[paulymu]

I have about 40k miles left on my after market warranty but am starting to look into tuning my car. I saw this vid about botmod3 and the 340 went from 300 hp wheel to over 360 wheel hp. Just looking for any info, tips, recommendations, and upgrades to go along with stage 1 tune. Don't think i'll go past stage1 tune lol
All comments welcomed...thank you.

PS: i'm a complete novice when it comes to tunes and power upgrades and things like that. So, i may ask alot of questions. So bare with me lol

[ChuckP49]

My local Indy shop recommended a new charge pipe and upgraded (larger) intercooler before the "tune".
I'm very interested in what the more experienced will have to say.

[BeerHerder]

Do it. You don't need any hardware modifications for a 340, unlike a 335/435 and the N55 with the bad charge pipes. I saw on Kies a few weeks ago they needed to bench unlock the DME, but I think that's in the G20, not the F30...

Bottom line, do a little research of flash tuning to make sure you don't have to remove the DME, otherwise do it. It's great.

[Alvin Mpower]

no bolts on upgrade is needed for stage 1, maybe a charge pipe and intake.

[j2dad5389]

Originally Posted by horrizenashisland

no bolts on upgrade is needed for stage 1, maybe a charge pipe and intake.

What this guy said. It's not required, but I'd say it's highly recommended.

I like to be safe and add an aftermarket charge pipe since the ones on the N55 are notorious for being flimsy and breaking, even on stock boost levels.

While you're at it, you might as well add an intercooler because to replace the charge pipe the IC needs to come out anyways. I wouldn't reccomend going stage 1 without these upgrades as a blown charge pipe is bound to happen at some point. The upgraded intercooler is icing on the cake to help your car keep cool when doing pulls.

[Ifellapart]

Originally Posted by j2dad5389

What this guy said. It's not required, but I'd say it's highly recommended.

I like to be safe and add an aftermarket charge pipe since the ones on the N55 are notorious for being flimsy and breaking, even on stock boost levels.

While you're at it, you might as well add an intercooler because to replace the charge pipe the IC needs to come out anyways. I wouldn't reccomend going stage 1 without these upgrades as a blown charge pipe is bound to happen at some point. The upgraded intercooler is icing on the cake to help your car keep cool when doing pulls.

If you guys note OP's info, he has a 340ix. The b58 uses a water intercooler. The water intercooler has been shown to be good for around the 500 horsepower area, which is around what the stock turbo is good for anyways. Once you upgrade the turbo you can continue with upgrading the stock heat exchanger, that's about all the upgrade market has currently.

As other's have said you CAN upgrade the stock charge pipes, but I have not seen a single post about b58 pipes cracking. The stock intake box is absolutely fine, only reason for upgrading is for more intake noise. You wont really see gains.

Exhaust is something that can be upgraded that will help greatly even with just a stage 1 tune. It will help with relieving turbo pressure and allow the turbo to spool quicker and safer.

[j2dad5389]

Originally Posted by Ifellapart

If you guys note OP's info, he has a 340ix. The b58 uses a water intercooler. The water intercooler has been shown to be good for around the 500 horsepower area, which is around what the stock turbo is good for anyways. Once you upgrade the turbo you can continue with upgrading the stock heat exchanger, that's about all the upgrade market has currently.

As other's have said you CAN upgrade the stock charge pipes, but I have not seen a single post about b58 pipes cracking. The stock intake box is absolutely fine, only reason for upgrading is for more intake noise. You wont really see gains.

Exhaust is something that can be upgraded that will help greatly even with just a stage 1 tune. It will help with relieving turbo pressure and allow the turbo to spool quicker and safer.

Ah, good call. I need to do a better job reading lol.

OP since you have a 340 you should be good to throw on a tune with stock bolt-ons. For us N55'ers, we need a little extra protection lol.

[Jaxmemo]

I have F30 N55 that’s tuned on MHD stage 2+ and I absolutely love every second I am in the car. I used MHD on two separate cars and I am hooked for good to MHD for how smooth and consistent it is with power delivery through all RPMs.

Your first starting point when you tune and it’s an absolute must do is replace your charge pipe or it will break under the new boost with the new map. Once you do that, you can start with a Stage 1 which is only ECU flash. Whenever you’re ready to move up from stage 1, you can upgrade your inter cooler and down pipe. In my case I used VRSF charge pipe, down pipe (I used catted) and intercooler. All those parts were direct fit, plug and play and very affordable.

[paulymu]

This is alot to take in but i think the general consensus is upgrade charge pipe before the tune and everything should be fine unless i want to go stage 2 or something then i need to upgrade intercoolers and all that other stuff...thanks for all the advice. Will start shopping around. Which tuning software would you guys recommend for consistent numbers and of course reliability?

[Jaxmemo]

You got it, charge pipe first, VRSF sells affordable pipes. As for the flash, there 4 big names out there (1) MHD, (2) JB4 which is not ECU flash but more of a chip (3) botmod3 (4) Dinan. I am MHD guy and will always recommend it because it’s reliable and consistent on both n55s I owned.

I never had botmod3 however a lot of people like it so I have nothing negative to say about botmod3. I will suggest staying away from JB4 but then there are people that swear by it. I had it on my the first 335i N54, I was disappointed with JB4 after realizing how consistent MHD was with power when compared to JB4.

