Which tune has proven to be best for N54 cars so far?

[Kamal]

Originally Posted by BrokenVert

You are way too serious

teh internetz is srs bizness

Originally Posted by KinoBoom

Come on guys, let's all keep to topic. In all honesty no need for any derogatory comments of any sort, Kamal, I would not know the indu religion particulars either just an FYI and I studied several in the course of going to two international colleges...

Thank you both

my bad for coming across so hard, but now we know that he's NOT named after a jailhouse weapon.

[Dackelone]

Not to bash the COBB tune but... did they ever fix that cruise control problem with their tune?

I have to admit that the COBB tune seems like the perfect way to go. Easy update and install/deinstall for service visits.

[Kamal]

Originally Posted by Dackelone

Not to bash the COBB tune but... did they ever fix that cruise control problem with their tune?

I have to admit that the COBB tune seems like the perfect way to go. Easy update and install/deinstall for service visits.

Not completely, I think there is a beta version of the software out there that some say has solved the issue. Also, not everyone is having this problem, seems to be limited to certain cars (possibly certain ROMs?). I personally never use cruise control so I'm not even sure if it's an issue on my '08 6MT.

[moveswiftly]

Ease of installation and good gains: Cobb
Advanced Features, on the fly Map Switching, Integrated methanol Injection mapping / failsafe, CAN CLEAR: Procede hands down.

[Mr. Nice]

Originally Posted by Dackelone

Not to bash the COBB tune but... did they ever fix that cruise control problem with their tune?

I have to admit that the COBB tune seems like the perfect way to go. Easy update and install/deinstall for service visits.

Not yet, but supposedly with stage two. I've never once even attempted to use cruise control on my car though and doubt I ever will. Stage 2 will also fix the cat less dp cel, and once atr is out you can customize the tune to your liking with the software, make tweaks to the tune at the track, or opt to have it professionally tuned on a dyno. Although not available at the moment, it's something to keep in mind.

[UsualSuspect]

Originally Posted by Dackelone

Yes, I was just gonna say what about GIAC! I think IF I was in the states I would be driving around with a GIAC tune. But I am happy with my MS Tuning flash. Just the other day I surprised a Carrera-S driver as we raced from 100kph to 270ish on the Autobahn. And... I was ahead!

For me, the best tune is one that simply works and needs NO fiddling around with! Just have the car flashed and DRIVE it. No engine check lights/no codes thrown, no limp modes and no running problems.


Dackel

^^^^That's it! I have a OE Tune done by BrenTuning.

[Mike@N54Tuning.com]

You have a lot of options and probably will be happy no matter which way you go. On the BMS front there are over 6000 JB Stage3 tunes in use and they work great, hold most of the performance records, are very reliable, and offer a ton of value. Here is a video a couple customers posted comparing JB4 to Cobb with similar mods on pump gas.

If you are under factory warranty just be aware flash tuning is not the most diagnostically invisible way to go. The DME stores maximum RPM, load target, vehicle speed, etc, in a space of the DME that can only be read by BMW investigators. One of the nice benefits of the piggyback tuning is it keeps everything looking factory stock to the DME.

Mike

[Dackelone]

Originally Posted by UsualSuspect

^^^^That's it! I have a OE Tune done by BrenTuning.

Who is BrenTuning? I never have heard of them before. More info please.

And as for that video comparing a Cobb with a JB3... I don't think that is fair to compare a stage-1 tune(Cobb) against a JB3 tune(stage II). Just saying...

[KinoBoom]

Originally Posted by Dackelone

Who is BrenTuning? I never have heard of them before. More info please.

And as for that video comparing a Cobb with a JB3... I don't think that is fair to compare a stage-1 tune(Cobb) against a JB3 tune(stage II). Just saying...

Not that I am taking any sides here in any way as i am still trying to determine what route to take but I don't compare an Xi to an i because of weight difference and other factors... But the video was impressive.

[Juicehead]

Originally Posted by Mike@N54Tuning.com

If you are under factory warranty just be aware flash tuning is not the most diagnostically invisible way to go. The DME stores maximum RPM, load target, vehicle speed, etc, in a space of the DME that can only be read by BMW investigators. One of the nice benefits of the piggyback tuning is it keeps everything looking factory stock to the DME.

Mike

1. That video needs more details as I HIGHLY doubt it was a similiar tune. Why don't you wait till Cobb Stage 2 comes out, then do an apples to apples run....

2. Please do not try scare tactics with people, there has been to my knowledge, any case where a BMW rep has "found" a previous Cobb tune.

[rader1]

Originally Posted by Juicehead

1. That video needs more details as I HIGHLY doubt it was a similiar tune. Why don't you wait till Cobb Stage 2 comes out, then do an apples to apples run....

