Remotely tuned by Mike Benvo

mark896 · 07-22-2012, 09:18 AM

Finally getting the chance to write my review on an impressive customer service experience by Mike Benvo. I had my 2011.5 E92 M3 coded by him about a month ago, and was so blown away by the amount of knowledge the guy has on our cars that last week I had him remotely tune the engine as well.

Other than an AA filter and the OEM exhaust mod, my car is stock. I gave Mike the exact parameters of the way I drive, as well as the modifications performed, and also the gas that we have out here (93 octane). From start to finish, it took about 30-45 minutes.

The car should have came this way from the factory. The acceleration pulls harder over the ENTIRE tachometer, and really screams on the top end. I don't have a dyno near me or else I would've performed before/after pulls and posted the sheets. But the car performs MUCH different from stock, even the exhaust note is different. I expected a reduction in mpg, but there is none, if anything the car might actually be MORE efficient.

I had him delete the cold start, change the redline on cold startup (comes down to 4500rpm when the oil is really cold, which keeps the kid at the stealership from tearing up your engine while he's hot-rodding it around town) and remove the top speed limiter. He asked if I wanted my redline raised but I declined. Mike also tweaked the aggressiveness of the Normal, and Sport throttle mapping modes. I no longer have to constantly run around in Sport mode and burn that LED up on my panel (I'm OCD about that, for some reason).

If anyone is on the fence on who should tune your car, Mike's flash tune is efficient, demanding, and CUSTOMIZED to your car and setup. Give him a call, text, or email and I promise, you will be blown away at the quality of customer service and tech support from the guy. I wish he was still on this board, m3post.com has done itself a disservice.

Dave07997S · 07-22-2012, 02:09 PM

Mike is great, unfortunately powers to be of this site banned Mike..a shame.

Dave

aajami · 07-22-2012, 04:42 PM

All these Benvo reviews read a lot alike...

Gins · 07-22-2012, 06:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dave07997S

Mike is great, unfortunately powers to be of this site banned Mike..a shame.

Dave

Banned again!? I know the Tech is back.

JulieDriving · 07-22-2012, 07:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Snig

Banned again!? I know the Tech is back.

I saw a few recent posts by him, but I did a search for his posts, and the recent ones are gone and his posts have 'banned' on them (again).

rjd598 · 07-22-2012, 07:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by aajami

All these Benvo reviews read a lot alike...

what's wrong with that?

mark896 · 07-22-2012, 08:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rjd598

what's wrong with that?

+1

They're a lot alike, because the guy is legit, and puts out a quality product. Is that weird to you?

ErasmoHar · 07-22-2012, 08:40 PM

I saw a few recent posts by him, but I did a search for his posts

aus · 07-22-2012, 09:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by aajami

All these Benvo reviews read a lot alike...

Agreed.

Quote:

Originally Posted by mark896

+1

They're a lot alike, because the guy is legit, and puts out a quality product. Is that weird to you?

Or he's asking people to post reviews for him since he seems to have the ban stick AGAIN!!
Him and The TECH seem to be working together now- Just an observation I've seen in threads.

.

mark896 · 07-22-2012, 09:23 PM

People posted reviews for his products before he was banned as well.

???

Merlosso · 07-22-2012, 09:35 PM

Him being banned is more of a punishment to the community than it is to him.

Mark, congrats on the tune. Reviews like this make me more eager to get my car tuned.

1sikbmr · 07-22-2012, 10:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JulieDriving

I saw a few recent posts by him, but I did a search for his posts, and the recent ones are gone and his posts have 'banned' on them (again).

Quote:

Originally Posted by ErasmoHar

I saw a few recent posts by him, but I did a search for his posts

am i crazy or why is it that every thread i go in there is a low post count account posting exactly what another person posted? I have seen this in almost every single thread recently. what gives.

/rant

rjd598 · 07-22-2012, 10:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mark896

People posted reviews for his products before he was banned as well.

???

