135i DCT N55 DME Update Impressions

TreDirtyFive · 05-11-2011, 04:13 PM

I was recently updated to the new 2.42.1 DME firmware update and a new DCT flash on my 135i DCT and have put a good 400+ miles on the car since. I have some very distinct impressions now that it's all settled in.

First off, as reported by many people who received the update, idle is immensely quieter now. the startup bark is still there but it settles much quicker now and revving sounds quieter as well. also, when you start the car now, the rpm jump revs to 1500 then settles...it never did that before and i've read it may be to defeat a cold startup code that some people may have. This is with a golf tee mod so the exhaust sound differences are very obvious.

The 2nd thing is there is a touch more lag on tip-in. It was already a bit laggy before, relative to n54's...especially 29.2 versions. so, that is a bit annoying but the car feels smoother and a little more consistent in terms of overall throttle manipulations throughout the rpm range. better mileage even maybe?

The last thing, outside of some minor nav screen changes and information display icon bits, is that the DCT feels less agressive overall now. The "Sport Button" mode used to shift harder and now it's softer and I'm assuming it's to preserve the longevity of the tranny...it may be somewhat negligible in terms of the effect on actual daily driving but for auto-x or drag racing i'm not too sure yet.

I'm also noticing this pattern with BMW where they release something more raw to be talked about in the magazines by test drivers and initial takers. then they quietly soften everything up later...same thing with the N54's and the later updates that were much laggier and softer. perhaps to protect for any possible hpfp threshold shortcomings? either way, it has taken a little bit of the personality and edge from the car overall...which blows.

i have heard, with the new DME, the way the car handles boost is much more accurate and efficient now, so that may make for better tuning...perhaps good news on that front.

otherwise, i'm not too happy about the update but looking forward to further tuning this bugger out so i may forget what BMW has done.

on another note, i believe the car will dyno the same peak numbers it's just the drivability that has changed...and not for the better.

TreDirtyFive · 05-11-2011, 07:59 PM

also, to addendum all that, i noticed when i look at my phone book in the nav now, all the names transferred from my iphone are all gibberish and weird characters now...wtf!

shockin330i · 05-11-2011, 08:04 PM

hhhmm

Clap135 · 05-11-2011, 09:06 PM

Well that might be some good news, if bmw is able to change the speed of the shifting by flashing, so will the aftermarket eventually.

TreDirtyFive · 05-12-2011, 09:48 PM

I did a 3rd party dual clutch flash on my audi and it's so much better than the oem one...hopefully some BMW tuners will be able to tap into it and do mess with shifting for the more high-power tuned cars?

TreDirtyFive · 05-13-2011, 02:19 PM

also. i've been told "magazine" cars have 2 extra/diff? VIN numbers...they don't get the updates...perhaps to make them feel more responsive and peppier for writers? booooo.

shortseller · 05-13-2011, 03:23 PM

I had similar experience to my N54 after it's updates as well!

Thus I have to agree with your comment below...

"I'm also noticing this pattern with BMW where they release something more raw to be talked about in the magazines by test drivers and initial takers. then they quietly soften everything up later...same thing with the N54's and the later updates that were much laggier and softer. perhaps to protect for any possible hpfp threshold shortcomings? either way, it has taken a little bit of the personality and edge from the car overall...which blows".

My car when it came out of Germany was a different animal that it is today after BMW's mandatory updates. Thank God for outside intervention!!

