What tune are you running on your x5m

[Dawgz]

Originally Posted by Sophisticated Redneck

Did some testing last night, slightly worse conditions as draggy was reporting a DA of 5179 vs previous test of 4780. 0-60 times were the same, with one being a a tenth slower. I am noticing the transmission is now limiting power pulling boost, didn't notice it until I was studying the g force graph on the draggy then watched a replay and noticed boost was being pulled, then added back in later (I have twin boost gauges in the truck, one for each bank). This further complicates things. I wish XHP would finish their work on the transmission so I can remove the torque limiters.

As of right now, indexing the plugs isn't going to make night and day difference but rather just a very minor one which is what I assumed but had hoped for a little more difference. Probably worth something like 10-15hp, which is very hard to notice on a 500+hp 5300lb truck. Will continue to do more testing but right now I would say its only worth it if you want to Max out every possible drop of power and performance.

Going to hook up my jb4 finally for some real data logging too.

Ok thanks. I mentioned the Bosch plugs to a tuner and he said he would rather run non indexed NGKs than indexed Bosch plugs.



I mentioned the

[m5james]

Originally Posted by Sophisticated Redneck

I am about to finally hook up my jb4 to add a bit more power on top of the stage 1 ESS tune. How has your been running, any issues with the install or drive train errors?

Runs fine with the JB4, the only issue I notice (I think it's more tune than JB4) is that I can be in Map 1 for example, 21psi all day long...but it tapers down to like 15psi after a week and never really recovers. Switch to Map 6 and it's all back again...but tapers again as well. Ultimately a flash is always better than a piggyback so I'm hoping to find someone who can give me a custom tune (especially post S63TU manifold and turbos swap) and then I'll be keeping the JB4 just for meth control and data logging.

Install was OK, just make sure to pay attention to details since there's a mixture of N63 and S63 stuff on the same N54Tech thread. I've got the BCM and BT modules as well, but that was fairy easy. About the only drivetrain issues I had was a mixture error codes that were resolved adjusting the FOL to 90.

[m5james]

Originally Posted by Dawgz

Ok thanks. I mentioned the Bosch plugs to a tuner and he said he would rather run non indexed NGKs than indexed Bosch plugs.



I mentioned the

I'm using NGK 97506's gapped @ .20

[Dawgz]

Originally Posted by m5james

I'm using NGK 97506's gapped @ .20

Ya same..he told me to gap them to .022 though, I ran .020 on my last set.

Let's see, tune is next Friday.

[GoHokiesGo]

Originally Posted by KingMidas38

Keep us updated on your results. I may go this route as Frank Smith is local to me in MD.

I'll give another vote for Frank Smith and TTFS. I've had his tune on my truck for 3 years now and it runs awesome. Nice, smooth increased power delivery. I've not had any issues with my M and have been very pleased with the results.

[Dawgz]

Originally Posted by GoHokiesGo

I'll give another vote for Frank Smith and TTFS. I've had his tune on my truck for 3 years now and it runs awesome. Nice, smooth increased power delivery. I've not had any issues with my M and have been very pleased with the results.

What power did it make?

[Sophisticated Redneck]

Originally Posted by Dawgz

Ok thanks. I mentioned the Bosch plugs to a tuner and he said he would rather run non indexed NGKs than indexed Bosch plugs.



I mentioned the

Once I hook up the JB4 for more accurate logging, I am going to put back in the NGK's and index them, see if there is any difference in performance or misfire count vs the indexed Bosch. It must be minimal as to why nobody ever seems to talk about it but to me 10hp here, 10hp there, it all adds up.

[Sophisticated Redneck]

Originally Posted by m5james

Runs fine with the JB4, the only issue I notice (I think it's more tune than JB4) is that I can be in Map 1 for example, 21psi all day long...but it tapers down to like 15psi after a week and never really recovers. Switch to Map 6 and it's all back again...but tapers again as well. Ultimately a flash is always better than a piggyback so I'm hoping to find someone who can give me a custom tune (especially post S63TU manifold and turbos swap) and then I'll be keeping the JB4 just for meth control and data logging.

Install was OK, just make sure to pay attention to details since there's a mixture of N63 and S63 stuff on the same N54Tech thread. I've got the BCM and BT modules as well, but that was fairy easy. About the only drivetrain issues I had was a mixture error codes that were resolved adjusting the FOL to 90.

Cool thanks for the info, going to hook it up tomorrow

[GoHokiesGo]

Originally Posted by Dawgz

What power did it make?

