REVIEW: Wedge Performance N54 Flash

[zeeth2800]

Hey everyone!
I figured I would take a minute to share my thoughts and experience on my Wedge Performance tune.

Since being involved with the N54 world I have driven with 4 different tunes. A JB4 Map 2/5, Cobb Stage 1, Cobb Stage 2+, and now Wedge's race flash.

On my particular 135i I have only had the Cobb flashes and the wedge tune. The JB4 was on a previous 335i I owned a few years back. I won't go too far in depth but I will say that there is a reason I didn't buy a JB4 again. Consistency, reliability, smoothness are NOT terms I relate with the JB4.

Cobb's Stage 1 map was fantastic. With only a set of DCIs it made the car so much more fun to drive. This flash seriously woke the car up!

Sooner than later, the FBO bug hit me. I ordered all of the hardware and switched to Cobb's stage 2+ sport map (not aggressive since I am on 92oct). The map was super smooth, reliable, safe, and fun but didn't really feel like the car was at it's full potential. I drive around like that for around a month before driving my friends Wedge tuned 335i. His car ONLY has a set of DCIs and the tune and felt just as quick as my FBO Cobb 2+ car. His tune felt like it pulled much much harder on the low end and TQ really punched you in stomach compared to the Cobb flash.

Customer Service:
I went home and got in contact with Ken. He quickly got back to me and we got the ball rolling on getting my car wedge tuned. Ken was a pleasure to deal with and happily guided me through the initial setup/logging instructions. Once the ball was rolling, things got passed to Dimitri and he helped dial in my car from the base map. Dimitri was able to get me revised maps super quickly (sometimes less than an hour) and provided exceptional customer service. Although my car had a few issues, both Ken and Dimitri took time to help me fix my car. This included mentioning common boost leak areas and even going as far as sending software to help reset fuel adaptations. It was very nice to know that if I had any questions about the tune I shoot them a message and within a day have a detailed response.

So, was it worth it?:
Wow. I cannot even begin to tell you how much better the car feels compared to the OTS Cobb +2 map. The car pulls so much harder at every single RPM. Throttle response in increased along with better highway MPGs (assuming I can keep my foot out of it). The tune has no boost spikes, no flat spots, and doesn't pull timing anywhere. The powerband is ultra smooth and feels exactly like a stock car... just with a ton more power. I highly recommend contacting Ken and getting hooked up with his software. There is no doubt that I will be in contact with him once I get my RBs

I will be posting a dyno later on once I am able to get scheduled in. I am super excited to see where my Wedge tune puts me. I would be happy to post any logs if you are interested.

[edisapimp]

Thanks for the review! Glad to hear you are so pleased! Keep us posted with long-term results.

[zeeth2800]

Here is a datalog of the final tune. 19 psi and ZERO timing corrections.

http://datazap.me/u/zeeth2800/wedge-...-9-10-11-12-21

A dyno will be uploaded later today

[Hellkite]

Was this a etune? If not where are they located ?How much was the tune? what about catless pipes, is it still possible to pass nysx? I'm just thinking about getting new turbos and I'm not sure what I'm going to do about a tune yet. I'm running a jb4 with a G4 board now. but with a next wave of parts coming my way I'm not sure what I should do about fuel control.

[darkrom]

Is that 19psi on pump gas no ethanol or meth?

[zeeth2800]

Well, dynoing was a flop. I didn't trust the operator with my car. He wasn't using any sort of fan and zero airflow +N54 didn't sound like a good idea to me. Not to mention he couldn't figure out how to tap into a spark readout. Sketchy dyno was sketchy. I will have numbers for you guys in a few weeks when I can get it dynod at a respectable shop.

Originally Posted by Hellkite

Was this a etune? If not where are they located ?How much was the tune? what about catless pipes, is it still possible to pass nysx? I'm just thinking about getting new turbos and I'm not sure what I'm going to do about a tune yet. I'm running a jb4 with a G4 board now. but with a next wave of parts coming my way I'm not sure what I should do about fuel control.

