N55 adding modifications time sequence

Kris53 · 12-01-2021, 11:49 AM

Hey

Maybe odd question (2011 N55) but I was wondering, if I am changing intake, intercooler, walnut blasting, spark plugs/ignition coils, entire suspension and adding a JB4 with BEF

Should I drive the car for a few weeks post modifications before adding the JB4?

My thinking is changing too many things at once can complicate things. And by doing such if I get an issue it’s harder to know what caused it?

Also do I want to add JB4 and drive it for a few weeks and then add BEF?

Or is it normal to do both at same time?

Thanks for your two cents

Ozzie335i · 12-01-2021, 12:59 PM

Scratch the walnut blasting, as the N55 does not have this issue. Plugs ok to change, but hold off on the coils until JB4 gives an indication that they need to be changed. The stock intake is fine, unless you want that sound. Do consider going with Twisted Tuning. Good luck on the journey.

wheela · 12-01-2021, 02:16 PM

+1 on ozzie's comments. Do you already have the jb4? If not, also consider just flash tuning vs. JB4 w/ backend flash. JB4 will not let your DME know the true operating conditions of your engine. It will still work, and some beleive it's easier to tune the boost with a jb4, but the dme has a very sophisticated load-based system. You should be able to do everything you need with a DME flash tune.

Kris53 · 12-01-2021, 03:00 PM

So I did just order the JB4 it’s in the mail

I was going to do JB4 plus BEF

I not super expert on some terms but I think what you mean by DME flash tune would just be like MHD?

I thought doing JB4 plus BEF gives better results that just a flash tune like MHD only ?

wheela · 12-01-2021, 11:51 PM

A lot of people swear by jb4, and a good back end flash should address a lot of the issues with fooling the dme into higher boost. But if you're going to back end flash anyway, why not just flash tune so your dme knows what's actually going on, and avoid adding an extra controller to the mix?

Flashing is just the process of writing the bin file to the dme. MHD is a tool that can flash a bin to the DME. They also offer "off the shelf" tunes (stage 1, 1+, 2, 2+, etc.). They're called off the shelf (OTS) because they are set up to work on any car without adjustment. You may be able to get more power with jb4 than an OTS tune, but if you work with a tuner and get a custom flash tune, there is no reason you shouldn't be able to match or beat a jb4 in power and general drivability.

But it comes down to preference, a lot of people make a ton of power with jb4 and are very happy with it.

wheela · 12-01-2021, 11:55 PM

Jb4 also offers features not currently available with flash tuning, like quick on the fly map changes if that's your thing, and I believe they can operate as a meth controller as well, and maybe some other things too.

Kris53 · 12-02-2021, 01:40 AM

So I know BMW is not a straight line speed car, but having extra power is nice.

I also live in CA and would prefer to not have the smog issues with a catless DP.

With that said, from what I’ve seen online N55 with intake and FMIC with MHD stage 1+ can make about 300-320 whp.

Where as per JB4 website your closer to 350whp. I also saw a dyno report what was N55 JB4 plus BEF and it showed 360whp.

So while I agree MHD style tune had alot of benefits, from what I have read, and could be wrong, JB4 BEF can make about 30-40+ whp over just MHD with same supporting mods.

And given it seems N55 has alot less potential and top end thag a N54, to me that difference is meaningful.

wheela · 12-02-2021, 07:37 AM

Anything a jb4 can make your turbo do, a flash only tune can make your turbo do also, regardless of supporting mods. With flash only, it comes down to if your're using an OTS tune, or a custom tune for your car (tuner sends you bin, you take logs and send back to tuner, repeat until tune is done). With a jb4, it's easy to change boost level as you like, so people can max it out easily. With flash only, you have to adjust the tune, then flash the updated bin to your car to adjust the boost. An OTS bin is designed to be safe for all cars, so it's not going to max anything out. But you can max things out (if you want) with a flash only tune as well.

For n54 vs. n55, there stock twin turbos for more than our stock single, so with stock turbos your're correct. However if you're willing to upgrade turbos, the playing feild gets leveled. Actually, it's common for n54 guys looking for bug power to ditch the twins and uograde to a big single turbo.

There are no free lunches. Somebody on here once said, you need to pick: fast, reliable, or cheap, but you can only have 2 - you can't get all 3.

wheela · 12-02-2021, 07:38 AM

Sorry for the typos, on my phone.

bmw335ie90 · 12-02-2021, 10:37 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kris53

I also live in CA and would prefer to not have the smog issues with a catless DP.

Just beware that CA smog has really cracked down lately (at least in my area). An aftermarket charge pipe and/or and aftermarket intake will cause you to fail visual inspection at a regular smog shop.

