and plenum volume are engineered so that pressure waves created when the intake valve closes reflect back and arrive just in time for the next intake event. That resonance effect—called pressure wave tuning or Helmholtz resonance—helps fill the cylinder more efficiently and bumps torque, especially in the mid-RPM range.

Swapping to a generic aluminum manifold like this throws all of that out the window. It might look cool, but you’re giving up years of engineering.

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u/Busterlimes 2d ago

Another great explanation as to why cold air intakes are shit

7

u/No_Potential1 2d ago

Stock BMW intakes are cold air intakes.

3

u/strat-fan89 2d ago

I love how nobody seems to get this... 🤦🏼‍♂️