Yes this was an e-tune, post a log to datazip, tuner makes changes, send revised map, repeat.
The cat is fully catless, VRSF DPs, N55 midpipe, straight pipe catback. Not sure if it would pass emissions for you. If they do a sniffer test it would fail.
I highly suggest moving to a flash tune vs a JB4.

Originally Posted by darkrom

Is that 19psi on pump gas no ethanol or meth?

Yes 92oct chevron, no meth, no E85.
19psi isn't that crazy these days. The Cobb 2+ aggressive map is 18.5psi and that is a OTS map.

[mike@x-ph.com]

Originally Posted by darkrom

Is that 19psi on pump gas no ethanol or meth?

He pulled his timing to 5-6 degrees in order to get that much boost safely.

[Hellkite]

How much is the tune?

[zeeth2800]

Originally Posted by Hellkite

How much is the tune?

$200. Contact Ken Atkinson at wedgeperformance@gmail.com

[PA135i]

Your car looks like my car. Rare '08 SGM. Maybe my car needs a wedgie too.

[Hellkite]

Do you need any super expensive cable for like 700 bucks

[zeeth2800]

Originally Posted by Hellkite

Do you need any super expensive cable for like 700 bucks

Nope. Just a Cobb AP to upload and log data.

[n54door]

Originally Posted by mike@x-ph.com

He pulled his timing to 5-6 degrees in order to get that much boost safely.

Are there any implications other than safety with this?

[mike@x-ph.com]

Originally Posted by n54door

Are there any implications other than safety with this?

I never said it is not safe. Car is not showing any timing drops which is a sign that everything is good.
You lose horsepower with every degree of timing you take off and you gain HP with every psi boost you add.

[Hellkite]

Can they do jb4 with a backend flash etune

[zeeth2800]

Originally Posted by Hellkite

Can they do jb4 with a backend flash etune

nope. They are not working with JB4s at all. Only Cobb AP.

[n54door]

Originally Posted by mike@x-ph.com

I never said it is not safe. Car is not showing any timing drops which is a sign that everything is good.
You lose horsepower with every degree of timing you take off and you gain HP with every psi boost you add.

I was not inferring it was NOT safe either, only, 'are there any OTHER implications'. As in, anything else worth mentioning?

Thanks for the explanation.

[mike@x-ph.com]

Originally Posted by n54door

I was not inferring it was NOT safe either, only, 'are there any OTHER implications'. As in, anything else worth mentioning?

Thanks for the explanation.

Solid boost, very conservative timing, 12 afr, no timing drops, looks good

[sjk9671]

I am very interested to try this. I currently have the JB4 but it doesn't shift well with the DCT and the pretty significant boost lag. What implications does this do for warranty? I like the JB 4 for the option of pulling it out when I take my CPO car in.

Also do you know if BMW does a software update what that does to the flash?
2012 N55 DCT.

[darkrom]

Originally Posted by zeeth2800

nope. They are not working with JB4s at all. Only Cobb AP.

Not at all true. Wedge is offering flashes via MHD android app which is literally just cobb + extras, for WAY less money, flashed via your own android device.

Wedge isn't doing any JB4 backend tunes that I saw but you can do their flash only tunes via the much cheaper, and IMO superior MHD application.

MHD will also allow you to flash the JB4 specific backends made by Terry of BMS.

[zeeth2800]

Originally Posted by sjk9671

I am very interested to try this. I currently have the JB4 but it doesn't shift well with the DCT and the pretty significant boost lag. What implications does this do for warranty? I like the JB 4 for the option of pulling it out when I take my CPO car in.

Also do you know if BMW does a software update what that does to the flash?
2012 N55 DCT.

As far as I know they are only working with N54 engines.

Originally Posted by darkrom

Not at all true. Wedge is offering flashes via MHD android app which is literally just cobb + extras, for WAY less money, flashed via your own android device.

You're totally right! I had completely forgotten about the MHD tuner.
That is another option if you guys want to go that way.

[RX-BMW]

Tried to contact them last week> hadn't had luck with response