This is true. This is the first review written after mike got banned

System Of A... · 07-22-2012, 10:43 PM

how do i get in contact with him?

and how much does it cost?

slicer · 07-23-2012, 12:05 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by System Of A...

how do i get in contact with him?

and how much does it cost?

google Mike Benvo...

aus · 07-23-2012, 02:00 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by System Of A...

how do i get in contact with him?

and how much does it cost?

You're in LA, Alex@alpine charges $60 for everything!!

.

PINHEAD · 07-23-2012, 03:10 AM

you know there are websites and forums that teach you how to code these yourself for free..its not hard nor does it require equipment. They even supply the software necessary.
matter fact its common knowledge way before the E9x came around.
just use google and search for bmw and coding as the admins have seem to blocked out the website on this forum.
And some might argue that there is danger to ruin your ECU or whatever, thats a lie. You can always revert to original file if you do it correctly, but who wouldn't do it correctly?

System Of A... · 07-23-2012, 04:37 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by aus

You're in LA, Alex@alpine charges $60 for everything!!

.

wait what? is this a tune or a code? alex already coded my car..didnt know he tunes cars too

mark896 · 07-23-2012, 07:29 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by System Of A...

Quote:

Originally Posted by aus

You're in LA, Alex@alpine charges $60 for everything!!

.

wait what? is this a tune or a code? alex already coded my car..didnt know he tunes cars too

Alex doesn't tune, he doesn't do cold start removal, he doesnt update DME, he doesnt do BMW live activation.. And if he DID do any of those things it CERTAINLY wouldn't be done for $60.

burakkose · 07-23-2012, 07:37 AM

The dealership in Turkey is refusing to update the version, the car is under warranty. They say that an error needs to pop up, then they can upgrade.

F**k...

THE TECH · 07-23-2012, 07:42 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by aus

Him and The TECH seem to be working together now- Just an observation I've seen in threads.

.

Yes, we are.

Zaw · 07-23-2012, 02:19 PM

I remember Mike Benvo from several flame wars with other vendors on here. He seemed very knowledgeable. However, I've asked myself how is it really going to be like dealing with a vendor like that when I have problems and I have to call them.

I know I don't have the full knowledge of their histories but it made me think twice.

Getting these reviews up are a step in the right direction but what of the recent happenings.

07-22-2012, 09:18 AM	#1
mark896 Warrant Officer Drives: 2011 E92 335is Join Date: Dec 2011 Location: Alabama Posts: 452 iTrader: (0)	Remotely tuned by Mike Benvo Finally getting the chance to write my review on an impressive customer service experience by Mike Benvo. I had my 2011.5 E92 M3 coded by him about a month ago, and was so blown away by the amount of knowledge the guy has on our cars that last week I had him remotely tune the engine as well. Other than an AA filter and the OEM exhaust mod, my car is stock. I gave Mike the exact parameters of the way I drive, as well as the modifications performed, and also the gas that we have out here (93 octane). From start to finish, it took about 30-45 minutes. The car should have came this way from the factory. The acceleration pulls harder over the ENTIRE tachometer, and really screams on the top end. I don't have a dyno near me or else I would've performed before/after pulls and posted the sheets. But the car performs MUCH different from stock, even the exhaust note is different. I expected a reduction in mpg, but there is none, if anything the car might actually be MORE efficient. I had him delete the cold start, change the redline on cold startup (comes down to 4500rpm when the oil is really cold, which keeps the kid at the stealership from tearing up your engine while he's hot-rodding it around town) and remove the top speed limiter. He asked if I wanted my redline raised but I declined. Mike also tweaked the aggressiveness of the Normal, and Sport throttle mapping modes. I no longer have to constantly run around in Sport mode and burn that LED up on my panel (I'm OCD about that, for some reason). If anyone is on the fence on who should tune your car, Mike's flash tune is efficient, demanding, and CUSTOMIZED to your car and setup. Give him a call, text, or email and I promise, you will be blown away at the quality of customer service and tech support from the guy. I wish he was still on this board, m3post.com has done itself a disservice.
	0 Tweet

