[dhodory]

I realize that a lot of the big names (Dinan, Carbahn, etc.) don't have packages out yet for the new locked ECUs (2021 and 2022), but wondering what the consensus is here for which tuners do a nice job, specifically for pre-2021 M550s?

In order of priority, here's what I'm looking for:
1) safety/reliability - don't wanna blow my engine (warranty is a nice addition, but not blowing things up in the first place is better)
2) support - with a tuned/modified car, especially one that is a daily driver, having support available to make things right is important to me; this excludes tunes that are "a guy with a laptop" - would prefer there's at least some semblance of a business and or organization behind the tune
3) usable power - much less interested in the best/highest HP/TQ numbers and much more interested in power additions throughout the rev range and overall drive-ability; I'm not gonna track this sedan, so extracting the 10th/10th is not needed

I'm considering: Dinan, Carbahn, Noelle, RK. Any not on that list I should be looking at? Any on that list I should take off?

As a secondary question: I understand the M5 downpipes are slightly larger than the M550 downpipes . . . has anyone swapped these out? Seems like a good way to gain some HP/TQ while still retaining cats.

Any other thoughts or suggestions for M550i tuning? My car won't arrive until late Sept or early Oct, so I have time.

[PsiAddict]

I believe Dinan is a piggyback and not a tune, but I could be wrong. Don’t know Noelle but have heard only good things about Carbahn and RK. From what I gather, Dinan is more conservative and “safer” and RK while may still be safe is definitely pushing it more, with Carbahn maybe somewhere in the middle? Me personally, I am waiting for BM3(Protuningfreaks) as they have a great reputation and are very well known on this forum. Also heard good things about DME tuning. More importantly! Congratulations on the new car! You are going to absolutely love it!

[choppedliver]

Noelle is a running joke in the M5 forum.

https://f90.bimmerpost.com/forums/sh...ghlight=Noelle

I’m subscribed as I have 10th June 2020 build so maybe unlocked.

[dhodory]

Those Noelle threads are funny. Seems pretty scammy at this point. Thanks for the tip - Noelle off the list.

[choppedliver]

I see BM3 is missing from your list.

[430Scud]

I've heard the ECUs are locked from mid production 2020s (JAN 2020?) on. I thought only piggybacks are possible until someone figures out how to unlock them. Has that happened yet? I saw an Instagram post from a shop in Russia that claimed to have the key to unlock them.

[AmooManiak]

Originally Posted by 430Scud

I've heard the ECUs are locked from mid production 2020s (JAN 2020?) on. I thought only piggybacks are possible until someone figures out how to unlock them. Has that happened yet? I saw an Instagram post from a shop in Russia that claimed to have the key to unlock them.

New ECUs appeared as of June 2020. Piggybacks still work as you don't need an unlocked DME to raise boost.

Most of the newer DMEs are still locked, however I believe that a few have been unlocked already (G80 M3s/G82 M4s). At this point it's a matter of profit. First, you will see the ECUs unlocked which are more likely to be tuned/bring in more profit. Then, slowly it will trickle down to the less desirable variants.

[choppedliver]

Originally Posted by AmooManiak

New ECUs appeared as of June 2020. Piggybacks still work as you don't need an unlocked DME to raise boost.

Most of the newer DMEs are still locked, however I believe that a few have been unlocked already (G80 M3s/G82 M4s). At this point it's a matter of profit. First, you will see the ECUs unlocked which are more likely to be tuned/bring in more profit. Then, slowly it will trickle down to the less desirable variants.

I heard end of June 2020. There is a few tuning companies promising to do tunes on locked ECUs.

[AmooManiak]

Also I wanted to add that I had an excellent experience with BM3 after having a horrible experience with Carbahn.

BM3 experience was so good to the point where I didn't even sell my S55 license when I sold the M2 Competition but instead I opted to keep it and "upgrade" the the N63 license once it becomes available.

