BPM Sport Tune Stage 1, DCT Tune, and Servotronic Review

[Stallion150]

Whats up all. I want to say what a pleasure it's been to work with Mike Benvo and his team at BPM Sport. From the beginning when I'd ask him ridiculous questions about my car's startup to the just a few hours ago while he stayed on the phone via Bluetooth while I opened the car up to WOT, it was a fantastic process. Everything was on time and he and his staff were always accessible (I'm embarrased to say when I was installing the Navigation update, I didn't know we had an extra USB port in the glove box, and his staff sent me a photo of an M3 glovebox to point it out!)
.
I just had all of this done about 3 hours ago but here are my first thoughts...I'm going to preface this by saying that even though I love cars, I'm not very technically oriented (excuse the layman's descriptions)
.
1) Stage 1 Tune/DCT: Painless; I have an apple laptop so had to install the virtual PC softare to get the process started. It's a little more involved than PC; actually, Mike waited on my phone while i used the pollo tropical wifi signal to download. I felt obligated to get some chicken since I used their Wifi
-I noticed immediately on startup that the engine sounded a little meaner (I left cold start on), but the idle did not surge up as high as it typically did. It reached a steady level quicker than before. The car also took off a lot smoother without that lurchy feeling that I used to get while the car needed to warm up. (I'll have to test this out in the AM when its been sitting cold for several hours)
.
I personally like how the car starts in D mode and I can manually switch to S.
2) Servotronic: I LOVE the way the steering handles now. I'm a huge fan of a heavy steering and I never kept the steering on comfort (always sport), but sport feels so much tighter and more focused. This is a godsend.
.
Overall, very happy and look forward to spending more time with the car when I get off this night shift.
.
Thanks Mike

[RobertEvans]

thanks for the review... I'm hoping to get the engine tune soon myself

[Stallion150]

Originally Posted by RobertEvans

thanks for the review... I'm hoping to get the engine tune soon myself

No problem. Will post updated thoughts as I spend some more time with the car. I feel like it was well worth it. I devised my package a little different: I didn't raise the top speed, raise the RPM, nor delete cold start, just so it would be a little more stealth at the dealership. Despite this, the car definitely feels different in a good way.

[JoePcone]

What does the servotronic do to the steering? Does it give it more weight?

[Amirsm3]

Originally Posted by JoePcone

What does the servotronic do to the steering? Does it give it more weight?

Indeed.

[VtecforV8]

From what I"ve read (and I think Benvo has a thread with graphs, etc. detailing this), servotronic tuning dials back the steering assist at a faster rate with the aim of maintaining some maneuverability in parking lots while giving you better, heavier feel at speed. Looking to go with BPM myself pretty soon (warranty is almost up) and am looking forward to this feature more than any other.

[jqsmooth]

I'm interested as well.

[CurbBender'90]

Ya can't go wrong with Mike, great tune, informative, excellent customer service too! My car is running strong for about 2months now.

[W///]

Originally Posted by JoePcone

What does the servotronic do to the steering? Does it give it more weight?

Correct. It might sound minor, but that this is one of my absolute favorite parts of the coding/tuning. Makes all the damn difference in the world IMO.

[besiktas]

I got test pipes from him. he was easy to work with. steering is a bit too heavy for me now but the car sounds sick. came accross to a e60 m5 at a red light, had a spirited drive. on the next set of lights he was stunned by the sound of the car.

[sello]

Bump for great product and great guy!!

[Stallion150]

Update:

Drove the car another 50 miles. From what I understand, it will still take a bit of time for the car to adapt to the new tune, but damn does this thing pull!
.
I always felt that my stock M3 was "lazy" in its less aggressive settings...you really had to stomp on the pedal for it to feel alive. But now, even in D2, the car hauls ass! I can't imagine what the power button + sport plus would feel like

I cannot stop raving about the steering. That plus this new low end torque make me 100% happy with the car. Just a set of black wheels, illuminated ///M3 door sills, and maybe an Akra Evo w Stage II and I'll be done

This is the car happy after Mike's tune:

[to///m]

Awesome, im going to be getting the stage 2 tune soon!

