The Effectiveness of Performance Upgrades: A Comparative Analysis

As a car enthusiast, it's always exciting to explore ways to boost performance and enhance the driving experience. Recently, we had the opportunity to conduct a series of experiments on our Porsche 911 and a BMW E36, examining the impact of various modifications on power output and overall performance.

To start, we took our Porsche 911 apart, removing the air filter in an attempt to improve its low-end grunt. We replaced it with a high-performance aftermarket filter, thinking that this would result in a noticeable increase in horsepower. However, when we reassembled the car and put it back on the road, we were disappointed to find that the results were underwhelming. In fact, the standard filter worked better than the aftermarket one, resulting in a 27-horsepower gain.

The Porsche's air filter upgrade was deemed unnecessary, and we couldn't help but wonder if the performance gains would have been more substantial with other modifications. We then decided to conduct similar experiments on our friend Jack's E36, which had been modified with a high-flow inlet manifold and remapped for increased power output.

To Jack's credit, his car delivered impressive results, reaching an astonishing 227 horsepower. However, the performance was marred by a noticeable "flat spot" between five and five-and-a-half revolutions per minute (RPM), where the engine lost significant power. Additionally, after six thousand RPM, the fueling became rich, causing the engine to struggle.

In contrast to Jack's E36, our Porsche 911 lacked the same level of performance gain from its air filter upgrade. Despite spending over sixteen thousand pounds on the vehicle, we couldn't muster a significant increase in horsepower using this particular modification. This raised questions about the effectiveness of similar upgrades for other cars, particularly those that are already well-tuned.

To answer these questions, we consulted with our cameraman, Jack, who had spent a mere two grand upgrading his E36. We decided to take his car on the dyno to see how it compared to ours in terms of power output. The results were remarkable: Jack's E36 delivered an impressive 227 horsepower, eclipsing our own Porsche's performance by a significant margin.

The lesson learned from this experience is that not all upgrades are created equal. While some modifications can provide substantial gains in power and performance, others may be less effective or even counterproductive. For instance, the high-performance air filter we installed on our Porsche 911 failed to deliver any noticeable benefits, whereas Jack's E36 saw a significant increase in power output.

Ultimately, this exercise highlights the importance of understanding the specifics of each vehicle and its modifications before making any upgrades. By doing so, enthusiasts can avoid costly mistakes and focus on those modifications that truly yield tangible results. As for our Porsche 911, we've decided to reattach the standard air filter, as it has been providing a more enjoyable driving experience without sacrificing any performance.

In conclusion, this experiment serves as a reminder that there's no one-size-fits-all approach when it comes to car upgrades. Each vehicle is unique, and what works for one may not work for another. By taking the time to research and understand the specifics of each modification, enthusiasts can make more informed decisions about their vehicles and maximize their performance potential.

The Impact of Performance Mods on Real-World Driving

As we continue our exploration of performance upgrades, it's essential to examine how these modifications impact real-world driving experiences. In our previous experiment with Jack's E36, we observed a noticeable "flat spot" in power output between five and five-and-a-half RPM. This phenomenon is often referred to as the "power band," where the engine struggles to produce significant power.

To better understand this issue, let's take a closer look at what might be causing it. In the case of Jack's E36, the high-flow inlet manifold was designed to improve fuel flow and increase power output. However, when we analyzed the car's performance data, we found that the engine began to struggle after six thousand RPM.

One possible explanation for this flat spot is that the remap, which was intended to optimize engine performance, may have inadvertently caused the engine to become overly rich at higher RPMs. This can result in a loss of power and torque, as the engine struggles to breathe properly.

The E36's behavior after six thousand RPM is not unique to this particular car, however. Many modern engines struggle with similar issues when pushed beyond their optimal operating range. In some cases, this may be due to inadequate cooling systems or insufficient fuel injection, while in others, it could be the result of poorly optimized engine maps.

In contrast, our Porsche 911 exhibited a smoother power curve throughout its rev range, thanks in part to the air filter upgrade (or lack thereof). However, we also discovered that the car's performance was not significantly impacted by this modification. This highlights an important distinction between theoretical gains and real-world benefits.

The Performance Air Filter: A Sound Upgrade?

