The N55 responds to air. The factory intake was built for cost and quiet, not for feeding a turbo on a hot day, and you never hear the engine breathe the way it should.
The Dinan Cold Air Intake for the N55 BMW F30 335i, F32 435i, F22 M235i and F87 M2 replaces that setup with a sealed, larger-volume airbox, an optimized carbon fiber intake tube, an enlarged cylindrical filter and a larger MAF sensor. On an unmodified car, Dinan measured +10 HP and +15 lb-ft on the 335i, 435i and M235i, and +8 HP and +6 lb-ft on the M2.
Why a Sealed Dinan Cold Air Intake Beats an Open Filter
Open-element intakes look aggressive and then soak up underhood heat. Dinan went the other way. The airbox is fully sealed from the engine bay and feeds cold outside air to the turbo, and the carbon fiber tube follows a smoother path than stock for less restriction. The larger MAF sensor housing meters the extra airflow, so the engine sees accurate data. You also get sharper throttle response and a sportier intake sound.
The intake tube is real carbon fiber, not a wrapped or dipped plastic part. Dinan part number D760-0038. Sold by AutoTecknic, an authorized Dinan dealer.
Dinan Cold Air Intake Emissions and California Status
Read this before you order. For the 2012-2015 F30 335i, this intake carries CARB Executive Order D-176-56. For every other listed model, including the 435i, M235i and M2, it is not legal for sale or use in the State of California. CARB testing for wider 50-state compliance is pending. Outside California, Dinan lists it as legal under the EPA's Tampering Policy dated November 23, 2020.
What's Included
- Sealed, larger-volume airbox
- Optimized carbon fiber intake tube
- Enlarged cylindrical air filter
- Larger MAF sensor housing
- Installation hardware
Key Features
- Dinan-tested +10 HP and +15 lb-ft on the 335i, 435i and M235i (unmodified)
- Dinan-tested +8 HP and +6 lb-ft on the F87 M2 (unmodified)
- Completely sealed airbox draws cold outside air
- Real carbon fiber intake tube with a lower-restriction path
- Enlarged cylindrical filter and larger MAF sensor
- Sharper throttle response and sportier sound
- About 1 hour to install
Vehicle Fitment
Fits the following N55-powered BMW models:
- BMW 3 Series / F30 Sedan (2012-2015): 335i
- BMW 4 Series / F32 Coupe (2014-2016): 435i
- BMW 4 Series / F33 Convertible (2014-2016): 435i
- BMW 4 Series / F36 Gran Coupe (2015-2016): 435i Gran Coupe
- BMW 2 Series / F22 Coupe (2014-2016): M235i
- BMW 2 Series / F23 Convertible (2015-2016): M235i
- BMW M2 / F87 Coupe (2016-2018): M2
Not for the S55-powered M2 Competition or M2 CS. On convertibles and the M2, installation requires modifying a brace.
Installation Notes
This is a bolt-on job of about one hour for most cars. Convertibles and the M2 take longer because Dinan's instructions call for modifying a brace. Read that section before you start.
- Let the engine cool and disconnect the MAF sensor connector.
- Loosen the clamps and remove the factory airbox and intake tube.
- On convertibles and the M2, modify the brace as shown in the Dinan instructions.
- Install the Dinan airbox, carbon fiber tube, filter and larger MAF housing, transferring the factory MAF sensor if directed.
- Tighten all clamps, reconnect the MAF sensor, then start the car and check for leaks and warning lights.
