N51 tune in Bay Area/Norcal

Pawlin · 11-19-2013, 10:01 PM

I just found out I have a N51 which already has the 3-stage intake manifold from the factory. There seems to be a lot of company's offering ECU tuning for the N52, are there any that are specific to the N51 to get the most out of it? I'd really like to find a place that can do it in the Bay Area.

I've read an AA tune can bring a N52 up around 15hp, if a 3-stage intake manifold is put in, up to 255hp. The N51 has a lower compression ratio, but since it already has the 3-stage intake manifold, can I expect close to 255hp with just a tune? That's around a 25hp increase.

Pawlin · 11-27-2013, 03:36 PM

Anybody know of a place that can do it in NorCal/bay area?

E46driver · 11-27-2013, 04:03 PM

Did u check AA's website? They have a list of shops/dealers that u can purchase and install the software from.

E46driver · 11-27-2013, 04:08 PM

I just checked for you and unfortunately all of the on site flash dealers in california are in SoCal.

Pawlin · 11-27-2013, 05:15 PM

Yup, there used to be jlevi in Santa Clara but they got rid of that location.

Route 16 · 12-04-2013, 04:14 PM

http://www.e90post.com/forums/showthread.php?t=873667

E46driver · 12-04-2013, 05:50 PM

Ah yes i forgot about the openflash tab. tune that shiv's working on. That could be an option for you but as i far as i know the tune is still in development.

mbsl98 · 12-05-2013, 03:23 PM

I had a custom tune done on my N51 last year, here in Massachusetts. I don't think it can get the same numbers as the N52 with 3 stage added, but it was a very nice improvement in overall feel, much faster initial responses to throttle, etc., as well as more power. The N51 and N52 generate the same factory numbers, but the N51 suffers from lower compression, more cats, etc. and uses the 3 stage as a stock piece to bring it back up to the N52 without the 3 stage. I would definitely do it again.

Pawlin · 12-05-2013, 03:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mbsl98

I had a custom tune done on my N51 last year, here in Massachusetts. I don't think it can get the same numbers as the N52 with 3 stage added, but it was a very nice improvement in overall feel, much faster initial responses to throttle, etc., as well as more power. The N51 and N52 generate the same factory numbers, but the N51 suffers from lower compression, more cats, etc. and uses the 3 stage as a stock piece to bring it back up to the N52 without the 3 stage. I would definitely do it again.

I ended up ordering the tune with the simon tool to do it myself instead of having to take out my ecu and have my car out of commission for a week or so. I've heard many different things about the N51 and the tune, the AA guys say the N51 would get the same numbers as N52 with 3stage, others say the difference wouldn't be noticeable.

makisupa · 12-06-2013, 06:26 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mbsl98

I had a custom tune done on my N51 last year, here in Massachusetts. I don't think it can get the same numbers as the N52 with 3 stage added, but it was a very nice improvement in overall feel, much faster initial responses to throttle, etc., as well as more power. The N51 and N52 generate the same factory numbers, but the N51 suffers from lower compression, more cats, etc. and uses the 3 stage as a stock piece to bring it back up to the N52 without the 3 stage. I would definitely do it again.

Where did you get your tune done?

mbsl98 · 12-06-2013, 08:25 PM

I used the tuner at Kaizen http://kaizentuning.com/

talk to Scott McIver, he's a great guy (owner, not the tuner)

