Final decision: Best tune/chip for 328i?

RicheyBMW · 09-27-2011, 11:50 PM

Okay im inching towards my final decision. I want the best of the best. It looks like the consensus is either the AA tune or BMS PBX. Which one is better? Also are these safe? It wouldn't cause any damage to my engine or car correct? Will dealership service inspections pass me or detect this stuff? Also, there seems to be different kinds of AA tune, which model/software is the best? Any help will be appreciated.

krnboy817 · 09-28-2011, 12:16 AM

there is just about new thread about this topic every week. so if you just use the search, you will get more than enough info about it.

tibra1 · 09-28-2011, 12:31 AM

LOL...sorry to interject on an N/A thread..but what will one tune have to offer over another for this application?...At these modest power gains its not as if u have to worry about engine/turbo longevity etc...just saying..

BMCoupe_782 · 09-28-2011, 10:39 AM

^ maybe some of us aren't looking for massive gains that tuning a direct injection allows. adding a little pep and reducting throttle lag might be one of the goals to a somewhat sleepy n52 engine.

t1mmy · 09-28-2011, 12:29 PM

please nobody provide the answers lol

N0OS3 · 09-28-2011, 01:13 PM

yeah, there's a thread every week about this...

PBX is a piggy back... 1. It's cheaper and has a standard tune which remaps your throttle and reads the bolt-on mods a little better, but not "the best"

AA is an ECU Flash tune... you're car is put on a dyno and the results are downloaded to a disc... gets sent to Active Autowerke... they send it back to you CUSTOM TUNED for maximum (but safe) performance with the speed limiter removed as well...

+++you can still keep your PBX if you want, if you like the throttle mapping of the powerbox, you can use Map 3 and have that throttle mapping and not interfere with the custom tune setup you have with the AA tune...

there you go... that's about as simple as i can put it

*** my advice: get the PBX for now if you plan on putting more bolt-on mods to it in the future. Save the AA tune as the last mod so you can get the maximum gain out of it.

krnboy817 · 09-28-2011, 02:45 PM

close the thread before it turns into yet another weekly N/A vs turbo... then veer off to SC option for 328i.

Volasko · 09-29-2011, 08:05 PM

Get the AA tune and call it a day. All it does is maximizes the performance of the engine for 91-94 octane fuel, at the expensive of not being able to put 87 octane and still "get around". BMW leaves some headroom in the engine because it needs to be compatible with the different type of fuel from around the world. Naturally they had to make some sacrifices. Some places in the world don't even have anything better than 87 octane and image the complaint letters BMW would get from owners if they were stranded in some third world country because their car wouldn't work with the crap fuel available? So the AA tune justc perfects the whole combustion cycle of our cars to the fuel we DO have available which in terms gets us a few more HP, as much as 10 HP at best. The throttle remap makes the car seem faster too, but unlike the PBX you can't select different maps at will. Your fuel economy will drop but I am convinced it is only from the more aggressive throttle remap. My daily commute used to average about 27-28 MPG over a tank, now I am at a steady 25 MPG a tank, but I am having more fun. The last difference is you can't resell the AA tune, with the PBX you an but again it is only $400 and if that seems expensive to you, well..... your parents must have bought you the car or you got something way over your price range

DonJuan360 · 09-29-2011, 08:53 PM

what is AA tune?

