What mods would you perform on a leased E89 that you plan to return?

[dszpiro]

Reading about all of the mods E89 owners make to their vehicles makes me jealous sometimes. As a lessee, there are limits to the modifications that I can make to a car that I don't own and one that I plan to return at the end of the lease. Ideally, these mods would have to be able to be removed at the end of the lease so that the car can be returned to original condition.

One easy mod that comes to mind is air intake. I imagine that there are upgraded replacement air filters available for the E89 variants. On my 1997 540i, I replaced the airbox with a cone filter system that was a quick replacement that could easily be removed for re-installation of the factory airbox. Does anyone here have experience with changing the air intake on the E89?

Can you think of other sorts of mods that would be appropriate and "undo-able" for a leased car?

Cheers,
Danny

[richard in NC]

Originally Posted by dszpiro

Reading about all of the mods E89 owners make to their vehicles makes me jealous sometimes. As a lessee, there are limits to the modifications that I can make to a car that I don't own and one that I plan to return at the end of the lease. Ideally, these mods would have to be able to be removed at the end of the lease so that the car can be returned to original condition.

One easy mod that comes to mind is air intake. I imagine that there are upgraded replacement air filters available for the E89 variants. On my 1997 540i, I replaced the airbox with a cone filter system that was a quick replacement that could easily be removed for re-installation of the factory airbox. Does anyone here have experience with changing the air intake on the E89?

Can you think of other sorts of mods that would be appropriate and "undo-able" for a leased car?

Cheers,
Danny

A software update for the TT can easily be removed at end-of-lease. I'm interested in the Dinan version once available.

[Mick70]

For example Vishnu's Procede 35i tuning has already been applied to the Z4 35i by German drivers and could be removed when eol is reached.

However, I am not sure if I would like to explain a motor blow-up that is obviously caused by too much torque on the drive shaft...

[Curt2000]

On a leased vehicle you just have to be sure to cover your tracks. A mild piggy back tune such as SSTT or JB+ will not turn up the boost enough to cause serious problems. JB3 or V3 are a lot more aggressive and come with their own set of problems but still have a pretty clean track record on the N54 motor. I think the real problems, such as turbo failure, start to develop when you add downpipes or exhaust systems that take back pressure off of the turbo's causing seals to eventually fail due to uncalibrated wastegates. In any case, a bavtech scan tool would be desirable to clear any codes that a tune or aftermarket part may trigger.

My recommendation to you would be an intake and piggyback tune. The pair will be good for an additional 50 hp and that cool turbo hissing noise coming from under the hood just be sure to remove them before any service.

[Memphis1]

Originally Posted by Curt2000

just be sure to remove them before any service.

+1