[Stuart@BMRAutowerkes]

***Updated 21/1/16, Post 8 has F30 335i specific flash tune info***
***Updated 7/9/16, Post 22 compares 435i with M PPK v flash tune***

Hi all just wanted to share some very exciting developments in the world of N55 tuning. As of late we have been spending a lot of R&D time on the N55 engine, specifically related to the F-chassis. Firstly, a brief background...

The N55 first made it's appearance in 2010 E8X/E9X platform, and carried over into the F2X/F3X platform. There are subtle differences between the two platforms with a lot of the auxiliary components being different eg: downpipe, chargepipe, intake. There was also a slight revision again in 07/2013 where the engine changed from a pneumatic wastegate to an electronically controlled one.

Power wise, the N55 brochure (aka flywheel) power figures are:
F30 335i: 225kw
F20 M135i: 235kw
F22 M235i: 245kw

However

Their at the wheel standard figures are vastly different

F30 335i atw: 180-186kw
F20 M135i atw: 210-225kw
F22 M235i atw: 210-225kw

This is evidence the M135i/M235i is largely underrated from factory BUT is excellent news for the F30/F32 crowd who have a lot more to gain from their vehicles, similar to how the 320i/328i are similar engines but one is detuned.

F30 335i
Stock: 185rwkw
JB4: 225rwkw
Excellent result in isolation as we've gained 40rwkw. This was on a PWG vehicle. JB4 on an EWG vehicle saw 215rwkw (including the optional EWG connector)

M235i
Stock tune + DP: 220wkw
JB4 + DP: 237rwkw
Flashtune + DP: 261rwkw

The JB4 offers a decent result in isolation, but has nothing on the flash tune which absolutely blows you away and puts you in your seat when you step on it!
We were super pleased with this result and as you can see in the below dyno sheet, the power is gained throughout the rev range.

M135i
Stock: 225rwkw
Flash tune: 250rwkw
This is the second dyno sheet, and while the peak power is 'only' 25kw greater, if you look throughout the rev range you can see the gain is felt immediately from down low and there is an enormous torque gain throughout the rev range.

Whilst the above examples are M135i/M235i specific, we are looking forward to copying this across to an F30/F32 very soon (probably in the New Year, but if anyone wants to get this done before Christmas get in touch )

[rednose]

So an M135 with dp would be similar to the M235 Stu?

That's a decent gain, imagine it with a pure turbo stg 1, it would be crazy!!!

[Spikey]

nothing for B58/340i yet?

[Stuart@BMRAutowerkes]

Originally Posted by rednose

So an M135 with dp would be similar to the M235 Stu?

That's a decent gain, imagine it with a pure turbo stg 1, it would be crazy!!!

Despite the different brochure power figures, we are seeing them dyno stock at near identical levels, in fact in the above scenario the m135i dyno'd at a very healthy 225rwkw compared to the m235 that dyno'd 220rwkw

Yes would love to do a turbo upgrade.. only a matter of time

Originally Posted by Spikey

nothing for B58/340i yet?

Not yet!

[rednose]

With the custom ecu tuning do you think an e70 tune can be done Stu?

[HiFi]

Following with interest.
A couple of questions:

Stu, does the ECU need to be removed to do this?
Can it be done for clients interstate?
is it a particular tuning companys software you are using or your own tune?
lastly, how detectable is it by BMW?

Thanks
Harry

[Stuart@BMRAutowerkes]

Originally Posted by rednose

With the custom ecu tuning do you think an e70 tune can be done Stu?

Possible, but not something we would offer at the current time. We have experimented with up to 30% E85 mixtures so far and the N55 seems to respond well enough.

Originally Posted by HiFi

Following with interest.
A couple of questions:

Stu, does the ECU need to be removed to do this?
Can it be done for clients interstate?
is it a particular tuning companys software you are using or your own tune?
lastly, how detectable is it by BMW?

Thanks
Harry

- Yes ECU is removed
- We could do it for interstate customers if a) ECU is removed, whether DIY if you are keen, or b) through a partner workshop. Alternatively if there's enough demand in one city we can make an interstate trip.
- We do the tuning in conjunction with OE Tuning, we have chosen to work with them for their excellent reputation and results driven approach.
- Always a grey area, so to be conservative I will say yes the tune is detectable if the vehicle is actively scanned by BMW. If you are in for a general service, it is unlikely the tune will be detected whilst BMW carry out the usual diagnostics.


Since posting on Friday I have booked in a 435i for the flash to be done so looking forward to posting results

[Stuart@BMRAutowerkes]

Here we go! F30 335i flash tuned dyno results are in!

Vehicle: 2015 BMW F30 (so its the electronic wastegate)
Mileage: 6,000km
Mods: None/stock.

The car dyno'd at a healthy 202rwkw. Given the highest EWG 335i/435i we've seen before was 195rwkw, this was a solid figure.

