Worth getting xhp?

[X535dee]

Hi there. Proud to say I'm a new owner of my 2012 X5 35d xdrive and it's my first so I've been looking up ways to keep it running good. It has 93k miles and I got it for $14k which is a bargain in my area. Anyhow I've been thinking about doing the transmission service myself and know what's involved but I've read it could be a bad thing but I'm hoping that's mumbo jumbo. Maybe you guys have some insight.

Also since I was looking into transmission maintenance I noticed some of you love tuning the transmission with xhp stage 1-3 but I also read mixed feelings. I'm keeping my car stock as far as bolt ons etc but if I can re-map the transmission to be more efficient and make it last longer than I'm open to it.

[Sophisticated Redneck]

Originally Posted by X535dee

Hi there. Proud to say I'm a new owner of my 2012 X5 35d xdrive and it's my first so I've been looking up ways to keep it running good. It has 93k miles and I got it for $14k which is a bargain in my area. Anyhow I've been thinking about doing the transmission service myself and know what's involved but I've read it could be a bad thing but I'm hoping that's mumbo jumbo. Maybe you guys have some insight.

Also since I was looking into transmission maintenance I noticed some of you love tuning the transmission with xhp stage 1-3 but I also read mixed feelings. I'm keeping my car stock as far as bolt ons etc but if I can re-map the transmission to be more efficient and make it last longer than I'm open to it.

I am using it and overall its nice to have, simply for just indicating what drive gear your in. Most people will be happy with Stage1 or 2, stage 3 is nuts. I went back to Stage 2.

Don't hesitate to change your oil, you can get 200K+ miles out of them if you treat them right. Grab the oil and filter kit from FCP, I am using the Liqui Moly oil for past 30K miles and seems to be the same as ZFHP oil in terms of performance. Now at 182K miles total. Watch videos and read up on the procedure to change, lots posts here about it and also in F15 forums. You can't be shy about being under your truck while its running and oil is dripping in your face though because dipsticks are just crazy technology nobody does anymore....fun stuff

[X535dee]

Originally Posted by Sophisticated Redneck

I am using it and overall its nice to have, simply for just indicating what drive gear your in. Most people will be happy with Stage1 or 2, stage 3 is nuts. I went back to Stage 2.

Don't hesitate to change your oil, you can get 200K+ miles out of them if you treat them right. Grab the oil and filter kit from FCP, I am using the Liqui Moly oil for past 30K miles and seems to be the same as ZFHP oil in terms of performance. Now at 182K miles total. Watch videos and read up on the procedure to change, lots posts here about it and also in F15 forums. You can't be shy about being under your truck while its running and oil is dripping in your face though because dipsticks are just crazy technology nobody does anymore....fun stuff

Nice. How about the gas mileage, shifting, and shift points? Did it help with any of them? If it's main advantage is just showing the gear I'm in I'd pass on it.

well that's refreshing haha. Thank you. I am definitely mechanically inclined but these things are touchy haha. Do I also have to do anything to the ECU? I read that some people reset the adaptions?

[X535dee]

Will this kit be the one or is it best to buy everything separately?

https://www.fcpeuro.com/products/bmw...7571227kit2#qa

[RL18]

Yes I absolutely recommend xhp. I'm running stage 3 with a customization license too and love it. Did it before I tuned the engine, these trans are terrible in stock tuning form. I also drive in manual mode 99% of the time so if you want less aggressive driving characteristics in D mode then might want to do stage 2, but I believe they do allow you to have a stage 1 like tune for D mode on the stage 3 tune for our trans.

[X535dee]

Originally Posted by RL18

Yes I absolutely recommend xhp. I'm running stage 3 with a customization license too and love it. Did it before I tuned the engine, these trans are terrible in stock tuning form. I also drive in manual mode 99% of the time so if you want less aggressive driving characteristics in D mode then might want to do stage 2, but I believe they do allow you to have a stage 1 like tune for D mode on the stage 3 tune for our trans.

Great! Thank you I'm ordering the Thor wifi plug along with the xhp tunes and license. Looks like I can only purchase the tunes as a package and not individually so I'll have stages 1-3.

You said stock tune is terrible. How so?

[kyrix1st]

It's good. Stock tune slips the torque converter way too much for 2022. Stage 1 locks up nicely, ideal for daily duties.

[RL18]

Originally Posted by X535dee

Great! Thank you I'm ordering the Thor wifi plug along with the xhp tunes and license. Looks like I can only purchase the tunes as a package and not individually so I'll have stages 1-3.

You said stock tune is terrible. How so?

Well like said below torque converter stays open way too long, better cold start drivability, quicker/firmer shifting. Just feels solid not loose. If you get the customization license you can fine tune your upshift/downshift points in d-mode plus a bunch more things you can customize like starting in 2nd gear at a stop. In my opinion the stock tune short shifts like crazy and lugs the motor which is terrible especially if your on stock engine tune. Sure it has the torque but I prefer to shift above 2k mostly 2.5k in 2nd especially, going uphill as high as 3k. Remember it's geared like a pickup truck 3.64 gearing so it's okay with revving higher… much less stress on the engine and drivetrain IMO. My 335d with 2.81 gearing will comfortably shift below 2k mostly 1,700rpm is where I shift that, but lighter and different gearing.