If you go the route of upgrading the intercooler/charge pipe, getting an intercooler which uses the OEM style inlet/outlet connection makes it a lot easier to swap the stock charge pipe back on come smog time.

Kris53 · 12-02-2021, 12:18 PM

So I definitely agree about power and reliability.

Seems like JB4 and BEF is pretty standard, has good power and people do say JB4 has some safety mechanism MHD doesn’t.

And yeah for the charge pipe the one I got is flat black and looks pretty basic. And I also decided to not change intake box so I got that stock.

I also just got a smog so at least I have two years and the place I went was super laid back.

Supermoon · 12-05-2021, 01:39 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ozzie335i

Scratch the walnut blasting, as the N55 does not have this issue.

My valves at 67k.

whyzee125 · 12-05-2021, 02:54 AM

N55's definitely do have carbon buildup issues as the poster above pointed out. Not nearly as soon or as severe as n54's but if you're above 75k miles or so I would plan on doing it soon. Personally, I would do the coils, etc. too as you WILL need them at some point and I'd rather have everything already knocked out so you don't have to worry about it.

You can drive for a bit if you want, doing too many things at once can definitely make it more difficult to know where the source of a new problem is.

12-01-2021, 11:49 AM	#1
Kris53 New Member 2 Rep 27 Posts Drives: BMW 335 Coupe e92 Join Date: Oct 2021 Location: Socal iTrader: (0)	N55 adding modifications time sequence Hey Maybe odd question (2011 N55) but I was wondering, if I am changing intake, intercooler, walnut blasting, spark plugs/ignition coils, entire suspension and adding a JB4 with BEF Should I drive the car for a few weeks post modifications before adding the JB4? My thinking is changing too many things at once can complicate things. And by doing such if I get an issue it’s harder to know what caused it? Also do I want to add JB4 and drive it for a few weeks and then add BEF? Or is it normal to do both at same time? Thanks for your two cents __________________ 2011 e92 335i Coupe Black/Black Sport Package 6MT 2013 F30 328i Sedan Dinan tune SaddleLeather (sold) 2003 e46 330i Coupe Sport Package(retired) 1995 e36 325i Sedan Manual Dinan tune (deceased) 1991 e34 525i Sedan Eibach springs(retired) Last edited by Kris53; 12-01-2021 at 12:04 PM..
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12-01-2021, 12:59 PM	#2
Ozzie335i Lieutenant Colonel 661 Rep 1,526 Posts Drives: 2011 335i Join Date: Aug 2014 Location: DFW iTrader: (1)	Scratch the walnut blasting, as the N55 does not have this issue. Plugs ok to change, but hold off on the coils until JB4 gives an indication that they need to be changed. The stock intake is fine, unless you want that sound. Do consider going with Twisted Tuning. Good luck on the journey.
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12-01-2021, 02:16 PM	#3
wheela Major 517 Rep 1,011 Posts Drives: 2015 BMW X1 35i M-sport Join Date: Mar 2021 Location: Twin Cities MN iTrader: (0) Garage List 2015 X1 35i M-Sport [0.00] 2025 X7 M60i [0.00]	+1 on ozzie's comments. Do you already have the jb4? If not, also consider just flash tuning vs. JB4 w/ backend flash. JB4 will not let your DME know the true operating conditions of your engine. It will still work, and some beleive it's easier to tune the boost with a jb4, but the dme has a very sophisticated load-based system. You should be able to do everything you need with a DME flash tune.
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12-01-2021, 03:00 PM	#4
Kris53 New Member 2 Rep 27 Posts Drives: BMW 335 Coupe e92 Join Date: Oct 2021 Location: Socal iTrader: (0)	So I did just order the JB4 it’s in the mail I was going to do JB4 plus BEF I not super expert on some terms but I think what you mean by DME flash tune would just be like MHD? I thought doing JB4 plus BEF gives better results that just a flash tune like MHD only ? Last edited by Kris53; 12-01-2021 at 03:13 PM..
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12-01-2021, 11:51 PM	#5
wheela Major 517 Rep 1,011 Posts Drives: 2015 BMW X1 35i M-sport Join Date: Mar 2021 Location: Twin Cities MN iTrader: (0) Garage List 2015 X1 35i M-Sport [0.00] 2025 X7 M60i [0.00]	A lot of people swear by jb4, and a good back end flash should address a lot of the issues with fooling the dme into higher boost. But if you're going to back end flash anyway, why not just flash tune so your dme knows what's actually going on, and avoid adding an extra controller to the mix? Flashing is just the process of writing the bin file to the dme. MHD is a tool that can flash a bin to the DME. They also offer "off the shelf" tunes (stage 1, 1+, 2, 2+, etc.). They're called off the shelf (OTS) because they are set up to work on any car without adjustment. You may be able to get more power with jb4 than an OTS tune, but if you work with a tuner and get a custom flash tune, there is no reason you shouldn't be able to match or beat a jb4 in power and general drivability. But it comes down to preference, a lot of people make a ton of power with jb4 and are very happy with it.
