[CaptainKirk2008]

My 17 year old has been dying for a Tune for his '08 335i 6-speed sedan. I've resisted knowing how damaging alterations can be without going the full distance to bring the rest of a rig up to par in support of the initial upgrade. The car has 99K miles on it, I've installed coils and plugs and other than replacing the clutch, it's a stock car relative to this topic, i.e. been lowered, new wheels, etc. but those changes not relevant here. Bought the car from an original owner employee of mine and all service was dealer completed and the car was really in pretty good shape. Best I could tell, it had not been beat on but one never knows for sure.

He wants to install the JB4 Performance Tuner from Berger Performance and I am just not knowledgeable on this engine. Ask me about the Duramax, I might be able to contribute - but not on the N54.

So instead of knowing exactly what I should have done 15 minutes after buying something, I though I'd first ask here what direction I should go for my son's car. He wants more power, he doesn't have the cash for larger turbos and higher pressure pumps and I've told him his drive train is only good for about 400 HP max given I think I read it's the same drive train they put behind the diesel which I seem to recall is a 450 lb/ft torque motor. Point being, I don't want to load a tune that will smoke the pistons and blow up hard parts downstream of the crank.

If someone knowledgeable would weigh in on the aforementioned tuner, I'd be very interested to get your knowledge on the table instead of learning everything the hard way! Please opine on what I am contemplating.

Thanks in advance!

Kirk

[bmuum3]

I would start with tune via MHD. Let him drive the car like that for a while. If he wants more intercooler and downpipes. Im sure more things will show there ages just doing those mods and you can address them.

[TemjinX2]

i would say depends on how good of a driver you think he is. 400hp is a lot of power for a 17 yr old. Also tuning the car accelerates the need for maintence.

The engine itself is strong, just all the accessories are made out of paper like injectors, water pump, valve cover gaskets.

so its some thing you should ask if your willing for pay for or if he's willing to pay for it. The n54 can be made fast with cheap mods but you pay for it in maintence costs.

[Jeff@TopGearSolutions]

Originally Posted by CaptainKirk2008

My 17 year old has been dying for a Tune for his '08 335i 6-speed sedan. I've resisted knowing how damaging alterations can be without going the full distance to bring the rest of a rig up to par in support of the initial upgrade. The car has 99K miles on it, I've installed coils and plugs and other than replacing the clutch, it's a stock car relative to this topic, i.e. been lowered, new wheels, etc. but those changes not relevant here. Bought the car from an original owner employee of mine and all service was dealer completed and the car was really in pretty good shape. Best I could tell, it had not been beat on but one never knows for sure.

He wants to install the JB4 Performance Tuner from Berger Performance and I am just not knowledgeable on this engine. Ask me about the Duramax, I might be able to contribute - but not on the N54.

So instead of knowing exactly what I should have done 15 minutes after buying something, I though I'd first ask here what direction I should go for my son's car. He wants more power, he doesn't have the cash for larger turbos and higher pressure pumps and I've told him his drive train is only good for about 400 HP max given I think I read it's the same drive train they put behind the diesel which I seem to recall is a 450 lb/ft torque motor. Point being, I don't want to load a tune that will smoke the pistons and blow up hard parts downstream of the crank.

If someone knowledgeable would weigh in on the aforementioned tuner, I'd be very interested to get your knowledge on the table instead of learning everything the hard way! Please opine on what I am contemplating.

Thanks in advance!

Kirk

A tune is the easiest and best bang for the buck for power on this car.

JB4 is one of the most popular tunes for this platform next to MHD.

The motor is strong but any tune will require more attention, proactive maintenance and will bring out any current weakness in the vehicle.

Weaknesses such as tired or worn fuel pumps, coil packs, spark plugs and injectors (to name a few).

All those items should be new or in good condition before tuning if you want to tune optimally and reliably.

That is not to say you can't tune and wait to see what shows it's head but if you wanted to be proactive you should at a minimum change the spark plugs on the vehicle if they have over 35K miles on them.

Another thing to note if you haven't changed it already is the water pumps typically go around the 75K+ mark. With the extra heat and likely more aggressive driving by your son, don't be surprised if that takes a dump, they are another common failure point.

