We all know and love the German luxury-sports car brand BMW. The sleek aggressive styling of all the BMW M models paired with the monstrous S55 make for some of the best-sounding and looking cars this side of the EV renaissance. However, if you sat in or rode in a F80/F82/F83, you will know that BMW left quite a room for improvement. With that being said, here are the 8 Top Performance modifications for the BMW F8X M3/M4.

1. RK Autowerks Billet Crank Hub

One of the most common problems with the S55 is crank hub slip. This mechanical overlook could cost you your engine. Luckily, there are companies that make one-piece hubs, alleviating this worry altogether. The RK Autowerks 4 pin Billet Crank Hub eliminates the friction washer design that BMW used to affix the crank hub, timing gear, and oil pump gear to the end of the crankshaft.

The original flawed design allows the timing gear to spin independently from the crank, especially when the motor is modified. Best case scenario the motor needs to be re-timed with new components. Worst case, the valves contact the pistons requiring a complete overhaul. If you want to bulletproof your engine, this is the way to go. 

2. CTS Turbo 3″ Stainless Steel High Flow Cat Competition Downpipe

If you really want to make your S55 scream, the CTS Turbo 3 inch High-Flow catted downpipes are for you. They allow for faster spool, better transient boost response, higher boost, and great sound. You should expect 27whp/40ftlbs torque gains when paired with appropriate tuning software. CTS used CAD simulation to streamline the flow of exhaust gasses and ensure seamless integration with the factory and CTS exhaust components. Many hours of R&D were spent to ensure a perfect fit, smooth exhaust flow, and excellent sound.

Featured Product: CTS Turbo 3 Inch Stainless Steel High-Flow Cat Competition Downpipe BMW M2 | M3 | M4

Part Number: #CTS-EXH-DP-0025-CAT

3. KW DDC Coilover – compatible with EDC (Electronic Damper Control)

With the adaptive KW DDC(Dynamic Damping Control) Coilover Kit, there are no compromises to be made. You can retain the control of your standard damper system with a seamless suspension lowering and the driving dynamics tuned by KW suspensions experienced engineers. At the push of a button, you can choose between the Comfort, Normal and Sport setup optimized for the KW coilover suspension. As a result, all the displays and controls of your factory vehicle remain fully functional but you get a completely new driving experience.

Featured Product: KW Suspension DDC Plug & Play Coilover Kit BMW F80 M3 | F83 M4 w/ EDC 

Part Number: #39020039

4. VRP Front Mount Air Intake

The VR Performance Front Mount Air Intake System for the BMW F80/F82/F83 vehicle is a great way to improve performance of the turbocharged S55 Engine. VRP has engineered a complete intake system that uses the space behind BMW’s highly recognized kidney grills.  Where the factory intake uses scoops to feed the airboxes, VR relocates the filters to this space which forces a large amount of air directly through the intake system.  This intake upgrade will also help your intake air temperatures from the relocation due to the high heat of the S55 engine. 

Each tubes fit and finish is of OEM quality that provides you with confidence in performance and style.  The intake kit includes necessary breather fittings, chassis mount, and silicone couplers with clamps for an easy installation.   

As tested on our Mustang Dyno, a gain in performance was seen throughout the entire power curve.  A very strong peak gain of 27 wheel horsepower and 9 ft/lb of torque was achieved in ther power curve. Additionally, the cold air intake produces a more aggressive tone allowing you to hear the turbochargers much more.

Featured Product: VRP Front Mount Air Intake Kit BMW M3 F80 | M4 F82 / F83

Part Number: #VR-F80M3-110

5. ARMYTRIX Valvetronic Exhaust Sytem

Take your F80/F82/F83 to the next level by adding the Armytrix Stainless Steel Valvetronic Exhaust System. This system is a triple threat; it will increase your vehicle’s power, reduce weight, and improve the overall sound to transform your driving experience. This precision-made performance system delivers more power, especially in the low- and mid-rev range. The effect on the sound is also significant, adding a deep resonant sporty sound, but at the same time neutralizing the vexing frequencies in the most critical rpm range. Complete the look with the choice of four different tailpipe options: quad chrome silver tips, quad blue-coated tips, quad matte black tips, or quad carbon tips.

The Armytrix Valvetronic Exhaust isn’t just an exhaust system, it’s a complete driving system that will give you the performance gains you want with the incredible race sound to match.

Featured Product: ARMYTRIX Valvetronics Exhaust system BMW M3 F80 | M4 F82/F83 Competition

Part Number: #BMF8MT-QS11C

6. VRP Titanium Charge Pipes and J-Pipe

Replace the factory soft plastic J-pipe and charge pipes that are prone to breaking under high boost. The factory charge pipe is made of plastic and was not designed to handle the higher boost levels. VR Performance has the perfect performance upgraded that is functional and aesthetically pleasing. The VR Performance charge pipe kit is made up of the Hot Side and Cold Side sections. The hot side includes 2 titanium pipes that are a direct bolt-on in place of the factory units. The cold side “J-pipe” is also titanium featuring a precision mounted PCV connection which prevents check engine lights and limp mode. We have also incorporated a pre-capped 1/8″ NPT bung into each pipe for those that may want to run water/meth injection.

Each kit Includes heavy duty couplers, hose clamps, and all hardware required for the installation.

Featured Product: VRP Titanium Chargepipes and J-pipe BMW M3 | M4 | M2C | F8x 

Part Number: #VR-F80M3-CP-Ti

7. Endless ME20 Brake Pads

When you upgrade to performance brakes, you have more stopping power. That means that, in a higher speed incident or in situations where the car needs to stop fast, it has the ability and you have the confidence to do so.

Endless develops high performance brake solutions for the most demanding range of competition cars and high performance street cars. ME20 is a semi metallic compound, developed for racing and rallying. It is a step up in initial bite and is more straight forward with regards to brake power. With ME20 it is possible to perform very hard and late braking into corners. As with the friction and bite the ME20 is a step up in heat resistance compared to the ME22 and it has shown a good stable brake performance at high rotor temperatures over 650 degree C.

Featured Product: Endless EWIG ME20 Racing Rear Brake Pads BMW M3 F80

Part Number: #EIP 224 ME20

8. VR Tuned ECU Flash

By adjusting critical parameters including air/fuel ratios, ignition timing, throttle limitations, rev limits, speed limits, and various others (including upping the boost), it’s easy for us to squeeze a bit more power of this platform.
The resulting VR Tuned flashing not only increases horsepower and torque, but also leads to an improved driving experience, characterized by enhanced throttle response and overall smoother transient throttle performance. Of course, in typical VR fashion the Pops and Bangs option is available for a little added spice.

The advantages and performance gains from the tune alone are quite remarkable. On the dyno, we made 431hp and 406ft/lbs. Once the stock ECU was flashed, we ran the dyno once again. This time we logged 530horsepower and 532ft/lbs of torque! Imagine how that felt.

Featured Product: VR Tuned ECU Flash Tune BMW M3 F80 | F82 | F83

Part Number: #VRT-F80-M3

There are dozens of other great ways to modify your F80/F82/F83. Let our performance specialists help you decide what’s right for you by calling 1-480-966-3040 or emailing [email protected].