In our exploration of performance upgrades, we couldn't help but wonder if there were other modifications that could provide more tangible benefits without sacrificing performance or safety. One area where we found that a high-performance air filter provided significant value was in the realm of sound quality.

When installed on our Porsche 911, the aftermarket air filter resulted in an unmistakably rich and raspy exhaust note. While this may not be to everyone's taste, it added a certain level of character to the vehicle that some enthusiasts find appealing.

In contrast, Jack's E36 produced a more subdued exhaust sound after his modifications were installed. While still pleasant, the tone was decidedly less aggressive than our Porsche 911's.

The importance of sound quality should not be underestimated. A well-tuned engine can elevate the driving experience, providing a more engaging and immersive connection with the vehicle. By carefully selecting upgrades that balance performance gains with practical considerations like sound quality, enthusiasts can create a truly personalized driving experience.

In conclusion, our experiments have demonstrated the complexity and nuance of modern engines and their responses to various modifications. While some upgrades may offer impressive theoretical gains, others may provide more subtle benefits or even counterproductive effects. By taking a thoughtful and informed approach to performance upgrades, enthusiasts can ensure that they're maximizing their vehicle's potential while also enjoying a more satisfying driving experience.

The Verdict: What Can We Learn from Our Experiments?

As we reflect on our experiments with the Porsche 911 and Jack's E36, several key takeaways emerge. Firstly, it's essential to understand the specifics of each vehicle and its modifications before making any upgrades. By doing so, enthusiasts can avoid costly mistakes and focus on those modifications that truly yield tangible results.

Secondly, performance mods should be carefully evaluated in their real-world applications. While theoretical gains may be impressive, practical considerations like power output, sound quality, and overall driving experience must also be taken into account.

Lastly, it's essential to recognize the importance of balance in performance upgrades. A well-tuned engine can provide both impressive power outputs and smooth, refined operation. By striking a balance between different factors, enthusiasts can create a truly personalized driving experience that meets their unique needs and preferences.

In conclusion, our experiments have provided valuable insights into the complexities of modern engines and their responses to various modifications. By taking a thoughtful and informed approach to performance upgrades, enthusiasts can unlock the full potential of their vehicles, creating a more engaging and satisfying driving experience for years to come.

