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      11-26-2017, 01:34 PM   #1
deansbimmer
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Who has input on VF HEX tune for X5M?

I'm looking at VF's Hex tune that claims 120hp/170tq gains and wondering if anyone is familiar with that tune? Is it marketing or are they truly getting 40hp more than the other tuners out there?

If they were, I would think that it would be much easier to find more online about the tune than I've been able to so far.

http://www.vfengineering.com/bmw/x5x6-m/
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      11-27-2017, 09:38 PM   #2
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120hp vs the average 80hp others claim...do they offer any kind of refund and/or guarantee for before and after dyno numbers?
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      11-28-2017, 12:20 AM   #3
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Quote:
Originally Posted by m5james View Post
120hp vs the average 80hp others claim...do they offer any kind of refund and/or guarantee for before and after dyno numbers?
They're about a 30 minute drive from me. I should stop by and see what's up...
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      11-28-2017, 08:09 AM   #4
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Quote:
Originally Posted by m5james View Post
120hp vs the average 80hp others claim...do they offer any kind of refund and/or guarantee for before and after dyno numbers?
Yes that's what their site says and is what got me interested. As for a refund, does any tuner do that?

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Originally Posted by DeeO
They're about a 30 minute drive from me. I should stop by and see what's up...
That would be fantastic if you'd be willing to do so. I can't find anything of substance on this tune which seems odd, seeing as it claims significantly higher gains than any other canned tune.

It irks me when people chime in on forums with reviews that don't go into any details or follow up. "I got this tune and it's sweet" is not a review.
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      11-28-2017, 06:17 PM   #5
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If i'm reading it right, it takes a "sport exhaust system" along with the "optional off road tune" to gain the 120hp/170tq.
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      11-29-2017, 11:05 AM   #6
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Not sure if you're interested in Dinan, but they slashed the price of their tune quite a bit. When I searched for tunes a few months ago it was listed over 2k. Now it's around $900.
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      11-29-2017, 02:06 PM   #7
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I was originally going to go with a JB4 until he stopped supporting it. I'm looking for a flash tune that will yield gains close to the JB4, which puts Dinan at the bottom of the list, though that price is definitely good for what you get.
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      11-29-2017, 02:19 PM   #8
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Quote:
Originally Posted by philly42 View Post
Not sure if you're interested in Dinan, but they slashed the price of their tune quite a bit. When I searched for tunes a few months ago it was listed over 2k. Now it's around $900.
According to their website: "ALL Dinan engine and transmission flash software permanently reduced 25-60% off" = $926.70. So now if we can only get the other tuners to price match? Hmm... https://www.dinancars.com/products/?...=engine-tuning
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      11-29-2017, 04:44 PM   #9
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Quote:
Originally Posted by deansbimmer View Post
Yes that's what their site says and is what got me interested. As for a refund, does any tuner do that?
While I had started working with Halim/HCP in his very early days of tuning, that was the agreement we'd made. I pay for the software and cable, do before and after dynos and if I didn't hit his minimum target, then I flash back to stock, return his stuff and get a full refund. If you paid for $1500 for a physical piece of furniture, TV, etc and it broke or didn't do what it ws claimed to do, you'd expect a refund...why not the same for a simple piece of software?
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      11-29-2017, 04:46 PM   #10
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Birdoprey View Post
If i'm reading it right, it takes a "sport exhaust system" along with the "optional off road tune" to gain the 120hp/170tq.
AKA mufflers and downpipes. So now they're just using a play on words...I hate places that have to advertise with asterisks I'm sure these items need to be purchased at their inflated package prices as well.
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      11-29-2017, 04:49 PM   #11
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Quote:
Originally Posted by deansbimmer View Post
I was originally going to go with a JB4 until he stopped supporting it. I'm looking for a flash tune that will yield gains close to the JB4, which puts Dinan at the bottom of the list, though that price is definitely good for what you get.
I've been considering flashing back to stock to see what JB4 only does on my truck since someone pulled an 11.7 bone stock otherwise. I can tell you from my current experience...even after HCP sent me his 3rd revisioned tune, nothing has touched being stacked.
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      11-29-2017, 04:56 PM   #12
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Quote:
Originally Posted by DeeO View Post
According to their website: "ALL Dinan engine and transmission flash software permanently reduced 25-60% off" = $926.70. So now if we can only get the other tuners to price match? Hmm... https://www.dinancars.com/products/?...=engine-tuning
$$Dinan$$ has always been notoriously conservative on power, but there's still those sheep who praise the badge and/or were scared into threats of warranty issues. For once maybe they're priced the way it should have been all along since Steve is gone lol.
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      11-30-2017, 07:45 AM   #13
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Quote:
Originally Posted by m5james View Post
I've been considering flashing back to stock to see what JB4 only does on my truck since someone pulled an 11.7 bone stock otherwise. I can tell you from my current experience...even after HCP sent me his 3rd revisioned tune, nothing has touched being stacked.
How do you think the car would do if I flashed it and then installed a BMS Stage 1 piggyback?