05-11-2011, 04:13 PM	#1
TreDirtyFive Major 261 Rep 1,341 Posts Drives: X1 M35i Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Los Angeles, CA iTrader: (11)	135i DCT N55 DME Update Impressions I was recently updated to the new 2.42.1 DME firmware update and a new DCT flash on my 135i DCT and have put a good 400+ miles on the car since. I have some very distinct impressions now that it's all settled in. First off, as reported by many people who received the update, idle is immensely quieter now. the startup bark is still there but it settles much quicker now and revving sounds quieter as well. also, when you start the car now, the rpm jump revs to 1500 then settles...it never did that before and i've read it may be to defeat a cold startup code that some people may have. This is with a golf tee mod so the exhaust sound differences are very obvious. The 2nd thing is there is a touch more lag on tip-in. It was already a bit laggy before, relative to n54's...especially 29.2 versions. so, that is a bit annoying but the car feels smoother and a little more consistent in terms of overall throttle manipulations throughout the rpm range. better mileage even maybe? The last thing, outside of some minor nav screen changes and information display icon bits, is that the DCT feels less agressive overall now. The "Sport Button" mode used to shift harder and now it's softer and I'm assuming it's to preserve the longevity of the tranny...it may be somewhat negligible in terms of the effect on actual daily driving but for auto-x or drag racing i'm not too sure yet. I'm also noticing this pattern with BMW where they release something more raw to be talked about in the magazines by test drivers and initial takers. then they quietly soften everything up later...same thing with the N54's and the later updates that were much laggier and softer. perhaps to protect for any possible hpfp threshold shortcomings? either way, it has taken a little bit of the personality and edge from the car overall...which blows. i have heard, with the new DME, the way the car handles boost is much more accurate and efficient now, so that may make for better tuning...perhaps good news on that front. otherwise, i'm not too happy about the update but looking forward to further tuning this bugger out so i may forget what BMW has done. on another note, i believe the car will dyno the same peak numbers it's just the drivability that has changed...and not for the better. __________________ X3 M40i G01, M235i F22, 335 F30 MSport, 135 DCT, 335 E92, Audi A3 Last edited by TreDirtyFive; 05-11-2011 at 07:57 PM..
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05-11-2011, 07:59 PM	#2
TreDirtyFive Major 261 Rep 1,341 Posts Drives: X1 M35i Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Los Angeles, CA iTrader: (11)	also, to addendum all that, i noticed when i look at my phone book in the nav now, all the names transferred from my iphone are all gibberish and weird characters now...wtf! __________________ X3 M40i G01, M235i F22, 335 F30 MSport, 135 DCT, 335 E92, Audi A3
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05-11-2011, 08:04 PM	#3
shockin330i Brigadier General 808 Rep 4,784 Posts Drives: 2016 ZCP M3 Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: f y'all, I'm from Texas (RGV) iTrader: (1)	hhhmm __________________ ERnie 2016 BSM/f80/ZCP
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05-11-2011, 09:06 PM	#4
Clap135 Brigadier General 112 Rep 3,460 Posts Drives: 2009 N54 Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Sticky's Mom House iTrader: (1)	Well that might be some good news, if bmw is able to change the speed of the shifting by flashing, so will the aftermarket eventually.
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05-12-2011, 09:48 PM	#5
TreDirtyFive Major 261 Rep 1,341 Posts Drives: X1 M35i Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Los Angeles, CA iTrader: (11)	I did a 3rd party dual clutch flash on my audi and it's so much better than the oem one...hopefully some BMW tuners will be able to tap into it and do mess with shifting for the more high-power tuned cars? __________________ X3 M40i G01, M235i F22, 335 F30 MSport, 135 DCT, 335 E92, Audi A3
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05-13-2011, 02:19 PM	#6
TreDirtyFive Major 261 Rep 1,341 Posts Drives: X1 M35i Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Los Angeles, CA iTrader: (11)	also. i've been told "magazine" cars have 2 extra/diff? VIN numbers...they don't get the updates...perhaps to make them feel more responsive and peppier for writers? booooo. __________________ X3 M40i G01, M235i F22, 335 F30 MSport, 135 DCT, 335 E92, Audi A3 Last edited by TreDirtyFive; 05-13-2011 at 03:55 PM..
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05-13-2011, 03:23 PM	#7
shortseller Brigadier General 1005 Rep 3,396 Posts Drives: ‘18 ABM F80ZCP/dct Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: NOVA iTrader: (0)	I had similar experience to my N54 after it's updates as well! Thus I have to agree with your comment below... "I'm also noticing this pattern with BMW where they release something more raw to be talked about in the magazines by test drivers and initial takers. then they quietly soften everything up later...same thing with the N54's and the later updates that were much laggier and softer. perhaps to protect for any possible hpfp threshold shortcomings? either way, it has taken a little bit of the personality and edge from the car overall...which blows". My car when it came out of Germany was a different animal that it is today after BMW's mandatory updates. Thank God for outside intervention!!
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