Mini Review - BMW Performance Power Kit - Stage 1 - 135i N55

[Mark16q]

Originally Posted by MPBK

Your bet was that it would not change price. Your win would be a bit of convenience on your part. That's a stacked up deck against your hand, given what you stood to lose. :shhh:
You could have simply place the order last year and wait until sometime this year to install, like I did.

No doubt, should've just thrown it in the cart and bought from Pacific for $482. Oh well....

[arobase]

I just had stage 1 installed on my 2012 135 M Sport. Got it before the price went up. I also did a before and after dyno run. Saw 10 HP rise and 18 lbs torque rise. Neither is exactly as promised by BMW. I will say that the before run registered 286 HP, even with only 10% loss from shaft (unlikely) that means my car had more then 300HP before the PPK install.
Ignoring the "hard" numbers I can tell you I feel a noticeable increase in torque starting at lower revs. Using typical tuner speak, it definitely "pulls harder quicker"

[NYC6]

Thats odd. Is that just the peak #'s? Of the several dynos I've seen show advertised gains and then some across the board. Can you post up your dynos printouts for us? Would be very interested in seeing these.

[squeegee]

I had the PPK installed and was wondering. When I decide to get Procede or another. Can they build on top of the tune or will it just nullify the BMW tune. If they are piggyback tunes then you should be able to leave the BMW tune and get better performance number with both. Correct, Incorrect any thoughts.

[chhowe1]

Just got my SG 135i vert back from having the PPK installed. There is a clear difference in throttle response and low end grunt, also the exhaust burbles more than it did. worth it I think.

Chris

[audimotion]

^^ Anyone know the answer to Sqeegee's question above....I'm wondering as well.

[pinmagic]

Originally Posted by squeegee

I had the PPK installed and was wondering. When I decide to get Procede or another. Can they build on top of the tune or will it just nullify the BMW tune. If they are piggyback tunes then you should be able to leave the BMW tune and get better performance number with both. Correct, Incorrect any thoughts.

There was a discussion of this on the board a few months ago - tunes don't stack. You can only use one at a time.

[Maconer98]

I got the tune done last Friday at Paul Miller BMW in Wayne, NJ. I got it for $599 + tax (installation included). If interested, ask for Ken Walters, he was my SA and took care of it. I am very pleased with the results. The increase in power can be felt right away and it's very smooth. I do not have any regrets at all. I highly recommend it.

(Not sure why the photo is rotated)

[crbalch]

waited 22 weeks for my car and just filled out a customer satisfaction survey from the dealer...regardless I anticipate getting something in return for their poor service.

I am asking them to do the PPK1 and am hoping that they can do it. I will report back on the response

[1Fasst1]

Originally Posted by NYC6

Thats odd. Is that just the peak #'s? Of the several dynos I've seen show advertised gains and then some across the board. Can you post up your dynos printouts for us? Would be very interested in seeing these.

I had the PPK version I installed several months ago. A definate improvement over stock. This is the way the car should have come from the factory. Why pay to get a car to run the way it should have to start with.Several questions come up as to what parameters have been changed. Timing, fuel trim, couple of lbs more boost ect. As for dyno results a forum member had his car dynoed before and after the PPK install. these were his results http://www.1addicts.com/forums/showt...light=dyno+ppk BTW: I drive a N54 but N55 pilots also have positive comments.

[1Fasst1]

Originally Posted by pinmagic

There was a discussion of this on the board a few months ago - tunes don't stack. You can only use one at a time.

I too had this question. I dont have a clue if a Procede or JB4 would work without problems. However I did talk to Terry at BMS and he assurded me that the PPK and the JB+ would work just fine. Remember this is a N54 as there has been issues with the JB+ and N55. Also talking to Cobb you can run the AP with the PPK. The Cobb tune will control the ECU, but when you uninstall the Cobb the PPK will be your stock tune. Dont know if this applies to N55 models.

[MPBK]

I just got my car back with the PPK installed.
Not enough time behind the wheels for an assessment. I have another thread where I will post concrete 0-60 numbers.
http://www.1addicts.com/forums/showthread.php?t=631962

For now, only subjective, seat of the pants feel...
Keep in mind that I have been driving a 328i loaner for two days, which clouded my mind. Obviously, when you jump into the 135i there is an immediate difference, but I'm trying to recollect from previous experiences.
The car seems a bit more "nervous". Maybe jumpy is a better word. This is on D. I haven't tried the S nor pushed the Sport button yet.
I can't hear any burble sound. I do, however, hear a distinctive high pitched whining sound that wasn't there before. It sounds like it's coming from the turbo. Sounds like an airplane. Doesn't bother me at all.