What has your holdup been on methanol injection?
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      11-30-2017, 12:15 PM   #14
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That I'm not sure...a flash and that kind of piggy back try to accomplish the same thing. The JB4 adds atop whatever the tune is already. For example:
- Map 1 adds 4psi above the "stock" tune...stock might command 8psi and then JB4 will fool the ECU into thinking it's only commanding 4psi, the ECU will then add another 4psi, so then I'd actually be pushing 12psi. Now let's say I'm running a flash, so the tune might command 12psi now, the JB4 will fool the ECU into thinking it's only commanding 8psi, it'll add another 4psi so then I'd be pushing 16psi.
- Map 6 is customizable. I can command up to 21psi without getting an overboost code, I'll see 21psi of boost on the gauge, yet the ECU PSI stil only shows like 12ish. As cool as the JB4 is, all this trickery is why a flash is better than a piggyback, but I haven't seen anyone with a flash that'll get to the psi a JB4 will command.

I got the meth setup installed, I bought a little meth >:-) and then discovered my FSB was broken outta the box. Between waiting for the replacement, the GF's engine seized in her 535xiT due to a failed injector flooding cylinder 1, so long story short, it took about 6 weeks for me to get a good engine into her car and she was driving the X5M during that time. It's basically winter now, so meth injection isn't really necessary but I still plan on getting it going after the holidays so that I can at least run water for it's carbon cleaning and see how it feels.
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Last edited by m5james; 11-30-2017 at 12:23 PM..
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      11-30-2017, 12:27 PM   #15
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Unless I'm mistaken, we can't buy a new JB4 anymore for the S63, so I guess my question was whether their stage 1 piggyback operates the same way. I get the theory behind stacking and dig it. BMS stage 1 says it adds a fixed 4psi over stock. If "stock" is a flashed tune then it should basically be the same as the JB4 in map 1 right? Perhaps if I start going down this road I need to contact them about it.

My X5M is basically our shop truck and my wife also drives it with our baby in the back seat. I'm trying to do as much to it as I can get away with before having too much adjustability or it becoming so quirky that she could get into trouble.
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      11-30-2017, 12:41 PM   #16
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Considering the way Terry came about discovering the JB4 works with the S63, it's my understanding that an N63 JB4 can be installed and flashed with S63 firmware...which I have and is floating around on N54Tech.

I've let the GF drive the car alone and I usually put it back to map 0, which then I'm still running a stage 2 tune but at least she's not pushing 21psi...because I know she'll try to lol. If your wife isn't the type to go WOT, then you'd mostly never know otherwise until you're into boost. A tune pushes a few more PSI and boost comes on quicker, making it feel more responsive. Stacked is, dare I say it, almost violent how it goes from subtle cruiser to a higher full boost...15 to 21 is a big jump in this thing.
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      05-21-2018, 07:50 AM   #17
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Quote:
Originally Posted by deansbimmer View Post
Unless I'm mistaken, we can't buy a new JB4 anymore for the S63, so I guess my question was whether their stage 1 piggyback operates the same way. I get the theory behind stacking and dig it. BMS stage 1 says it adds a fixed 4psi over stock. If "stock" is a flashed tune then it should basically be the same as the JB4 in map 1 right? Perhaps if I start going down this road I need to contact them about it.

My X5M is basically our shop truck and my wife also drives it with our baby in the back seat. I'm trying to do as much to it as I can get away with before having too much adjustability or it becoming so quirky that she could get into trouble.
Did you ever find out if the stage 1 can be stacked or what the deal was with the HEX TUNE from VF engineering?

Last edited by pito2121; 05-21-2018 at 08:31 AM..
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