Otherwise happy modding for you and your son, it's a great platform but it does require attention to maintenance and there are a few items that are notorious for needing attention like the above mentioned.

[Jklad]

Most of the maintenance issues with this car are unrelated to tunes, if your just pushing a stage 1 or 2 type tune at around 400hp. The hpfp, water pump, any gaskets, vacuum lines, vanos solenoids, etc will be minimally impacted if at all by this upgrade, and will all fail anyways when theyre due. You said you already changed plugs and coils, the two things that tend to wear out faster based on a tune, so that's good.

Recommend a true tune like mhd over jb4. Like said above let him drive it like that, then do an fmic, see how that works out, and finally dp.

Replace the charge pipe proactively with a metal version so It doesn't bust and keep him stranded.

[FlaPatsFan]

Honestly 400+ HP is to much for a 17yo....you’re asking for trouble. If he is asking for more power already you know where it is headed.

How’s Jr’s Driving record? If anything make him sign a contract that if he gets 1 speeding ticket car goes back to stock.

The temptation to speed will be to much for a 17yo. Especially if he has friends in the car. Just saying.

[Brandon818]

It comes down to how responsible you think your son is. Me personally I've had my FBO (full bolt-on) 335is since I was 17. I bought the mods myself though. I can tell you its very easy to get in trouble with this car, especially on open freeways I think It would be beneficial to get a tracking system on the car that will tell you G-forces and speed of the car without telling your son. As far as the tune, expect to do Coils, plugs, water pump, Injectors, hpfp. This isn't going to take a dump all at once, however this is the norm for these cars, and remember maintenance before modding

[CaptainKirk2008]

You guys have all given me some great advice and some things to really think about. I APPRECIATE IT!

[Milan]

17 year old with a 335 = father of the year...you should tell him birth control is optional too

/s

[Marcadelic]

Originally Posted by Brandon818

It comes down to how responsible you think your son is. Me personally I've had my FBO (full bolt-on) 335is since I was 17. I bought the mods myself though. I can tell you its very easy to get in trouble with this car, especially on open freeways I think It would be beneficial to get a tracking system on the car that will tell you G-forces and speed of the car without telling your son. As far as the tune, expect to do Coils, plugs, water pump, Injectors, hpfp. This isn't going to take a dump all at once, however, this is the norm for these cars, and remember maintenance before modding

+1

I got my first 335i when I was 17 too. Got a couple speeding tickets but overall was fairly responsible with it, I honestly think that car made me a much more confident driver compared to something sub 200hp.

I would recommend going with an MHD tune, it's easy, cheap, and reliable.

[4 Doors]

In all honesty, think of yourself when you were 17 years old. If you had a 300-400+ hp car and all your buddies wanted a ride or a girl...think of the trouble you would've gotten into. Even worse, accidents because of only one year driving experience. I ultimately would say no. Let him experience the stock version for a while, maybe a Car Control Clinic, and then go from there. If he wants to pay and do all the maintenance himself, then in the future it is a possibility. Just my .02, as much as you want your son to be happy and enjoy the vehicle, he needs to be responsible with what he has now. He has a 300 hp car and is 17, as someone else said, he wants more...asking for trouble.

Then again, if my father would have told me I can tune my car and get up to 400 hp at 17 years old, he would be a legend. :

[WhatDoIPutHere]

I can somewhat relate to him, I started driving my car when I was 18 and was handed down shortly after that. The only issue with modding the car is that you will keep on going. At least from my experience, I am still buying mods and it just started with a tune. I'm getting stage 2 turbos in next month and never thought I would do so. Just be careful of what you get yourself in to, it is hard to stop because there is always something to upgrade. This might not be true for everyone though. I love modding the car, but I'm currently spending all my money on it

[V8bait]

Honestly a Toyota Camry has 300hp these days. A pump gas tune on a stock car is going to be what 350whp? I had more than that at this age and survived. Plenty kids kill themselves in civics with mufflers because the are driving crazy, not just the power. Sometimes the power makes you respect it more.

Anyway go for MHD for a quick flash tune. Don't worry about the rest, address things as they need fixed. The best thing about adding a flash tune is also the ability to datalog the car and learn how it works, diagnose issues, etc. These cars can handle over 700whp on the stock motor so things will be fine.

