I need (want) more power!

[Maniac]

So I've tried to hold off the remap thing for ages. Given how fragile my car seems to have been.

However really giving it the beans today I realised while it's quick, A bit more couldn't hurt (famous last words).

So a remap to take us to 350bhp is easy. I've held off thinking about the insured warranty but given how BMW seem happy to decline almost anything I'm thinking pah, just do it. I'd be less inclined to take it to stage II 400hp as then we will need some extra parts to help which is mega moolah and there's also the chance were getting close to engine tolerances.

So.. 350 ish hp.. Should I?

 

[Grumpyowl]

Have you changed your mind re selling up and getting an S2000 ?

 

[mr wilks]

So I've tried to hold off the remap thing for ages. Given how fragile my car seems to have been.

However really giving it the beans today I realised while it's quick, A bit more couldn't hurt (famous last words).

So a remap to take us to 350bhp is easy. I've held off thinking about the insured warranty but given how BMW seem happy to decline almost anything I'm thinking pah, just do it. I'd be less inclined to take it to stage II 400hp as then we will need some extra parts to help which is mega moolah and there's also the chance were getting close to engine tolerances.

So.. 350 ish hp.. Should I?

I have had many turbo cars remapped & always been noticeable & pleasurable :driving: E91 330d in particular felt "alive" afterwards
As you use the car infrequently but are looking for more power have you considered doing a "Stark" dropping down in value perhaps but into a M which could give you the buzz you are after :?

 

[buzyg]

Make Beedub and offer he can't refuse on his ///M. I recall he was thinking of moving on to something a little lighter.

 

[Maniac]

Given its depreciation I'm not likely selling it. Plus it's my DD and Is a lot of car for the current value and I will likely get a banger estate for the dogs and keep the Z.

300 ish is quick but the idea of 350+ for around £500 is V tempting!

 

[Machine monkey]

If your nor worried about warranty? Then £500 for 50+Bhp seems like a winning idea to me

 

[mr wilks]

£500 for a remap sounds expensive :? by quite some margin

 

[Maniac]

The warranty is the only risk. That worries me anyhow. In that if a turbo or whatever went at some point they may decline a claim if they discover the remap... IF

 

[Machine monkey]

IF!! Most maps can be cleared can they not??? It's only gonna be a little extra boost?!?!

 

[Maniac]

Well Cobb give you a gadget to load and unload maps. It's whether bmw can see some sort of 'tamper' marker, which is guess they can dependent in the cars firmware.

In any event.. I'm tempted.

 

[mr wilks]

The warranty is the only risk. That worries me anyhow. In that if a turbo or whatever went at some point they may decline a claim if they discover the remap... IF

The guy i use stores the current map & can reverse the process quite easily so i would assume whoever you plan to use would offer the same option

 

[Maniac]

The chaps I've spoken to about it are BHP UK. I visited them for a rolling road day with the bmw club a couple of years back and know they've done the Z N54 before as another chap on here had his done.

 

[mwadZ4]

Just bear in mind that although a map can be hidden or removed, the flash count usually cannot.

 

[SO8]

I used DMS for my 330d LCI and the map was superb. They are dear (it cost me £600) but it was smoother than standard and went from 245bhp to 305bhp ! The difference was amazing (and I am used to mapped cars). They adjust the torque limit in each gear as well as the power so as not to lunch the auto box. I was very impressed and will return only to them if I ever map my 35iS (though tbh that is unlikely).

DMS will remap a 35iS to 400bhp as it has the same engine as the 1M. A 35i goes to about 370bhp I think.

DMS come to you to do the map and will rolling road it for nowt incl in the price if you want to go to them. They came to me, took my ECU out of my 330d, opened it, did their stuff on a 'bench', re sealed it and I only have praise for them. They will return it to standard if you are worried re warranty and claim their is then no trace and when they reverse the process it changes every setting and log altered by the map back to what it was before (as they take a copy). With BMW's intrusive ways these days I would not want to try this 'promise' out but with the way DMS were and their reputation I have no real reason to disbelieve them.

I have seen the likes of Cobb and their handheld device - I take it this is after their map has been applied via opening the ECU - or can their stuff be put on via the OBD ? I thought the days of OBD tuning on later cars had gone ? Any comment welcome ...

 

[Maniac]

Cobb is OBD. The e89 isn't that well protected.

 

[SO8]

Just bear in mind that although a map can be hidden or removed, the flash count usually cannot.

I don't think the ECU's used have a flash count - that was the older units. My 08 plate Golf GTi Edition 30 had a flash count so when I remapped that I used Superchips whose software reset the flash counter. What they didn't say was that the Bluefin device couldn't remove all the signs of a remap in the other ECU's used by the car - such as the ABS control unit or DSG gearbox ... which show each adding or removing of the remap as a 'loss of communication' with the main ECU when the map is put on or removed. I went into the ECU''s separately and removed these error codes once I knew this was happening - but I was lucky enough to have access to a £8000 Bosch diagnostics computer which would do this unlike Superchips little Bluefin device which only removed error codes from the main ECU and couldn't look further.

 

[TitanTim]

IF you're really worrying about the warranty side then a remap is probably not for you otherwise go for it

Tim.

 

[SO8]

Cobb is OBD. The e89 isn't that well protected.

Wow, ok, didn't realise that ! My 2010 330d had to have the ECU removed.

I would guess the Cobb device leaves traces like the Superchips Bluefin I have just mentioned then. Without an expensive diagnostics computer I am unsure if you could remove the traces of the map being removed.

 

[original guvnor]

i'd be inclined to go somewhere like Birds or Schnitzer. You'll pay more but it will have been properly researched and tested.

Birds do a Hartge 366hp upgrade for the 35i. You could have a quaife LSD whilst you're at it! :driving:

 

[TitanTim]

i'd be inclined to go somewhere like Birds or Schnitzer. You'll pay more but it will have been properly researched and tested.

More so if they have their own warranty backup.

Tim.