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      03-18-2018, 12:54 PM   #1
chris-c
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Can someone talk me out of a bluespark tuning box

I'm really trying to not buy a bluespark tuning box. They're £175 - 10% discount that can be found online and many of the reviews especially on baby bmw state that they seem rather awesome as long as you're not running it flat out as there are sometimes a few errors.

I know the JB4 / JB+ gets some good reviews but that is £500 VS £160ish.

From that the only other option is the £1700-£1800 MPPSK.

I'm wondering wether the bluespark is just inferior to the jb products hence the lower cost OR if it is just a newer product that wants to work its way onto the market and isn't charging a huge premium just yet.

I could certainly feel the power gain of the mppsk over the stock 340i but I'm not going to say its £1700 worth of power gain. The full system with the pops and bangs make it more tempting but I was already wondering if the exhaust was overkill and now it seems the pops and bangs are being coded out. I'd either want it full hog or not at all!

So, any reasons not to go bluespark?
Any comments from other ?40i owners who have run them?

Thanks
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      03-18-2018, 01:09 PM   #2
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Quote:
Originally Posted by chris-c View Post
I'm really trying to not buy a bluespark tuning box. They're £175 - 10% discount that can be found online and many of the reviews especially on baby bmw state that they seem rather awesome as long as you're not running it flat out as there are sometimes a few errors.

I know the JB4 / JB+ gets some good reviews but that is £500 VS £160ish.

From that the only other option is the £1700-£1800 MPPSK.

I'm wondering wether the bluespark is just inferior to the jb products hence the lower cost OR if it is just a newer product that wants to work its way onto the market and isn't charging a huge premium just yet.

I could certainly feel the power gain of the mppsk over the stock 340i but I'm not going to say its £1700 worth of power gain. The full system with the pops and bangs make it more tempting but I was already wondering if the exhaust was overkill and now it seems the pops and bangs are being coded out. I'd either want it full hog or not at all!

So, any reasons not to go bluespark?
Any comments from other ?40i owners who have run them?

Thanks
I have the dtuk box on a 340 and certainly makes the b58 lump come alive. Takes some tweaking to get the right map that keeps the engine happy but gives a big wallop in terms performance.

You can normally dig up discount codes on Google so about 350/400 quid.

It's a 3 channel box where bluesparks are 2 I believe.
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      03-18-2018, 01:33 PM   #3
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I have had one and they are ok but basic. Given whats available if I had to have another box it would be a DTUK
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      03-18-2018, 01:52 PM   #4
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I ran a bluespark on my 30d and would echo Jon's comments above.

Back when I had my m135i the go-to box on babybmw was the TMC. Again it's a multichannel option.

I'd maybe go for the JB+ if I was you. I'm sure it can be had for under £200 and seems like a good bump in power if you don't fancy the full fat JB4. I think you can also trade up later if you so desire.

Edit: sorry just saw you'd mentioned JB+. If you're considering a bluespark it'd def be on my list.
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      03-18-2018, 01:53 PM   #5
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The 28 page thread on baby BMW seems to sing it's praises. It does worry me how much power they claim compared to others.
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      03-18-2018, 02:02 PM   #6
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I'd take the power claims with a pinch of salt, if there's solid testimonial on that forum and a load of users are running it without issue then that's all I'd be looking for.

NISFAN is running a JB on his M240i I think. Can't remember is the JB+ or JB4 though.
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      03-18-2018, 02:26 PM   #7
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They are also cheap for a reason, you get what you pay for 10% discount or not.

Bluespark is old tech
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      03-18-2018, 02:44 PM   #8
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Their diesel ones are great, but I haven’t heard much about the petrol ones yet.

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      03-18-2018, 04:25 PM   #9
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Quote:
Originally Posted by chris-c View Post
“...many of the reviews especially on baby bmw state that they seem rather awesome as long as you're not running it flat out as there are sometimes a few errors...”
OUT for drivetrain errors!

Seems these motors are dealing okay with tweaking (so far) but for me warranty was a big consideration
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      03-19-2018, 10:27 AM   #10
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I managed to talk myself out of a bluespark box and I'm now on the fence between a) nothing. b) mppsk or c) jb4.

I think the JB4 is the safest of the boxes but I keep on getting drawn to the mppsk.
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      03-19-2018, 11:25 AM   #11
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Quote:
Originally Posted by chris-c View Post
I managed to talk myself out of a bluespark box and I'm now on the fence between a) nothing. b) mppsk or c) jb4.

I think the JB4 is the safest of the boxes but I keep on getting drawn to the mppsk.
Sounds like you want the mppsk really but are trying to talk yourself out of spending that much money
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      03-19-2018, 12:43 PM   #12
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Quote:
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Quote:
Originally Posted by chris-c View Post
I managed to talk myself out of a bluespark box and I'm now on the fence between a) nothing. b) mppsk or c) jb4.