09-27-2011, 11:50 PM	#1
RicheyBMW Lieutenant 102 Rep 523 Posts Drives: '11 E92 328i Join Date: Jun 2011 Location: Philly iTrader: (2) Garage List 2011 BMW 328i [8.34]	Final decision: Best tune/chip for 328i? Okay im inching towards my final decision. I want the best of the best. It looks like the consensus is either the AA tune or BMS PBX. Which one is better? Also are these safe? It wouldn't cause any damage to my engine or car correct? Will dealership service inspections pass me or detect this stuff? Also, there seems to be different kinds of AA tune, which model/software is the best? Any help will be appreciated.
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09-28-2011, 12:16 AM	#2
krnboy817 Major 45 Rep 1,011 Posts Drives: 2008 328i coupe Join Date: Oct 2010 Location: DFW texas iTrader: (3)	there is just about new thread about this topic every week. so if you just use the search, you will get more than enough info about it. __________________ driving is poetry in motion.
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09-28-2011, 12:31 AM	#3
tibra1 Banned 132 Rep 6,773 Posts Drives: 2011 ZCP M3 - 2007 335i crashd Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: NYC iTrader: (4)	LOL...sorry to interject on an N/A thread..but what will one tune have to offer over another for this application?...At these modest power gains its not as if u have to worry about engine/turbo longevity etc...just saying..
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09-28-2011, 10:39 AM	#4
BMCoupe_782 Bavarian Fever 37 Rep 1,108 Posts Drives: 08' e92 328xi TiAg Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Queens, NY / North NJ iTrader: (4)	^ maybe some of us aren't looking for massive gains that tuning a direct injection allows. adding a little pep and reducting throttle lag might be one of the goals to a somewhat sleepy n52 engine. __________________ \| ESS n52 Tune \| BMW Performance Intake/Exhaust \| LUX H8 v3 AE \| GP Thunder 8500K fogs/corners \| LED: signals/interior \| V1 hardwired \| debadge \| AC pedals \| Performance shift knob/boot \| CF e-brake \| Aero lip \| m3 side skirts/spoiler \| MB kidneys \| Strut brace \| Painted reflectors \| Painted Calipers/Hubs \| 35% 3M tint \| Smoked tails \| CF Roundels \| 19" Miro 942 \| Conti DWS \| H&R Springs for xi \| Bilstein Shocks\| Nxt: Alpine Subs/Amps
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09-28-2011, 12:29 PM	#5
t1mmy Second Lieutenant 2 Rep 224 Posts Drives: BMW 328i 2008 Sport Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: Austin, TX iTrader: (0)	please nobody provide the answers lol __________________ BMW 328i 2008, 6MT, Perf Exh + Perf Int, Continental DWS and BMW Perf SSK
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09-28-2011, 01:13 PM	#6
N0OS3 Colonel 147 Rep 2,217 Posts Drives: E90 Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: Oak Harbor, WA iTrader: (5)	yeah, there's a thread every week about this... PBX is a piggy back... 1. It's cheaper and has a standard tune which remaps your throttle and reads the bolt-on mods a little better, but not "the best" AA is an ECU Flash tune... you're car is put on a dyno and the results are downloaded to a disc... gets sent to Active Autowerke... they send it back to you CUSTOM TUNED for maximum (but safe) performance with the speed limiter removed as well... +++you can still keep your PBX if you want, if you like the throttle mapping of the powerbox, you can use Map 3 and have that throttle mapping and not interfere with the custom tune setup you have with the AA tune... there you go... that's about as simple as i can put it * my advice: get the PBX for now if you plan on putting more bolt-on mods to it in the future. Save the AA tune as the last** mod so you can get the maximum gain out of it.
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09-28-2011, 02:45 PM	#7
krnboy817 Major 45 Rep 1,011 Posts Drives: 2008 328i coupe Join Date: Oct 2010 Location: DFW texas iTrader: (3)	close the thread before it turns into yet another weekly N/A vs turbo... then veer off to SC option for 328i. __________________ driving is poetry in motion.
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09-29-2011, 08:05 PM	#8
Volasko Colonel 726 Rep 2,609 Posts Drives: 06 330i E90, 18 530xe G30 Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: Toronto iTrader: (2) Garage List 2018 BMW 530e M Sport [9.00] 2006 BMW E90 330i [8.28]	Get the AA tune and call it a day. All it does is maximizes the performance of the engine for 91-94 octane fuel, at the expensive of not being able to put 87 octane and still "get around". BMW leaves some headroom in the engine because it needs to be compatible with the different type of fuel from around the world. Naturally they had to make some sacrifices. Some places in the world don't even have anything better than 87 octane and image the complaint letters BMW would get from owners if they were stranded in some third world country because their car wouldn't work with the crap fuel available? So the AA tune justc perfects the whole combustion cycle of our cars to the fuel we DO have available which in terms gets us a few more HP, as much as 10 HP at best. The throttle remap makes the car seem faster too, but unlike the PBX you can't select different maps at will. Your fuel economy will drop but I am convinced it is only from the more aggressive throttle remap. My daily commute used to average about 27-28 MPG over a tank, now I am at a steady 25 MPG a tank, but I am having more fun. The last difference is you can't resell the AA tune, with the PBX you an but again it is only $400 and if that seems expensive to you, well..... your parents must have bought you the car or you got something way over your price range
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09-29-2011, 08:53 PM	#9
DonJuan360 Private 4 Rep 92 Posts Drives: 328xi Join Date: Sep 2011 Location: New Jersey iTrader: (0)	what is AA tune?
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