Powerchip ECU tune or GIAC ECU tune....

[pumper206]

Trying to figure out which one is actually better. Maybe someone can enlighten me on this. I've already read through ECU Mod Overview thread and although it has a lot of useful info, it hasn't helped me to decide which ECU tune I want to go with. Any thoughts on this would be greatly appreciated. Thanks in advance.

[tom @ eas]

Originally Posted by pumper206

Trying to figure out which one is actually better. Maybe someone can enlighten me on this. I've already read through ECU Mod Overview thread and although it has a lot of useful info, it hasn't helped me to decide which ECU tune I want to go with. Any thoughts on this would be greatly appreciated. Thanks in advance.

Here's DLSJ5's DCT M3 on the track, using the GIAC flash with a record 11.8 sec @119MPH:

[/QUOTE]

Let's start out by what production date M3 you have and if you are equipped with 6MT or DCT? Also - any currently installed or future planned modifications would be helpful.

[Nawaaz]

I went with PC.

They're very experienced with tuning the e9x M3, and they've proved it time and time again.

[MrHarris]

I'd go PC but I'd consider GIAC if it was custom.

[Eugene-TAIWAN]

If you want to keep the primary cats, go for GIAC

If you are going to delete the primary cats, for to Powerchip

[SOCAL]

Originally Posted by Eugene-TAIWAN

If you want to keep the primary cats, go for GIAC

If you are going to delete the primary cats, for to Powerchip

Whats the reasoning behind this? I plan on loosing the secondary cats but keeping the primaries and Im also in the market for a tune.

[TOOMANYCARS]

Powerchip.

[Eugene-TAIWAN]

Originally Posted by SOCAL

Whats the reasoning behind this? I plan on loosing the secondary cats but keeping the primaries and Im also in the market for a tune.

If you delete the primary cats you will get better HP then deleting the secondary cats. And the O2 sensors are on the primary cats. That is why you see all the powerful exhuast are primary cat deletes.

[powertrip]

+1 deleting the secondary cats frees up very little horsepower.

Originally Posted by Eugene-TAIWAN

If you delete the primary cats you will get better HP then deleting the secondary cats. And the O2 sensors are on the primary cats. That is why you see all the powerful exhuast are primary cat deletes.

[FStop7]

All I will say is that when you delete your primary cats off the stock X-pipe you feel a pretty big gain, even with no tune and the stock secondaries still in place.

Not that I'd know, because that would be against the law. And I don't break the law.

[Nawaaz]

Originally Posted by FStop7

All I will say is that when you delete your primary cats off the stock X-pipe you feel a pretty big gain, even with no tune and the stock secondaries still in place.

Not that I'd know, because that would be against the law. And I don't break the law.

Sure.

[SoCalM3Mang]

Originally Posted by FStop7

All I will say is that when you delete your primary cats off the stock X-pipe you feel a pretty big gain, even with no tune and the stock secondaries still in place.

Not that I'd know, because that would be against the law. And I don't break the law.

Is there any way to do this and keep the resonators in place? I assume no.

Also, does retaining the 2ndary do a better job of harnessing/preventing/minimizing exhaust gases/fumes than HFC's? ie..when you replace with a Fabspeed system?

I seem to get different answers from different people on this question.

To the OP's original question.

POWERCHIP!!!!!!!!!!!

[FStop7]

Originally Posted by SoCalM3Mang

Is there any way to do this and keep the resonators in place? I assume no.

Also, does retaining the 2ndary do a better job of harnessing/preventing/minimizing exhaust gases/fumes than HFC's? ie..when you replace with a Fabspeed system?

I seem to get different answers from different people on this question.

To the OP's original question.

POWERCHIP!!!!!!!!!!!

If you were to remove the primary cats you wouldn't come close to touching the resonators. My resonators are still in place.

I have no idea if running secondaries only is more efficient than HFCs in terms of fumes. My car exhaust smells a little bit stronger at cold start, but other than that it seems to be the same as stock. But to find the specific numbers means putting the car on a sniffer.

[SoCalM3Mang]

Originally Posted by FStop7

If you were to remove the primary cats you wouldn't come close to touching the resonators. My resonators are still in place.

I have no idea if running secondaries only is more efficient than HFCs in terms of fumes. My car exhaust smells a little bit stronger at cold start, but other than that it seems to be the same as stock. But to find the specific numbers means putting the car on a sniffer.

