PPK Stage 1 vs. JB4 vs. COBB

rodman9 · 10-20-2016, 08:01 PM

Hey folks,

Hope everyone's well. I've got a 2012 135i E82 N55, based in Sydney.

I have a pretty noob question in the grand scheme of things when it comes to performance mods.

The big part of me that wants to keep things "official" i.e. dealing through BMW, is to go with PPK stage 1, which goes for $1800 including labour, etc.

That'll take me to 240kW apparently, and from what I've been reading and watching on YouTube as well, it goes alright and sounds pretty sweet too!

Whereas mainly from a price point, but also some opposing reviews I've read, JB4 has way more potential and you definitely get much more bang-for-buck. That's at $895 installed, but apparently isn't as smooth as the PPK stage 1. And also, seeing all these threads about JB4 fail codes and people needing help with JB4 issues isn't all that comforting!

And lastly COBB, I've been considering that because I've heard good things about it too but don't have all that much info on it tbh.

Would love to hear your thoughts, opinions, experiences, etc

Thanks guys

Rod

dane083 · 10-20-2016, 10:40 PM

Ive read we will have MHD tunes by Christmas, I for one am waiting on that.

Tricki · 10-21-2016, 12:07 AM

Definitely wait for MHD!!! What's your build date of the car?

Stools · 10-21-2016, 12:18 AM

Don't wait for MHD buy the cobb in the classified section off me.
All jokes aside bmw mechanic actually told me to go aftermarket with my tune when i originally called them and i was in your exact position, cheaper and better.
Mhd is coming and im hoping that the BMS BEF maps are better suited to my setup than cobb is. Having said that im around 440 engine kw. For what it's worth i have had a jb4 board fail which rendered the car undrivable due to the n20 tmap sensor. I bought another and would recommend as well. Depends how far tou wanna go.

rodman9 · 10-21-2016, 11:40 PM

Sweet thanks a lot for the responses guys. Again, I'm basically an utter noob with this stuff but could you explain what MHD is exactly and how it'll be potentially worth the wait versus the other options available now?

To be honest I wasn't planning on going too overboard with tuning and mods, just wanted a little bit more than what I've got now, complete stock 2012 135i E82 N55. I've heard that you get loads of burbles and nice sounds from the exhaust with a stage 1 PPK but again, reasons listed above.....

Stools · 10-22-2016, 12:05 AM

OK, you know BMW will "flash" your car computer with ppk right.
MHD and Cobb you do this yourself.
MHD with an android phone and Cobb with the Cobb device.
MHD and Cobb both support off the shelf maps or custom maps.
MHD will be cheaper than Cobb new as you own the hardware already (phone) just need the interface cables.
There is a cut off during 2012 where cobb or mhd are not going to be an option as the cars beyond this date have different coding.
You say all you want is a bit more power but thats what I said too, now I'm mega mega.

Stools · 10-22-2016, 12:11 AM

Forgot to mention if you go higher boost you definitely need to get an aftermarket charge pipe, they break. They are pretty cheap and easy to install yourself. When mine went it sucked a piece into the throttle body and lucky for me got stuck there.

fly_inverted · 10-24-2016, 02:36 AM

From what I've read, the MHD back end flash will provide 'burbles'. I've had the PPK on mine for over 3 years and burbles are great fun. I've recently put in a JB4 and the power it delivers is awesome.
As others have said, MHD will be your best bet. Is suppose to be out in the next couple of weeks too but you will definitely need a charge pipe.
Is your build date after March in 2012? If so, you'll need the ECU cracked first.

