Just got 135i, installed Cobb week 1.

[kdog26372]

First post to forum, been looking at buying a used 135i or 335i coupe for about a year. Was a bit apprehensive regarding HPFP issues and knowing I would be getting some type of tune and not wanting to go through taking the JB or Vishnu thing out every dealer visit. It seems most can do the swap in 1/2 hour to 1 hour, but I don't have a garage in Chicago and the handheld unit is really 15 minutes of doing next to nothing.

Any rate bought an '08 135i, space grey with every option that I am aware of, nav, sport, heated leather, keyless start/entry, premium hi-fi, said active steering but doesn't seem to feel like anything special, so that may not be on it, don't really care. Bought the car on a Wednesday night, ordered Cobb on Thursday morning, unit arrived Monday afternoon, didn't have to download anything as it was shipped up to date, and installed Monday after work in parking lot in 20 minutes.

Car was quick to start, car is now the way I anticipated all along. 1-2 gears are a bit dicey with traction as tires can't handle the torque and its been a bit colder lately. Highway runs are impressive and hitting crazy speeds quickly. Car seems much quicker when I manually shift gears, vs just leave in sport. I'm guessing the manual method is just putting me in a lower gear. Highly recommend this tune for balance of very solid power increase, ease of install and uninstall, and very good experience with those at Cobb.

Ordered some aluminum pedals, probably order the M3 front sway and maybe get a DCI. Searched the DCI and so much back and forth on the issue that I'm just holding off for now, maybe get that new closed lid design from AFE, but want some feedback once people get it installed.

[Kamal]

Congrats on getting a 1er... the Cobb is a great tuning option I just hope they start to deliver on map updates, stage 2, etc. They just released their launch control and flat-footed shifting updates for the '04-05 WRXs... years after they promised.

As far as the DCI, I would say skip... I've seen conflicting data and truth be told, with a tune the car will run incredibly hot... after a spirited run crack open your hood and you'll be amazed at how ridiculously hot it is. I've got the Cobb AP, catback exhaust, just got my E93 M sway bar kit, and I'm looking at an oil catch can and FMIC as my next mods... need to cool this engine down and extend the longevity of the engine...

[kdog26372]

How do you like the M3 swaybar? That's probably my next mod.

[Kamal]

It's sitting in my garage right now... waiting for a free weekend to get together with a fellow 1addict (Bogart) who also got one to do the install... from what I've read, it should be a great mod to kill alot of the body roll present in the car. I do plan on doing some more suspension mods down the road because even though the sway bar might kill some roll, it will also create a bit of undesired understeer.

[TSiggs]

Literally just installed my accessport, tires screaming in second even with 265s out back!

[135iNewb]

How do you guys feel about the throttle response? I didn't notice at first, but now I have some jerkiness going on. It feels like this:

18% throttle = 0psi
19% throttle = 8psi
20% throttle = 16psi

It next to impossible to drive medium speed. I went with Cobb because I didn't want a piggy back that worked like an on/off boost switch. I love the power, but the drivability is ehh.

I emailed Cobb, and they said a new 2.02 tune should be available shortly. It will provide 2 new maps with a more linear throttle mapping. One for AT, and one for 6MT.

By the way, my HPFP died 5 days after the tune went in. Get ready.
^--Not a Cobb specific problem.

[Kamal]

Originally Posted by 135iNewb

How do you guys feel about the throttle response? I didn't notice at first, but now I have some jerkiness going on. It feels like this:

18% throttle = 0psi
19% throttle = 8psi
20% throttle = 16psi

It next to impossible to drive medium speed. I went with Cobb because I didn't want a piggy back that worked like an on/off boost switch. I love the power, but the drivability is ehh.

I emailed Cobb, and they said a new 2.02 tune should be available shortly. It will provide 2 new maps with a more linear throttle mapping. One for AT, and one for 6MT.

By the way, my HPFP died 5 days after the tune went in. Get ready.
^--Not a Cobb specific problem.