"WEBVTTKind: captionsLanguage: encan fitting a performance air filter get some cheap and easy power gains to your car no I favored one of these two my portion i-96 it when actually dynoed a year and a half ago it was slightly down on power of the factories at 296 horsepower but has fitting this got it close to that figure although I have done some other changes as well what I want to know is just how many horses are in there and does this give you more than the standard factory air filter so I'm here with Charlie who owns Surrey rolling road now Charlie when I was lost with you about a year and a half ago you don't know my car and this is the graph what is the problem with this graph it's very wavy the power curve on a 911 really shouldn't look like this it should be much much smoother we actual power were not that far off over space of 18 years or so we'll drop a little bit but realistically if the car was entirely healthy we should still see 290 this really bothered me this part of the graph and so I clean the injectors because it could have something to do there I also stuck in an aftermarket performance panel filter I've been running the car non-stop on shell v-power which is supposedly gonna help clean the engine I didn't really notice any difference then I hadn't into the exhaust and we noticed that the left cat was dead big chunk of it was actually in the sort of silencer so I put some replacement cats on it they're actually secondhand ones from another Carver similar age but they were all fine an MOT certified put Martin drove it and it felt different so hopefully hopefully it's gonna be better Charlie's just warming the car up now my only concern is the no noise dings engines and destroy the engine I pray it doesn't do it well I'm trying to do a dyno run time the number to be 275 horsepower come on come on holy 80 horsepower still really wavy Ryan Charlie let's talk about this graph so the red line is the old graph the blue one is the new one first the good news more horsepower yep seven Northborough and six foot pounds up in the mid-range which is good not quite to 90 which is what I wanted and we've still got wavy graph these engines always have a little bit of a wavy line at the top so I'm not overly concerned it's making new enough to power what it should be it pulls strongly and it seems happy okay so I'm sort of happy what I want to know now though is the effect of that panel filter imagine if it actually goes up in five do you ever see that yes really yeah let's do this find out okay so thousand tools and I'm gonna have to remove the filter myself so yeah so many screws Porsche makes things far too difficult I mean the engine in the wrong places in the help for a start so here's a standard filter here is the aftermarket high-performance apparently filter so I just swap them over and put it all back together okay Charlie the results results are you lost 27 of a horsepower Purple Line it's the standard filter' orange line it's the aftermarket filter with the standard air filter there is a noticeable increase in lowdown power and torque there's an extra four foot-pounds all the way from when I put it foot down to an hour thousand up to five and a half thousand so the standard filter actually if you look at it over the course of the run the standard filter actually works better so then my performance air filter didn't really add any performance to my car instead it actually sort of reduced it still there are some mods you can do to some cars which will give you significant gains for instance this is my cameraman Jack's car and he's done some mods to it but have they been as pointless as the ones I've done to my Porsche let's get it on the dyno to find out so Charlie now we're gonna try Jack's car it's a three to eight i stock their own were like 192 193 he's actually had a few performance mods on it a high flow inlet manifold and it's been remapped this is an e36 it's pretty old and costume 1,500 quid because if farmers could spend tuning up so 2 grands worth of car he reckons it's going to about 220 horsepower what do you think you can see anything from 220 to 15 at the lowest to 242 the highest I've ever done if he goes 240 that's so close to my Porsche and it's like a 2 grand car well good noise that's the first road grace already almost 227 horsepower 500 pound upgrading from 193 to teaching well spent in my book Ryan Charlie so almost two to seven horsepower Jack's cars doing which is good isn't it it's ran about what you'd expect with these mods two things which jump out the first is a huge flat spot between five and five and a half it's missing probably 15 to 20 horsepower at that point and then it dies very badly after six thousand these normally put up a little bit higher and the reason for that is the fueling of the car is very rich at the top end so it's not going to generate the power when it's that rich so basically the remap ain't great the rematch it's not the best one I've seen know if you forget it caster remapped by a firm then I think you probably see 230 but a much smoother power curve at the top end okay but for 500 quid there are very tunable car these for not a lot of money and you do get the power so my performance mod the performance air filter waste of time the one on this car this e36 with the inlet manifold well worth it absolutely and I've been a little bit cheated some way that my cars like worth I paid over sixteen thousand pounds for it it's not really got that much more power than Jack's one with well it cost him two grand all-in oh dear so then what have I learned well I've learnt that there are some modifications you can make to a car which do work which in the case of Jack's car rather annoyingly for me takes his car well over the manufacturers figure what it had when it came out the factory but the panel filter I fitted to my car well it didn't really work at all in fact it was slightly negative because while it did an extra horsepower at the top end of the rev range throughout most of the rev range it actually reduced the power so was it worth spending 90 pounds on this well actually I think yes it was that's because I've actually been driving this car now with the paper filter and I can't notice any difference in performance he doesn't feel any more responsive throughout the rev range and it doesn't sound as good with that paper filter with this it sounds really good the car so I'm gonna be putting it back in don't think of this as a performance upgrade think of it as a sound upgrade enjoy this video please like it comment on it and share it also click on our logo to subscribe to this channel if you click on the bottom right hand corner you can actually watch more of our content meanwhile click over to the right to go to add deals page to see how much money you can save on a