Britalman Product Reviews and Testimonials:

Britalman 540i Intake System
review by J. Van De Veere
Sales Director / Galpin Aston Martin
sent via Email on June 6, 2006

I just wanted to express my unbridled joy at the change your Cold Air intake
made to my '99 540i.

I'm the very happy owner of a 1999 540i 6-Speed M-Sport; I appreciate for
many reasons, mostly for it's chameleon-like nature. It can take four
adults to the opera and fit right in, and yet carve up Topanga canyon better
than many so-called "sports" cars. It can even give a few supposed "muscle
cars" a painful surprise in a stop-light drag.

I've had the car for a few years now, and - as much as I love it - I was
starting to want a little more. .a bit more power? .maybe - but even more -
I just wanted a bit more visceral experience. Maybe some exhaust growl. .I
wasn't quite sure. I knew it was important that I not upset the balance of
the car, and I didn't want to do anything so over-the-top that it would
compromise the car's "gentlemanly-ness."

I contacted Britalman and they understood my dilemma, and - realizing I
wanted to wade into the world of sport modifications slowly - suggested
I install one of their cold-air intakes. I was slightly skeptical, realizing
that messing with my Mass Flow sensor might change the way the car drives
into something I might not like, as well as doing something under my hood
which might have been more in line with a high-schooler's modified Honda Civic.
In fact, I must've verified with Brent five or six times that he'd replace my factory
bits if I didn't like the results.

Installation took only a few minutes, and the underhood view was just what I
was seeking. Zero bling, with an industrial sense of purpose. The intake
itself is a black, crinkle-coated aluminum tube containing the mass flow air
sensor, which leads to the corner previously occupied by the car's intake
box (wherein I'd installed a K&N air filter - my only previous
modification). In the corner, on the end of the tube sits a conical air
filter, well down in the flow of cool air coming from the lower grille
opening. The install is finished off with a tidy heat shield which isolates
the air-filter from hot underhood air. For those who'd prefer it, I'm told
the kit is available in chrome as well.

As I slid through traffic on the way to my usual freeway onramp, it really
wasn't possible to tell anything was different. But ½-way through 2nd gear
on the onramp, the push in the seat told a different story, and the intake
wail from under the hood - which had only ever been obvious about 5,000
rpm - was much noticeable. Much racier, in exactly the way I was hoping. I
was pretty happy with the conversion within 2 minutes of driving my car -
but the good news was far from over.

As I diced with traffic, it became very apparent that throttle response is
much improved (improved, from what was already pretty stellar). I started
playing with my car again in a way I'd not in at least a year. The
increased response, combined with the palpable grunt and the intake wail
from under the hood, provided me a grin I've not had in quite some time.
The icing on the cake- when I finally settled down - was that in 6th at
80mph, going up the hill toward Sepulveda pass, I had noticeably more power
with the a/c on that I used to with the a/c off.

The prefect thing for button-downed guys like me? Probably. I played with
my car all the way into work this morning, letting other cars pull away from
me just so I'd have the chance to play with my newfound toy. The Britalman
intake transformed my car in a palpable, appreciable way, without
compromising it's refinement in the least. From the very "real deal"
appearance of the install, to the fact that it increased my car's fun factor
in every category, I'm very impressed with it. I highly recommend it to
anyone looking for that "first step" to improving their 540's performance
and feel. It's a very good piece!

Thanks for the great work!