Offering my M as test car for tuning

[tehdarkstar]

Hi there guys,

I've got an offer from a tuner that claims to be the UKs largest specialist in track/race cars preparation to offer my new car to test the new tuning systems they're making for the Z4M.

What do you think? Is that too risky? What are your opinions on the matter?

I'm still discussing with them what sort of warranties and risks will I get and whether they will be proper rolling road testing my car before and after and everything. We're talking about Milltek exhaust and remap for starters.

 

[Wondermike]

If it was mine I wouldn't mind them doing the exhaust - not sure about the remap though. There must be enough M3 maps around not to need another one, no?

 

[tehdarkstar]

They do have the M3 exhaust, but they are custimizing it for the Z4M and want to test it. From what I can get from their website they have a vast experience tuning and running their own E39 M5 and E46 M3 CSL plus a racing spec E30 320, so I would expect them to know something about tuning these engines.

I have sent them an e-mail with a series of questions and will wait to see what they say.

 

[JayD]

Quite tempting from the exhaust point of view.

Certainly a very reputable company and their new exhaust for the M3 developed in conjunction with Thorney Motorsport does sound fantastic!

What are they offering you in return?

 

[peppernick]

They do have the M3 exhaust, but they are custimizing it for the Z4M and want to test it.

The E46 M3 exhaust is very differrent to the Z4M aft of the downpipes (E46 runs down the left side of the car and end up with one rear box; Z4M has split pipes on either side of the car and they end up with 2 separate boxes on both sides of the car). I would have though an E39 M5 exhaust is a better grafting donor for adaptation.

Are you dealing with Thorney Motorsport or Simpson Motorsport?

Miltek is quality exhaust. A year ago, they used my friend's Z4 3.0 as their test bed to produce their exhausts for the Z4s. Miltek does live up to their promises.

 

[tehdarkstar]

Sorry, I inteded that they do have the remap for the M3 and are customizing for the Z4M.

The exhaust is completely new for the Z4M and yes, it is Thorney Motorsport.

I sent an e-mail to them asking for more details of what would be in there for me and will wait for them to get back. I do like the idea of having a Milltek product as they do have a good reputation as well as usually maintaining the good sound characteristics of the original exhaust while enhancing it and giving performance improvements.

I'm very tempted, considering that you guys know the company and they are reputable.

 

[JayD]

Thorney Motorsport have a great set up and John Thorne really does know his stuff. They spent hours and hours perfecting the new Milltek for the M3 and it sounds superb...

I would trust my car in their hands completely, they know what they are doing and did some work for me on my M3 last year. Loads of guys over on BM3W use him for work on M3's and CSL's.

 

[tehdarkstar]

Thorney Motorsport have a great set up and John Thorne really does know his stuff. They spent hours and hours perfecting the new Milltek for the M3 and it sounds superb...

I would trust my car in their hands completely, they know what they are doing and did some work for me on my M3 last year. Loads of guys over on BM3W use him for work on M3's and CSL's.

Wow, that's great. If they are that good I will have no problems trusting my car to them (did it in the past with APS for example). Thanks for the help again guys! :ilz4f:

 

[wal]

i just emailed milltek and phil millington said that the m coupe has shown low demand for any exhaust products, so they have no plans to produce an exhaust. come on fellas, get ur ass in gear and ask for one. i dont want to have to buy an overpriced hamann one, or a crappy custon fart pipe

 

[taffy]

John is a decent bloke and i'd say good for his word so he'd probably be the only guy i'd trust to do something like this.

 

[sixspeed]

Hmmm...

I'd like to say the same as the others, but my experience of John is a bit hit and miss. His work in the VX220 community where he started has left people feeling a little put out at times.

The facilities he has are good, and I do have to be fair, and say that when it comes to development, his work is very meticulous, it's just the customer service side which has let him down on a number of occasions.

However, I do hear good things from the BMW community, so I expect he's polished up his act a little recently.

 

[Giles]

I sent an e-mail to them asking for more details of what would be in there for me and will wait for them to get back.

Snap.

John promised me exactly what he has you over a year ago, despite my emails enquiring on progress I have heard nothing since.

I wouldn't hold your breath if I were you.....

 

[tehdarkstar]

I sent an e-mail to them asking for more details of what would be in there for me and will wait for them to get back.

Snap.

John promised me exactly what he has you over a year ago, despite my emails enquiring on progress I have heard nothing since.

I wouldn't hold your breath if I were you.....

Yeah, I'm in the same situation. I emailed him twice since I got my car but he hasn't replied. :? I may call Simpson as they're closer anyway.

 

[peppernick]

Try Roy at http://www.ca-automotive.co.uk I use CA for all my M power tune ups, Roy delivers all he promise, in a snap

 

[Top pup]

Did you get any further with this?

 

[tehdarkstar]

Not really. John at Thorney is a difficult chap to get hold of. I spoke to him at Gaydon and he said he would get back to me but didn't, so I decided to let it go.

 

[tehdarkstar]

OK, finally have agreed with John Thorne on a date for me to take my Z in. I will leave it with them on the 15th of September.

The work that is to be carried out is as follows:
- Full Milltek upgrade
- ECU remap
- New brake pads and fluid
- H&R springs

I will ask them for the dyno plots before and after and will post these here. I'm expecting more than anything else to get a flatter torque curve, which will be good.

My car now feels well loosen up after the trackday a week ago (I think 160 miles of abuse accelerated the loosening up) and after the CDV replacement it feels much better to drive.

I should get it back just in time to drive Castle Combe in the 21st.

 

[Top pup]

The work that is to be carried out is as follows:
- Full Milltek upgrade
- ECU remap
- New brake pads and fluid
- H&R springs

Are they doing the full exhaust or just a cat back system?

 

[Blacklines]

Have you had a MIlltek Exhaust fitted yet?

Where in the country are you?

 

[tehdarkstar]

It seems like the guys at Thorney are too busy to do business. They have changed the dates in which I was supposed to take my car there and haven't contacted me since. I'm not sure of what is going on, but I have been too busy at work lately to chase it up, so I will just see what happens.