Best N55 tuner?

[Matticus91]

I expect this thread will be a little controversial lol.

I currently have a JB4 Stage 2 (ISO) that I run on MAP 5 (autotuning) 100% of the time. It's great for the extra power but it's super peaky and not smooth at times.

Does anyone have experience with a wider range of out-of-the-box (MHD/Cobb/etc.) tuners that can offer some input as to what might be a better option?

The power offered by the JB4 is awesome but I wouldn't mind having a little less if it was a smoother band and maybe had some more character (pops'n'burbles).

Other concern is removability. The JB4 isn't the easiest to remove but once you do it was like it was never there. Kind of important in this situation

[Esteban]

MHD looks promising, but I'd wait until it's out of Beta testing. I'll be considering it when it is. Oh wait, you have a 2013... I think that might be a problem.

You've probably already read this thread, but in case you haven't:

http://www.1addicts.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1318862

Edit: also, I know you're still under a warranty and I don't know if your dealer will be able to detect that you had it even after you uninstall it.

[Matticus91]

Originally Posted by Esteban

MHD looks promising, but I'd wait until it's out of Beta testing. I'll be considering it when it is. Oh wait, you have a 2013... I think that might be a problem.

You've probably already read this thread, but in case you haven't:

http://www.1addicts.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1318862

Edit: also, I know you're still under a warranty and I don't know if your dealer will be able to detect that you had it even after you uninstall it.

Hadn't seen that thread, thanks for sharing! I'll look into it some more and see what the compatibility is like on my car.

[MightyMouseTech]

Originally Posted by Esteban

Edit: also, I know you're still under a warranty and I don't know if your dealer will be able to detect that you had it even after you uninstall it.

I believe the dealer can tell if the car has been flashed and put back to stock. Pretty much all car companies are going that way now. The tech can see every time the computer has been flashed, including the day/time it was done.

[Esteban]

Originally Posted by MightyMouseTech

I believe the dealer can tell if the car has been flashed and put back to stock. Pretty much all car companies are going that way now. The tech can see every time the computer has been flashed, including the day/time it was done.

That's what I was thinking too, which might not be good for Matticus91 because of his warranty.

[MightyMouseTech]

Originally Posted by Esteban

That's what I was thinking too, which might not be good for Matticus91 because of his warranty.

Ya, not going to risk it with my 2013 either.

[velociti]

OP, was in your boat with my 2011. Only had a charge pipe, intake, and PE, used Map 5 daily for a couple of years. Like you I hated that it wasn't 100 consistent or smooth, but as a blunt instrument to make the car faster, with all of its flexibility and easy removal, it made a ton of sense to me, especially while under warranty.

Last week I made the jump to MHD. It's an awesome platform. The "off-the-shelf" (OTS) maps already look pretty bulletproof, with one problem code being sorted out, and while those maps are a little conservative in terms of power, they're purportedly very smooth. I'm doing the custom tuning route and have quickly discovered that I have a boost leak which I need to pin down and sort out, but my first impressions are that it's exactly what I want. You can flash the PPK-style exhaust burbles in, and -- hand-to-heart -- the flash tune feels better than stock up until I hit my boost issues. Dead smooth idle, very smooth power delivery.

If I were you, I'd stick with the JB4 while you're under warranty. No need to rock the boat in case your car runs into a serious issue. MHD was a no-brainer for me because I didn't have to do a bench flash of my DME, something you'd have to do. Keep an eye out on that MHD thread to see how much progress is made on the bench flash end of things and see if dynos start showing up for the OTS maps. If, like me, all you want is a bulletproof daily on pump gas, MHD might be your longterm solution.

[Matticus91]

Originally Posted by Esteban

That's what I was thinking too, which might not be good for Matticus91 because of his warranty.

Originally Posted by MightyMouseTech

Ya, not going to risk it with my 2013 either.

Yeah that's going to make it a no go for me then

Originally Posted by velociti

OP, was in your boat with my 2011. Only had a charge pipe, intake, and PE, used Map 5 daily for a couple of years. Like you I hated that it wasn't 100 consistent or smooth, but as a blunt instrument to make the car faster, with all of its flexibility and easy removal, it made a ton of sense to me, especially while under warranty.