07-22-2012, 02:09 PM	#2
Dave07997S Colonel Drives: 2011 BMW M3 ZCP Coupe Join Date: May 2009 Location: Playa del Rey, CA Posts: 2,285 iTrader: (1)	Mike is great, unfortunately powers to be of this site banned Mike..a shame. Dave __________________ 2013 M3 Coupe-MR/BLK ZCP, ACM test pipes, BPM Stg2 dev. tune and Megan catback, more to come Previous rides: 2011 M3 Coupe-MR/Blk 2007 Porsche 997C2S Speed Yellow/Blk sport seats 2004 BMW M3 Imola/Blk
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07-22-2012, 04:42 PM	#3
aajami Brigadier General Drives: Space Gray '09 E92 M3 Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Manhattan Beach, CA Posts: 3,948 iTrader: (4)	All these Benvo reviews read a lot alike... __________________ '09 E92 M3: Space Gray, Black, Carbon Leather \| ZTP 2MK ZPP 2MT 6FL \| link 1 / link 2 Mods: M Performance exhaust \| ZCP retrofit \| Euro airbox \| GTS DCT flash \| 240J ECU flash \| LCI Euro taillights \| CRT lip \| OEM alarm retrofit \| Space Gray bumper plugs \| BMW Performance: Mk. II spoiler / Mk. II non-electronic steering wheel / mirror caps / front grilles / side gills / intake louvers / emblem
	0

07-22-2012, 08:40 PM	#8
ErasmoHar New Member Drives: bmw Join Date: Jul 2012 Location: milk Posts: 6 iTrader: (0)	I saw a few recent posts by him, but I did a search for his posts __________________
	0

07-23-2012, 03:10 AM	#17
PINHEAD Motorsport Passion!!! Drives: E92M3/997.2RS Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: Los Angeles Posts: 969 iTrader: (8)	you know there are websites and forums that teach you how to code these yourself for free..its not hard nor does it require equipment. They even supply the software necessary. matter fact its common knowledge way before the E9x came around. just use google and search for bmw and coding as the admins have seem to blocked out the website on this forum. And some might argue that there is danger to ruin your ECU or whatever, thats a lie. You can always revert to original file if you do it correctly, but who wouldn't do it correctly? __________________
	0

07-22-2012, 09:23 PM	#10
mark896 Warrant Officer Drives: 2011 E92 335is Join Date: Dec 2011 Location: Alabama Posts: 452 iTrader: (0)	People posted reviews for his products before he was banned as well. ???
	0

07-22-2012, 09:35 PM	#11
Merlosso Banned Drives: Results Join Date: Mar 2011 Location: Germantown, MD Posts: 495 iTrader: (2)	Him being banned is more of a punishment to the community than it is to him. Mark, congrats on the tune. Reviews like this make me more eager to get my car tuned.
	0

07-22-2012, 10:43 PM	#14
System Of A... Captain Drives: e93 M3 Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: 818 Posts: 827 iTrader: (1) Garage List 2008 BMW e93 M3 [3.83]	how do i get in contact with him? and how much does it cost?
	0

07-23-2012, 07:37 AM	#20
burakkose Private First Class Drives: E92 M3 Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: Istanbul Posts: 187 iTrader: (0)	The dealership in Turkey is refusing to update the version, the car is under warranty. They say that an error needs to pop up, then they can upgrade. F**k...
	0

07-23-2012, 02:19 PM	#22
Zaw Private Drives: 2011 E90 M3 DCT Competition Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: Studio City, CA Posts: 98 iTrader: (0)	I remember Mike Benvo from several flame wars with other vendors on here. He seemed very knowledgeable. However, I've asked myself how is it really going to be like dealing with a vendor like that when I have problems and I have to call them. I know I don't have the full knowledge of their histories but it made me think twice. Getting these reviews up are a step in the right direction but what of the recent happenings.
	0

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