Which tune for the 128??

[RaddDroid7]

Was thinking of getting a tune on my 128i. Although mine is a N51 and I wanted to know which tune would be the best bang for my buck. I've seen AA and StageFP but I don't see anybody really comparing the two . I'm open to more options if there is any lol.

Thanks in advance !

[Driven5]

Best bang for your buck? Bimmerlabs. It's free.

[RaddDroid7]

Didn't even know there was N51 tunes on bimmerlabs.

[Papa Popov]

I went with the OpenFlash tablet since you get the tune plus the hardware with some neat features. Been running the stage 1 tune for about a year and a half, and just got my tune for the 3SIM that I'll be installing soon.

Wouldn't recommend it if you're planning on doing stuff like MILVs or headers though since those aren't supported by their off the shelf tunes.

[minirips2]

Rethink that tune if you're a California resident. All non-CARB tunes are no longer legal.

[Blau]

there is no n51 tune on bimmerlabs

[RaddDroid7]

Originally Posted by minirips2

Rethink that tune if you're a California resident. All non-CARB tunes are no longer legal.

IS there any tunes that are legal in CA?

[Driven5]

Originally Posted by WeShallCallHerBlau

there is no n51 tune on bimmerlabs

I saw some bimmerlabs stuff referencing N51 cars, but only have a 'project' set up for my N52 car and didn't realize none of the N51 stuff included tunes. Thanks for the correction.

[minirips2]

None that I know of for our cars, but you could call around, and check. CARB certification would be expensive to attain, so I doubt any tuners would go to the trouble. However, what Cali does tends to trickle down to other states, so I'd imagine it will be pretty standard in many states at some point.

[08SlowE82]

Sign the waiver "FOR OFF ROAD USE" and enjoy. How would they even know you have a tune? I Assume you could just Re flash stock map when you go get smog check…ACTIVE AUTOWERKE still shows tune for n51 available

[Tuxedo]

I have a Stage FP for 2 summers on my N51, last mo flashed to oem for emission test and got the contrast of flash back last Wed. In my research if I was doing headers and performance exhaust I'd prob done AA. My desire is lite mod with leaving it the spirit of OEM yet snappy. No loud exhaust or turn it up to eleven compression, mainly improved throttle or faster response. Worth every penny



Stage FP cons-
the startup on oem has a warm-up lasting 5-45sec depending on how warm and ready the engine is. In spring and fall in the Chicago area I get cold start stalls with Stage FP installed. I can manually mimic the oem warm-up most times however if I toss the key to a buddy to move or drive forgetting to tell them about it, panic phone call or text- worried I broke your car apology. Summer and winter startup is just fine.

[RaddDroid7]

Originally Posted by 08SlowE82

Sign the waiver "FOR OFF ROAD USE" and enjoy. How would they even know you have a tune? I Assume you could just Re flash stock map when you go get smog check…ACTIVE AUTOWERKE still shows tune for n51 available

Was thinking of that tbh, just don't want to pay for a dirty smog every two years. I was reading a thread on here saying that they can tell if you previously tuned and reverted back now. Kind of put tuning my car on the back burner till further notice

[RaddDroid7]

Originally Posted by Tuxedo

I have a Stage FP for 2 summers on my N51, last mo flashed to oem for emission test and got the contrast of flash back last Wed. In my research if I was doing headers and performance exhaust I'd prob done AA. My desire is lite mod with leaving it the spirit of OEM yet snappy. No loud exhaust or turn it up to eleven compression, mainly improved throttle or faster response. Worth every penny



Stage FP cons-
the startup on oem has a warm-up lasting 5-45sec depending on how warm and ready the engine is. In spring and fall in the Chicago area I get cold start stalls with Stage FP installed. I can manually mimic the oem warm-up most times however if I toss the key to a buddy to move or drive forgetting to tell them about it, panic phone call or text- worried I broke your car apology. Summer and winter startup is just fine.

Hmmm, I need to do some research on that ! Preciate the suggestion and Lmao @ all the homies who thought you were gonna kill em

[08SlowE82]

Originally Posted by RaddDroid7

Was thinking of that tbh, just don't want to pay for a dirty smog every two years. I was reading a thread on here saying that they can tell if you previously tuned and reverted back now. Kind of put tuning my car on the back burner till further notice

It seems the only option is to move outta commiefornia.. it's amazing how the state that started the car culture is now trying to kill it. All we can do is support the RPM act and hope for the best. More than certain there are like minded guys out there who happen to own a smog shop. But I would not expect anyone to say "yea so and so over in the valley will hook you up". At least not on a public forum. Most tunes also have a stock file that can be re flashed back in for smog purposes. Also Wonder if just having an XHP trans tune is grounds for an instant failing of smog as well? Just My 2 cents.