11-19-2013, 10:01 PM	#1
Pawlin First Lieutenant 62 Rep 375 Posts Drives: E92 N51 Join Date: Jan 2013 Location: San Jose iTrader: (4)	N51 tune in Bay Area/Norcal I just found out I have a N51 which already has the 3-stage intake manifold from the factory. There seems to be a lot of company's offering ECU tuning for the N52, are there any that are specific to the N51 to get the most out of it? I'd really like to find a place that can do it in the Bay Area. I've read an AA tune can bring a N52 up around 15hp, if a 3-stage intake manifold is put in, up to 255hp. The N51 has a lower compression ratio, but since it already has the 3-stage intake manifold, can I expect close to 255hp with just a tune? That's around a 25hp increase.
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11-27-2013, 03:36 PM	#2
Pawlin First Lieutenant 62 Rep 375 Posts Drives: E92 N51 Join Date: Jan 2013 Location: San Jose iTrader: (4)	Anybody know of a place that can do it in NorCal/bay area?
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11-27-2013, 04:03 PM	#3
E46driver Captain 80 Rep 743 Posts Drives: 2009 E92 N51 328i Join Date: Jan 2012 Location: Rowland Heights iTrader: (4)	Did u check AA's website? They have a list of shops/dealers that u can purchase and install the software from. __________________ 2009 Alpine White E92 N51 328i Automagic \| Premium & Sport Pkg. \| Coral Red/Black Dakota Leather Interior \| M-Spor \| BMW Performance Exhaust \| Active Autowerke Headers \| BBS CH-R \| CPS Front Lip \| Performance Front Grills \| 888Concepts Custom Headlights (GONE) 2011 Alpine White E90 N55 335i Automagic
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11-27-2013, 04:08 PM	#4
E46driver Captain 80 Rep 743 Posts Drives: 2009 E92 N51 328i Join Date: Jan 2012 Location: Rowland Heights iTrader: (4)	I just checked for you and unfortunately all of the on site flash dealers in california are in SoCal. __________________ 2009 Alpine White E92 N51 328i Automagic \| Premium & Sport Pkg. \| Coral Red/Black Dakota Leather Interior \| M-Spor \| BMW Performance Exhaust \| Active Autowerke Headers \| BBS CH-R \| CPS Front Lip \| Performance Front Grills \| 888Concepts Custom Headlights (GONE) 2011 Alpine White E90 N55 335i Automagic
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11-27-2013, 05:15 PM	#5
Pawlin First Lieutenant 62 Rep 375 Posts Drives: E92 N51 Join Date: Jan 2013 Location: San Jose iTrader: (4)	Yup, there used to be jlevi in Santa Clara but they got rid of that location.
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12-04-2013, 04:14 PM	#6
Route 16 I got lei'd 873 Rep 7,615 Posts Drives: '10 E90 M3 Join Date: Sep 2011 Location: Dark Side of the Moon iTrader: (62)	http://www.e90post.com/forums/showthread.php?t=873667
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12-04-2013, 05:50 PM	#7
E46driver Captain 80 Rep 743 Posts Drives: 2009 E92 N51 328i Join Date: Jan 2012 Location: Rowland Heights iTrader: (4)	Ah yes i forgot about the openflash tab. tune that shiv's working on. That could be an option for you but as i far as i know the tune is still in development. __________________ 2009 Alpine White E92 N51 328i Automagic \| Premium & Sport Pkg. \| Coral Red/Black Dakota Leather Interior \| M-Spor \| BMW Performance Exhaust \| Active Autowerke Headers \| BBS CH-R \| CPS Front Lip \| Performance Front Grills \| 888Concepts Custom Headlights (GONE) 2011 Alpine White E90 N55 335i Automagic
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12-05-2013, 03:23 PM	#8
mbsl98 Enlisted Member 4 Rep 41 Posts Drives: '08 328i convert; '07 530xiT Join Date: Feb 2012 Location: Natick, MA iTrader: (0)	I had a custom tune done on my N51 last year, here in Massachusetts. I don't think it can get the same numbers as the N52 with 3 stage added, but it was a very nice improvement in overall feel, much faster initial responses to throttle, etc., as well as more power. The N51 and N52 generate the same factory numbers, but the N51 suffers from lower compression, more cats, etc. and uses the 3 stage as a stock piece to bring it back up to the N52 without the 3 stage. I would definitely do it again. __________________ '08 328i convert, '07 530Xit wagon - twins with 6MT's, Ty Silver/Black leather, sport pack, sport seats, 18's, cold pack, PDK, etc., but only e61 wagon has iDrive/Nav, and only e93 has custom tune and Eisenmann exhaust.
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12-06-2013, 08:25 PM	#11
mbsl98 Enlisted Member 4 Rep 41 Posts Drives: '08 328i convert; '07 530xiT Join Date: Feb 2012 Location: Natick, MA iTrader: (0)	I used the tuner at Kaizen http://kaizentuning.com/ talk to Scott McIver, he's a great guy (owner, not the tuner) __________________ '08 328i convert, '07 530Xit wagon - twins with 6MT's, Ty Silver/Black leather, sport pack, sport seats, 18's, cold pack, PDK, etc., but only e61 wagon has iDrive/Nav, and only e93 has custom tune and Eisenmann exhaust.
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