I have never dynoed my car. My local shop in VA had a good relationship with Frank, so they just installed a tweaked standard tune in my car while doing other work rather than going to TTFS.

Frank has (or used to have) a 2012 X5M as his wife's daily, so they spent a fair bit of time developing the map. He called my tune a stage 1.5 and estimated +80HP/+100 ft-lbs TQ. The car runs great and I haven't had any issues so I have never dynoed mine.

[lagniappe_718]

Originally Posted by m5james

Runs fine with the JB4, the only issue I notice (I think it's more tune than JB4) is that I can be in Map 1 for example, 21psi all day long...but it tapers down to like 15psi after a week and never really recovers. Switch to Map 6 and it's all back again...but tapers again as well. Ultimately a flash is always better than a piggyback so I'm hoping to find someone who can give me a custom tune (especially post S63TU manifold and turbos swap) and then I'll be keeping the JB4 just for meth control and data logging.

Install was OK, just make sure to pay attention to details since there's a mixture of N63 and S63 stuff on the same N54Tech thread. I've got the BCM and BT modules as well, but that was fairy easy. About the only drivetrain issues I had was a mixture error codes that were resolved adjusting the FOL to 90.

Since you have a flash as well this may not be a valid question, but do you find the BCM to be worth the add on? I initially install my jb4 with the BCM and had all sorts of errors (I'm 99% certain it was installed correctly, long story short dme was thought to be fried, then randomly worked again). Have been debating between putting just the jb4 back on or just getting a flash.

[Dawgz]

Originally Posted by Sophisticated Redneck

Once I hook up the JB4 for more accurate logging, I am going to put back in the NGK's and index them, see if there is any difference in performance or misfire count vs the indexed Bosch. It must be minimal as to why nobody ever seems to talk about it but to me 10hp here, 10hp there, it all adds up.

Very true

[Dawgz]

Originally Posted by GoHokiesGo

I have never dynoed my car. My local shop in VA had a good relationship with Frank, so they just installed a tweaked standard tune in my car while doing other work rather than going to TTFS.

Frank has (or used to have) a 2012 X5M as his wife's daily, so they spent a fair bit of time developing the map. He called my tune a stage 1.5 and estimated +80HP/+100 ft-lbs TQ. The car runs great and I haven't had any issues so I have never dynoed mine.

Ya he still has it. He told me he has a catch can setup on his with a cross over for the ccv.

He's setting mine up the same way durring the appointment.

[eDubz]

I'm super excited to hear the results of your custom tune vs the canned tune, Dawgz !

[Dawgz]

Originally Posted by eDubz

I'm super excited to hear the results of your custom tune vs the canned tune, Dawgz !

Stay tuned!

[m5james]

Originally Posted by lagniappe_718

Since you have a flash as well this may not be a valid question, but do you find the BCM to be worth the add on? I initially install my jb4 with the BCM and had all sorts of errors (I'm 99% certain it was installed correctly, long story short dme was thought to be fried, then randomly worked again). Have been debating between putting just the jb4 back on or just getting a flash.

Reading about what the BCM does, I'd have to say yes that it's beneficial because it'll up the boost above and beyond canned tunes and/or a standard JB4 installation. I don't recall which maps off the top of my head but some say that BCM is required to hit those levels.

EDIT - 2&3 need the BCM, I'd say 6 as well - https://www.n54tech.com/forums/showthread.php?t=41501
EDIT AGAIN - I haven't read the N54 thread in a while, page 22 near the bottom says something about the N63 firmware doing away with the BCM and fuel wires. I don't recall what firmware I'm running currently AND if the latest firmware (assuming the N63 firmware works on the S63 as well) that the same boost levels can be attained now via firmware vs the BCM/fuel wires, but I'll ask Terry on when I know what firmware I'm running and I'll update from there. Nevertheless if JB4 firmware changes were made that don't require the BCM/fuel wires, that means less to mess with or go wrong. I do recall I chose to run older firmware though since it clears CEL's automatically, something he had to remove from the firmware when he went CARB compliant.

As for errors, do you recall what they were? I had some errors as well, mostly resolved by increasing the FOL to 90 (fuel pressure from my understanding) and running colder plugs w/ tighter gaps stopped my misfires. I still have never had luck running a mixture of E30 (throttle closure errors) but I honestly don't know how to truly dial in the JB4 either so settings changes could make running E30 possible for all I know. I've hit up N54 friends who still run JB4 but the settings are different enough that they're not familiar as to what to do. Then it turns into a slippery slope of typical N54 mods that maybe we should consider like overdriving the HPFP, larger LPFP's, different MAP sensors, etc etc but that all seems to be unexplored territory still.

