35is and JB4

JamesUK

JamesUK

Member
I'm keen to grab a bit more power on my 35is, and am thinking JB4 at the moment.

Does anyone on here have experience of this pairing (without uprated FMIC etc) and have you dynoed the car?

Berger Tuning claim 400 bhp when I emailed them, and I know this is totally achievable with this engine, I just question whether it's as simple as plugging in the JB4, and boom, 400bhp?

Experience with competitor products to JB4 would also be appreciated :thumbsup:

Cheers

James

PS: Did use the search function, promise!
 
The JB4 is a bad idea. There's plenty of reasons not to use it but the main one would be that you have a DCT gearbox and piggyback units like the JB4 will under-report power to the gearbox causing clutch slip and premature transmission failure. You really need to be looking at an ECU flash.

The most popular ECU flash for the N54 is "MHD Flasher", there's plenty of people on this forum using it, you can search for some of their threads for feedback.
 
Don't use a JB4, the DCT will not be able to see the proper values it needs to adjust pressure accordingly. Not good for the car, and can cause premature clutch slip along with other issues.

MHD imo is the best platform for the N54. It can be installed your self via mobile through the OBD port. It features several "OTS" maps developed by wedge performance over in Germany. MHD states the following numbers for the N54:

Stage 1: Up to 360bhp
Stage 1+: Up to 390bhp (IC Reccomended)
Stage 2: Up to 380bhp (DP Reccomended)
Stage 2+: Up to 420bhp (DP and IC Reccomended)

You can run stage 1+ on the stock FMIC, just watch your air intake temps, and look at some logs to check everything is healthy. Speaking of which the logging module on MHD is also fantastic, it also reads codes aswell.
From memory I beleive the maps are £49.99 for the Stage 1 maps, and £49.99 for the stage 2. And around £80 for the flasher module

Hope this helps

Edit: R.E92 beat me to it lol
 
Guys,

Thank you! Good to have two matching opinions too.

So MHD also has the benefit of being significantly cheaper that JB4, although it sounds like I potentially need to factor in buying an Android phone (I think my boss literally just ordered me a new iPhone last week, and I could have picked a Samsung)

How little can I get a upgraded FMIC for? That's an easy swap right, unlike downpipes?
 
JamesUK said:
Guys,

Thank you! Good to have two matching opinions too.

So MHD also has the benefit of being significantly cheaper that JB4, although it sounds like I potentially need to factor in buying an Android phone (I think my boss literally just ordered me a new iPhone last week, and I could have picked a Samsung)

How little can I get a upgraded FMIC for? That's an easy swap right, unlike downpipes?
Click to expand...

FMIC it depends where you look, generally for a budget option people reccomend VRSF which start at around £500 for the 5" HD I believe. Should just be straight plug and play.

Alternatively you could get a wagner FMIC clone off ebay, for circa £180, it might need some slight modifications, but generally should be plug and play and you should be protected by paypal in the event it doesn't fit. This won't cool as well as the VRSF unit, but it will still show a significant reduction in IAT's, plenty of people run these with MHD stage 2+.

Downpipes, VSRF are the go to for the budget option once again, £390 from ML Performance, or £340 if you can get a deal off Mike IIRC. £210 to fit at Darren Woods.

You can also use an Android tablet if you do not have an android phone.
 
MHD will come to Apple but there's no confirmed date yet, it's still in alpha testing. It will require the new MHD WiFi comms adapter which costs $70.

The best option would be to just buy a cheap android tablet that supports OTG and buy a BimmerGeeks cable. The cable also works for diagnostic programs like INPA and ISTA so is very useful to have.

The VRSF downpipes are brilliant. Very difficult to fit though. For an intercooler I'd stick with the VRSF one. I went for an eBay copy and it works just as well but took me ages to fit as it required modification.
 
Plenty of reputable companies around to remap cars... dms automotive and angel tuning are two that come to mind. Had my e92 335i remapped by angel tuning up to around 360bhp, with no hardware changes required.
 
R.E92 said:
MHD will come to Apple but there's no confirmed date yet, it's still in alpha testing. It will require the new MHD WiFi comms adapter which costs $70.

The best option would be to just buy a cheap android tablet that supports OTG and buy a BimmerGeeks cable. The cable also works for diagnostic programs like INPA and ISTA so is very useful to have.

The VRSF downpipes are brilliant. Very difficult to fit though. For an intercooler I'd stick with the VRSF one. I went for an eBay copy and it works just as well but took me ages to fit as it required modification.
Click to expand...

I've even got an INPA/NCS cable somewhere...

think I've been talked into MHD :D
 
Take a look at MHD working with the JB4. It's the route I've been researching as you get the flexibility and features of JB4 plus DCT safety from my reading.

Rich
 
richg said:
Take a look at MHD working with the JB4. It's the route I've been researching as you get the flexibility and features of JB4 plus DCT safety from my reading.

Rich
Click to expand...