[Boosted_8]

I think piggy is the only option till the method for unlocking this ECU is mainstream. I can't see that being this year personally. I'm a JB4 user but would struggle to recommend it on this platform, not munch works properly and you have to figure a few things out yourself to optimise results.

[PsiAddict]

Originally Posted by Boosted_8

I think piggy is the only option till the method for unlocking this ECU is mainstream. I can't see that being this year personally. I'm a JB4 user but would struggle to recommend it on this platform, not munch works properly and you have to figure a few things out yourself to optimise results.

If you were to do it again, would you choose RaceChip over the JB4?

[Boosted_8]

Originally Posted by PsiAddict

If you were to do it again, would you choose RaceChip over the JB4?

If like the OP, my selection criteria was based on set'n'forget, yes Racechip for the win.

However with several weeks of logging, testing and changing things I now have a car that would walk off from a Racechiped equivalent. If I wasn't willing to do a bunch of work myself that would not be the case.

However, The fact that the wastegate plugs, code delete function doesn't work and there are no fitting instructions on the 523hp motor did piss me off...

[dhodory]

Originally Posted by choppedliver

I see BM3 is missing from your list.

I admittedly don't know much about BM3, so please don't jump all over me for this comment as it is one born of only cursory knowledge, but the *impression* I get is that BM3 is a relatively small, bare-bones operation. Maybe not quite "guy with a laptop" referenced in my original post, but closer to that than a full-fledged business with a physical location, tech support staff, etc.

[AmooManiak]

Originally Posted by dhodory

I admittedly don't know much about BM3, so please don't jump all over me for this comment as it is one born of only cursory knowledge, but the *impression* I get is that BM3 is a relatively small, bare-bones operation. Maybe not quite "guy with a laptop" referenced in my original post, but closer to that than a full-fledged business with a physical location, tech support staff, etc.

You are absolutely incorrect. As a matter of fact, their customer support was MUCH better than what I dealt with with Carbahn. They respond to emails within an hour and jump on the laptop with you the same day. I needed help going back to stock and within an hour I was on with the remote support team from Toronto who flashed my car remotely in a few minutes.

There were instances where I waited days for Carbhan to respond! I'm fairly certain that BM3 has sold more tunes than most others combined. They are huge in the other (more enthusiast) communities.

[PsiAddict]

Originally Posted by Boosted_8

If like the OP, my selection criteria was based on set'n'forget, yes Racechip for the win.

However with several weeks of logging, testing and changing things I now have a car that would walk off from a Racechiped equivalent. If I wasn't willing to do a bunch of work myself that would not be the case.

However, The fact that the wastegate plugs, code delete function doesn't work and there are no fitting instructions on the 523hp motor did piss me off...

Thanks for the information! Sense you know a lot about these, how safe is the RaceChip? Doesn’t it essentially just add a bit more boost? If so, how does it adjust fuel for the proper AF, make sure it’s not pulling timing etc…is it just that it’s a minor change and still within stock parameters that the cars computer can still compensate?
Thanks man!

[Boosted_8]

Piggies in general are pretty safe in the sense that they retain all ECU safety parameters.

Say for example you add something stupid like 10lbs of boost by tricking ECU signals. The car will likely go into limp mode at worst.

They have no control over fuel and spark. The ECU just adds what it needs to based on the load tables and airflow measured. If you ask for too much boost the car compensates with rich fuel mixture and less timing advance. Net result is the car is no faster.

[AmooManiak]

One more thing to add, Racechip actually has a 2 year engine warranty (coverage up to $10k). My perception was always that they do more R&D for each platform (although their "tune" is more dummy proof and not as agressive.)

[Boosted_8]

Originally Posted by dhodory

As a secondary question: I understand the M5 downpipes are slightly larger than the M550 downpipes . . . has anyone swapped these out? Seems like a good way to gain some HP/TQ while still retaining cats.
.