[RoarinForeign]

Originally Posted by WhatDoIPutHere

I can somewhat relate to him, I started driving my car when I was 18 and was handed down shortly after that. The only issue with modding the car is that you will keep on going. At least from my experience, I am still buying mods and it just started with a tune. I'm getting stage 2 turbos in next month and never thought I would do so. Just be careful of what you get yourself in to, it is hard to stop because there is always something to upgrade. This might not be true for everyone though. I love modding the car, but I'm currently spending all my money on it

This couldn't be more true, I got my 335 right before I turned 18 and I think I've spent every dollar I've made on it, FBO coilovers wheels tires... upgraded turbos are my next goal. As for OP I started with the jb4 then went bef, now I'm on to flash only mhd. Once I get a big turbo I'll go back to jb4. With great power comes great responsibility. Get him a radar too that was my first mod after I got a speeding ticket haha. no one mentioned upgraded charge pipe, This is a must if you're tuning

[musa]

CaptainKirk2008, on a different note, the trajectory of all this has all the ingredients of a finale we all know too well about … and, unfortunately, later on you may be blamed for facilitating it ... and even worse, by he himself! Continue resisting and make it clear he bears the cost … don't make it too easy.

[WhatDoIPutHere]

Originally Posted by RoarinForeign

This couldn't be more true, I got my 335 right before I turned 18 and I think I've spent every dollar I've made on it, FBO coilovers wheels tires... upgraded turbos are my next goal. As for OP I started with the jb4 then went bef, now I'm on to flash only mhd. Once I get a big turbo I'll go back to jb4. With great power comes great responsibility. Get him a radar too that was my first mod after I got a speeding ticket haha. no one mentioned upgraded charge pipe, This is a must if you're tuning

I agree 100% for radar, same thing happened to me. Was going 80 in carpool just like everybody else, but I guess I was just unlucky :

[Jklad]

Originally Posted by WhatDoIPutHere

I can somewhat relate to him, I started driving my car when I was 18 and was handed down shortly after that. The only issue with modding the car is that you will keep on going. At least from my experience, I am still buying mods and it just started with a tune. I'm getting stage 2 turbos in next month and never thought I would do so. Just be careful of what you get yourself in to, it is hard to stop because there is always something to upgrade. This might not be true for everyone though. I love modding the car, but I'm currently spending all my money on it

+1 I had my '99 mustang gt brand new when I was 17, quick car at the time and before you know It i spent all my money modding it and adding a supercharger. Learned a lot about cars and quarter mile racing, but had some scary moments as well. Maturity is more important than age, along with an element of luck and timing. So here I am almost 20 years later still modding my 11 year old Bmw trying to make it perform better lol, some folks never grow up.

[arhoads335i]

MHD flash it but make sure you are the one doing it aka just do stage 1. I think if he uses the JB4 he will be tempted to put it on maps that are too much for the car in its stock form.
Also If he pops the charge pipe you know he has been flooring it.
Once its tuned the car will definitely become more tail happy, hopefully you guys put some good tires on it.

[Kevin39]

Originally Posted by arhoads335i

Once its tuned the car will definitely become more tail happy, hopefully you guys put some good tires on it.

Wonder if you could unplug the traction control button so he couldn't turn it off. If I had that car at that age, I would have Tokyo drifted it straight into a curb inside of a month.

[Milan]

Originally Posted by Kevin39

Wonder if you could unplug the traction control button so he couldn't turn it off. If I had that car at that age, I would have Tokyo drifted it straight into a curb inside of a month.

100%

Dad's next thread will be "E90 subframe replacement" lol....I can only imagine what insurance is like at 17.

[RnmEvo9]

Originally Posted by Jklad

+1 I had my '99 mustang gt brand new when I was 17, quick car at the time and before you know It i spent all my money modding it and adding a supercharger. Learned a lot about cars and quarter mile racing, but had some scary moments as well. Maturity is more important than age, along with an element of luck and timing. So here I am almost 20 years later still modding my 11 year old Bmw trying to make it perform better lol, some folks never grow up.

Growing old is mandatory, growing up is optional.