My HPFP crapped out shortly after installing my tune as well (I think it was ~4 days)... Before taking it to the dealer I was on the 93 octane map and it was pretty ridiculous to say the least... power came on strong and hard with just a little throttle input.... After I got the car back from the dealer I stepped it down to the 91 beta map and its much much better... power is down going to the 91 map but its still much more than sufficient and the power delivery is not as jarring.

[kdog26372]

Crazy as it seems, I'm almost used to the power now and ready for more. It is a bit too on/off as you say, but I'm an auto and if I leave in non-sport mode it seems pretty tame under light/medium throttle as it usually in a gear higher. Gas mileage has been horrible, which would probably be a benefit of a more linear map. I think a new FMIC may help a bit as well, as its my understanding that in order to hit the torque targets and keep things from getting too hot it dumps in more fuel. Could be way off in that assumption as I'm a novice, but I've never heard a bad thing about upgrading the FMIC with a tune. I would like a tune tailored to just that, just FMIC as only mod. I believe Cobb does this on the Subaru side, or at least third party tuners do and get good results.

Car already had the HPFP and injector recall done prior to my purchase. Not to say I'm in the clear, but the slim chance BMW finally found a fix, it would be nice to know its already done.

[silverlude]

I agree about the throttle -- however, you get used to it. I literally see it the same as driving my Yamaha R1 motorcycle, throttle is ultra sensitive...and if you're not smooth with the throttle its jerky.

Nonetheless, I would appreciate a more linear map, which, we know is on the way. Patience so for now....very very poor gas mileage...but rocket fun

[Frampton]

i found my gas mileage problem... my foot with this car!! i've got a beta 2.02 map too still goes back to my right foot issue

i finally backed off so much WOT, even though it is intoxicating, and i jumped up 2mpg in the city from 16 to 18mpg still getting on it once in a while

i go back and forth between the 2.01 and the 2.02 map all the time, the touchier throttle is fun as hell but hard to take your boss or girlfriend to lunch in, 2.02 i feel like it takes a lot longer for boost to come on which is mostly mental because i have to push my foot to the floor instead of part throttle for full boost

neeeeed lsd and a radar detector bad....

[Lambobimmer]

Anyone know when Stage 2 will be released?

[roo97ss]

Originally Posted by Frampton

i found my gas mileage problem... my foot with this car!! i've got a beta 2.02 map too still goes back to my right foot issue

i finally backed off so much WOT, even though it is intoxicating, and i jumped up 2mpg in the city from 16 to 18mpg still getting on it once in a while
.

i've found mine to be consistently worse than my previous M3s, and my current M roadster, driving them all similarly, the s54s with a lot more rpm obviously. about 19.5-20 in the 135 vs 20.5-21 in the m3/m roadster by the on board computer which is off by about 4-5% in each car, reading optimistic by my math.

my gripe isn't the fuel economy, it's the damn gas tank, the 135 is my daily and it's got the same size or slightly smaller tank than the z4m. I'm at the gas station twice a week with this damn thing; should probably just kill the rest of my trunk with a fuel cell, it's half gone with a space saver spare now...

[Frampton]

mines a dd too i have to agree on the frquency of being at the pump... for me every 150 miles

im glad ive got a shell on the way to work that has some of the greatest breakfast tacos in town! gives a good excuse to eat breakfast

[135iNewb]

Originally Posted by Frampton

i found my gas mileage problem... my foot with this car!! i've got a beta 2.02 map too still goes back to my right foot issue

i finally backed off so much WOT, even though it is intoxicating, and i jumped up 2mpg in the city from 16 to 18mpg still getting on it once in a while

i go back and forth between the 2.01 and the 2.02 map all the time, the touchier throttle is fun as hell but hard to take your boss or girlfriend to lunch in, 2.02 i feel like it takes a lot longer for boost to come on which is mostly mental because i have to push my foot to the floor instead of part throttle for full boost

neeeeed lsd and a radar detector bad....

Where can I download the 2.02 beta?