10-20-2016, 08:01 PM	#1
rodman9 Clean-freak 15 Rep 50 Posts Drives: 2012 BMW 135i E82 LCI MY12 Join Date: Jul 2015 Location: Sydney, Australia iTrader: (0)	Hey folks, Hope everyone's well. I've got a 2012 135i E82 N55, based in Sydney. I have a pretty noob question in the grand scheme of things when it comes to performance mods. The big part of me that wants to keep things "official" i.e. dealing through BMW, is to go with PPK stage 1, which goes for $1800 including labour, etc. That'll take me to 240kW apparently, and from what I've been reading and watching on YouTube as well, it goes alright and sounds pretty sweet too! Whereas mainly from a price point, but also some opposing reviews I've read, JB4 has way more potential and you definitely get much more bang-for-buck. That's at $895 installed, but apparently isn't as smooth as the PPK stage 1. And also, seeing all these threads about JB4 fail codes and people needing help with JB4 issues isn't all that comforting! And lastly COBB, I've been considering that because I've heard good things about it too but don't have all that much info on it tbh. Would love to hear your thoughts, opinions, experiences, etc Thanks guys Rod __________________ 2012 135i E82 N55 LCI MY12 - Montego Blue LUX H8 160 Angel Eyes "Golf Tee Mod" on Stock exhaust COBB Stage 1 tune COBB Chargepipe
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10-20-2016, 10:40 PM	#2
dane083 Private First Class 19 Rep 126 Posts Drives: 2011 135i Join Date: Jul 2015 Location: Melbourne Aus iTrader: (0)	Ive read we will have MHD tunes by Christmas, I for one am waiting on that.
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10-21-2016, 12:07 AM	#3
Tricki Lieutenant 215 Rep 473 Posts Drives: BMW 340i B58 Gen1 Join Date: Jun 2012 Location: Melbourne Australia iTrader: (0)	Definitely wait for MHD!!! What's your build date of the car?
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10-21-2016, 12:18 AM	#4
Stools Private 6 Rep 80 Posts Drives: 11 135 coupe Join Date: Jan 2015 Location: Brisbane iTrader: (0)	Don't wait for MHD buy the cobb in the classified section off me. All jokes aside bmw mechanic actually told me to go aftermarket with my tune when i originally called them and i was in your exact position, cheaper and better. Mhd is coming and im hoping that the BMS BEF maps are better suited to my setup than cobb is. Having said that im around 440 engine kw. For what it's worth i have had a jb4 board fail which rendered the car undrivable due to the n20 tmap sensor. I bought another and would recommend as well. Depends how far tou wanna go.
	Appreciate 0 Quote

10-21-2016, 11:40 PM	#5
rodman9 Clean-freak 15 Rep 50 Posts Drives: 2012 BMW 135i E82 LCI MY12 Join Date: Jul 2015 Location: Sydney, Australia iTrader: (0)	Sweet thanks a lot for the responses guys. Again, I'm basically an utter noob with this stuff but could you explain what MHD is exactly and how it'll be potentially worth the wait versus the other options available now? To be honest I wasn't planning on going too overboard with tuning and mods, just wanted a little bit more than what I've got now, complete stock 2012 135i E82 N55. I've heard that you get loads of burbles and nice sounds from the exhaust with a stage 1 PPK but again, reasons listed above..... __________________ 2012 135i E82 N55 LCI MY12 - Montego Blue LUX H8 160 Angel Eyes "Golf Tee Mod" on Stock exhaust COBB Stage 1 tune COBB Chargepipe
	Appreciate 0 Quote

10-22-2016, 12:05 AM	#6
Stools Private 6 Rep 80 Posts Drives: 11 135 coupe Join Date: Jan 2015 Location: Brisbane iTrader: (0)	OK, you know BMW will "flash" your car computer with ppk right. MHD and Cobb you do this yourself. MHD with an android phone and Cobb with the Cobb device. MHD and Cobb both support off the shelf maps or custom maps. MHD will be cheaper than Cobb new as you own the hardware already (phone) just need the interface cables. There is a cut off during 2012 where cobb or mhd are not going to be an option as the cars beyond this date have different coding. You say all you want is a bit more power but thats what I said too, now I'm mega mega.
	Appreciate 0 Quote

10-22-2016, 12:11 AM	#7
Stools Private 6 Rep 80 Posts Drives: 11 135 coupe Join Date: Jan 2015 Location: Brisbane iTrader: (0)	Forgot to mention if you go higher boost you definitely need to get an aftermarket charge pipe, they break. They are pretty cheap and easy to install yourself. When mine went it sucked a piece into the throttle body and lucky for me got stuck there.
	Appreciate 0 Quote

10-24-2016, 02:36 AM	#8
fly_inverted Private First Class 9 Rep 108 Posts Drives: 135i Coupe. Mar 2012 Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: Canberra iTrader: (0)	From what I've read, the MHD back end flash will provide 'burbles'. I've had the PPK on mine for over 3 years and burbles are great fun. I've recently put in a JB4 and the power it delivers is awesome. As others have said, MHD will be your best bet. Is suppose to be out in the next couple of weeks too but you will definitely need a charge pipe. Is your build date after March in 2012? If so, you'll need the ECU cracked first.
	Appreciate 0 Quote