[amg6975]

Originally Posted by RaddDroid7

Was thinking of that tbh, just don't want to pay for a dirty smog every two years. I was reading a thread on here saying that they can tell if you previously tuned and reverted back now. Kind of put tuning my car on the back burner till further notice

Nope, they just read out the CALID and CVN and compare it with known releases from the factory. If you flash back and set your monitors they would have no way of knowing.

https://www.bar.ca.gov/arsc/newslett...the%20Cal%20ID.

[CharsadehBEAST]

My 135i/N55 has the MHD tune on it and was flashed to stock, smogged, reflashed, no issues. I'm in Cali, Easy peasy Japanesey

I have catless DP and charge pipe tho which is a PITA to swap to stock and reinstall but I just chalk it up to the CA cost of living.

[dragonsi]

StageFP

[racer_951]

Regarding CA smog test will detect a non-CARB tune, have you guys actually done a smog test with a non-carb tune after July 2021? I have. My Cayman S just got a 4.0l engine installed. I’m still running the old 3.4 tune from Softronic which is non-CARB. I even have catless headers with the O2 extension so no CEL. My Cayman S passed without issues. I asked around a bit. This whole thing about CA smog test will fail a non-CARB tune has been hyped up a bit in a lot of the forums. It got me worried when I took my car in for a smog test. I was going to try to reverting the tune but no needs.

On the other hand, I just bought a stock 128i M Sport MT6. It’s a N51. I’m thinking about getting AA headers and their N51 tune. Their website said the tune itself only gives 15hp. I thought the N51 already has the 3 stage manifold. Shouldn’t the gain be higher than 15hp with the AA tune. Am I missing something?

[asbrr]

Originally Posted by racer_951

....

On the other hand, I just bought a stock 128i M Sport MT6. It’s a N51. I’m thinking about getting AA headers and their N51 tune. Their website said the tune itself only gives 15hp. I thought the N51 already has the 3 stage manifold. Shouldn’t the gain be higher than 15hp with the AA tune. Am I missing something?

Probably a bit more with the headers and tune than 15hp, yes it has the 3 stage manifold but I believe it had a lower compression ratio or something, which handicapped it for power vs the n52.

[racer_951]

I exchanged emails with Phill at StageFP on the same topic. Yes, the lower compression n51 is a disadvantage. And it doesn’t help that n51 cars have additional emissions equipments like secondary cats, additional air injection pump I recall, and whatever else I didn’t mention.

Overall, my understanding is 10hp difference if both cars have the exact same mods. I just bought a low mileage (38k miles) 128i M Sport 6MT with n51 engine this week. I immediately contacted StageFP. He also said most people can’t even tell the 10hp difference. I’m sure my butt dyno can’t tell that 10hp difference (saying this to make myself feel better).

Here is a clip of our email conversation. This is from Phill at stagefp.

“ A stock N51 will make around 180-190hp at the wheels while the N52 without a 3SIM will be around 200-210hp at the wheels. A N52 with the 3SIM swap and a catback exhaust will be around 220-225hp at the wheels. Your N51 with those modifications will be around 210-215hp at the wheels. “

[RaddDroid7]

Originally Posted by racer_951

I exchanged emails with Phill at StageFP on the same topic. Yes, the lower compression n51 is a disadvantage. And it doesn’t help that n51 cars have additional emissions equipments like secondary cats, additional air injection pump I recall, and whatever else I didn’t mention.

Overall, my understanding is 10hp difference if both cars have the exact same mods. I just bought a low mileage (38k miles) 128i M Sport 6MT with n51 engine this week. I immediately contacted StageFP. He also said most people can’t even tell the 10hp difference. I’m sure my butt dyno can’t tell that 10hp difference (saying this to make myself feel better).

Here is a clip of our email conversation. This is from Phill at stagefp.

“ A stock N51 will make around 180-190hp at the wheels while the N52 without a 3SIM will be around 200-210hp at the wheels. A N52 with the 3SIM swap and a catback exhaust will be around 220-225hp at the wheels. Your N51 with those modifications will be around 210-215hp at the wheels. “

So basically a tune isn't even worth it ? I was thinking of getting some headers to really maximize the potential but idk If I want to get either one after hearing this.

Might just pull the trigger on the AFE intake for now.

Nice collection of cars you got there as well !

[racer_951]

The tune is worth it. It gets you 210-215 whp with the tune and catback exhaust. The exhaust by itself won’t do much. The n51 comes with 3SIM. My understanding from StageFP that their n51 tine will activate the 3SIM.