[weehe126]

Originally Posted by paulymu

This is alot to take in but i think the general consensus is upgrade charge pipe before the tune and everything should be fine unless i want to go stage 2 or something then i need to upgrade intercoolers and all that other stuff...thanks for all the advice. Will start shopping around. Which tuning software would you guys recommend for consistent numbers and of course reliability?

There is not a lot to take in. You don't need any supporting mods for a stage 1 tune. Everyone above is talking about N55 stuff. You only need a cat less down pipe for stage 2 on a B58.

[eluded]

For stage 2 get a downpipe exhaust and done. U don't need cp or interxooler. That is n5x motors.

I'm learning that fuel (octane) makes a big difference on this platform. Hope you have access to good fuel.

[jmack]

You do NOT have to upgrade the B58 chargepipe, you won't gain anything even with a Stage 2 tune. That issue is only with the N55 chargepipe due to the 90deg bend which has been fixed in the B58 iteration. You don't even need to upgrade the intercooler on B58 for Stage 2. N55 is air to air and needs to be beefed up for Stage 2, but B58 is already water to air and more than adequate for a stage 2 tune.

Stage 1 = completely stock car, Stage 2 = catless (or high flow) downpipe. That's all you need on the B58 platform until you are looking at turbo upgrades.

[paulymu]

Thanks for clearing that up. In terms of fuel i use BP 93 octane. There's also shell and other gas stations around me but i've always used BP. Hopefully that's good for stage 1. Will do more research about MHD and Botmod3 and hopefully make a decision soon. Can't thank yall enough🙌🏾👏🏾👏🏾

[BWbimmer]

Can't you get the MPPSK any longer? Reliable with a great sound

[thatBimmerBloke]

With MPPSK you will get a really nice sounding exhaust and it will also bump the power to about 350-360whp(more than 400hp at the crank), however with install and parts you're looking at around $2700-$3k, the biggest benefit is you will be retaining the warranty.

Bootmod3 or MHD is just the tune, will cost you around $500-$600 for the whole setup and with just stage 1 tunes you'll touch around 360hp at the wheels, at least. I also know someone touching 420whp with just a custom stage 1 E map that cost him extra $500.

Regarding warranty, after I tuned my car I went to the dealer and cancelled my maintenance and remaining warranty and got a pro-rated refund after 6 weeks, that's also an option if you go with a third party tune. I reckoned the warranty was useless at that point and was going to be refused if I tried to claim it.

[dmaxdmax]

I just came to vote 'no tune.' I don't know why anyone would need more power. As is, you're one of the fastest cars on the road.

Just scanning threads here, so many of the cars with issues have some tune.

I came from an e46 with just under 200 hps weighing maybe 300-400 lbs. less than ours with over 300 hps. I get up to the speed limit a couple secs. after leaving our NJ tollbooths...then the fun is over.

Anyway...I am older than you, probably, and have been in a 3-series since '94. Staying stock (pretty much) reduces issues, eases diagnoses, and saves you money and time.

Just saying!

[BWbimmer]

Originally Posted by dmaxdmax

I just came to vote 'no tune.' I don't know why anyone would need more power. As is, you're one of the fastest cars on the road.

Just scanning threads here, so many of the cars with issues have some tune.

I came from an e46 with just under 200 hps weighing maybe 300-400 lbs. less than ours with over 300 hps. I get up to the speed limit a couple secs. after leaving our NJ tollbooths...then the fun is over.

Anyway...I am older than you, probably, and have been in a 3-series since '94. Staying stock (pretty much) reduces issues, eases diagnoses, and saves you money and time.

Just saying!

You are abolutely right and sometimes I actually feel a bit sorry for you guys

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bl6rVBHpNRM

[dmaxdmax]

Originally Posted by BWbimmer

You are abolutely right and sometimes I actually feel a bit sorry for you guys

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bl6rVBHpNRM

I would love to have been in that M5. Here, our drivers aren't disciplined enough for that to be safe. I've been on the Autostrade a few times, and even there they know to move to the right although they have speed limits.

Anyway, if that was you driving, nice riding along!

[BWbimmer]

Originally Posted by dmaxdmax

I would love to have been in that M5. Here, our drivers aren't disciplined enough for that to be safe. I've been on the Autostrade a few times, and even there they know to move to the right although they have speed limits.

Anyway, if that was you driving, nice riding along!

No no, I'm not taking the credit for others. This was just an example what you are actually allowed to do on German Autobahn if you car is up to it

I'm still limited to 250km/h unfortunately

[dmaxdmax]

Originally Posted by BWbimmer

No no, I'm not taking the credit for others. This was just an example what you are actually allowed to do on German Autobahn if you car is up to it

I'm still limited to 250km/h unfortunately

Only 155mph? So sad.

What's sadder is that in NJ, 65 mph is the limit...which means everyone goes at least 72...but idiots go over 85--it's not safe here. Too many swervers, other idiots, texters, few signal lane changes, everyone is distracted by something, but mostly, too many cars and 'left lane discipline' is non-existent. We seem to have many thinking it's their role to go the speed limit in the left lane and protect us from ourselves.

[BWbimmer]

Both systems have their advantages. I'm driving quite often in Switzerland (120km/h limit) it's kind of less tiring since you don't have to be too focused. Stay in the flow :-) You must not be in a rush but you eventually will arrive :-) Anyway it's certainly a great feeling to be allowed to "let go". But after 2 hours driving >200km/h you will need a break :-)