ESS reflash stage 2 review!!

Helios · 03-11-2009, 04:15 PM

The guys at ESS rock, they took 1 day to flash the ECU and they sent it back next day air. Everything from removal, shipping, and reinstalling the unit took about 3 days time.

Then this weekend the fun started, with the help from the guys at Gravity Autosports, we put in my freshly flashed stage 2 ECU into the 1. after a little warm up period, all i could say is HOLY SH***T

!! this car is fast. The tune itself feels like an explosion of power, if your not gentle with it your burning some serious rubber. Been driving it for a couple days now and its amazing how it still feels exactly like the stock curve, very linear power throughout the range, ect., but give it some gas and you learn whole new level of power. You defently feel the limitations of RFTs, they blow!!

Car is whole new monster now, after driving and riding some n54 tunes and piggy backs this def feels like the tune to get and with the Customer service of ESS and GAS it was a no brainer for me. ESS is claiming 375hp/380TQ for the stage 2 but hopefully this weekend ill put her on the dyno and get some hard numbers. Ill let you guys know...

M3R1 · 03-11-2009, 05:56 PM

Congrats on the tune.

Great things are on the horizon for the N54...

WeekendWarrior · 03-11-2009, 11:23 PM

just got my ESS stage 3 tune andddd will be dynoing it on friday.

BMW-driver · 03-12-2009, 03:19 AM

Sounds good. A good software-modification does not give you only (+5984 HP..) but will transform your stock engine into a agressive sportscar; very sharp throttle respons, turbolag is gone, torque is always there throughout the whole powercurve and the sound of the engine changed into a mean growl (sounds like a powerfull v8 engine). So, the experience is complete difference. The stock is a kind of friendly car, a well tuned one, not any more. Nice to hear!

have fun ACS135i

Helios · 03-12-2009, 10:56 AM

Thanks guys.

Yah acs1 you nailed it.

WeekendWarrior let me know how you do on your dyno run? are you running a new IC or Oil cooler?

WeekendWarrior · 03-12-2009, 05:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mario213

Thanks guys.

Yah acs1 you nailed it.

WeekendWarrior let me know how you do on your dyno run? are you running a new IC or Oil cooler?

neither as of right now. they said that just with the downpipes i'll be ok to run the stage 3 tune. i'd like to think that i'd greatly benefit from an oil cooler or intercooler though. i need to move some funds around first.

F0Bman · 03-15-2009, 08:27 PM

HA. Awesome man I've heard a lot of great things with that chip, too bad my friend had that chip and put 87 in their on accident and blew his motor.

Add1ct · 03-15-2009, 08:32 PM

wow 87 did that
to a bmw n54 engine?? scary

M3_Dust · 03-15-2009, 10:49 PM

OP, do you get 93 octane at the pump where you live?

Helios · 03-16-2009, 12:01 AM

FOB, wow he really blew it, was he running the same stage 2? And are you sure it was his engine, doesn't sound right, our engines can take some abuse its usually those lil turbos that go... anyhow here in Miami we got 93 at all the pumps and its the only stuff i feed her. Let me tell you this baby is running stronger and stonger as the adaptation kicks in. Still no official #'s, but ill keep you guys posted.

imported_mega · 03-16-2009, 10:13 AM

how would 87 blow the engine, these tunes dont disable the knock sensors

I would love to see receipts of the repair bill, or pictures of the damage

M3_Dust · 03-16-2009, 10:23 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by imported_mega

how would 87 blow the engine, these tunes dont disable the knock sensors

I would love to see receipts of the repair bill, or pictures of the damage

the story is bullshit, it didn't happen.

Helios · 03-16-2009, 02:52 PM

Sounds like

... Anyhow, pulling on m3s is fun

rsjean · 02-19-2010, 11:48 AM

Did they supply instructions on removing the ECU? can you post?

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mario213

The guys at ESS rock, they took 1 day to flash the ECU and they sent it back next day air. Everything from removal, shipping, and reinstalling the unit took about 3 days time.

Then this weekend the fun started, with the help from the guys at Gravity Autosports, we put in my freshly flashed stage 2 ECU into the 1. after a little warm up period, all i could say is HOLY SH***T

!! this car is fast. The tune itself feels like an explosion of power, if your not gentle with it your burning some serious rubber. Been driving it for a couple days now and its amazing how it still feels exactly like the stock curve, very linear power throughout the range, ect., but give it some gas and you learn whole new level of power. You defently feel the limitations of RFTs, they blow!!

Car is whole new monster now, after driving and riding some n54 tunes and piggy backs this def feels like the tune to get and with the Customer service of ESS and GAS it was a no brainer for me. ESS is claiming 375hp/380TQ for the stage 2 but hopefully this weekend ill put her on the dyno and get some hard numbers. Ill let you guys know...

Helios · 02-23-2010, 04:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rsjean

Did they supply instructions on removing the ECU? can you post?

its actually really easy. Just need some basic hand tools and some patience. They had a how to somewhere on these boards. ill try to find it...

Evice · 02-23-2010, 09:27 PM

this is almost a year old post....probably lots have changed!! lol

ar design · 02-24-2010, 08:20 AM

All the customers we have sold ESS tunes to have been VERY pleased.

