[M4TW]

Ever since I had the Dinan FMIC installed I've noticed a slight vibration type sound emanating from the IC general area. It only comes on during a narrow rev range, say 1200-1500. It's not loud (I can't hear it over music at normal volume for example) but a bit bothersome nonetheless.

I wonder if it's because things are so tight in there, that something is touching something else that normally wouldn't. Hence, at the right "frequency" it causes vibration?

Next time I visit my Dinan shop, I'll have them look it over. Since that won't be for a while, I was wondering if anyone else noticed the same????

I have AT.

(I'm still groovin' with it though )

[vegasspeed]

I haven't noticed that noise on my Intercooler. It could be that I have my stereo up too loud though.

[Dan335i]

Sounds like a loose bolt or something similiar.Take it back to the installer and let him go over the install.

[scottp999]

I have a little rattle like that with my car. I think it's from the catback exhaust working its way loose a little bit since it was installed 6 months ago.

[Sniper1690]

Perhaps thats the mystery noise I've had since my Dinan FMIC install. I've never thought of it as a vibration...perhaps thats it. I've noticed a more of a "wooosh" of air (much like with a CAI) when revving up. I made mention of this in my " Dinan Stg. III: Initial Impressions" thread. I'll listen to it further and try to determine if its actually a vibration.

[sparkyg]

I'll take a listen too Terry. Just gettin' used to the car right now. Totally diff pedal feel.

[vase330]

Originally Posted by sparkyg

I'll take a listen too Terry. Just gettin' used to the car right now. Totally diff pedal feel.

Please elaborate that statement. Some of us are seating on the proverbial fence and need more information from real life owners like you to make our decisions.

[sparkyg]

OT sorry OP

Hey Vase, I am coming from the original flash and having never felt the stock pedal feel(I upgraded the car new). I am not used to the abrupt take off with throttle input.

In the DS mode it is friggin off the chart power, evil.

When in D mode it is like sniper1690 said, driving a V8, loads of torque down low, pulls easily from any gear and power always on tap.

The DS is basically for nuking the competition, the shifting up and down is aggressive and the car is always hungry for a race. When I drive it in DS the car feels like it always wants more, more speed, more power, more, more, more. It is just go hard all the time. It just pulls and then changes gears and then pulls more. Driving it above 60 mph is like driving it at 20, it just pulls so friggin' hard. 100mph+ doesn't even begin things. Up here in Canada 200 km/h comes on so fast, you gotta be so careful.

The Stg III feels like the car is so eager to just make power. It just forces itself on the chassis and for an AT driver just friggin hold on.

[vase330]

In your honest opinion, is it worth that much $$$? I just felt like it was over the top overpriced for really smallish gains from stage II. BTW I had not realized you had stage III, thought you just had FMIC. We'll see in a couple of months, more power calling me. I just love this car man. I loved the way the Eclipse Turbo I once had used to howl when on boost, but I barely hear anything in this car. I have a buddy I have been trying to talk into a 335. He ordered a 328i from Military sales and thinks its fast enough (ofcourse coming from a Ford Escort) but I tell him there is huge difference and he laughs and says can't be that much even with a tune. He's been busy and absent and just got back from Iraq recently so he had no chance to drive any of the cars before ordering. He has fuzzy math that says he wont notice much of a difference 328 vs tuned 335 so he thinks it s a waste and huge Placebo Must be the Humvee vs Striker experience he is used to, where you have huge differences but both are just huge lumbering pigs anyway so they feel almost identical. Its a pig, is a pig is a pig. Different animal, we got Cheetahs here not pigs.

[M4TW]

Hey Vase, Sparkyg has the full Stage III, I have Stage II rev 2 + FMIC + Exhaust.

I am finding the same wow and pow that Sparkyg reports. I know that even when loading the Stage II flash it asks if you have the FMIC. My theory is that it gives you the same 'map' that Stage III gets but slightly less boost. I never had a chance to try Stage II rev 2 without the FMIC, just went directly from Flash Classic. But it seems only Funkdoc, myself and Stage III'ers are reporting the same effect - instant on torque that pulls to redline.

Back to my vibration sound. Thanks for the replies! It's sounding like no one else is hearing quite the same thing. I should make an audio clip. I first thought it was coming from the exhaust but ruled that out. Also it's been there from the start and hasn't got better or worse. I can maintain the sound keeping the same rev which is a bit above idle. When I got under my car to look, all I could see, of course, was the plastic protection plate. Q: mine seemed quite secure around the bumper but loose at the back, is this normal?

[vase330]

As the needle races to redline you do notice the torque and power falling off the cliff with stage II Rev 2. As StarDux noted, you get better performance with 3/4 pedal and flooring it is not nearly as effective as 3/4 pedal. Maybe you stage III guys have a more natural max pedal = max pull feel? As in it pulls just as hard at 3/4 pedal as at 4/4 pedal?

[Sniper1690]

Semi-OT, but, when I spoke with the Tech (who used to work for Dinan) that installed my Dinan FMIC he mentioned that the OEM screws used to attach the plastic undercarrige cover were to long to use with the Dinan FMIC as they would puncture the bottom of the IC if screwed all the way down (or up in the case). He sheared them off so as not to be so long and stated that everything was securely fastened as such.

I'm not sure that info is relevant to your vibration, but its a tidbit that may prove beneficial somehow.

[sparkyg]

Vase, is it worth the money, prob not.

I like what sparkplug did and did the FMIC with the Stg II. You get 80% benefits for $3000 less. Better bang for your buck.

I'll do some pulls today and see how it goes. I really need a track to get the full feel safely.

Maybe Calgary Agent can comment, he got "accidently" flashed to stock and then went to Stg III. He did a track session last week against some serious competition.

[funkdoc]

I really like my poor man's stage 3. No vibrations here with the fmic, and adding the secondary cat deletes gives the car more roar and torque across the board. There is some droning is d-mode at about 2k but the drone can be minimized with good throttle modulation. I'm cool with this power level for now.

[M4TW]

Originally Posted by Sniper1690

Semi-OT, but, when I spoke with the Tech (who used to work for Dinan) that installed my Dinan FMIC he mentioned that the OEM screws used to attach the plastic undercarrige cover were to long to use with the Dinan FMIC as they would puncture the bottom of the IC if screwed all the way down (or up in the case). He sheared them off so as not to be so long and stated that everything was securely fastened as such.

I'm not sure that info is relevant to your vibration, but its a tidbit that may prove beneficial somehow.

It's my working theory is that it is exactly this plastic undercarrige cover is what's making this sound, so yeah, this is relevant!

Come to think of it, it's a plastic/rubber farty vibration sound. That's why I initially thought it was linked to the exhaust. I'm going to try and squeeze under the car to have a better look. Any idea of how many bolts it should have securing it?

[sparkyg]

Originally Posted by Sparkplug

It's my working theory is that it is exactly this plastic undercarrige cover is what's making this sound, so yeah, this is relevant!

Come to think of it, it's a plastic/rubber farty vibration sound. That's why I initially thought it was linked to the exhaust. I'm going to try and squeeze under the car to have a better look. Any idea of how many bolts it should have securing it?

Let us know what you find T, I may need to check mine too.

The car is starting to pull some really hard, from a light, flat out to 100 km/h and then shifts and then it pulls more like it is at a stop. Stg III is stoopid.

Thank god it is AWD, the power just snaps my head back though.