[nthanos330i]

I installed my BMS Powerbox on Tuesday and I have to say that so far I am quite pleased. I have been driving it on map 3 which is engine tuning on and 100% throttle remap. Initially, the car seemed to have a lot more get up and go from a stand still, and then after driving it a few times I didn't feel as though it was as zippy anymore and I feared the box had failed or malfunctioned somehow. I put the car on map 0 and realized that the box was in fact working, and that I had just adjusted to the new throttle and engine responsiveness after a few drives --this is a good thing as the car had felt a little, well, neurotic at first.

In map 0, the car felt incredibly sluggish compared to map 3. After switching it back to map 3 the car felt like a BMW should. The car seems to have more torque low down when driving in "D" and honestly feels about comparable to how the car felt before the tune in "DS," but I attribute this feeling more to the throttle remap than I do to the tune.

In terms of the engine tuning and claimed 10hp increase, I would say that whatever the BMS Powerbox does is not noticeable in "D", however, when you slip the transmission into "DS" you definitely feel the power increase up top. From 5k to 7k the engine pulls incredibly now, experiencing a sort of surge. The throttle response in "DS" is also noticeably more, well, responsive.

The only downsides I have noticed are that at times the transmission and engine seem to be on different wavelengths. Sometimes while in "DS", if you attempt to pass someone on the highway or give it the beans on the on ramp, the transmission seems to hold the engine at high RPM and then after a second shift up. This only really happens when you accelerate hard and then let off the gas. I have read however that the transmission takes 4 days or so to adapt to the new tuning. I don't know if this is what really happens, but I will update this thread in a couple of days.

Overall I would recommend the BMS Powerbox if you are looking to get rid of that drive by wire lag and get a little more oomph from your N52. I'm not sure if my car, having the 3 stage intake, responded better to the engine tuning or not than a 328i, but if it is experiencing the power gains that Burger Motorsports claims, I should now be pushing 265-270 crank hp. Not bad.

Keep in mind this item in not available in CA. I had to have it shipped to my friend who attends Georgetown, and then she brought it back with her during winter break. I'll just put my car on Map 0 to smog it, although I have a feeling it would still pass with the engine tuning.

[hassmaschine]

There's really no tuning - all it does is modify the pedal sensor voltage output and full load AFR. it shouldn't have any emissions effects at all.

[6ixSpd]

Yup it's purely a remap of the throttle lol. Also, post this in the non-turbo technical section.

[mike@x-ph.com]

Thank you for the review OP, glad you like it

[nthanos330i]

Originally Posted by hassmaschine

There's really no tuning - all it does is modify the pedal sensor voltage output and full load AFR. it shouldn't have any emissions effects at all.

It claims a 10 hp increase and there are dyno charts that show this. The BMS PBX does more than a sprint booster or Remus responder. Within the 7 different maps, there are choices for engine tuning on and engine tuning off.

[nthanos330i]

Originally Posted by the6M3

Yup it's purely a remap of the throttle lol. Also, post this in the non-turbo technical section.

The BMS PBX does more than the throttle. That's why I chose it over a sprint booster.

[nthanos330i]

Originally Posted by hassmaschine

There's really no tuning - all it does is modify the pedal sensor voltage output and full load AFR. it shouldn't have any emissions effects at all.

There's a reason I can't buy it in CA though, and 9/10 times it has to do with CA's emissions standards.

[STR8-6IX]

I've debating buying the powerbox but all this really is is a throttle remap.. it apparently turns your throttle into an on/off switch which isnt ideal for daily driving. does the throttle remap feel like this? Im thinking of simply going for a tune to help eliminate throttle lag and get some real power gains - not just a throttle remap

if your auto box has higher mileage, consider doing a transmissions fluid/pan change and replace your solenoids while you're in there. trans will operate miles better.

[hassmaschine]

Originally Posted by nthanos330i

The BMS PBX does more than the throttle. That's why I chose it over a sprint booster.

It does throttle and full load fuel. It doesnt do anything else. And the 330i already has enough fuel at full load.

You can't gain power from a throttle remap. Claims of 10whp are nonsense - you can barely do that with a full tune on a 330i.

[hassmaschine]

Originally Posted by nthanos330i

It claims a 10 hp increase and there are dyno charts that show this. The BMS PBX does more than a sprint booster or Remus responder. Within the 7 different maps, there are choices for engine tuning on and engine tuning off.

They are just differences in throttle position. Theres no tuning other than more fuel. It doesn't have I/O for anything else.

[nthanos330i]

Originally Posted by 6IX-F10-N52

I've debating buying the powerbox but all this really is is a throttle remap.. it apparently turns your throttle into an on/off switch which isnt ideal for daily driving. does the throttle remap feel like this? Im thinking of simply going for a tune to help eliminate throttle lag and get some real power gains - not just a throttle remap

if your auto box has higher mileage, consider doing a transmissions fluid/pan change and replace your solenoids while you're in there. trans will operate miles better.

It doesn't feel like an on off switch and the PBX just installs in the ecu compartment, you don't have to go into the transmission at all.