Dinan stage 2 tune and PPK

[Esteban]

I am seriously considering getting the Dinan stage 2 for my 135i and my only concern is will I lose the very sporty popping and crackling in engine overrun that I get from BMW's Performance power kit.

I have talked with several people, including some members here who assure me that I won't lose that sporty sound, but they don't have the Dinan stage 2 tune plus PPK, so in my mind, they can't really speak from experience.

I have also talked with Dinan, and they say "you shouldn't lose the sound." Since that's really not a guarantee, that makes me nervous. With that said, does anybody out there have these both that can tell me for sure that I won't lose that wonderful sound if I get Dinan stage 2 tune installed?

I have my mind set on Dinan, so please let's not turn this into a Dinan vs JB4/Cobb debate. That has been discussed ad nauseam and I really don't want to re-hash it here.

Thanks.

Edit: The parts person at the Dinan authorized BMW dealer said that I have three days to get my money back and they would remove the stage 2 tune if I'm not happy with it, but the service advisor said he's never heard of that, so that was a bit confusing.

[dtla1]

Just get a JB4 man!!! Sorry, I just had to. But seriously, maybe discuss with Dinan a deal to get it tuned, and if it gets rid of the awesome sound to uninstall? Try to get a hold of their sales person, and get them to agree to this over email. I don't see why they would say no, they would just have to cover the labor of whatever Dinan dealer installs it.

[Chunner]

Snap, crackle and pops ... it is all there..... Dinan Stage 3 Tune with BMW's PPK and BMW's PE.

[ShocknAwe]

Dinan flash will overwrite the PPK flash. There is no such thing as stacking flashes.

[Esteban]

Originally Posted by Chunner

Snap, crackle and pops ... it is all there..... Dinan Stage 3 Tune with BMW's PPK and BMW's PE.

Thanks Chun. You were one of the members that I was referring to, and no offense, but you have stage 3, and maybe that's different.

Stage 2 and PPK? Anyone?

[Esteban]

Originally Posted by ShocknAwe

Dinan flash will overwrite the PPK flash. There is no such thing as stacking flashes.

That's kinda what I was thinking too.

[ShocknAwe]

Originally Posted by EvenEsteban

That's kinda what I was thinking too.

Not saying it won't have the burbles you want, but if it does it will be as a result of the Dinan S2 flash settings and not the PPK. I'd just try to find some vids of cars with that flash, or ask someone who has it to take a recording for you.

[Chunner]

Originally Posted by ShocknAwe

Dinan flash will overwrite the PPK flash. There is no such thing as stacking flashes.

That is the logical thought but if the PPK combined with the PE originally gave the snaps, crackles and pops and the Dinan software over wrote the PPK. Then why would I still have those snaps, crackles and pops. Pre or post Dinan, I have always had them.

Steve, no worries. Like your BMW dealership stated, you got 3 days to play with it. If you do not like it, or lose your exhaust notes then you can go back.

Have fun and stop fretting!

[Chunner]

Steve, ask Greg. I remember he test drove a 135i with a Dinan Stage 2 tune for a weekend with no PPK. I think.... Did that have our burbles. I do not remember.

Greggy boy, please chime in!

[Esteban]

Thanks Chun, thanks Alex.

[gemini.m3]

Even

For what is worth I had huge reservations bout JB4.. got PPK1 and BMW PE soon as I got the car. If I could do it over I might NOT have got the PPK1, but I do get the pops/gurgles as the Jb4 piggy 'stacks' with the PPK.

Go for it man, if you're scared about warranty just take the sucker off for warranty work. It is worth it, the drive is much smoother with ISO.. bout to throw downpipe and charge pipe on, should be fun

[Esteban]

Originally Posted by thrilla135

Even

For what is worth I had huge reservations bout JB4.. got PPK1 and BMW PE soon as I got the car. If I could do it over I might NOT have got the PPK1, but I do get the pops/gurgles as the Jb4 piggy 'stacks' with the PPK.

Go for it man, if you're scared about warranty just take the sucker off for warranty work. It is worth it, the drive is much smoother with ISO.. bout to throw downpipe and charge pipe on, should be fun

Thanks thrilla, would love to hear your car just for the hell of it. You should post a video sometime.

[Vigilante375]

So you're worried about losing some burps from the exhaust even though you're going to gain more power over the PPK? Interesting.....but I'm going to go on a whim and say its going to be there.

[Esteban]

Originally Posted by Vigilante375

So you're worried about losing some burps from the exhaust even though you're going to gain more power over the PPK? Interesting.....but I'm going to go on a whim and say its going to be there.

It's more then just some burps to me. It's music to my ears. Sure, I'd like to gain the 35 additional horsepower that the Dinan stage 2 tune would give me, but I would not want to part with that wonderful sound. To pay for one thing to lose something else is not worth it to me.

