flash vs pnp

[egainer]

I have an audi currently, and all the tunes available are flashed onto my ecu. I have nothing to plug in. I don't throw error codes. I can change maps whenever I want. Everything is hidden and dealer cannot see these flashes. And the flashes are only ~$600

are GIAC and DINAN the only companies that offer this?

I'm leaning toward buying Procede because of the features, but I don't like having to remove parts every time I take it in for service. I don't want to have to worry about dealer discovering anything, and I don't like this risk of throwing error codes often.

are these irrational fears? are these tunes more reliable than I see on here? Is it safe to say I can install a procede tune and have no issues, just remove when i go to the dealer?

is GIAC any better or more like what I'm used to?

[Irishace]

Does not sound like you should be tuning. The Audi tuning community is significantly different than BMW. Be prepared to do some work for everything except for Dinan.

[sb335is]

Just get your hands dirty.

If you can't spend 3 minutes plugging a JB3 in, or spending 45 minutes to throw in a DCI once a year then you might as well leave it stock.

I'm planning on getting a PnP fairly soon. I like the idea of being able to take it in and out.

[egainer]

Why should I have to keep clearing error codes on my car?

I can, and I have worked on my old cars cars plenty. Just liked that once I bought a car that was new, I no longer had to do the work.

I can and have done the work, just wondered if there was anything similar to Audi's tuning. (And yes there is very involved tuning with audi too, but i see no reason to have to keep clearing engine codes on my car)

[kellzir]

There is also the singh autosport tune.

[rsjean]

Coming from Audi you should be really familiar with GIAC.

Completely transparent, no codes, super smooth, excellent performance, credible company. And it's the same for BMW.

[sb335is]

You shouldn't be getting error codes from vishnu or BMS unless you have the thing at 100% or not the latest software.

[OpenFlash]

Originally Posted by egainer

are these irrational fears? are these tunes more reliable than I see on here? Is it safe to say I can install a procede tune and have no issues, just remove when i go to the dealer?

Yes on all accounts

It would also be unfair to assume that any reflash is invisible at the dealership level. And certainly not invisible at the BMW AG level (when dme data is sent to them from the dealership). There is also a pretty obvious difference in driving experience between the Procede and the other tunes (reflashes included). If you get a chance, drive a Procede car with the latest autotuning maps as well as another with the Giac flash and then make your decision.

Cheers
shiv

[dzenno]

Most important, resale value, which you get zero for from a flash while piggies you can get quite a bit back

[BimmerSchnitzel]

Originally Posted by dzenno

Most important, resale value, which you get zero for from a flash while piggies you can get quite a bit back

Good point, never thought about that.

[jhuber]

also the nice thing about the PNP JB3 and other PNP systems is that you are able to switch maps

[bryce]

this is something that i'm still trying to figure out. on most other car platforms, piggyback tunes are considered inferior because all they do is trick the ecu into thinking it's running under normal conditions but in fact they're running higher boost, ignition rates, etc. the n54 is an exception, with piggyback tunes being the favored method. it seems like to me that re-flashes offer safer operation, and let you do more with less....i.e. run lower target boost presure, but gain more power and safety. i'm still researching this but i'm leaning more towards GIAC software for my 1er.

[egainer]

Originally Posted by jhuber

also the nice thing about the PNP JB3 and other PNP systems is that you are able to switch maps

I can switch maps with my flash.

I guess it's as bryce said, with other cars, flashes are "better."

My flash does everything the piggybacks do here, but I don't need a scan tool or laptop to read codes(similar to procede). When taking it to the dealer, I can put the car back to stock and use the security lockout, so that even if you knew I was chipped, you can't activate it (or even see any signs of it) unless you know my password. Flash is invisible to VAG-COM and any diagnostic tool that audi uses. However, if you were to look at my boost logs, you would see that I was running high.

Yes, you can't get any money back from a flash. But it's software, not hardware so I'm ok with that. for $600, I drive like I want for 3 years and then I turn it off, lock it, and get rid of the car.

I don't know that I'll ever have the ability to drive multiple tuned cars before I get mine. And since I have an N55 engine, it will probably be the tuners who have the power available first. (GIAC doesn't seem to be in the running currently)

Once we get cars with N55 piggybacks and flashes on here, it will be easier to decide I guess.

[My135]

One big advantage for piggy back is a piggy back system will always work with an OEM software update while you have to reflash again for any new software update.

[michifan]

PnP has better resale value as well. There are enough N54s out there that you can always get something for your unit.

[jojo135]

Giac and every other flash tune can be flashed over from the dealer.

[HPFREAK]

How often are you going to the dealer? Free service is not until 15000 miles. Other than that if you are going in enought to be annoying to you then something is wrong with your car and BMW needs to do something about. Once you install the JB3 once the next time it is significantly faster. I and others can get it done inside of 15 min. 1 hour installs are for Noobs

Originally Posted by cadeucsb

3min to plug in a JB3? The only reason I have held off so far is also not wanting to spend an hour+ removing, then another reinstalling for every dealer trip.