[Yay-Z]

How much did it cost please?

[JoePcone]

Great review. I'm looking to go this route next year. I'd definitely have to drive a car with the servotronic update to see if I like it or not before getting it. Good to hear you're happy and the extra power makes such a difference as most of this forum states.

[Stallion150]

Originally Posted by Yay-Z

How much did it cost please?

Hey it's on the BPM sport website (I got the stage 1 + dct package), mike includes servotronic recalibration in the package.

[tony093]

Just got stage 2 tune from bpm last week. It feels like I'm driving a new car...thx Mike

[BPMSport]

Originally Posted by Stallion150

Whats up all. I want to say what a pleasure it's been to work with Mike Benvo and his team at BPM Sport. From the beginning when I'd ask him ridiculous questions about my car's startup to the just a few hours ago while he stayed on the phone via Bluetooth while I opened the car up to WOT, it was a fantastic process. Everything was on time and he and his staff were always accessible (I'm embarrased to say when I was installing the Navigation update, I didn't know we had an extra USB port in the glove box, and his staff sent me a photo of an M3 glovebox to point it out!)
.
I just had all of this done about 3 hours ago but here are my first thoughts...I'm going to preface this by saying that even though I love cars, I'm not very technically oriented (excuse the layman's descriptions)
.
1) Stage 1 Tune/DCT: Painless; I have an apple laptop so had to install the virtual PC softare to get the process started. It's a little more involved than PC; actually, Mike waited on my phone while i used the pollo tropical wifi signal to download. I felt obligated to get some chicken since I used their Wifi
-I noticed immediately on startup that the engine sounded a little meaner (I left cold start on), but the idle did not surge up as high as it typically did. It reached a steady level quicker than before. The car also took off a lot smoother without that lurchy feeling that I used to get while the car needed to warm up. (I'll have to test this out in the AM when its been sitting cold for several hours)
.
I personally like how the car starts in D mode and I can manually switch to S.
2) Servotronic: I LOVE the way the steering handles now. I'm a huge fan of a heavy steering and I never kept the steering on comfort (always sport), but sport feels so much tighter and more focused. This is a godsend.
.
Overall, very happy and look forward to spending more time with the car when I get off this night shift.
.
Thanks Mike

Originally Posted by BMW_Boy7

Ya can't go wrong with Mike, great tune, informative, excellent customer service too! My car is running strong for about 2months now.

Originally Posted by sello

Bump for great product and great guy!!

Originally Posted by tony093

Just got stage 2 tune from bpm last week. It feels like I'm driving a new car...thx Mike

Glad you guys are enjoying the new goodies!! Thanks for your business and let us know if we can be of any help in the future

[jeff4598]

+1

[ShortCkT101]

Originally Posted by Mike Benvo

Glad you guys are enjoying the new goodies!! Thanks for your business and let us know if we can be of any help in the future

Pm sent

[soberin]

Originally Posted by VtecforV8

From what I"ve read (and I think Benvo has a thread with graphs, etc. detailing this), servotronic tuning dials back the steering assist at a faster rate with the aim of maintaining some maneuverability in parking lots while giving you better, heavier feel at speed. Looking to go with BPM myself pretty soon (warranty is almost up) and am looking forward to this feature more than any other.

This is the best mod I have done. Benvo's recalibration of the hydraulic steering in my 09 E90 M3 has not only reduced the overboosted assist, but somehow given me more feedback and feel. I have had this mod since last fall.

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Dinan intake, exhaust, differential, monoballs, toelinks, engine strut brace, underdrive pulley
M5 F10 shifter, Ohlin Road and Track suspension, BPM tune
Advan Neova AD08s, BMW M steering wheel, carbon fibre mirror covers

[BPMSport]

Originally Posted by jeff4598

+1

Originally Posted by soberin

This is the best mod I have done. Benvo's recalibration of the hydraulic steering in my 09 E90 M3 has not only reduced the overboosted assist, but somehow given me more feedback and feel. I have had this mod since last fall.

Thanks guys!!