I think the JB4 is the safest of the boxes but I keep on getting drawn to the mppsk.
Sounds like you want the mppsk really but are trying to talk yourself out of spending that much money
I am rather transparent at times.

saying that my drive home from work tonight was rather fun and I sometimes think stock is perfect
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      03-19-2018, 01:53 PM   #13
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      03-19-2018, 01:53 PM   #14
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Quote:
Originally Posted by chris-c View Post
I am rather transparent at times.

saying that my drive home from work tonight was rather fun and I sometimes think stock is perfect
You will have an MPPSK its not if but when.

You can never have enough power. Save yourself a load of money and just go straight for the MPPSK
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      03-19-2018, 01:58 PM   #15
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Quote:
Originally Posted by JLR1969 View Post
Quote:
Originally Posted by chris-c View Post
I am rather transparent at times.

saying that my drive home from work tonight was rather fun and I sometimes think stock is perfect
You will have an MPPSK its not if but when.

You can never have enough power. Save yourself a load of money and just go straight for the MPPSK
if I can never have too much power surely I should go for a JB4

I'll ask Lloyd at Rybrook tomorrow for a price then I'll haggle with Reading. They might be willing to do it a bit cheaper as I won't need a courtesy car as I can walk to the garage!

If I can convince them that their previous price of 1635 is doable I'll probably have it by the end of the month. I am useless at self control.

one question, do the CF tips come off and leave chrome underneath? I want chrome but there is no cost difference for CF despite them costing £100 more.
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      03-19-2018, 02:03 PM   #16
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Quote:
Originally Posted by chris-c View Post
Quote:
Originally Posted by JLR1969 View Post
Quote:
Originally Posted by chris-c View Post
I am rather transparent at times.

saying that my drive home from work tonight was rather fun and I sometimes think stock is perfect
You will have an MPPSK its not if but when.

You can never have enough power. Save yourself a load of money and just go straight for the MPPSK
if I can never have too much power surely I should go for a JB4

I'll ask Lloyd at Rybrook tomorrow for a price then I'll haggle with Reading. They might be willing to do it a bit cheaper as I won't need a courtesy car as I can walk to the garage!

If I can convince them that their previous price of 1635 is doable I'll probably have it by the end of the month. I am useless at self control.

one question, do the CF tips come off and leave chrome underneath? I want chrome but there is no cost difference for CF despite them costing £100 more.
of course then you can get a jb4 or dtuk box on top of the mppk...
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      03-19-2018, 02:08 PM   #17
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My whole reason for being cautious of the boxes is because they just trick the car. Honestly if there was a proper remap available I'd have it tomorrow but BMW just force you to go for everything.

Suppose I better phone up the insurance company tomorrow to check how much it's going to hurt on that front too.
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      03-19-2018, 02:53 PM   #18
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Quote:
Originally Posted by chris-c View Post
My whole reason for being cautious of the boxes is because they just trick the car. Honestly if there was a proper remap available I'd have it tomorrow but BMW just force you to go for everything.

Suppose I better phone up the insurance company tomorrow to check how much it's going to hurt on that front too.
A box on insurance cost me 49 quid. More or less a basic admin fee
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      03-19-2018, 04:04 PM   #19
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Quote:
Originally Posted by chris-c View Post
My whole reason for being cautious of the boxes is because they just trick the car. Honestly if there was a proper remap available I'd have it tomorrow but BMW just force you to go for everything.

Suppose I better phone up the insurance company tomorrow to check how much it's going to hurt on that front too.
I think my insurance went up about 40 quid for adding the box for me.
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      03-19-2018, 04:21 PM   #20
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I was just looking at this on another forum, so I wouldn't waste any money on a Bluespark box
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      03-20-2018, 03:34 AM   #21
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Just had a chat with Admiral insurance. Told them about replacing the exhaust with a BMW standard exhaust that is an optional extra.

I was quite clear it was an optional extra on the checklist when buying a car and they said because it was standard manufacturer parts they would list it as being a repair part rather than a non standard modification.

They couldn't find MPPSK and the only thing they could find was "NON OEM Exhaust". If you bought the car new with it, it'd be a standard exhaust so I really dont know.
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      03-20-2018, 04:08 AM   #22
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Quote:
Originally Posted by chris-c View Post
Just had a chat with Admiral insurance. Told them about replacing the exhaust with a BMW standard exhaust that is an optional extra.

I was quite clear it was an optional extra on the checklist when buying a car and they said because it was standard manufacturer parts they would list it as being a repair part rather than a non standard modification.

They couldn't find MPPSK and the only thing they could find was "NON OEM Exhaust". If you bought the car new with it, it'd be a standard exhaust so I really dont know.
I explained to them that it was a kit sold and fitted by BMW that involved a new exhaust and an increase in power of about 10% ... the guy put it down as exhaust/manifold changes and when I called back the next day to clarify that the 10% power increase wasn't stated on the policy, they said it was fine and was covered under this "exhaust/manifold change" and they sent me an email as proof saying that "this change relates to what I discussed on the call on xx/xx/xxxx".

It clearly is just luck as to who you get on the phone and what they feel like doing.

What was the end result for your policy? How much did it increase?
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