Props to Alex@Alpine GTS-DCT

[X2Board]

After reading the reviews here on the great work that Alex does, at the incredibly low price that he charges, I decided to opt in an get my DCT reprogrammed with the GTS software

I had spent Monday reprogramming some options the dealer wiped out when they did an FRM module update, so since I had the cable just sitting on my desk, I figured it was a good time to get it done. I sent Alex a PM last night and got an immediate reply, with the service fee verified. It was a go! Of course today was super busy with work, so I had to cool my jets until I got my client off the phone, helped the kids with homework, and cooked dinner (I'm the grillmeister) before I could text Alex to let him know I was ready.

The upgrade process is fairly simple. Power up the preconfigured VM, connect the cable and Alex remotes in and does his thing. The only weird part was having the car running during the process, since I normally code with just the ignition on.

I was only able to go for a short drive, but the difference was immediately noticeable, as the car shifts quickly and smoothly, just the convenience of having the car remember my last setting and the one push right to D mode would have made it worthwhile, but the shifts near red line are so, so, sweet now!

If you're on the fence, I would say just do it already, you won't be sorry!

Thanks Alex

Another satisfied customer!

[creaminz]

nice! so car has to be running the whole time? how long does the whole update process takes about?

[M3 Pilot]

Did I miss something ? Engine has to be running throughout the update process ?

This is very likely to piss my neighbors off.

Is the 4Gb ram laptop absolutely really necessary ?

[M0J0]

I should be doing this tune in a few days. Waiting on the cable to arrive in the mail.

[X2Board]

Originally Posted by creaminz

nice! so car has to be running the whole time? how long does the whole update process takes about?

20 Minutes total, with about 15 of that for the update itself.

[E92inSG]

I'm waiting on my cable too!

[Grapesape]

Alex is the man, so responsive and accessible! He's helping me right now with the 2013 maps. He's figured out a way to do it remotely.

[SYZ]

Originally Posted by Grapesape

Alex is the man, so responsive and accessible! He's helping me right now with the 2013 maps. He's figured out a way to do it remotely.

awesome, I want in on that too!

[X2Board]

Originally Posted by M3 Pilot

Did I miss something ? Engine has to be running throughout the update process ?

This is very likely to piss my neighbors off.

Is the 4Gb ram laptop absolutely really necessary ?

Are you running with no mufflers? A car idling for 15 minutes shouldn't raise the ire of your neighbours. Alex uses a VM, so you probably need the 4 Gigs of RAM.

[maaicher]

Alex is the man. Loved all the coding he did on my car. Wish he had the DCT software when I still had my car. Got a ride in one of the cars he added the software to last week, the difference is surprising to say the least. It's one mod I think everyone can benefit from.

[Alex@Alpine]

Originally Posted by X2Board

After reading the reviews here on the great work that Alex does, at the incredibly low price that he charges, I decided to opt in an get my DCT reprogrammed with the GTS software

I had spent Monday reprogramming some options the dealer wiped out when they did an FRM module update, so since I had the cable just sitting on my desk, I figured it was a good time to get it done. I sent Alex a PM last night and got an immediate reply, with the service fee verified. It was a go! Of course today was super busy with work, so I had to cool my jets until I got my client off the phone, helped the kids with homework, and cooked dinner (I'm the grillmeister) before I could text Alex to let him know I was ready.

The upgrade process is fairly simple. Power up the preconfigured VM, connect the cable and Alex remotes in and does his thing. The only weird part was having the car running during the process, since I normally code with just the ignition on.

I was only able to go for a short drive, but the difference was immediately noticeable, as the car shifts quickly and smoothly, just the convenience of having the car remember my last setting and the one push right to D mode would have made it worthwhile, but the shifts near red line are so, so, sweet now!

If you're on the fence, I would say just do it already, you won't be sorry!

Thanks Alex

Another satisfied customer!

Thanks for the review! Much appreciate it.

[ssabripo]

For the ignorant, what exactly does the gts DCT sw have that regular DCT owners don't?

[M3 Pilot]

Originally Posted by X2Board

Are you running with no mufflers? A car idling for 15 minutes shouldn't raise the ire of your neighbours. Alex uses a VM, so you probably need the 4 Gigs of RAM.

Not when its 12 midnight after you factor in Time zone difference, MPE, basement garage and neighbor (tenant) with sand in her vagina.

I may very well need to buy a new laptop for this update.

[X2Board]

Originally Posted by M3 Pilot

Not when its 12 midnight after you factor in Time zone difference, MPE, basement garage and neighbor (tenant) with sand in her vagina.

I may very well need to buy a new laptop for this update.

If you're single and she isn't bad looking, help her clear the sand out, and then call Alex. Do it right and she won't care how long the car runs for

[M3 Pilot]

Originally Posted by X2Board

If you're single and she isn't bad looking, help her clear the sand out, and then call Alex. Do it right and she won't care how long the car runs for

Yeah... I think I'll leave the sand where it is. May be contaminated

Are the downshifts now more aggressive you reckon ?

For some reason my downshifts are a bit lazy and time delayed in S5.

I'm wonder if there is some driver adaption like in the old E46 ATs which detects your driving style and decides when to upshift.

[X2Board]

Thanks for the move, and clean up of the thread!

[X2Board]

Originally Posted by M3 Pilot

Yeah... I think I'll leave the sand where it is. May be contaminated

Are the downshifts now more aggressive you reckon ?

For some reason my downshifts are a bit lazy and time delayed in S5.

I'm wonder if there is some driver adaption like in the old E46 ATs which detects your driving style and decides when to upshift.

No lazy shifts anymore, on either the up or down, sometimes I would let off the throttle in between shifts to hear the rev match bark of the exhaust, and it usually only did it on the 1-2 shift, now it even does it on the 3-4. It's just perfect now!

[M3 Pilot]

Originally Posted by X2Board

No lazy shifts anymore, on either the up or down, sometimes I would let off the throttle in between shifts to hear the rev match bark of the exhaust, and it usually only do it on the 1-2 shift, now it even does it on the 3-4. It's just perfect now!

Thanks for the feedback.