[Spyro235]

Hi! Buy a license for XHP and then buy a Rod Sutphin tune. I've have xhp stage 2 and 3, and rod's tune is lightyears ahead in terms of refinement. Love my Sutphin tune.

[wcs531]

Originally Posted by Spyro235

Hi! Buy a license for XHP and then buy a Rod Sutphin tune. I've have xhp stage 2 and 3, and rod's tune is lightyears ahead in terms of refinement. Love my Sutphin tune.

The shift points or the shifts themselves are more refined?

I went straight for Sutphin and was actually considering going from Sutphin to XHP maps. I love drive mode with the Sutphin tune but the Sport mode shifts way too high for my liking. I have to actually write down the shift points of D vs S, but I think S upshifts at like 2500rpm on almost no throttle to 3000rpm partial throttle and downshifts around 1800rpm which seems very high for a diesel SUV - its not like I'm going out on the track.

I feel like Sport being 20-30% higher than Drive's shift points would be fine, but it seems like 50% higher.

[Smonkbmw]

I'm in this same boat. I can't decide between XHP and spending $80 more to get the Sutphin tune. I think for the money I'll be ok with XHP as it's my daily and it rarely sees S mode on the transmission.

If you want to see a amazing walk through look up m539 restorations on YouTube. He just serviced the 6spd on his gf's v8 e70. After watching it doesn't look as daunting as I thought it would be.

[Spyro235]

Originally Posted by wcs531

The shift points or the shifts themselves are more refined?

I went straight for Sutphin and was actually considering going from Sutphin to XHP maps. I love drive mode with the Sutphin tune but the Sport mode shifts way too high for my liking. I have to actually write down the shift points of D vs S, but I think S upshifts at like 2500rpm on almost no throttle to 3000rpm partial throttle and downshifts around 1800rpm which seems very high for a diesel SUV - its not like I'm going out on the track.

I feel like Sport being 20-30% higher than Drive's shift points would be fine, but it seems like 50% higher.

You can talk to Rod about a custom change in shift points, but if you ever REALLY hammer through some twisties, you'll see that Rod's sport mode is even more refined than his drive mode! It stays high becasue it's giving you instant spooling boost, rather than having to wait for response. It will upshift when the next gear will give you that same isntant spooling potential. The gear holding and downshifting are nothign short of magical when actually being driven hard.

As far as overall, his shifts are faster while being smoother, keeping more boost spooled up than other tunes without sacrifing smoothness.

[Spyro235]

Originally Posted by Smonkbmw

If you want to see a amazing walk through look up m539 restorations on YouTube. He just serviced the 6spd on his gf's v8 e70. After watching it doesn't look as daunting as I thought it would be.

The service is genuinely not a bad job at all. Commit to supporting your transfercase and popping the tcase mount down, and you'll have a very easy time of it.

[Spyro235]

Originally Posted by RL18

Well like said below torque converter stays open way too long, better cold start drivability, quicker/firmer shifting. Just feels solid not loose. If you get the customization license you can fine tune your upshift/downshift points in d-mode plus a bunch more things you can customize like starting in 2nd gear at a stop. In my opinion the stock tune short shifts like crazy and lugs the motor which is terrible especially if your on stock engine tune. Sure it has the torque but I prefer to shift above 2k mostly 2.5k in 2nd especially, going uphill as high as 3k. Remember it's geared like a pickup truck 3.64 gearing so it's okay with revving higher… much less stress on the engine and drivetrain IMO. My 335d with 2.81 gearing will comfortably shift below 2k mostly 1,700rpm is where I shift that, but lighter and different gearing.

I swapped to 3.15's, and what an amazing change for the X5. SO worth it. I run 100mph at 2500 even, and 1750rpm at 70mph.

[RL18]

Personally I don't recommend the rod trans tune. Xhp is way better and they actually know what they're doing with the tuning. Rods tune shifts way slower and I pretty sure he has no experience actually tuning transmissions. Same goes for the torque converter he sells and the valve body, not needed. Stock is perfectly fine, don't waste your money

[RL18]

Originally Posted by Spyro235

I swapped to 3.15's, and what an amazing change for the X5. SO worth it. I run 100mph at 2500 even, and 1750rpm at 70mph.

That's nice! Personally I wouldn't swap unless I did the 8spd swap too

[Spyro235]

Originally Posted by RL18

That's nice! Personally I wouldn't swap unless I did the 8spd swap too

Why is that? 6th gear is basically identical to 8th gear, so it doesn't change your cruising rpm.

[RL18]

Originally Posted by Spyro235

Why is that? 6th gear is basically identical to 8th gear, so it doesn't change your cruising rpm.

The gears up top aren't the issue, but they do have different ratios maybe hardly different but 8th is .67 vs 6th .69. The biggest difference is the acceleration benefits you'd get with the 8spd on the lower gears. Less rpm drop between shifts.