[imhotep]

I spoke to a reputable tuning house (will send you their details in PM if requested), and they reckon the 335i ECU can be programmed permanently to get the same gains you see with Xede etc.

Anyone heard about this before?

[Jonmartin]

also the turbonator is good for 100whp for only $39.95!... Anyone can talk out of there ass if they can do it they'll need to prove it.

[bimmerlex]

Maybe...Until you take the car for the service and they reflash your ECU with a new version of software or something and bring it back to stock.

[grkm3]

IM sure lots of tuners can do this.The problem is BMW can see it and void your war.

[wj4]

Yes, this sounds like a normal flash that you can get n a car like the Evo/STi...a popular one is DynoFlash.

It is cheaper than a piggyback at FIRST, but it is not upgradeable. So when you get new mods, you will need to pay for a retune again...which can be costly over time. And it will be detectable at the dealerships.

[DCJAX]

Originally Posted by wj4

Yes, this sounds like a normal flash that you can get n a car like the Evo/STi...a popular one is DynoFlash.

It is cheaper than a piggyback at FIRST, but it is not upgradeable. So when you get new mods, you will need to pay for a retune again...which can be costly over time. And it will be detectable at the dealerships.

Depending on setup. Most handheld units store your stock flash and allow you to swap back and forth.

[epiphone3]

Turner Motorsports does this... its called a reflash.

[adrian8806]

A buddy of mine who works for bmw told me the n54 engine has been detuned by bmw until after the release of the e92 m3. : )

[wj4]

Originally Posted by DCJAX

Depending on setup. Most handheld units store your stock flash and allow you to swap back and forth.

What handheld units? A reflash is not a piggyback or anything like that...you connect a laptop with the supporting program, ie ECU FLASH, into the car, and write over the stock map. My friend does this for a living on the Evos. Works great if you don't plan on modding any further. You can upload your stock map and email it to yourself..but without the data cable and program..you will need to pay someone else to put it back on your car.

[e.n335]

Originally Posted by adrian8806

A buddy of mine who works for bmw told me the n54 engine has been detuned by bmw until after the release of the e92 m3. : )

I'm pretty sure in case we will see a more performant OEM ECU software, it will be still lower than the Alpina numbers. Probably around 340HP, 450NM (crank), like the current Hartge ECU flash.

[pauly1]

Yeah, lots of tuning companies offer this. http://hondata offers a reflash, as well as a standalone unit (K-pro). They both have their place depending upon your needs.

[533ogetnom]

was this thread a joke?

[DCJAX]

Originally Posted by wj4

What handheld units? A reflash is not a piggyback or anything like that...you connect a laptop with the supporting program, ie ECU FLASH, into the car, and write over the stock map. My friend does this for a living on the Evos. Works great if you don't plan on modding any further. You can upload your stock map and email it to yourself..but without the data cable and program..you will need to pay someone else to put it back on your car.

Hypertech, Diablosport etc. That sort of thing. I don't see how the BMW application would prevent the same setup. I could be completely off of course...

http://www.americanmuscle.com/diablo...-mustangs.html

[Orient330iNYC]

Originally Posted by DCJAX

Depending on setup. Most handheld units store your stock flash and allow you to swap back and forth.

The ECU records all flash events to even if you return it to stock, it will keep a record of modifications. BMW can easily cross check when legitimate ECU reprograms were done and see which ones were done outside of their network.

Similar thing over in the volvo tuning world, the ECU flashes could be detected by VCNA even after returning to stock as there's no way to clear the flash counter log. I would prefer a piggy back whose only trace is an ecu power loss in the logs.

[DCJAX]

Originally Posted by Orient330iNYC

The ECU records all flash events to even if you return it to stock, it will keep a record of modifications. BMW can easily cross check when legitimate ECU reprograms were done and see which ones were done outside of their network.

Similar thing over in the volvo tuning world, the ECU flashes could be detected by VCNA even after returning to stock as there's no way to clear the flash counter log. I would prefer a piggy back whose only trace is an ecu power loss in the logs.

Hmm, good to know.

[zenmaster]

Originally Posted by adrian8806

A buddy of mine who works for bmw told me the n54 engine has been detuned by bmw until after the release of the e92 m3. : )

Not again.

[sambonator]

How much does a new ECU cost? Can one buy a "tuned" ECU, use the "tuned" ecu most of the time, and just swap them before going to the dealer?

[elucas730]

I had the Cobb Tuning AccessPort for my STi. It's a setup as described above. Plug into the OBD port, reflash, done. Quick, easy, simple. Much easier and cleaner than piggyback systems. Had a buddy of mine who was a Subaru tech check it out, and he said that none of their tools could detect the reflashed ECU (or that I was blocking some codes).

Whether you have procede, xede, or any other piggyback or reflash system, you will have to do SOMETHING to account for other mods (i.e. changes to the turbos, fuel system, intercooler, etc, etc). With the AccessPort, just go to a tuner, he'll tune it, and put the new map on your handheld AccessPort device. The device holds all your maps - the "basic" upgrade maps (like with procede - it's an initial map that boosts hp by ~50 and tq by ~80), stock map, any of your new tune maps, a couple valet modes, even a mode that makes it so that the car can't be started.

[jon@themshop]

Originally Posted by sambonator

How much does a new ECU cost? Can one buy a "tuned" ECU, use the "tuned" ecu most of the time, and just swap them before going to the dealer?

New DME is well over $1200.00. No you just can't swap them.

[vs60r]

Originally Posted by elucas730

I had the Cobb Tuning AccessPort for my STi. It's a setup as described above. Plug into the OBD port, reflash, done. Quick, easy, simple. Much easier and cleaner than piggyback systems. Had a buddy of mine who was a Subaru tech check it out, and he said that none of their tools could detect the reflashed ECU (or that I was blocking some codes).

AccessPort is a great product, I had it, it's definitely nice to have something that can change maps so easily. But you are mistaken that it is not detectable. Dealers can easily detect it since they can see the ECU flash counter. So every time you flash it back to stock map to take it to dealer for service and then flash it back, they can detect that your ECU has been flashed (and you can't very well have it plugged in with hot switch to stock map to avoid that, it's kinda noticeble...) This is mentioned on many Subi forums about AccessPort and in fact is on their own support forum with buy at your own risk warning.

[e.n335]

Originally Posted by sambonator

How much does a new ECU cost? Can one buy a "tuned" ECU, use the "tuned" ecu most of the time, and just swap them before going to the dealer?

Why not use a already existing piggyback ? Life can be so easy ...

[Jeff@Eurobahn.us]

OBD flash loading like that used in other vehicles will not work on this car. The DME must be removed from the vehicle and then opened up in order to program it.

Much easier and safer to order a TT or any of the other piggy backs out there now.

Jeff
Eurobahn