BMW Garage BMW Meets Register Search Today's Posts Mark Forums Read
BMW 5-Series (G30) Forum Engine, Exhaust, Drivetrain, Tuning Modifications What is the diff. between Chip tuning and ECU tuning?

Post Reply
 
Thread Tools Search this Thread
      02-04-2018, 03:50 AM   #1
PurpleSector
2018 530i
25
Rep
67
Posts

Drives: G30
Join Date: Oct 2017
Location: APAC

iTrader: (0)

What is the diff. between Chip tuning and ECU tuning?

Apparently bolt-on chip tuning and ECU tuning is different?

Can anyone enlighten me please?
Appreciate 0
      02-04-2018, 01:16 PM   #2
timmahh
ghey
timmahh's Avatar
United_States
480
Rep
2,035
Posts

Drives: Viertürigen Fahrzeugs
Join Date: Oct 2010
Location: Southern California

iTrader: (1)

I think it's better to look at them as piggyback (chips) or flashing (ECU tune)

In an ECU tune, you are overwriting the factory software, or at least modifying said software, to obtain increased engine performance.

BMW has encrypted the ECU for a while now, and until recently (only on the F3x), it could not be cracked. Our only option is to modify the signals the car gets.

This is accomplished with a piggyback tune. In a piggyback, we sit between the sensor and the car's ECU, kind of like a middle man. To get more performance we tell the car it's not generating enough boost or fuel etc.

So one overwrites the factory coding, while another intercepts sensor signals and modifies them. Different vendors will accomplish this in different ways. Example, the Dinan Sport tune interacts with two sensors, whereas their Stage 1 tune interacts with four sensors. BMS makes one that only modifies one signal.

I went with the Dinan Stage 1 and love it.
__________________
21 G05 > 20 G05 > 17 G30 > 14 F30 > 08 E90
Appreciate 0
      02-05-2018, 01:35 PM   #3
yxc145
Captain
United_States
57
Rep
645
Posts

Drives: 2011 535i
Join Date: Jul 2011
Location: Chicago

iTrader: (0)

that's why piggyback tune can make the car go quicker, but can never remove the top speed governor, right?
Appreciate 0
      02-06-2018, 05:24 PM   #4
mike@x-ph.com
Joint Chiefs of Staff
mike@x-ph.com's Avatar
United_States
23795
Rep
190,150
Posts

Drives: 07-335/12-328/18-M4/21-M4CP
Join Date: Sep 2013
Location: Las Vegas

iTrader: (23)

Quote:
Originally Posted by PurpleSector View Post
Apparently bolt-on chip tuning and ECU tuning is different?

Can anyone enlighten me please?
Piggyback trick the ECU into making more power (it does not change any actual ECU value)

Flash Tune changes ECU values


Each option has its own pros and cons
__________________
Check out our current sale by clicking on this link!
https://x-ph.com/sale/

Phone number 702-494-9435
Appreciate 0
      02-06-2018, 10:40 PM   #5
spyfish007
Getting older, but I still love awesome fast cars!
spyfish007's Avatar
144
Rep
360
Posts

Drives: 2017 X6M & 2016 Z4 sDrive35is
Join Date: Nov 2017
Location: Knoxville, TN

iTrader: (0)

Quote:
Originally Posted by mike@x-ph.com View Post
Piggyback trick the ECU into making more power (it does not change any actual ECU value)

Flash Tune changes ECU values


Each option has its own pros and cons
What are the advantages of piggyback? I have always considered complete ECU tunning superior.
Appreciate 0
      02-06-2018, 11:02 PM   #6
mike@x-ph.com
Joint Chiefs of Staff
mike@x-ph.com's Avatar
United_States
23795
Rep
190,150
Posts

Drives: 07-335/12-328/18-M4/21-M4CP
Join Date: Sep 2013
Location: Las Vegas

iTrader: (23)

Quote:
Originally Posted by spyfish007 View Post
What are the advantages of piggyback? I have always considered complete ECU tunning superior.
  • You can remove it at anytime, undetectable.
  • failsafes (if car runs lean or overboost, it will kick you to map 0)
  • Boost by gear for better traction control
  • Gauge Hijacking
  • Bluetooth capabilities
__________________
Check out our current sale by clicking on this link!
https://x-ph.com/sale/

Phone number 702-494-9435
Appreciate 0
      02-07-2018, 12:10 AM   #7
spyfish007
Getting older, but I still love awesome fast cars!
spyfish007's Avatar
144
Rep
360
Posts

Drives: 2017 X6M & 2016 Z4 sDrive35is
Join Date: Nov 2017
Location: Knoxville, TN

iTrader: (0)

Quote:
Originally Posted by mike@x-ph.com View Post
  • You can remove it at anytime, undetectable.
  • failsafes (if car runs lean or overboost, it will kick you to map 0)
  • Boost by gear for better traction control
  • Gauge Hijacking
  • Bluetooth capabilities
Some ECU tunes can be undone anytime.