Hear is the combination of the BMW Performance exhaust and the Performance power kit. This is exactly what my car sounds like (not my car or my video):

[cbl117]

I have Dinan stage 2 on an N54 with N55 mid pipe, bmw perf y-pipe and berk street axle back. I get loads of gurgles and pops during decel. I say go for it!

[cbl117]

Originally Posted by EvenEsteban

It's more then just some burps to me. It's music to my ears. Sure, I'd like to gain the 35 additional horsepower that the Dinan stage 2 tune would give me, but I would not want to part with that wonderful sound. To pay for one thing to lose something else is not worth it to me.

Hear is the combination of the BMW Performance exhaust and the Performance power kit. This is exactly what my car sounds like (not my car or my video):

My setup is very similar to that. The tone of the gurgles and pops are different. in my experience it's the actual exhaust setup that dictates the amount of pops than the actual software. I noticed the added pops with the delete of secondary cats and resonator. I'll try to get a video tomorrow.

[Esteban]

cbl117 - I got BMW Performance exhaust first and had no pops and crackles. After I got BMW Performance power kit version 1, which is a software only tune, is when the pops and crackles came. BMW also advertises the sound on their website, here:

http://www.shopbmwusa.com/PRODUCT/35...ANCE-POWER-KIT

I'd love to hear a video of your car.

[zx10guy]

Originally Posted by ShocknAwe

Dinan flash will overwrite the PPK flash. There is no such thing as stacking flashes.

Not according to the Dinan rep I spoke to at the East Coast Bimmerfest this past year. He said the tune they apply is additive to the PPK tune because I specifically asked him this question as mine has the PPK2 kit.

Also, if you check Dinan's website for the 135is which is what our 135i cars are with the PPK, you'll see claimed HP improvements which are different than the 135i tunes they have. Doing the math:

135i with Stage 2 = 300+60=360
135is with Stage 2 = 320+52=372

[cbl117]

Originally Posted by EvenEsteban

cbl117 - I got BMW Performance exhaust first and had no pops and crackles. After I got BMW Performance power kit version 1, which is a software only tune, is when the pops and crackles came. BMW also advertises the sound on their website, here:

http://www.shopbmwusa.com/PRODUCT/35...ANCE-POWER-KIT

I'd love to hear a video of your car.

I'll get my lazy ass making a video today lol. I think I can do it with the BlackVue dashcam I installed. I'll find a parking deck that will help amplify the exhaust note.

Thats interesting you didn't get pops/gurgles with exhaust change. Thats where I noticed all my exhaust note changes - changing out exhaust pieces. I sent you a PM with the details. I know BMW advertises the exhaust note change for the PPK but I always wondered if that was just marketing…hm maybe there really is something they can program motorwise to make the pops/gurgles.

[Vigilante375]

Originally Posted by EvenEsteban

It's more then just some burps to me. It's music to my ears. Sure, I'd like to gain the 35 additional horsepower that the Dinan stage 2 tune would give me, but I would not want to part with that wonderful sound. To pay for one thing to lose something else is not worth it to me.

Hear is the combination of the BMW Performance exhaust and the Performance power kit. This is exactly what my car sounds like (not my car or my video):

I guess some people like a good sounding car over being a bit faster. If there is this much debate on it then don't spend the $2k or whatever if you're not going to "sound" faster. But I'm pretty sure you're still going to have the same sound....since its going to be a bit more aggressive tune.

[Esteban]

Originally Posted by zx10guy

Not according to the Dinan rep I spoke to at the East Coast Bimmerfest this past year. He said the tune they apply is additive to the PPK tune because I specifically asked him this question as mine has the PPK2 kit.

Also, if you check Dinan's website for the 135is which is what our 135i cars are with the PPK, you'll see claimed HP improvements which are different than the 135i tunes they have. Doing the math:

135i with Stage 2 = 300+60=360
135is with Stage 2 = 320+52=372

What the Dinan rep said sounds promising. Let me know if you get it. I'd love to hear it.

Both 135i and 135is show the same part number on Dinan's website (D900-31T.) Also, they both show the same peak horsepower of 355 and torque at 401 ft-lb.

135i Dinan stage 2 http://www.dinancars.com/product/d90...-e93-335i-n55/

135is Dinan stage 2 http://www.dinancars.com/product/d90...e82-135is-n55/

[Esteban]

Originally Posted by Vigilante375

I guess some people like a good sounding car over being a bit faster. If there is this much debate on it then don't spend the $2k or whatever if you're not going to "sound" faster. But I'm pretty sure you're still going to have the same sound....since its going to be a bit more aggressive tune.

I want them both. Thanks for the opinion.