[f1rst 1]

I'm a few days away from pulling the trigger on the Cobb AP. Do your MPG's really suffer that much? Even when you're not heavy on the pedal? Obviously when you're on it it's gonna be worse but what about just normal every day "somewhat" spirited driving? Can you still get 20mpg? Once the gas prices go down (if they ever do) I won't care but now with how gas is so ridiculous, I seem to care a little more.

btw....to the Chicago guys, I work in Vernon Hills, you guys ever meet up or anything? Any GTG's or shows in the area? I'm bone stock now (had my car 1 week) but would like to meet some of the guys in the area and see some of the products and I'm reading about on here.

[Lambobimmer]

Originally Posted by f1rst 1

I'm a few days away from pulling the trigger on the Cobb AP. Do your MPG's really suffer that much? Even when you're not heavy on the pedal? Obviously when you're on it it's gonna be worse but what about just normal every day "somewhat" spirited driving? Can you still get 20mpg? Once the gas prices go down (if they ever do) I won't care but now with how gas is so ridiculous, I seem to care a little more.

btw....to the Chicago guys, I work in Vernon Hills, you guys ever meet up or anything? Any GTG's or shows in the area? I'm bone stock now (had my car 1 week) but would like to meet some of the guys in the area and see some of the products and I'm reading about on here.

I get 20.5 MPG and I have had Cobb installed since December.

I would say that I get into the gas at least 2 or 3 times a day. I have a 20 mile round trip commute.

[135iNewb]

My wife drives the car 4 days a week to work. We seem to get the same milage (as stock) mon-thurs, but for some reason fri-sun its horrible. lol

[f1rst 1]

Originally Posted by 135iNewb

My wife drives the car 4 days a week to work. We seem to get the same milage (as stock) mon-thurs, but for some reason fri-sun its horrible. lol

hah!! awesome. Well, thats good news. Not like I was really NOT gonna buy the tune anyway, just wanted to know what to expect. Thanks for the input

[kdog26372]

You still have to get the tune, even if the gas mileage goes down 2-3 mpg. I mean at $4/gallon, that only 10% increase in gas useage or about $5 per week assuming 1 fill per week. If that's breaking the bank then get a $10k car.

In terms of Chicago meets, I just got the car so haven't talked to or met anyone yet. But, as the weather improves I'd be interested in maybe meeting up to see other's mods in person.

[ModBargains.com]

Glad to hear that there is some discussion about the COBB AccessPORT as it really is a great tune for the car. For those of you who don't already know, the v2.02 maps have been released as of today!

"COBB Tuning is happy to announce the release of revised Stage1 maps for all BMW AccessPORTs. These new v2.02 maps feature slight revisions to fuel, boost and ignition tuning as well as alternate maps with different throttle calibrations to suit a wider range of drivers. In addition, ACN91 (Arizona, California, Nevada) calibrations have also been added to support users in these states using the blend of 91 octane fuels particular to these states.

Throttle Mapping

Based on user feedback, COBB Tuning has released 2 versions of each calibration with more linear throttle mapping. All maps are available with standard throttle mapping as well as the new v1 and v2 linear throttle mapping. The v2 calibrations offer a more aggressive accelerator pedal feel and may be more suitable for 6MT-equipped cars. The v1 calibrations are less aggressive and may be more suitable for automatic vehicles, however, both calibrations are safe to use on all transmission types.

Map Revisions

Boost levels, fueling and ignition timing have been revised to improve performance and reduce ECU intervention over driver inputs. Torque and load limits have also been altered to allow for significantly increased power levels over stock. The speed limiter has been raised to a maximum value of 198.4mph (ECU limit). The rev-limiter has been raised to 7,200RPM for 91 and 93 octane maps, only.

ACN91 Mapping

ACN91 octane calibrations have been added to further support users in Arizona, California and Nevada. These states use a specific blend of 91 octane that has been shown to perform below standard 91 octane. Users in these states are strongly encouraged to use the ACN91-specific calibrations.

These newest calibrations are available right now from the COBB Tuning BMW Map Database. For more detailed information on maps and revisions, please consult the BMW Stage1 Map Notes or call COBB Tuning at 1-866-922-3059."

[Daniel135i]

So, catch me up on the details, what gaisn can I look for on the latest tune, stock N55.... Oh, nevermind, its only for N54. I sux again. (sad face)