new car a car Wowcan fitting a performance air filter get some cheap and easy power gains to your car no I favored one of these two my portion i-96 it when actually dynoed a year and a half ago it was slightly down on power of the factories at 296 horsepower but has fitting this got it close to that figure although I have done some other changes as well what I want to know is just how many horses are in there and does this give you more than the standard factory air filter so I'm here with Charlie who owns Surrey rolling road now Charlie when I was lost with you about a year and a half ago you don't know my car and this is the graph what is the problem with this graph it's very wavy the power curve on a 911 really shouldn't look like this it should be much much smoother we actual power were not that far off over space of 18 years or so we'll drop a little bit but realistically if the car was entirely healthy we should still see 290 this really bothered me this part of the graph and so I clean the injectors because it could have something to do there I also stuck in an aftermarket performance panel filter I've been running the car non-stop on shell v-power which is supposedly gonna help clean the engine I didn't really notice any difference then I hadn't into the exhaust and we noticed that the left cat was dead big chunk of it was actually in the sort of silencer so I put some replacement cats on it they're actually secondhand ones from another Carver similar age but they were all fine an MOT certified put Martin drove it and it felt different so hopefully hopefully it's gonna be better Charlie's just warming the car up now my only concern is the no noise dings engines and destroy the engine I pray it doesn't do it well I'm trying to do a dyno run time the number to be 275 horsepower come on come on holy 80 horsepower still really wavy Ryan Charlie let's talk about this graph so the red line is the old graph the blue one is the new one first the good news more horsepower yep seven Northborough and six foot pounds up in the mid-range which is good not quite to 90 which is what I wanted and we've still got wavy graph these engines always have a little bit of a wavy line at the top so I'm not overly concerned it's making new enough to power what it should be it pulls strongly and it seems happy okay so I'm sort of happy what I want to know now though is the effect of that panel filter imagine if it actually goes up in five do you ever see that yes really yeah let's do this find out okay so thousand tools and I'm gonna have to remove the filter myself so yeah so many screws Porsche makes things far too difficult I mean the engine in the wrong places in the help for a start so here's a standard filter here is the aftermarket high-performance apparently filter so I just swap them over and put it all back together okay Charlie the results results are you lost 27 of a horsepower Purple Line it's the standard filter' orange line it's the aftermarket filter with the standard air filter there is a noticeable increase in lowdown power and torque there's an extra four foot-pounds all the way from when I put it foot down to an hour thousand up to five and a half thousand so the standard filter actually if you look at it over the course of the run the standard filter actually works better so then my performance air filter didn't really add any performance to my car instead it actually sort of reduced it still there are some mods you can do to some cars which will give you significant gains for instance this is my cameraman Jack's car and he's done some mods to it but have they been as pointless as the ones I've done to my Porsche let's get it on the dyno to find out so Charlie now we're gonna try Jack's car it's a three to eight i stock their own were like 192 193 he's actually had a few performance mods on it a high flow inlet manifold and it's been remapped this is an e36 it's pretty old and costume 1,500 quid because if farmers could spend tuning up so 2 grands worth of car he reckons it's going to about 220 horsepower what do you think you can see anything from 220 to 15 at the lowest to 242 the highest I've ever done if he goes 240 that's so close to my Porsche and it's like a 2 grand car well good noise that's the first road grace already almost 227 horsepower 500 pound upgrading from 193 to teaching well spent in my book Ryan Charlie so almost two to seven horsepower Jack's cars doing which is good isn't it it's ran about what you'd expect with these mods two things which jump out the first is a huge flat spot between five and five and a half it's missing probably 15 to 20 horsepower at that point and then it dies very badly after six thousand these normally put up a little bit higher and the reason for that is the fueling of the car is very rich at the top end so it's not going to generate the power when it's that rich so basically the remap ain't great the rematch it's not the best one I've seen know if you forget it caster remapped by a firm then I think you probably see 230 but a much smoother power curve at the top end okay but for 500 quid there are very tunable car these for not a lot of money and you do get the power so my performance mod the performance air filter waste of time the one on this car this e36 with the inlet manifold well worth it absolutely and I've been a little bit cheated some way that my cars like worth I paid over sixteen thousand pounds for it it's not really got that much more power than Jack's one with well it cost him two grand all-in oh dear so then what have I learned well I've learnt that there are some modifications you can make to a car which do work which in the case of Jack's car rather annoyingly for me takes his car well over the manufacturers figure what it had when it came out the factory but the panel filter I fitted to my car well it didn't really work at all in fact it was slightly negative because while it did an extra horsepower at the top end of the rev range throughout most of the rev range it actually reduced the power so was it worth spending 90 pounds on this well actually I think yes it was that's because I've actually been driving this car now with the paper filter and I can't notice any difference in performance he doesn't feel any more responsive throughout the rev range and it doesn't sound as good with that paper filter with this it sounds really good the car so I'm gonna be putting it back in don't think of this as a performance upgrade think of it as a sound upgrade enjoy this video please like it comment on it and share it also click on our logo to subscribe to this channel if you click on the bottom right hand corner you can actually watch more of our content meanwhile click over to the right to go to add deals page to see how much money you can save on a new car a car Wow\n"