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12-01-2021, 11:55 PM	#6
wheela Major 517 Rep 1,011 Posts Drives: 2015 BMW X1 35i M-sport Join Date: Mar 2021 Location: Twin Cities MN iTrader: (0) Garage List 2015 X1 35i M-Sport [0.00] 2025 X7 M60i [0.00]	Jb4 also offers features not currently available with flash tuning, like quick on the fly map changes if that's your thing, and I believe they can operate as a meth controller as well, and maybe some other things too.
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12-02-2021, 01:40 AM	#7
Kris53 New Member 2 Rep 27 Posts Drives: BMW 335 Coupe e92 Join Date: Oct 2021 Location: Socal iTrader: (0)	So I know BMW is not a straight line speed car, but having extra power is nice. I also live in CA and would prefer to not have the smog issues with a catless DP. With that said, from what I’ve seen online N55 with intake and FMIC with MHD stage 1+ can make about 300-320 whp. Where as per JB4 website your closer to 350whp. I also saw a dyno report what was N55 JB4 plus BEF and it showed 360whp. So while I agree MHD style tune had alot of benefits, from what I have read, and could be wrong, JB4 BEF can make about 30-40+ whp over just MHD with same supporting mods. And given it seems N55 has alot less potential and top end thag a N54, to me that difference is meaningful.
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12-02-2021, 07:37 AM	#8
wheela Major 517 Rep 1,011 Posts Drives: 2015 BMW X1 35i M-sport Join Date: Mar 2021 Location: Twin Cities MN iTrader: (0) Garage List 2015 X1 35i M-Sport [0.00] 2025 X7 M60i [0.00]	Anything a jb4 can make your turbo do, a flash only tune can make your turbo do also, regardless of supporting mods. With flash only, it comes down to if your're using an OTS tune, or a custom tune for your car (tuner sends you bin, you take logs and send back to tuner, repeat until tune is done). With a jb4, it's easy to change boost level as you like, so people can max it out easily. With flash only, you have to adjust the tune, then flash the updated bin to your car to adjust the boost. An OTS bin is designed to be safe for all cars, so it's not going to max anything out. But you can max things out (if you want) with a flash only tune as well. For n54 vs. n55, there stock twin turbos for more than our stock single, so with stock turbos your're correct. However if you're willing to upgrade turbos, the playing feild gets leveled. Actually, it's common for n54 guys looking for bug power to ditch the twins and uograde to a big single turbo. There are no free lunches. Somebody on here once said, you need to pick: fast, reliable, or cheap, but you can only have 2 - you can't get all 3.
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12-02-2021, 07:38 AM	#9
wheela Major 517 Rep 1,011 Posts Drives: 2015 BMW X1 35i M-sport Join Date: Mar 2021 Location: Twin Cities MN iTrader: (0) Garage List 2015 X1 35i M-Sport [0.00] 2025 X7 M60i [0.00]	Sorry for the typos, on my phone.
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12-02-2021, 12:18 PM	#11
Kris53 New Member 2 Rep 27 Posts Drives: BMW 335 Coupe e92 Join Date: Oct 2021 Location: Socal iTrader: (0)	So I definitely agree about power and reliability. Seems like JB4 and BEF is pretty standard, has good power and people do say JB4 has some safety mechanism MHD doesn’t. And yeah for the charge pipe the one I got is flat black and looks pretty basic. And I also decided to not change intake box so I got that stock. I also just got a smog so at least I have two years and the place I went was super laid back.
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12-05-2021, 02:54 AM	#13
whyzee125 Brigadier General 1992 Rep 4,015 Posts Drives: Dinan stage 2 335i Join Date: Jul 2014 Location: Chattanooga Tn iTrader: (0)	N55's definitely do have carbon buildup issues as the poster above pointed out. Not nearly as soon or as severe as n54's but if you're above 75k miles or so I would plan on doing it soon. Personally, I would do the coils, etc. too as you WILL need them at some point and I'd rather have everything already knocked out so you don't have to worry about it. You can drive for a bit if you want, doing too many things at once can definitely make it more difficult to know where the source of a new problem is.
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