On this part of your question, the downpipes are different because the turbos are different, OEM part numbers don't match so there's is little chance you can make M5 parts fit without fabrication.

After doing a bit of downpipe research I don't believe I need to accept the downsides (smells and raspy sound) of going catless to hit my personal goals for this car. Just removing the secondaries will be enough (M550i has four cats).

[choppedliver]

Originally Posted by Boosted_8

On this part of your question, the downpipes are different because the turbos are different, OEM part numbers don't match so there's is little chance you can make M5 parts fit without fabrication.

After doing a bit of downpipe research I don't believe I need to accept the downsides (smells and raspy sound) of going catless to hit my personal goals for this car. Just removing the secondaries will be enough (M550i has four cats).

Is there a picture of where the secondary cats are located? Just curious.

[dhodory]

Originally Posted by Boosted_8

On this part of your question, the downpipes are different because the turbos are different, OEM part numbers don't match so there's is little chance you can make M5 parts fit without fabrication.

After doing a bit of downpipe research I don't believe I need to accept the downsides (smells and raspy sound) of going catless to hit my personal goals for this car. Just removing the secondaries will be enough (M550i has four cats).

I wondered if that might be the case (bigger turbo = bigger downpipe), so thanks for confirmation. Probably not going bigger turbo for my m550i (unless I can find a set of cheap used M5 turbos from a salvage car), so will likely leave my downpipes alone. I'm not looking to lose the refinement of the car, so I don't necessarily want to gut the cats on my downpipes.

RE: Getting rid of the secondary cats - possible to still remain emissions legal doing this and not trip CEL?

[dhodory]

Originally Posted by AmooManiak

You are absolutely incorrect. As a matter of fact, their customer support was MUCH better than what I dealt with with Carbahn. They respond to emails within an hour and jump on the laptop with you the same day. I needed help going back to stock and within an hour I was on with the remote support team from Toronto who flashed my car remotely in a few minutes.

There were instances where I waited days for Carbhan to respond! I'm fairly certain that BM3 has sold more tunes than most others combined. They are huge in the other (more enthusiast) communities.

Thanks for the perspective.

Good support is one thing - obviously, it's valuable. And most of what I've read here has been complimentary of BM3, for sure.

Organization size / investment is also important (to me). I still don't have a good feel from your response, just how large BM3 is as an organization? Is it one person with a laptop working out of his/her house? Does he/she have a physical location or stand-alone building? Why does this matter to me? Well, while I certainly don't have an axe to grind with BM3, it's been my experience with other aftermarket auto businesses that when the situation gets tough (i.e., a circumstance arises that costs them a significant amount of $$ to fix) they simply shut down and re-open under a new LLC or DBA. That tends not to happen the more investment has been made - physical facility, branding, etc. I am not suggesting BM3 would do or has done this - I'm simply describing my reason for wanting to understand the size and level of investment a particular auto aftermarket company. This is about *my* level of risk assessment, nothing more.

So, is there anyone who can share any info about the relative size/scope of BM3s operation?

[choppedliver]

Originally Posted by dhodory

Thanks for the perspective.

Good support is one thing - obviously, it's valuable. And most of what I've read here has been complimentary of BM3, for sure.

So, is there anyone who can share any info about the relative size/scope of BM3s operation?

It’s a good question and one I can’t answer but they do seem to have broad market share. My local euro specialist does either Revo or BM3 tunes every day without issues.

I’d be concerned by how responsive they are and community. If you are just doing OTS then it either works or it there is usually an underlying issue with the car. This comment is based on following Dyno Spectrum for the Audi 4.0TT and now RS3. They are a few guys and laptop but the support is excellent from them and the community and without exception from what I’ve seen my comment about OTS tunes is valid.

Beyond that and custom tuning that’s between you and the tuner. BM3, MHD, DS1 are just tools to do the tuning so I don’t see how you’d have any comeback regardless.

You could probably add xHP into this list. That could be one guy, but from what I can tell it works without issues.