[Korntera]

New 2007 335i owner with 64k miles at 6AT tranny.
I am just looking for a little more power/fun, I already have a track car that is my modding priority.

Why should I got JB4 vs Cobb?

I doubt I will do any more mods besides replacing spark plugs and normal maintenance so something not to extreme, gas mileage is not a concern and where I live we have 92 octane gas.

Tried searching. Up there are so many threads that don't get to the point I got tired of reading and decided to post

[Rotorocious]

Search again

[deltalima0]

Originally Posted by Korntera

New 2007 335i owner with 64k miles at 6AT tranny.
I am just looking for a little more power/fun, I already have a track car that is my modding priority.

Why should I got JB4 vs Cobb?

I doubt I will do any more mods besides replacing spark plugs and normal maintenance so something not to extreme, gas mileage is not a concern and where I live we have 92 octane gas.

Tried searching. Up there are so many threads that don't get to the point I got tired of reading and decided to post

You say you wont do more but probably will want more once you feel the power, I have owned cobb and was protuned and now I am JB4 G5 with the backend flash.

The 07 AT works much better on the JB4 G5 set up for me, this is just my experience.

[Jeff@TopGearSolutions]

Oil or Cream?
http://www.e90post.com/forums/showthread.php?t=374508
Piggy Back VS Flash Tune
Tap into ECU VS Plug into OBD II
Features bells / whistles VS Straight forward Tunes and Map
$ VS $$

If you have any specific questions I'd be happy to help.

[firemanjust1]

Anyone that owns jb4 will tell get that, anyone that has cobb will tell you buy cobb, etc; each have pros & cons search the forums all the info you will ever need has already been discussed.

[hatton]

It's a sticky on this page. Search "N54 tune comparison chart". Tells you features, advantages, performance gains including with other mods and price. If that's not enough, google the top 3 products you want and look at reviews to see how easy to use they are and what not. If that's not enough, go on YouTube and search videos of tuned N54's spanking other cars. Made my decision easy, I'm going with jb4.

[stanlalee]

Based on your criteria the JB4 is a no brainer between the two choices (and I have neither). If all you want is a little more power and have a track car I see no way to justify the price difference between the JB4 and Cobb. If anything the debate should be between the JB4 and Vishnu Openflash Tablet where you can spend a modest amount more for the features of piggyback or sacrifice features and reap the savings of the openflash tablet.

I'm partial to flash tunes strictly due to the tuning file editors and ease of which custom tuning can be done (even if I never utilize it). Consumer access to a satisfactory amount of maps and map editing software is certainly not something I'm accustomed to being easily available. Even the effectiveness and user selectable features of piggy backs blows my mind! Coming from VW if somebody said you could plug a $500 piggyback into your ECU and have power/drivability comparable to a flash tune along with map switching, a basic user defined map, gauge highjacking, meth control and everything else a piggyback does I'd refer you for a mental evaluation. Before I got my 335 I kept hearing about JB4 BMWs and always thought it was an extremely popular brand of flash tuning for N54s lol.

[AlpineSwift]

He's a 6AT so the VERY first thing he should even consider is the Alpina TCU Flash. After that its all personal preference and how much you really wanna spend based on features and functions for tunes.

[rantexan]

If you're new to tuning, the Vishnu OpenFlash is great! It's a cheap way to get started in that world. I'm enjoying mine!

[chepy24]

Honestly your going to need to do the hw yourself. I bought my car nov 3rd and just installed my tune last night (woulda been the night before but ran into a snag). Anyways look around look in the future as to what your next mod will be (believe me there will be more) and gear it towards that.

Look up some videos on YouTube of each tune if you know anyone with one take a ride and play with the hand held device(if it has one). Then think of what you want customization,ease of install and uninstall, ease of logging or if you just want to install and let it be, things like that.

In the end we can all shoot these names at you but you need to take the time and figure out what you want now and In the future and what fits right for you. your mind will flip flop a ton but in the end if you give it time and do the hw you'll be 1000% content with your decision and won't look back! (Except maybe at other cars)

[WedgePerformance]

You're in luck... I'm in Portland also. WedgePerformance at Gmail.

[Bighorns]

I'm biased because I have the JB4, tune only, and I love it! One thing to keep in mind is that if there are any weak points, (coils, plugs, injectors, etc.), a tune will make them more obvious, since these parts will be stressed a little bit more than the stock tune. One nice feature of the JB4 is that you can use it to read SES codes, and also clear them should you choose to do so. There are different 'maps' for adding mods, and changing maps can be done in seconds with the radio buttons on your steering wheel. This is very handy if you have a significant other who wants to drive your car, and you want to turn the tune off before they drive it. (I do this when the wife drives the car, takes 10 seconds!)
The tune also has the ability to adjust to fuel quality, air temps., and other outside factors, and I like that it doesn't make full boost until oil temperature is up too!

P.S. I forgot to add that the only downside that I see to this tune is that you will have to physically remove it before you have any warranty work done by BMW, as they will deny you if they see the tune.