2. Please do not try scare tactics with people, there has been to my knowledge, any case where a BMW rep has "found" a previous Cobb tune.

I agree, its more apples to apples to compare a AP stage 1 to jb+.
However, I don't think he's using scare tactics. I think he's being upfront about the risks. If a tech REALLY wanted to find if a tune has been used he could, unless the DME works completely different than any other ECM, all he would have to do is look at the long term fuel trim and know something is fishy.

[808_m]

I just picked up my 135i with a Dinan S3 tune and it's AMAZING! So smooth, ridiculous torque, and keeps the warranty in tact!

[KinoBoom]

Originally Posted by 808_m

I just picked up my 135i with a Dinan S3 tune and it's AMAZING! So smooth, ridiculous torque, and keeps the warranty in tact!

Do you care to share the following please:

1- Gain in HP
2- Gain in torque
3- Did you have other mods done besides the tune (like an oil cooler, exhaust...)
4- Cost of tune

Thank you

[roo97ss]

Originally Posted by Juicehead

1. That video needs more details as I HIGHLY doubt it was a similiar tune. Why don't you wait till Cobb Stage 2 comes out, then do an apples to apples run....

2. Please do not try scare tactics with people, there has been to my knowledge, any case where a BMW rep has "found" a previous Cobb tune.

agreed on pt 1. stage 1 cobb is definitely not equivalent to a higher grade jb3/jb4. my brother on jb3 map 5, (really max for stock car) is faster in a heavier 335 vs my 135 now even running a fmic. was the opposite before when i was stock running jb3 map 5 to his map 5. it's about a car or so difference, from 1/2 ahead to 1/2 back.

waiting on stage 2 to bump the boost some more, and help take advantage of things like fmic, exhaust, dps, etc.

i went cobb because i was sick and tired of diggin in my ecu for my multiple returns to the dealer. reasonable performance for my close to stock car and SO EASY to install...

[Kamal]

Originally Posted by 808_m

I just picked up my 135i with a Dinan S3 tune and it's AMAZING! So smooth, ridiculous torque, and keeps the warranty in tact!

About that last part... it doesn't keep your BMW warranty intact, rather, Dinan offers their own warranty on their product.

[BrokenVert]

Originally Posted by Kamal

About that last part... it doesn't keep your BMW warranty intact, rather, Dinan offers their own warranty on their product.

The Dinan warranty replaces the BMW factory warranty on the parts voided by the tune (Ie powertrain) with an equivalent warranty

You need to have the flash installed by a Dinan BMW dealer and you can only have service done at a dinan BMW dealer (such as habberstad BMW on Long Island)

[Kamal]

Originally Posted by BrokenVert

The Dinan warranty replaces the BMW factory warranty on the parts voided by the tune (Ie powertrain) with an equivalent warranty

You need to have the flash installed by a Dinan BMW dealer and you can only have service done at a dinan BMW dealer (such as habberstad BMW on Long Island)

Yup, just wanted to point that out because ALOT of people are under the false impression that Dinan warranty = BMW warranty.

[BrokenVert]

Originally Posted by Kamal

Yup, just wanted to point that out because ALOT of people are under the false impression that Dinan warranty = BMW warranty.

Yep. Just wanted to flush out some details

[cmdboy]

If you looking for the most out of your tune, JB4, or Procede.. Coob and Dinan is a little high in price...

[Kamal]

Originally Posted by cmdboy

If you looking for the most out of your tune, JB4, or Procede.. Coob and Dinan is a little high in price...

JB4 + USB cable + BT tool (so you can tune, log, read/clear codes), and you're at or below the price point for the Cobb AP sold through a vendor like Sal@AutoCouture. Add to that the convenience of not having to mess with the ECU, running a USB cable through the firewall, keeping a laptop in the ride to datalog... made the choice incredibly easy for me.

[Freon]

I think Cobb has the best concept for their product ultimately. The lack of stage 2 maps, lack of end user tuning tools, etc. is hindering an unqualified recommendation.

I really think reflash is the way to go. The process of developing the reflash itself and pulling off the ECU's actual program gives great access to the logic actually running the car. There's already so much engineering put into the factory ECU and tune that it makes less sense to try to make it run like you want by falsifying external sensor data.

Having a handheld device to reflash certainly blows the doors off any mail-in reflash or even a in-shop reflash.

[dfv2]

I'm biased, coming from the subaru community - The n54 accessport is in it's infancy now but will become the defacto tuning solution for the n54/n55 - I'll put $5 on it!

As soon as stage 2 tunes are out the case will be closed. Plus, I expect cobb will release the tuning software to vendors for custom "protunes". For now I see people weighing the pros/cons of the accessport stage 1 tune itself vs the others... this is CRAZY nearsighted as the AP is more of a PnP tuning gateway. They should have probably waited to release the hardware with stage 2 tunes just to make a point.