Contemplating tunes: MHD vs PPK vs Dinan

[dsocold]

mhd without question best thing that ever happend to n54 honestly...

[OkieSnuffBox]

The BPC setup can also datalog, and they do remote tuning as well.

I've exchanged numerous emails with them regarding a tune for my '13 DCT car.

Unfortunately, the house I just bought sucked up nearly all of my RSU bonus this quarter so I may have to wait on some of the goodies I've been planning.

[Preciado]

I'm really glad you made this thread, I was about too.

Dinan definitely seems like what I'll be getting. S2 then S3 or possibly S3 off the bat after an intercooler upgrade. For those reading now or in the future; when you go from one Dinan tune to another you only pay the difference in cost so you don't pay the full amount for a tune all over again.

I went on the FaceBook forums but it was a ton of MHD / JB4 fanboys with no real input or reason to avoid Dinan other than saying it's "trash." I never got an explanation and I can tell a bunch of them aren't really mechanically inclined people. Not saying MHD is bad but I've seen my fair share of CEL posts, compromises to driveability and all that to just not care for having to deal with it. I've been modifying and have owned turbo cars before and I just want something that actually works well and I can count on for once.

Yes MHD can log and show data, but, is it really all that important if you have a plug-n-play flash tune? You can probably find some sort of "safer than sorry" argument but I don't think it is necessary at that point.


So Dinan is what I'll go with, especially with current prices. Will consider / eventually install the BMW PPK auxiliary / secondary radiator though just for extra cooling potential.

[Cavpilot2k]

I love the Dinan tune for the simple fact that it just works. No issues, no data logging, no fine-tuning needed. Plug and play and forget it. I've had it for over 50k miles and not one issue that can be attributed to it.

If you want to tinker and fine-tune, then the other tunes are better. If you just want to install and forget it, Dinan is the way to go.

[wcc135i]

I bought mine with Dinan Stage 3. I have not driven a stock 135i, so I can not comment there.

Car runs like a stuck pig. The only thing tempting me into another tune is that Dinan is notoriously conservative. If I can gain 20 or so hp switching tunes, then I'm all for it. Although I do just like to tune and go. So am I better off just sticking with the seemingly trouble free Dinan?

[Cavpilot2k]

Originally Posted by wcc135i

I bought mine with Dinan Stage 3. I have not driven a stock 135i, so I can not comment there.

Car runs like a stuck pig. The only thing tempting me into another tune is that Dinan is notoriously conservative. If I can gain 20 or so hp switching tunes, then I'm all for it. Although I do just like to tune and go. So am I better off just sticking with the seemingly trouble free Dinan?

You might pick up some throttle response and a handful of HP with a DP if you don't already have one - even though the tune isn't optimized for it, I hear it still makes a difference.

[OkieSnuffBox]

Originally Posted by Preciado

I'm really glad you made this thread, I was about too.

Dinan definitely seems like what I'll be getting. S2 then S3 or possibly S3 off the bat after an intercooler upgrade. For those reading now or in the future; when you go from one Dinan tune to another you only pay the difference in cost so you don't pay the full amount for a tune all over again.

I went on the FaceBook forums but it was a ton of MHD / JB4 fanboys with no real input or reason to avoid Dinan other than saying it's "trash." I never got an explanation and I can tell a bunch of them aren't really mechanically inclined people. Not saying MHD is bad but I've seen my fair share of CEL posts, compromises to driveability and all that to just not care for having to deal with it. I've been modifying and have owned turbo cars before and I just want something that actually works well and I can count on for once.

Yes MHD can log and show data, but, is it really all that important if you have a plug-n-play flash tune? You can probably find some sort of "safer than sorry" argument but I don't think it is necessary at that point.


So Dinan is what I'll go with, especially with current prices. Will consider / eventually install the BMW PPK auxiliary / secondary radiator though just for extra cooling potential.

I exchanged some emails with Grant at DINAN.

You can do stage 2 with the DIY kit, however, even you already have the S2 kit, the car must still go to a DINAN dealer or ship the DME in for Stage 3.

So I think I'm just going to wait until I do the intercooler/oil cooler upgrade, then go to the DINAN dealer and go straight to Stage 3.

[Preciado]

Originally Posted by OkieSnuffBox

I exchanged some emails with Grant at DINAN.

You can do stage 2 with the DIY kit, however, even you already have the S2 kit, the car must still go to a DINAN dealer or ship the DME in for Stage 3.

So I think I'm just going to wait until I do the intercooler/oil cooler upgrade, then go to the DINAN dealer and go straight to Stage 3.

