So supposedly the intake manifold that dinan sells they call "High Flow Intake Manifold"
9/98-2003 Production part # D760-5400 for a whopping $1449.00 is the exact same one that is in the PRE 9/98 4.4 models like the one in my 1997 540i and the same one that is in the alpina z8!! This would definitly explain why dinan does not have a high flow intake manifold for the 1997 540i's cuz its the same dam thing. Also this would explain why many consider the earlier 4.4l engines to be "under rated" etc...
any opinions welcome.....

Part #: D760-5400
Price: $1449.00
Labor Units: 39.0
Emission Status: 50 State Emission Legal
Required Products: Stage 5 Engine Software ($999.00; Part #D903-445TU5); Stage 4/5 Automatic Transmission Software, where applicable; $349.00; Part #D902-44A54); Cold Air Intake; High Flow Throttle Body; High Flow Air Mass Meter; Free Flow Exhaust Recommended.
Special Notes: Stage 4/5 Automatic Transmission Software is required when installing the Air Mass Meter and Intake Manifold.
Peak Horsepower: 321 @ 5700 rpm*
Peak Horsepower Gain: 9 @ 6500 rpm
Peak Torque: 350 lb/ft @ 3500 rpm*
Peak Torque Gain: 7 lb/ft @ 6500 rpm
Point Value: 2

i thought earlier 540's carried a 4.0L engine? if im not mistaken,.. didnt the 4.4L come out in 2001? anyway, does this mean that the intake manifold from a 97 540 is a direct swap on a 2001+ 540? will it really need a software download?

Nooo, pre 1997 540's were 4.0l the ones 97 and up are 4.4. Im not sure if its a direct swap. I think its only the 97's and some of the 98's that had this intake manifold also should be in some 740's.

i thought earlier 540's carried a 4.0L engine? if im not mistaken,.. didnt the 4.4L come out in 2001? anyway, does this mean that the intake manifold from a 97 540 is a direct swap on a 2001+ 540? will it really need a software download?

Manny,

Try looking up "runners" here and Roadfly. one big reason i got a 98, it's got bigger runners.

EDIT: found something:

Yes! The non-vanos engines have the larger and LONGER intake runners over the vanos equipped V8's. The possibility of doing the swap is not completely out of reach. The manifold will bolt up to the heads fine but the throttle body from the vanos engine must be fitted to the non-vanos manifold. This requires a bit of porting within the manifold. Very easy to do. You will not be able to run the non-vanos larger throttel body on a vanos engine due to the drive by wire mechanism. If you are handy and have a porting tool of some sort you can do this mod easily.

This swap gives the vanos engine a nice boost in the top end.

EDIT II: more info:

The Vanos intkae runners are smaller ports and shorter in length in comparison to the non-vanos engines which have long intake runners and large ports. :-} The non-vanos intake manifold fits perfectly on to the vanos engines and adds HP, significant HP with no chip tuning.

The Bosch ecu architecture is more difficult to program vs. the Siemens (non-vanos) Most of the Bosch units are sealed chips, meaning integrated into the motherboard via many chips vs. the Siemens which actually has a single control chip that can be desoldered and resoldered and flash programmed for tuning.

all info from RevHigh who did a lot of research on these things and have dyno tested this so it's not hearsay or anything. contact John there and see if he can produce the dyno #'s.

What is that '97 manifold like compared to the M60 manifold?