03-11-2009, 04:15 PM	#1
Helios RFTs suck! 7 Rep 99 Posts Drives: F80 MW M3 Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Miami, FL iTrader: (0)	ESS reflash stage 2 review!! The guys at ESS rock, they took 1 day to flash the ECU and they sent it back next day air. Everything from removal, shipping, and reinstalling the unit took about 3 days time. Then this weekend the fun started, with the help from the guys at Gravity Autosports, we put in my freshly flashed stage 2 ECU into the 1. after a little warm up period, all i could say is HOLY SH***T !! this car is fast. The tune itself feels like an explosion of power, if your not gentle with it your burning some serious rubber. Been driving it for a couple days now and its amazing how it still feels exactly like the stock curve, very linear power throughout the range, ect., but give it some gas and you learn whole new level of power. You defently feel the limitations of RFTs, they blow!! Car is whole new monster now, after driving and riding some n54 tunes and piggy backs this def feels like the tune to get and with the Customer service of ESS and GAS it was a no brainer for me. ESS is claiming 375hp/380TQ for the stage 2 but hopefully this weekend ill put her on the dyno and get some hard numbers. Ill let you guys know...
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03-11-2009, 05:56 PM	#2
M3R1 Colonel 2169 Rep 2,353 Posts Drives: ///M2cs Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: NJ iTrader: (5)	Congrats on the tune. Great things are on the horizon for the N54...
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03-11-2009, 11:23 PM	#3
WeekendWarrior I'm not as dumb as you look. 4 Rep 132 Posts Drives: 135i Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: NJ/FL iTrader: (0)	just got my ESS stage 3 tune andddd will be dynoing it on friday. __________________ Is this thing on?
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03-12-2009, 03:19 AM	#4
BMW-driver Drive carefully :) 6 Rep 322 Posts Drives: 1M Valencia Orange Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Leeuwarden iTrader: (0)	Sounds good. A good software-modification does not give you only (+5984 HP..) but will transform your stock engine into a agressive sportscar; very sharp throttle respons, turbolag is gone, torque is always there throughout the whole powercurve and the sound of the engine changed into a mean growl (sounds like a powerfull v8 engine). So, the experience is complete difference. The stock is a kind of friendly car, a well tuned one, not any more. Nice to hear! have fun ACS135i
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03-12-2009, 10:56 AM	#5
Helios RFTs suck! 7 Rep 99 Posts Drives: F80 MW M3 Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Miami, FL iTrader: (0)	Thanks guys. Yah acs1 you nailed it. WeekendWarrior let me know how you do on your dyno run? are you running a new IC or Oil cooler?
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03-15-2009, 08:27 PM	#7
F0Bman First Lieutenant 3 Rep 309 Posts Drives: Join Date: Apr 2008 iTrader: (0)	HA. Awesome man I've heard a lot of great things with that chip, too bad my friend had that chip and put 87 in their on accident and blew his motor. __________________ Fully Restored 1985 Corolla GT-S 1987 328ci SR20DET Drift Car 1989 Honda Civic Si-R Current Project 2002 Corolla CE Daily Driver www.TheTunerSource.com
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03-15-2009, 08:32 PM	#8
Add1ct Lieutenant Colonel 59 Rep 1,859 Posts Drives: 135i, 335i Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Palos Verdes Estates (SoCal) iTrader: (3)	wow 87 did that to a bmw n54 engine?? scary __________________ E82 N54 6MT 6FL 668 KASW turned in E92 Crimson/Cream N54 6MT, ZSP, ZPP, ZCW, Nav, Sat radio, HD Radio, Logic7, PDC, Active Steering, Active Cruise, 6FL, CA
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03-15-2009, 10:49 PM	#9
M3_Dust Michelin Man 388 Rep 740 Posts Drives: F10 535i M Sport Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: on forums iTrader: (0)	OP, do you get 93 octane at the pump where you live?
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03-16-2009, 12:01 AM	#10
Helios RFTs suck! 7 Rep 99 Posts Drives: F80 MW M3 Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Miami, FL iTrader: (0)	FOB, wow he really blew it, was he running the same stage 2? And are you sure it was his engine, doesn't sound right, our engines can take some abuse its usually those lil turbos that go... anyhow here in Miami we got 93 at all the pumps and its the only stuff i feed her. Let me tell you this baby is running stronger and stonger as the adaptation kicks in. Still no official #'s, but ill keep you guys posted.
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03-16-2009, 10:13 AM	#11
imported_mega Colonel 122 Rep 2,199 Posts Drives: various bmw's Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: neverland iTrader: (0)	how would 87 blow the engine, these tunes dont disable the knock sensors I would love to see receipts of the repair bill, or pictures of the damage __________________ You only need two tools in life - WD-40 and Duct Tape. If it doesn't move and should, use the WD-40. If it shouldn't move and does, use the duct tape. Driving e82, e72, e85, R53 Gone but not forgotten.. 1974 2002, many various 3s.
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03-16-2009, 02:52 PM	#13
Helios RFTs suck! 7 Rep 99 Posts Drives: F80 MW M3 Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Miami, FL iTrader: (0)	Sounds like ... Anyhow, pulling on m3s is fun
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02-23-2010, 09:27 PM	#16
Evice Major 194 Rep 1,457 Posts Drives: E92M3 Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Somewhere here iTrader: (1)	this is almost a year old post....probably lots have changed!! lol __________________ My Track Videos
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02-24-2010, 08:20 AM	#17
ar design 295 Rep 4,408 Posts Drives: 04 M3 Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Denver, CO iTrader: (9)	All the customers we have sold ESS tunes to have been VERY pleased. __________________ -Critter
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