I'm in SoCal so Dinan dealers are basically on every corner around me. Tons or Euro dedicated shops here so I'm not too worried about that part. To be honest I thought I had to still go to one of them for even S1 and S2 but it's cool to learn I can go a DIY kit route and handle it without that. I'll have to look into it more now.

[Esteban]

Originally Posted by Preciado

I'm in SoCal so Dinan dealers are basically on every corner around me. Tons or Euro dedicated shops here so I'm not too worried about that part. To be honest I thought I had to still go to one of them for even S1 and S2 but it's cool to learn I can go a DIY kit route and handle it without that. I'll have to look into it more now.

If you check Dinan's website, I believe the only DIY kit you can get for your 2008 N54 135i is S1. The S2 DIY kit is for the N55 engine. S1 for the N54 is pretty comparable to S2 for the N55 though.

Like you said, there are several Dinan authorized shops here in SoCal so there won't be a problem getting the tune you want if you decide to do more than the S1 DIY kit.

Let us know what you end up getting and how you like it.

[HyeWarrior]

I’ve reached out to a couple local shops regarding the Dinan S2, and both have suggested I just go with MHD instead. *shrug*

[Esteban]

Originally Posted by HyeWarrior

I've reached out to a couple local shops regarding the Dinan S2, and both have suggested I just go with MHD instead. *shrug*

So do you have the older DME that doesn't need to be bench flashed for MHD? I know the DME changes from the older one to the newer one sometime in MY 2012.

BTW, I made a mistake earlier in this thread and incorrectly stated you had a 2013, which has the newer DME that requires a bench flash for MHD.

[Gangplank]

Think he has 2012 135i DCT. So might have the newer locked DME.

[Esteban]

Originally Posted by Gangplank

Think he has 2012 135i DCT. So might have the newer locked DME.

Yeah, I checked where it says what he "Drives:" (was posting before from my iPhone where I can't see that when I incorrectly stated he had a 2013) so now I know he has a 2012, just not sure which DME since he could have either one in MY 2012, but you could be right that he has the newer one.

[HyeWarrior]

Double checked with my VIN, apparently I don’t need to have my DME taken out/unlocked

[mfindigital]

I had some throttle and drive-ability issues when stock, did the MHD stage 1 flash and it resolved every problem I was experiencing. And you get burble, and my exhaust sounds better, and it's much much faster. All for $250, which is less than I would have paid to get my throttle issues worked out. Amazing OTS tune. My only regret is not getting a FMIC and downpipe so I could go stage 2.

[Esteban]

Originally Posted by HyeWarrior

Double checked with my VIN, apparently I don't need to have my DME taken out/unlocked

Good for you. You got choices.

[Gangplank]

Originally Posted by mfindigital

I had some throttle and drive-ability issues when stock, did the MHD stage 1 flash and it resolved every problem I was experiencing. And you get burble, and my exhaust sounds better, and it's much much faster. All for $250, which is less than I would have paid to get my throttle issues worked out. Amazing OTS tune. My only regret is not getting a FMIC and downpipe so I could go stage 2.

I take it you already had an android device?

For those like me without an Android device, K+DCan cable + OTG cable its more like $400

[mfindigital]

Originally Posted by Gangplank

I take it you already had an android device?

For those like me without an Android device, K+DCan cable + OTG cable its more like $400

Ya, I used an old phone. You can pick up a shitty droid tablet for probably around 50. I think cables were 25 or so. Even at 325-400, nothing is going to touch the MHD. The little 1 handles the extra power like nothing, feels like it's asking for more.

[Esteban]

Originally Posted by mfindigital

Ya, I used an old phone. You can pick up a shitty droid tablet for probably around 50. I think cables were 25 or so. Even at 325-400, nothing is going to touch the MHD. The little 1 handles the extra power like nothing, feels like it's asking for more.

That really is a good price...

[1and1]

I come from being a massive Cobb fanboy background, did tuning for the Mazdaspeed community for years.

MHD is leaps & bounds better and substantially less expensive (but not by any means cheaper (big difference between "cheaper" and "less expensive"...))

I'd encourage picking up the logging license, and doing some logs before you jump into tuning- make sure everything is in good shape, then throw power at her

[HyeWarrior]

Originally Posted by Esteban

That really is a good price...

Yea I got quoted for $350 by a shop to do the MHD tune. The cost savings over Dinan is quite attractive.....

[Esteban]

Originally Posted by HyeWarrior

Yea I got quoted for $350 by a shop to do the MHD tune. The cost savings over Dinan is quite attractive.....

What shop? Curious because I'm close to you, in Alta Loma. PM me if you'd rather not say on the forum.