Stock: 202.7kw
Tuned: 262.5kw



Other notes
- Today was bloody hot when we did the dyno... the air temps in the dyno room were 33.4 deg celsius for the stock run and 39.2 deg celsius for the tuned run! Running the car at a more normal 20-25deg celsius would see higher figures
- Definitely higher than expected! Was expecting about 250kw, but as we do more 335s/435s we'll see what the 'norm' becomes.
- It now appears the Electronic Wastegate cars gain more than the Pneumatic Wastegate (after doing a few M135s of each)
- If you look at the peak of the power curve, the drop off after this is because of the factory airbox and downpipe. Changing the intake to an afe unit for example, and the downpipe to a high flow cat one will definitely see this curve level off. However as most of the driving is down under 4500 rpm anyway it doesn't make a massive amount of difference
- Overall very happy with it, the massive amounts of lowdown power and torque gain make it

[Dom Morrow]

That's a huge result.

Wish I had an N55...

[rednose]

That's awesome Stu, 250-260 tune only is fantastic.

How much more would you expect with a high flow catted DP, intake and 30% ethanol???

[Stuart@BMRAutowerkes]

Originally Posted by rednose

That's awesome Stu, 250-260 tune only is fantastic.

How much more would you expect with a high flow catted DP, intake and 30% ethanol???

In terms of peak power, adding DP and intake would only increase 10, maybe 15kw... but it would keep that power curve level instead of it falling down, which is essentially a near 40kw gain at 6,000rpm

[djw007]

Sounds good. So who's ECU tune is this (who and where was this developed?)
And how much? Would have to be considerably less than the total rip-off PPK.... one would hope!!!

[Stuart@BMRAutowerkes]

Originally Posted by djw007

Sounds good. So who's ECU tune is this (who and where was this developed?)
And how much? Would have to be considerably less than the total rip-off PPK.... one would hope!!!

OE tuning - based in LA but headed up by a fellow Aussie. We also had input into the tune as well when being developed.

$1,695 for the tune inc before and after dyno runs, need the car for the day. (Price subject to change)

[djw007]

Originally Posted by Stuart@BMRAutowerkes

OE tuning - based in LA but headed up by a fellow Aussie. We also had input into the tune as well when being developed.

$1,695 for the tune inc before and after dyno runs, need the car for the day. (Price subject to change)

Sweet.. sign me up!

[Arrow29]

Some impressive results

How would this go in terms of adding further mods down the track? Eg if did the tune alone first, then added a DP, would it need re-tuning to accommodate or is it mainly a generic tune for the N55?

If going down more serious modification route such as Pure Turbo upgrade, would one still require a piggyback such as JB4?

Has definitely got my interest (EWG M135i) but I'm in Perth and not yet 100% decided on what route I want to take with mods yet..

[Stuart@BMRAutowerkes]

Originally Posted by djw007

Sweet.. sign me up!

PM sent!

Originally Posted by Arrow29

Some impressive results

How would this go in terms of adding further mods down the track? Eg if did the tune alone first, then added a DP, would it need re-tuning to accommodate or is it mainly a generic tune for the N55?

If going down more serious modification route such as Pure Turbo upgrade, would one still require a piggyback such as JB4?

Has definitely got my interest (EWG M135i) but I'm in Perth and not yet 100% decided on what route I want to take with mods yet..

We would advise re-tuning if a downpipe was added. New files are $150.
We can also tune for the pure turbo upgrade although haven't done this yet - only used the Jb4s on n55s with turbo upgrades.

[Stuart@BMRAutowerkes]

Another F30 335i tuned, all hardware is stock

Stock RWKW: 198.5kw
Tuned RWKW: 257.8kw

Gain: 59.3rwkw

[x328x]

Hi Stuart. Will there be any advancements for 328 flash in the future

[Stuart@BMRAutowerkes]

Originally Posted by x328x

Hi Stuart. Will there be any advancements for 328 flash in the future

We're always tweaking as we go, but I don't foresee any major breakthroughs in the near future.

Our N20 flash makes pretty good power (albeit is of more advantage to 320i/420i owners)

Here's Jeff's dyno with tune, downpipe and CAI

[MikeVictor]

Originally Posted by Stuart@BMRAutowerkes

We're always tweaking as we go, but I don't foresee any major breakthroughs in the near future.

Our N20 flash makes pretty good power (albeit is of more advantage to 320i/420i owners)

Here's Jeff's dyno with tune, downpipe and CAI

Nice one. That's equivalent to your stock 335i run above

[Stuart@BMRAutowerkes]

Originally Posted by MikeVictor

Nice one. That's equivalent to your stock 335i run above

Tune + DP 328i feels faster than a stock 335i on the road too!

[Stuart@BMRAutowerkes]

Here's an interesting one we did...

435i with the M PPK and downpipe v tuned...

It pulled 218.5kw with the M PPK and downpipe. Pretty good and certainly a step up from the usual 185kw we see standard - so the M PPK definitely does add power. If we assume it pulls 210rwkw with the M PPK with the standard downpipe, that represents about 25rwkw gain, which is more than the brochure claims of 25kw flywheel power for the MPPK? Interesting thought.

This is now tune and downpipe (with high flow cat).. a very healthy 271 and only the second F series car with bolt on mods we have seen make above 270rwkw (the other being an M135i with tune/dp/intake). Typically we would see 260-265rwkw for an EWG N55, flash tune and downpipe.

On the road, the pull is awesome, really puts you back into your seat (once the 255 tyres have hooked up!)