Not the best solution unless you want the JB4 for a specific feature like meth control. In that setup the JB4 is doing barely anything, the only people that push that solution are the vendors that sell the JB4.

I can understand people using that setup in highly customised builds with methanol injection, NLS and anti-lag. For a slightly modified car with an uprated intercooler and catless downpipes the JB4 is just a paperweight.
 
I think MHD alone should do for now.

Just trying to find myself an Android tablet (and my old BCables.com IPNA/NCS cable) and I'm in business :)

Upgraded FMIC can wait for another year

Cheers guys
:thumbsup:
 
Emailed MHD about iOS. They've replied to say they'll have iOS version out "early 2020"

Reckon I can wait till then :D
 
Remember TORQUE is where the power is at, NOT BHP.

My 35i has 365BHP and 400lb/ft torque from 2000 rpm to 5200rpm, my BHP peaks at around 5000rpm so you can see that all the real 'grunt' of the car is torque related, dynoed and tuned by Celtic with 12 month guarantee against map related failure of any component!

The N54 can achieve over 750BHP (if you're insane) but the cost would be more than buying a used Lambo, or similar probably.
 
mcbutler said:
Remember TORQUE is where the power is at, NOT BHP.

My 35i has 365BHP and 400lb/ft torque from 2000 rpm to 5200rpm, my BHP peaks at around 5000rpm so you can see that all the real 'grunt' of the car is torque related, dynoed and tuned by Celtic with 12 month guarantee against map related failure of any component!

The N54 can achieve over 750BHP (if you're insane) but the cost would be more than buying a used Lambo, or similar probably.
Click to expand...

It can be done for less than £5k, if you upgrade the twins to something like RB turbos. From what I have read around 600WHP is as far as you want to go on stock internals if you still want some degree of reliabillity. This is also assuming other FBO upgrades, IE intercooler, DP's, fresh sparks, coils.
 
mcbutler said:
Remember TORQUE is where the power is at, NOT BHP.

My 35i has 365BHP and 400lb/ft torque from 2000 rpm to 5200rpm, my BHP peaks at around 5000rpm so you can see that all the real 'grunt' of the car is torque related, dynoed and tuned by Celtic with 12 month guarantee against map related failure of any component!

The N54 can achieve over 750BHP (if you're insane) but the cost would be more than buying a used Lambo, or similar probably.
Click to expand...

365bhp and 400lb/ft is a very conservative tune. The MHD maps will have most people at 400bhp and 450lb/ft and those are still classed as safe power.

And sunnydays is right about the cheap power available :driving: , some stock frame upgraded turbos will have the car producing 600 at the wheels and those are classed as the conservative turbo options on the platform, a big single will take you way above that.
 
I run MHD stage 2+ (98 Ron). You can also choose 95 Ron if you plan to use standard fuel, or 102 Ron.

I also fitted a stepped fmic, decat downpipes and replaced the standard recirc valve with an SSQV BOV.

Never had the car dyno'd but it's a lot faster than stock. I'd definitely recommend it.
 
￡124.87 | Intercooler N54 N55 135i 1M E82/E88 335i 335(x)i E90 E91 E92 93 E82-E93 exchanger Z4 E89 sDrive35i sDrive35is 35i 35is aircooler
https://s.click.aliexpress.com/e/K7smHRuCj
 
R.E92 said:
mcbutler said:
Remember TORQUE is where the power is at, NOT BHP.

My 35i has 365BHP and 400lb/ft torque from 2000 rpm to 5200rpm, my BHP peaks at around 5000rpm so you can see that all the real 'grunt' of the car is torque related, dynoed and tuned by Celtic with 12 month guarantee against map related failure of any component!

The N54 can achieve over 750BHP (if you're insane) but the cost would be more than buying a used Lambo, or similar probably.
Click to expand...

365bhp and 400lb/ft is a very conservative tune. The MHD maps will have most people at 400bhp and 450lb/ft and those are still classed as safe power.

And sunnydays is right about the cheap power available :driving: , some stock frame upgraded turbos will have the car producing 600 at the wheels and those are classed as the conservative turbo options on the platform, a big single will take you way above that.
Click to expand...
Yep, its 'conservative' and as far as you should go (without upgrading the intercooler for starters). I researched and contacted several specialist tuners with regard to the issue before I decided to go ahead. Every single one said nothing more without intercooler upgrades first if you want to get any sort of reliability and longevity from the engine.
In addition, anything more on public roads is useless for 'real' driving, straight line licence losing is all its good for in reality.
 
Nick9one1 said:
￡124.87 | Intercooler N54 N55 135i 1M E82/E88 335i 335(x)i E90 E91 E92 93 E82-E93 exchanger Z4 E89 sDrive35i sDrive35is 35i 35is aircooler
https://s.click.aliexpress.com/e/K7smHRuCj
Click to expand...
Did you need to do any body mods to ge iti in Nick?? Do you have the data for it, flow and volume etc?
 
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