P.P.S. Still getting 18 city, 31 hwy with tune!

[WedgePerformance]

Originally Posted by Bighorns

I'm biased because I have the JB4, tune only, and I love it!

You don't know what you're missing... Stacked Flash makes for a much better experience. If you ever need help, just let me know.

[Bighorns]

Originally Posted by WedgePerformance

You don't know what you're missing... Stacked Flash makes for a much better experience. If you ever need help, just let me know.

Is this the same as a 'backend flash'? I see a lot of mention of JB4 + Cobb.


The idea intrigues me, but I'm old, and so far happy with the power. I will keep this in mind however if I change my mind.

[dicostal]

I have GIAC stage II and I love it. Probably the best tune out there, but would I do it again? not sure. I would probably go with COBB because it is much more flexible and when i decide to upgrade my turbos I can custom tune COBB where as I can't do the same with GIAC. Also GIAC is glued to your vin number so I can't sell it to anybody, but that is relative, yes you can re-sell COBB, but the hours of custom tune put into it cant be sold

anyway if you are wanting the safest most reliable tune and you are not to mechanical inclined, than GIAC is for you.

Good luck!!! :-)

[chepy24]

Originally Posted by Bighorns

I'm biased because I have the JB4, tune only, and I love it! One thing to keep in mind is that if there are any weak points, (coils, plugs, injectors, etc.), a tune will make them more obvious, since these parts will be stressed a little bit more than the stock tune. One nice feature of the JB4 is that you can use it to read SES codes, and also clear them should you choose to do so. There are different 'maps' for adding mods, and changing maps can be done in seconds with the radio buttons on your steering wheel. This is very handy if you have a significant other who wants to drive your car, and you want to turn the tune off before they drive it. (I do this when the wife drives the car, takes 10 seconds!)
The tune also has the ability to adjust to fuel quality, air temps., and other outside factors, and I like that it doesn't make full boost until oil temperature is up too!

P.S. I forgot to add that the only downside that I see to this tune is that you will have to physically remove it before you have any warranty work done by BMW, as they will deny you if they see the tune.

P.P.S. Still getting 18 city, 31 hwy with tune!

Would be pretty awesome if your wife turned it back on without you knowing haha

[Korntera]

This is the info I was looking for, i think JB is the one for me if it does about what the cobb does for half the price.
I don't want to tune it myself, I just want safe off the shelf maps to unlock some more power, not push every last HP or TQ out of the engine.

I did not know about the Alpina TCU so I will look into that and I have already started talking to wedge.

See this was easier than searching ;-)

[chepy24]

Originally Posted by Korntera

This is the info I was looking for, i think JB is the one for me if it does about what the cobb does for half the price.
I don't want to tune it myself, I just want safe off the shelf maps to unlock some more power, not push every last HP or TQ out of the engine.

I did not know about the Alpina TCU so I will look into that and I have already started talking to wedge.

See this was easier than searching ;-)

Yea sounds like it may be for you. Yea easier for you we did all the work haha jk

[hatton]

Originally Posted by AlpineSwift

He's a 6AT so the VERY first thing he should even consider is the Alpina TCU Flash. After that its all personal preference and how much you really wanna spend based on features and functions for tunes.

Great advice. The alpina flash is awesome for sport and manual mode, normal mode not so much. I coded back to stock a couple weeks after alpina and hated stock. Alpina is a must.

[Jeff@TopGearSolutions]

Originally Posted by Korntera

This is the info I was looking for, i think JB is the one for me if it does about what the cobb does for half the price.
I don't want to tune it myself, I just want safe off the shelf maps to unlock some more power, not push every last HP or TQ out of the engine.

I did not know about the Alpina TCU so I will look into that and I have already started talking to wedge.

See this was easier than searching ;-)

All the tunes make about the same power.

[SSW]

I took a look at a lot of info before I settled on the new Cobb Accessport V3 (AP3).

It is essentially a "Tuner for Dummies". The choice of maps is based almost entirely on the equipment you have in your car and the octane rating of the gas (91 or 93). That's about as simple as it gets. But, if you want to get into "custom" tuning you can do that with it too.

The new Cobb AP3 lists for $900 but it's available for around $700. Jeff at TopGearSolutions (who posted above) offers it for $743.

Yes, it's more expensive than other tuning devices BUT it's "plug & play", pretty much idiot proof AND and has a lot of other options that make it very useful in a very user friendly package. Also, if and when you decided to sell the car and/or return it to stock, it's really easy to do w/the AP3 and you should have no problem reselling it.

So, although I have a AP3 and am recommending it (as expected since I own one), I think it would work best in your case BUT you should do your own research and decide for yourself if that is the case or not.

Good luck!

[tampaturbom3]

I have the procede and loved it.....got the OpenFlash Tab in Aug, put the procede on "0" and love the OFT stage 1 tune. I flash it back to "original dme" for service and have had zero probs at the dealer. I got the OFT so I can run the e40 and I do run e40 on stage 1.