New Z4 Owner

S

Steelee

Member
Hi all,
Just purchased a 2013 z4 sdrive 18i msport with 21k from a main dealer, all is good, love the car, my question is about remap's, I can see most companies offer around 260bhp and from what I can gather the 4 pot engines are the same and power is limited by the software. Is this correct as I would like to get the ecu mapped but don't want to affect the reliability.

What are people thoughts or experiences?

thanks for reading! :D
 
Welcome to the forum. :thumbsup:

Sorry I can't help you on the subject of remaps, but I know some on here have had them done - hopefully one will be along to help soon!

Don't forget we like to see photos. :)
 
Welcome,

If you purchased a BMW Used Approved Car, you get 12-month warranty.

A re-map is a fairly permanent solution, and difficult to remove, if you have a warranty repair.

Going for a JB4 is something you can add or remove, and I had warranty repair conducted just removed it prior the car been collected.
 
Steelee said:
Hi all,
Just purchased a 2013 z4 sdrive 18i msport with 21k from a main dealer, all is good, love the car, my question is about remap's, I can see most companies offer around 260bhp and from what I can gather the 4 pot engines are the same and power is limited by the software. Is this correct as I would like to get the ecu mapped but don't want to affect the reliability.

What are people thoughts or experiences?

thanks for reading! :D
Click to expand...

Hi yes, s/w remapps are normally in the range 260-300bhp

Most bolt on 'fudgers' are in the range 230-250bhp

As was stated a fudger can be removed so its not obvious....

IMHO the re mapps are better if for only the fact that they can access sensors /controls that fudgers can't.

You should stay clear of anything north of about 290BHP ish as the engine is not limited in its ability to generate power but to dissipate heat, thermodynamic stresses and then drive train issues.

Evolve/Celtic have strong track records, there are a myriad of geeks who have access to versions of the s/w.

As an ex s/w guy I would pay extra for the assurance factor..

The extra power totally transoms the 4 pot into the best of both worlds, good handling and adequate power. :fuelfire:

I dithered about the 6 pot route but having seen the E89 6 pots now in action remain unconvinced that in anything but a straight line they offer an advantage, save that of more torque sooner .. :poke:
 
Pbonder thanks that's just what I wanted to hear. I have 2 companies just up road from me, Viezu which offers 293bhp and a garage that will do a Quantum Tuning map to 260bhp, I have been told by the main dealer that a remap would not affect the warranty only the ecu, not sure if I believe that or not but so long as the various components can take the extra bhp I think I will end up getting it done.

Nice car by the way!!
20180324_142937.jpg
20180324_140143.jpg
Cheers
 
Steelee said:
Pbonder thanks that's just what I wanted to hear. I have 2 companies just up road from me, Viezu which offers 293bhp and a garage that will do a Quantum Tuning map to 260bhp, I have been told by the main dealer that a remap would not affect the warranty only the ecu, not sure if I believe that or not but so long as the various components can take the extra bhp I think I will end up getting it done.

Nice car by the way!!
20180324_142937.jpg
20180324_140143.jpg
Cheers
Click to expand...

Well I think that for the 1.8i the results will be very impressive. A remap on these N20B20 engines requires the non tamper ECU bolts to be replaced....so would advise that someone who has done that ECU (used on many BMW 2.0 litre engines from 2011-2016) twiddles with it as they are a bit of a bitch...
 
Ok Thanks, other option is a plug in box but not sure how reliable they are?
BMW Z4 E89 sDrive18i 156 PS 115KW Racechip Ultimate Petrol Chip Tuning Box - HAZ Motorsport? any advice on using one of these or same type of thing?
 
Steelee said:
Ok Thanks, other option is a plug in box but not sure how reliable they are?
BMW Z4 E89 sDrive18i 156 PS 115KW Racechip Ultimate Petrol Chip Tuning Box - HAZ Motorsport? any advice on using one of these or same type of thing?
Click to expand...

There is nothing intrinsically unreliable about these boxes....they are a frig as previously stated so may approach the capabilities of a re map but will never ever exceed...

I went through an emotion driven logic of being able to take the box out...

The reasons could be...

Don’t want to tell the insurance company
May not work well enough at MOT time
Transfer box to another car

In reality...

You have to make your own decision on insurance...nobody will ever discover a re map unless you go past a police car at 155 mph then have a fatal crash..a box is easy to spot by a traffic cop...

The remaps from quality supplies pass with flying colours in fact my Celtic remap was fractionally cleaner than original!

The plugs mean that the number of vehicles you can transfer it to are usually limited..
 
Thanks,

One other thing I can't seem to work out is the stop/start it seemed to work once but now the symbol appears but with a line through it, I know in the hand book it says it only works in the correct conditions but what are these?

Cheers
 
I'm in the same boat as you pretty much, mine is a 2.0i and I really want a remap but am holding off until the BMW warranty is up as I wouldn't trust them not to wriggle out of a claim if they knew about a remap regardless of the fault.
 
Steelee said:
One other thing I can't seem to work out is the stop/start it seemed to work once but now the symbol appears but with a line through it, I know in the hand book it says it only works in the correct conditions but what are these?
Click to expand...

On my previous car the start/stop would only work when the engine was up to temp and if any sport mode was engaged, traction control was turned off or the A/C was operating but the cabin was above the set temp it would not allow the engine to switch off and would have the symbol you described.
 
Steelee said:
Celtic
Click to expand...

Have decided to go with Celtic as they seem to know what they are talking about, they offer stage 1 (181bhp) Stage 2 (241bhp - 277nm) or stage 3 (295bhp and 320nm) fairly sure going to stick with stage 2 as 295 seems a bit much and don't want to compromise on reliability although they have assured me the stage 3 is all within safe tolerances of the engine and drivetrain.....just know if I do go with stage 2 I will regret not knowing what could have been!! - even better they will come to home or work and do the remap at a very competitive cost :D
 
Hi :)
I would also be very wary about a remap under warranty, I waited until the warranty had expired on my daily driver (Focus ST) before remapping.

It's totally transformed my ST, goes like an absolute rocket now, but must admit I hadn't considered a remap on my Z4 as I was under the impression they weren't as effective on non turbo engines, I'll have to look in to it further by the sounds of it....
 
Hi Tinman6,

Mine is a turbo so gains are much higher, all the 2.0l turbo engines are the same, power is only limited by software so having a stage 2 tune would up the power to that of the sdrive28i and as there are no mechanical differences I don’t see there being a problem......and Celtic are very knowledgable and have done many remaps.
 
Ah sorry didn't realise it was a turbo, yes I've heard Celtic are very good. I did my ST remap myself with Bluefin and been extremely pleased with the improvement so if you're going to a highly recommended tuner you should be well sorted :)
 
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