Last week I made the jump to MHD. It's an awesome platform. The "off-the-shelf" (OTS) maps already look pretty bulletproof, with one problem code being sorted out, and while those maps are a little conservative in terms of power, they're purportedly very smooth. I'm doing the custom tuning route and have quickly discovered that I have a boost leak which I need to pin down and sort out, but my first impressions are that it's exactly what I want. You can flash the PPK-style exhaust burbles in, and -- hand-to-heart -- the flash tune feels better than stock up until I hit my boost issues. Dead smooth idle, very smooth power delivery.

If I were you, I'd stick with the JB4 while you're under warranty. No need to rock the boat in case your car runs into a serious issue. MHD was a no-brainer for me because I didn't have to do a bench flash of my DME, something you'd have to do. Keep an eye out on that MHD thread to see how much progress is made on the bench flash end of things and see if dynos start showing up for the OTS maps. If, like me, all you want is a bulletproof daily on pump gas, MHD might be your longterm solution.

Man, that sounds like exactly what I'm looking for... Almost sucks that I have this warranty now lol

[Esteban]

Originally Posted by Matticus91

Almost sucks that I have this warranty now lol

Wait... what about your transmission and water pump? If it wasn't for your warranty you would've had to pay for those things. I think your warranty has done you pretty well. Saved you a lot of money, yes?

[Matticus91]

Originally Posted by Esteban

Wait... what about your transmission and water pump? If it wasn't for your warranty you would've had to pay for those things. I think your warranty has done you pretty well. Saved you a lot of money, yes?

Yes for sure, but the limitations of it can be a little upsetting still. I'm actually going to make a thread soon sharing the invoices for those repairs as well as the total cost of the warranty so people can see a real-world example of an aftermarket warranty solution. I absolutely do not regret getting it, I just wish there was a warranty that would allow me to mod the car a little more

[Esteban]

Originally Posted by Matticus91

Yes for sure, but the limitations of it can be a little upsetting still. I'm actually going to make a thread soon sharing the invoices for those repairs as well as the total cost of the warranty so people can see a real-world example of an aftermarket warranty solution. I absolutely do not regret getting it, I just wish there was a warranty that would allow me to mod the car a little more

There's always JB4 which some people swear by, plus there's a light at the end of the tunnel... one day your warranty will expire.

[swagon]

Am I the only one here that thinks the car already has just the right amount of power and speed for street driving?

[Matticus91]

Originally Posted by swagon

Am I the only one here that thinks the car already has just the right amount of power and speed for street driving?

Yup

It's not at all underpowered, I just REALLY enjoy being able to light up the back tires any time I want. That's hard to do with ~300 at the crank.

[velociti]

Originally Posted by swagon

Am I the only one here that thinks the car already has just the right amount of power and speed for street driving?

Ha, have you driven a modified car? Stock feels great up until you've felt the massive additional torque available from 2500rpm on up. Hard to go back to stock when even a light dip into the throttle on a tuned car gets you going pretty quickly.

[swagon]

Originally Posted by velociti

Ha, have you driven a modified car? Stock feels great up until you've felt the massive additional torque available from 2500rpm on up. Hard to go back to stock when even a light dip into the throttle on a tuned car gets you going pretty quickly.

Ye, a tuned N54 135i that was otherwise stock.

Got PPK half a year ago and I am 100% happy with the power and speed it is capable of.

[Cavpilot2k]

Originally Posted by swagon

Am I the only one here that thinks the car already has just the right amount of power and speed for street driving?

I think it's fine. My first 135 was kept stock for 3 years. I only tuned my second one to get that honeymoon feeling all over again.
There is absolutely nothing wrong with stock power levels - it's still faster than 95% of other cars on the road.
And getting laid once a week is fine too, but 3 times is better.

[velociti]

Amen, reverends.

[mike@x-ph.com]

Originally Posted by Matticus91

I expect this thread will be a little controversial lol.

I currently have a JB4 Stage 2 (ISO) that I run on MAP 5 (autotuning) 100% of the time. It's great for the extra power but it's super peaky and not smooth at times.

Does anyone have experience with a wider range of out-of-the-box (MHD/Cobb/etc.) tuners that can offer some input as to what might be a better option?

The power offered by the JB4 is awesome but I wouldn't mind having a little less if it was a smoother band and maybe had some more character (pops'n'burbles).

Other concern is removability. The JB4 isn't the easiest to remove but once you do it was like it was never there. Kind of important in this situation

My pick would be JB4, if you want something easier to remove get the JB stage 1

[Jeff@TopGearSolutions]

Originally Posted by swagon

Am I the only one here that thinks the car already has just the right amount of power and speed for street driving?

Anything under 500hp is just boring