Tune for Throttle Response

[cerealwars]

Hey All,

I have been smitten with this coupe since I bought it just over a year ago - it is an absolute delight! I have done a few things to make it more engaging to drive, and I think it's pretty close to where I want it.

However, one thing that has always plagued the experience for me is the bane of electronic throttle and its built-in delays. Push the pedal, send a telegram.

I am looking at remote tunes to pair with a fresh set of headers. I know there are countless threads out there on tunes, but not many current ones and almost none prioritizing throttle response.

I don't really care about eeking out every last hp, I just want the throttle to IMMEDIATELY do what I tell it. I want the car to feel natural; not electronically filtered.

I feel like my use case might be a little unique. I'm never driving above 8/10ths on the street, but I am addicted to blipping the throttle and downshifting every reasonable chance I get. It's wild to me that I can get into my 80hp Geo Tracker and instantly become a rev-matching god by comparison.

Can anybody help me out here? Specifically I am looking for a tune that addresses this issue. Would especially love to hear from 6MT guys who track their cars or have personal experience with tunes.

2010 E82 N51/6MT
Thanks in advance

[markslc1]

Consider buying the sprint booster product. It just plugs into the gas pedal and is likely night/day difference.

[ZHPizza]

Yep, I had written this down at some point: can install speed buster/sprint booster on the e82. Apparently makes the throttle response linear and immediate instead of dead zone and slow ramp up.

I have a speed buster in the garage that I've never taken out of the box - might be what you're after!

[cerealwars]

Damn, I almost mentioned this in the initial post:

I've got one. It's an improvement for sure, but not the cure.

Ultimately it feels uncoordinated to the stock ECU mapping at part throttle (feels very digital stepper motor, as opposed to analog). If anybody's interested in a more verbose review, it's here.

[spidertri]

I've had a StageFP tune on my car since 2020, when I bought the car it already had a BPC tune on it, so I've never experienced the stock throttle response.

I have no complaints about mine. I daily the car and drive similarly to how you describe, not pushing it very hard but wanting blips and downshifts to keep it engaging.

Every time I've reached out to Bob at StageFP he's been very responsive, both with email and phone calls. I'd imagine he'd be happy to discuss how he changes things compared to the factory tune.

Best thing would probably be to see if anyone local to you has a tuned car that you could drive. Would it help if I took a video driving around?

[cerealwars]

Was hoping you might chime in!

I might have to reach out to Bob. This sounds like the type of support I was looking for. I'm hesitant to spend a bunch of money to get some off-the-shelf tune good for 8hp and have the company ghost me afterwards.

The next step for me was going to be to reach out to each of these guys and see what they say. StageFP was on my shortlist, along with Kassel Performance and 22RPD.

If you make a video I'd definitely watch it, but I don't know how well the timing will translate. I feel like my problem would be mostly imperceptible to someone in the passenger seat. But I appreciate the offer for sure!

[Thunderguts]

I searched long and hard for a simple solution also, but never found one. I hate the throttle response on the N52. Rev matching is abysmal. The throttle pedal booster products help mask the issue, but it's only a marginal improvement.

Short of a full remap/tune, I'm not sure anything will help. I planned to do just that with a 3IM swap, but I lost interest after the EPA started cracking down on tuners.

[HappyDuck]

Please keep us updated. I am in the same boat, looking to improve throttle response when I add the 3-stage intake that's sitting in my basement.
But I'm unsure how to get it tuned to both get the advantage from the 3IM and pass smog in Massachusetts.

[Blau]

Bump and following.

Looking at tunes from Bimmworks and BavAuto (which is affiliated with 22RPD)

I won't consider any tune that requires a locked cable (so no stagefp/BPC)

[4JawChuck]

In response to the throttle lag issue I can say that if you have more than 60 000 miles or 100km on your car change out the Vanos solenoids and return valves if you haven’t already. You can monitor the angle Vanos is supposed to hit watching a scanner (should be less than 1 degree difference) for an idea how bad they are, mine were around 1.5 degrees difference and the improvement was hard to believe…exhaust side especially.

I now consider these four components tune up items, cleaned them up a couple of times thinking that was good enough but they really are wearing components that need regular replacement on a 50000 mile schedule.

Btw bottom solenoid and return valve are for the exhaust side.

[cerealwars]

So my headers arrived a couple weeks ago. I'm itching to get them on, but life has been crazy busy lately.

Still haven't made the decision on a tune yet.

Huge thanks for the info 4JawChuck!! I just ordered a pair. Excited to try these out.

[spidertri]

Originally Posted by Blau

Bump and following.