Thanks for your answer. What did you do upon deleting the primary as far as piping? Custom exhaust shop fabrication?

How loud is it still maintaining the resonators? Droning?

Thanks.

[pumper206]

Thanks for all the great feed back guys!
I'm driving a 2009 E92 DCT. My future mods are going to include: pulleys, Envy intake(already have BMC air filter), primary cat delete exhaust(already have x-pipe). Seems like Powerchip is the way to go. Anyone know if Powerchip is selling the handheld programmer yet? I know GIAC offers this, which makes it quite entycing.

[FStop7]

Cut the primary cats off with a sawzall.

Use a grinder to remove the flanges from the cats.

Weld the flanges onto pieces of custom bent tubing.

Weld the other end of the tubing to the x-pipe.

I have an RPI catback, which is a deep sounding exhaust. After the cat delete it's deeper on cold startup. Once the car is warmed up it sounds exactly the same as it did before at idle, no difference. At wide open throttle it's not so much louder as it is deeper and fuller sounding. Droning is either the same or less. The RPI doesn't drone much to start with.

[Eugene-TAIWAN]

Originally Posted by pumper206

Thanks for all the great feed back guys!
I'm driving a 2009 E92 DCT. My future mods are going to include: pulleys, Envy intake(already have BMC air filter), primary cat delete exhaust(already have x-pipe). Seems like Powerchip is the way to go. Anyone know if Powerchip is selling the handheld programmer yet? I know GIAC offers this, which makes it quite entycing.

Dude honestly , I don't even think the handheld work.

[mixja]

Powerchip - latest software claims +40WHP and an early anecdotal report on this forum (see http://www.m3post.com/forums/showpos...6&postcount=36) suggests at the very least the new Powerchip tune is better than the old Powerchip tune (which was very good in the first place)

[bren335i]

Originally Posted by mixja

Powerchip - latest software claims +40WHP and an early anecdotal report on this forum (see http://www.m3post.com/forums/showpos...6&postcount=36) suggests at the very least the new Powerchip tune is better than the old Powerchip tune (which was very good in the first place)

Correct, Powerchip is the way to go simply because it's CUSTOM to your car. Not an off the shelf GIAC file. No one can argue that.

The reason why the link above refers to a second flash is because PC learned new VANOS logic and were able to extract another 10-20hp out of the car in certain areas. No other option has come close yet.

[Eugene-TAIWAN]

don't know about how bad GIAC's file is.

I mean I really don't see any other file maker that is putting up times like DREW.

[bren335i]

Originally Posted by Eugene-TAIWAN

don't know about how bad GIAC's file is.

I mean I really don't see any other file maker that is putting up times like DREW.

The GIAC file isn't bad. But that's an ignorant statement.

Drew could make any car run good times, he's a great drag racer. Powerchip simply has the highest hp E92's out there now. Including all the boosted ones tuned at a certain facility . Drew actually knows powerchip's tuner very well.

The N/A E46 M3 record of 12.3 uses a powerchip tune fyi

[tom @ eas]

Originally Posted by bren335i

The GIAC file isn't bad. But that's an ignorant statement.

Drew could make any car run good times, he's a great drag racer. Powerchip simply has the highest hp E92's out there now. Including all the boosted ones tuned at a certain facility . Drew actually knows powerchip's tuner very well.

The N/A E46 M3 record of 12.3 uses a powerchip tune fyi

Agreed - The GIAC file is probably the best out there, just not widely marketed at every single chance a software thread is brought up.

As for the boosted claims, that will be put to the test within the next week:



I had the Powerchip installed on my M3 back in June and was not happy with the results, a number of other issues (both mechanical and support related) rose began during programming when the DME needed to be returned to stock, luckily - we were able to remove the software with some help from the autologic team and get back on track.

I've known the Powerchip guys for some time and have dealt with them since the S54 days on software, but the GIAC flash simply performed better - which is the reason we decided to team up with them.

Stay subscribed to our journal thread, we will be posting our results soon.

Originally Posted by bren335i

Correct, Powerchip is the way to go simply because it's CUSTOM to your car. Not an off the shelf GIAC file. No one can argue that.

The reason why the link above refers to a second flash is because PC learned new VANOS logic and were able to extract another 10-20hp out of the car in certain areas. No other option has come close yet.

DLSJ5's "off the shelf" file has been producing some amazing results.