[NYC6]

Originally Posted by 1Fasst1

I had the PPK version I installed several months ago. A definate improvement over stock. This is the way the car should have come from the factory. Why pay to get a car to run the way it should have to start with.Several questions come up as to what parameters have been changed. Timing, fuel trim, couple of lbs more boost ect. As for dyno results a forum member had his car dynoed before and after the PPK install. these were his results http://www.1addicts.com/forums/showt...light=dyno+ppk BTW: I drive a N54 but N55 pilots also have positive comments.

That thread was one of the ones I researched prior to doing the PPK in mine(done last week). The #'s I've been seeing are more than what the poster said he got. Thats why I questioned him as to his results. He hasnt been back since that post so who knows?
I didnt do dyno pulls on mine but it certainly feels like the 20/32 gains and maybe even more. I'll get it on a dyno in the near future.

[SANTI21]

Anyone run 1/4 mile after install PPK ?

[1Fasst1]

Originally Posted by SANTI21

Anyone run 1/4 mile after install PPK ?

The PPK is a good tune for every day driving. You will get blowed away by cars with aftermarket tunes in the 1/4 mile. lol

[LarryFitz]

We also had the PPK installed about 6 weeks ago in my wife's 2009 135i w/ Steptronic at Concord, CA BMW. The car has 12K miles w/ about 1.5K on the PPK. The installation cost was about $820 (including tx), and this was after we had the dealer match other local dealer's price. Needless to say, this was a real rip-off. The price we pay for living in CA, I suppose.

OK, as others have pointed out the overall engine performance is noticeably improved w/ the PPK. The "tip in" from a stop is smoother, turbo lag is improved, and passing performance in the 40-80 mph range is much stronger. It's almost like driving in the DS mode all the time. Previously, you would need to shift into DS mode for really snappy passing performance, but just the regular D mode is sufficient (sometimes devastating!) with the PPK. MPG seems the same, and we can get 25-27 mpg with mostly hiway type driving and freeway cruising. It would appear from this thread and others that we could opt to add the Cobb tune at a later time and still keep the PPK as the new “base tune.”

I can certainly see why others prefer alternate 135i tunes like Burger Motorsports, Cobb, etc. that are cheaper and/or offer more power. However, for maintaining the car’s warranty, no error codes, and smooth engine response; I think the BMW tune is a reasonable choice.

[MPBK]

Originally Posted by LarryFitz

I can certainly see why others prefer alternate 135i tunes like Burger Motorsports, Cobb, etc. that are cheaper and/or offer more power. However, for maintaining the car’s warranty, no error codes, and smooth engine response; I think the BMW tune is a reasonable choice.

Cobb is $800+. More power maybe, but not cheaper.
And only lasts until the next BMW software version is released. You then have to wait for Cobb to port their changes to that new version. Unsure if they will give you a free upgrade.

[Derek8819]

Good to hear more positive reviews, glad I got in early when it was only $482 though. I sure wish someone knew what the PPK was actually doing though. I would assume it is a boost increase, but would like to get that confirmed.

[pinmagic]

I like to think of the Sport Mode button on my DCT as the "poor man's PPK." $700 saved!

[LarryFitz]

Originally Posted by MPBK

Cobb is $800+. More power maybe, but not cheaper.
And only lasts until the next BMW software version is released. You then have to wait for Cobb to port their changes to that new version. Unsure if they will give you a free upgrade.

With PPK installation, the dealer places several PPK warning stickers on the engine and door panel, so techs will know if additional ECM upgrades are made at a later point. My understanding of COBB is that when you install it, it will re-write specific existing ECM codes, then revert to these codes if it is uninstalled. Thus, any PPK upgrades and subsequent BMW upgrades are retained.

At any rate the PPK upgrade provides noticable improvements, but won't actually transform the 135i into an M3. I also think it's a better mod for a Steptronic compated to a manual.

[LarryFitz]

Originally Posted by pinmagic

I like to think of the Sport Mode button on my DCT as the "poor man's PPK." $700 saved!

Not totally , since DS raises rpm about 500 all the time and I'll bet your mpg will be correspondingly be reduced by about 10%. So, for every 10K miles driven in DS you'd use 40 more gallons or about $160 for 91 octane at current CA prices. So, I only need to drive 50K miles to recoup my $800 PPK investment vs. always driving in DS mode. You think?

[MPBK]

Originally Posted by pinmagic

I like to think of the Sport Mode button on my DCT as the "poor man's PPK." $700 saved!

Very poor analogy.
With the PPK, the Sport button becomes a Super Sport button, with 20 additional HP.