Looking at tunes from Bimmworks and BavAuto (which is affiliated with 22RPD)

I won't consider any tune that requires a locked cable (so no stagefp/BPC)

Just FYI, when I did my stagefp tune update last year for the milvs I used my Bimmergeeks k+dcan cable. Bob and every other tuner who used the iflash cables got screwed over by that company when they locked their software.

Bob turned around and wrote his own tune installer that works with any high quality cable you'd use for inpa.

https://stagefp.com/stage-fp-iflash-cable-instructions/


For anyone else, I sent cerealwars this video from a track day where I mic'd the exhaust, you can see the throttle input vs hearing the response.

[Blau]

Originally Posted by spidertri

Just FYI, when I did my stagefp tune update last year for the milvs I used my Bimmergeeks k+dcan cable. Bob and every other tuner who used the iflash cables got screwed over by that company when they locked their software.

Bob turned around and wrote his own tune installer that works with any high quality cable you'd use for inpa.

https://stagefp.com/stage-fp-iflash-cable-instructions/


For anyone else, I sent cerealwars this video from a track day where I mic'd the exhaust, you can see the throttle input vs hearing the response.

That is awesome news. I will certainly consider their tune now. Thanks for this video.

[Blau]

Originally Posted by cerealwars

So my headers arrived a couple weeks ago. I'm itching to get them on, but life has been crazy busy lately.

Still haven't made the decision on a tune yet.

Huge thanks for the info 4JawChuck!! I just ordered a pair. Excited to try these out.

Which headers? I feel like you and I are on a similar trajectory with our cars. 🤘🏽

[cerealwars]

Originally Posted by Blau

Which headers? I feel like you and I are on a similar trajectory with our cars. 🤘🏽

I'd prefer not to say... lol

$365 aliexpress headers. They had good reviews on e90post so I thought I'd give them a shot. I don't quote have the stones to do MILVs, but I want my car a touch louder and I thought it'd couple nicely with a tune. Gotta live it up while gas cars are still socially accepted.

[Blau]

Originally Posted by cerealwars

I'd prefer not to say... lol

$365 aliexpress headers. They had good reviews on e90post so I thought I'd give them a shot. I don't quote have the stones to do MILVs, but I want my car a touch louder and I thought it'd couple nicely with a tune. Gotta live it up while gas cars are still socially accepted.

I'm definitely picking up the Asian headers, there are a ton of great reviews. I think 22rpd even has an article referencing them on their tunes page.
I'm not doing MILVs either. IMHO it isn't worth it.

[Blau]

Link to the 22rpd write up on the cheap headers: https://bavautoparts.com/blogs/news/n52-n51-faq

[cerealwars]

Originally Posted by Blau

Link to the 22rpd write up on the cheap headers: https://bavautoparts.com/blogs/news/n52-n51-faq

Them's the ones.

Dammit, after looking at that BavAuto page, it's making a compelling argument for the N54 manifold. I'm really trying to stay conservative on my daily here though. If only I could spend all my time and money on cars...

[Blau]

Originally Posted by cerealwars

Them's the ones.

Dammit, after looking at that BavAuto page, it's making a compelling argument for the N54 manifold. I'm really trying to stay conservative on my daily here though. If only I could spend all my time and money on cars...

Not worth it unless you hang out at the upper revs. I thought about it but after a week or so of spirited driving, I don't spend enough time over 5500 rpm to get any of the gains.

[cerealwars]

Unless I'm cruising, I'm usually banging off limiter to get there lol. Er, well, I will be once I get the soft limiter tuned out.

[AmuroRay]

Originally Posted by Blau

I'm definitely picking up the Asian headers, there are a ton of great reviews. I think 22rpd even has an article referencing them on their tunes page.
I'm not doing MILVs either. IMHO it isn't worth it.

LOL, oh yes they are. As big if not bigger gains as the headers - and are a better mod for people who spend time under 4000RPM because they add substantially more torque.
You can see my FBO StageFP/BPC (Bob did the tune) car dyno here - I made 245whp (or 252whp for STD correction) before I added the MILVs.

https://www.e90post.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1566807

[Blau]

Originally Posted by AmuroRay

LOL, oh yes they are. As big if not bigger gains as the headers - and are a better mod for people who spend time under 4000RPM because they add substantially more torque.
You can see my FBO StageFP/BPC (Bob did the tune) car dyno here - I made 245whp (or 252whp for STD correction) before I added the MILVs.

https://www.e90post.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1566807

Thank you, brother! I'm not there yet, but I'm considering all options.