[lagniappe_718]

Originally Posted by m5james

Reading about what the BCM does, I'd have to say yes that it's beneficial because it'll up the boost above and beyond canned tunes and/or a standard JB4 installation. I don't recall which maps off the top of my head but some say that BCM is required to hit those levels.

EDIT - 2&3 need the BCM, I'd say 6 as well - https://www.n54tech.com/forums/showthread.php?t=41501
EDIT AGAIN - I haven't read the N54 thread in a while, page 22 near the bottom says something about the N63 firmware doing away with the BCM and fuel wires. I don't recall what firmware I'm running currently AND if the latest firmware (assuming the N63 firmware works on the S63 as well) that the same boost levels can be attained now via firmware vs the BCM/fuel wires, but I'll ask Terry on when I know what firmware I'm running and I'll update from there. Nevertheless if JB4 firmware changes were made that don't require the BCM/fuel wires, that means less to mess with or go wrong. I do recall I chose to run older firmware though since it clears CEL's automatically, something he had to remove from the firmware when he went CARB compliant.

As for errors, do you recall what they were? I had some errors as well, mostly resolved by increasing the FOL to 90 (fuel pressure from my understanding) and running colder plugs w/ tighter gaps stopped my misfires. I still have never had luck running a mixture of E30 (throttle closure errors) but I honestly don't know how to truly dial in the JB4 either so settings changes could make running E30 possible for all I know. I've hit up N54 friends who still run JB4 but the settings are different enough that they're not familiar as to what to do. Then it turns into a slippery slope of typical N54 mods that maybe we should consider like overdriving the HPFP, larger LPFP's, different MAP sensors, etc etc but that all seems to be unexplored territory still.

I know mine is on an older firmware pre-doing away with the official s63/bcm support. Documented my troubles here https://www.xbimmers.com/forums/show....php?t=1706082 . I did not do colder plugs prior to install, but that is on my to do list anyway. Think I'd ditch the bcm regardless, but just trying to decide between the jb4 or a flash. For what I spent on my jb4 mess I could've, and should've, just done a custom flash. But, the jb4 is still in a box in my garage tempting me.

Really want to avoid the snowball of mods...already have turbos and downpipes, just want to take advantage of those.

[Dawgz]

Originally Posted by Sophisticated Redneck

Once I hook up the JB4 for more accurate logging, I am going to put back in the NGK's and index them, see if there is any difference in performance or misfire count vs the indexed Bosch. It must be minimal as to why nobody ever seems to talk about it but to me 10hp here, 10hp there, it all adds up.

I put in new NGKs this afternoon, saw the difference between the Bosch "M" branded plugs and the NGKs right at the thread.

As you can see on the Bosch plugs the threads always start at the same place, the NGKs are random. I know we know what's indexed and what isn't, but this is good visual on how they make that happen...I guess

[Dawgz]

So I went and got tuned at Frank Smith's place.

Got 463 AWHP and 523AWTQ


Stock turbos
Catless downpipes
Megan Supremo exhaust
NGK 97506 spark plugs gapped to .022
Eldor coils.

[0-60Motorsports]

Originally Posted by Dawgz

So I went and got tuned at Frank Smith's place.

Got 463 AWHP and 523AWTQ


Stock turbos
Catless downpipes
Megan Supremo exhaust
NGK 97506 spark plugs gapped to .022
Eldor coils.

Very Nice. I am running the TTFS tune too and just waiting to install my DP's once the M3 is back up and running. Looking forward to it.

[Dawgz]

Originally Posted by 0-60Motorsports

Very Nice. I am running the TTFS tune too and just waiting to install my DP's once the M3 is back up and running. Looking forward to it.

Very nice. I liked the fact that he was able to get the AFR to what I wanted and also turn off cold start.

[m5james]

Originally Posted by Dawgz

So I went and got tuned at Frank Smith's place.

Got 463 AWHP and 523AWTQ


Stock turbos
Catless downpipes
Megan Supremo exhaust
NGK 97506 spark plugs gapped to .022
Eldor coils.

Canned tune or actual spent a few hours w/ a laptop adjusting on the dyno?

[m5james]

Originally Posted by Dawgz

Very nice. I liked the fact that he was able to get the AFR to what I wanted and also turn off cold start.

While I'm also catless, I've opted to keep the cold start...just because it sounds nice and I can hear it start while I'm still in the building at work

PS - I work nights so I don't have to worry about waking neighbors, unless they're asleep at 1PM.