This is also the negative of piggyback. If you modify a signal then you can't do all the trimming for all conditions.

Some ECUs can do boost by gear

Interesting, never thought about gauge hijacking

What Bluetooth capabilities?
Appreciate 0
      02-07-2018, 11:58 AM   #8
mike@x-ph.com
Joint Chiefs of Staff
mike@x-ph.com's Avatar
United_States
23795
Rep
190,150
Posts

Drives: 07-335/12-328/18-M4/21-M4CP
Join Date: Sep 2013
Location: Las Vegas

iTrader: (23)

Quote:
Originally Posted by spyfish007 View Post
Some ECU tunes can be undone anytime.

This is also the negative of piggyback. If you modify a signal then you can't do all the trimming for all conditions.

Some ECUs can do boost by gear

Interesting, never thought about gauge hijacking

What Bluetooth capabilities?
All Jb4 features, setting and maps can be done by Bluetooth
Even datalog and firmware update

Boost by gear is far superior on a piggy. As you know boost by gear needs to be changed based on conditions and tires.
With a piggy anyone can do it and it takes seconds.
With an ECU flash, you will need a tuner to do it.
__________________
Check out our current sale by clicking on this link!
https://x-ph.com/sale/

Phone number 702-494-9435
Appreciate 0
      02-07-2018, 12:16 PM   #9
spyfish007
Getting older, but I still love awesome fast cars!
spyfish007's Avatar
144
Rep
360
Posts

Drives: 2017 X6M & 2016 Z4 sDrive35is
Join Date: Nov 2017
Location: Knoxville, TN

iTrader: (0)

Quote:
Originally Posted by mike@x-ph.com View Post
All Jb4 features, setting and maps can be done by Bluetooth
Even datalog and firmware update

Boost by gear is far superior on a piggy. As you know boost by gear needs to be changed based on conditions and tires.
With a piggy anyone can do it and it takes seconds.
With an ECU flash, you will need a tuner to do it.
Those are solid pros. I am still a full ECU remap fan.
Appreciate 0
      02-07-2018, 12:19 PM   #10
mike@x-ph.com
Joint Chiefs of Staff
mike@x-ph.com's Avatar
United_States
23795
Rep
190,150
Posts

Drives: 07-335/12-328/18-M4/21-M4CP
Join Date: Sep 2013
Location: Las Vegas

iTrader: (23)

Quote:
Originally Posted by spyfish007 View Post
Those are solid pros. I am still a full ECU remap fan.
I have always stacked both together on my tuned BMWs.
You get the best of both worlds
__________________
Check out our current sale by clicking on this link!
https://x-ph.com/sale/

Phone number 702-494-9435
Appreciate 1
540iSUP703.00
      02-07-2018, 01:54 PM   #11
spyfish007
Getting older, but I still love awesome fast cars!
spyfish007's Avatar
144
Rep
360
Posts

Drives: 2017 X6M & 2016 Z4 sDrive35is
Join Date: Nov 2017
Location: Knoxville, TN

iTrader: (0)

Quote:
Originally Posted by mike@x-ph.com View Post
I have always stacked both together on my tuned BMWs.
You get the best of both worlds
Appreciate 0
      02-09-2018, 08:52 AM   #12
PurpleSector
2018 530i
25
Rep
67
Posts

Drives: G30
Join Date: Oct 2017
Location: APAC

iTrader: (0)

Quote:
Originally Posted by mike@x-ph.com View Post
All Jb4 features, setting and maps can be done by Bluetooth
Even datalog and firmware update

Boost by gear is far superior on a piggy. As you know boost by gear needs to be changed based on conditions and tires.
With a piggy anyone can do it and it takes seconds.
With an ECU flash, you will need a tuner to do it.
boost by gear is available on all vehicles with JB4?
Appreciate 0
      02-09-2018, 04:00 PM   #13
mike@x-ph.com
Joint Chiefs of Staff
mike@x-ph.com's Avatar
United_States
23795
Rep
190,150
Posts

Drives: 07-335/12-328/18-M4/21-M4CP
Join Date: Sep 2013
Location: Las Vegas

iTrader: (23)

Quote:
Originally Posted by PurpleSector View Post
boost by gear is available on all vehicles with JB4?
Yes
__________________
Check out our current sale by clicking on this link!
https://x-ph.com/sale/

Phone number 702-494-9435
Appreciate 0
Post Reply

Bookmarks

Thread Tools Search this Thread
Search this Thread:

Advanced Search

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off



All times are GMT -5. The time now is 07:17 AM.




5post
Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.11
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions Inc.
1Addicts.com, BIMMERPOST.com, E90Post.com, F30Post.com, M3Post.com, ZPost.com, 5Post.com, 6Post.com, 7Post.com, XBimmers.com logo and trademark are properties of BIMMERPOST