DCT GTS Software Upgrade

[Antonio1988]

Another VERY satisfied customer here! I will be posting my review shortly!

[ANTE92]

I heard that the GTS flash is offer by the dealer as part of their new version of DCT software update. Is this true???

[Grapesape]

Not from what I've read and not from my experience. My SA said he could not (would not?) do it. He said he didn't have access to it.

[Sandye90m3]

I had Alex from Alpine do this GTS DCT software upgrade and I can tell you that it is worht every single penny IMO. The main difference I feel are the upshifts are much more crisp, the downshifts in all SX modes are very smooth but still aggressive, the clutch disengagement from a stand still happens instantly, and lastly there is no more hesitation/jerk forward when slowing down to a stop.

Now remember that this is subjective to what I feel, and what I noticed that changed. Some people will "feel" more and less change than I do. If you are one of those people that can notice small changes in anything, this software update will be a huge improvement. As for people that can't feel subtle changes, you will feel a difference but maybe you won't think it's worth it.

Alex from Alpine did a quick and amazing job for me, really outgoing individual. I got 240E + GTS Software + Coding done from him and the car drives like a complete animal. It's funny, back in the day I drove my friends 2012 M3, and it felt tighter and more aggressive. When compared to my 09 M3, my car felt sluggish, and loose and I didn't understand why. I now know it was the old 2009 software I was running and the old transmission software. The car feels completely different, the engine's 'mood' is more mature and punchier than before.

Also, if you haven't got the EURO MDM you are doing it wrong. I love the EURO MDM, gives you the perfect amount of slip angle before intervening. You can even pull off very nice drifts and hold them for a second or two longer than before. When turning in on the limit you can feel the back end dancing and fighting the limited slip, which I've never felt before

Hope that helps!

^^ Unfortunately I don't take that much time out of my day to post a 7 minute reply on m3post, but the car really does feel that much better with the updates listed above. Enough said.

[M3 Pilot]

Originally Posted by Grapesape

I've found that it IS more aggressive, in the sense that when slowing down, it downshifts with you better. It seems ready to reaccelerate faster, less lag. It grabs the gear and shifts faster but not necessarily more jerky. It actually seems smoother. Hope that helps

Sweet !

This is a must have for me. Now I just need to borrow a laptop with 4gb of ram.

[M0J0]

Alex did my car last night. I ordered the cable and usb. The software was fairly easy to install. There is a youtube video that you follow along. The GTS file took about 10minutes to install. I had my car already coded with euromdm and most other things. Alex did two codes that I had not done previously.

So, now for the good part. The car defaults into D. This alone would have been worth 125 dollars. The reverse seems to engage much faster. I noticed from a stop the car engages into first instantly. This is the biggest change to me. I love it too! It is hard to drive my car hard around Houston to feel the rest of the shift changes. I need a few more days to give an honest opinion. I can tell there are many changes. I just need more time to describe them. I will post a follow up after two weeks of driving.

Coding for this is 125 dollars not 65 dollars since the base coding is also charged which is 60 dollars. If you have not had your car coded in the past this is very nice. Euro MDM is just awesome. I have had it for quite a while. Just a monster difference. I can say coding a car is the best mod there is. You can spend thousands on a tune and pipes. You will get more out of this 125 dollar coding. Or you can do both!

I would like to say that this is some huge bargain. It really is not. This is what I consider fair pricing. Alex could easily charge more and it would still be a fraction of what others are charging. I admire this. He spent less than 30minutes total dealing with me.

Overall, this went great. Alex was fun to chat with and a cool guy. This is the first thing you do to your car when you buy it. Thank you Alex!

Russell

[1SICKM]

So what's the difference in this software vs what ESS, Evolve, AA or Gintani are loading for nearly 1k? I could careless that it engages into reverse faster or has memory from your last setting. What's the performance enhancements? I pm Alex days ago and haven't heard a peep

[SYZ]

Originally Posted by 1SICKM

So what's the difference in this software vs what ESS, Evolve, AA or Gintani are loading for nearly 1k? I could careless that it engages into reverse faster or has memory from your last setting. What's the performance enhancements? I pm Alex days ago and haven't heard a peep

Not sure if there is a lot of noticeable difference as I believe they are all based off GTS DCT software.

Alex has a few different versions. Stock DCT shift at 130ms if I am not mistaken. He has versions that shift at 100ms and 110ms. The original GTS software shifts at 90ms, but that car has added coolers for the DCT.

Email usually gets a quicker response from him in my experience.

Good luck.

[Grapesape]

I read his wife is due any second now!

[SYZ]

Originally Posted by Grapesape

I read his wife is due any second now!

Very cool. Thanks for the announcement; I'll send him a congrats.

[1SICKM]

Originally Posted by SYZ

Very cool. Thanks for the announcement; I'll send him a congrats.

As a father of two ...that explains his silence!

[Verify]

Originally Posted by Alex@Alpine

There is actually, I do not know about the clutch packs, but I do know the GTS has a secondary cooler, the file has been adjusted to solve the over heating problem. The part numbers and hardware ID are totally different then a standard M3

Are these parts available for purchase?

[M3 Pilot]

Originally Posted by SickeM3

Are these parts available for purchase?

You can upgrade your OEM DCT oil cooler.

http://www.motorsport24.de/motorspor...DKG::2098.html

Strangely they are more expensive than the engine oil cooler.

So far I haven't heard of an aftermarket secondary DCT oil cooler.

[lve2xlr8]

For anyone who already has the software, do you notice on lighter throttle upshifts in s4/s5 at higher rpm the transmission seems to drag (slip) into the next gear? I am noticing it on my GTS software and I'm not really a fan.

[SYZ]

Originally Posted by lve2xlr8

For anyone who already has the software, do you notice on lighter throttle upshifts in s4/s5 at higher rpm the transmission seems to drag (slip) into the next gear? I am noticing it on my GTS software and I'm not really a fan.

Why are you light on the throttle but shifting up at high RPMs? Haven't noticed that characteristic, but then again, my driving style seems different than yours.

[lve2xlr8]

Originally Posted by SYZ

Why are you light on the throttle but shifting up at high RPMs? Haven't noticed that characteristic, but then again, my driving style seems different than yours.

When I say light I mean 50% and high rpm I'm talking 4-5k and I think the Akra sounds awesome at that range and throttle input. Just wondering if my gts tune is different since it's from a tuner and not oem

[SYZ]

Originally Posted by lve2xlr8

When I say light I mean 50% and high rpm I'm talking 4-5k and I think the Akra sounds awesome at that range and throttle input. Just wondering if my gts tune is different since it's from a tuner and not oem

Then my answer is definitely no. It shifts super hard if you are at 50% and upshift at 4-5K. I think it almost shifts hardest there.

[lve2xlr8]

Originally Posted by SYZ

Then my answer is definitely no. It shifts super hard if you are at 50% and upshift at 4-5K. I think it almost shifts hardest there.

I'm feeling insecure about my tune. Anyone in LA with the gts software want to compare? Lol

[Daft]

$60 for this upgrade really, what's the catch??? I think I'll take that! PM'd Alex.

[M0J0]

Originally Posted by 1SICKM

So what's the difference in this software vs what ESS, Evolve, AA or Gintani are loading for nearly 1k? I could careless that it engages into reverse faster or has memory from your last setting. What's the performance enhancements? I pm Alex days ago and haven't heard a peep

There is no difference. It is the same software. They all used the same base GTS file from the E92 GTS car. They all toned down the shift times so it would not burn up the clutches. I don't think any tuner has any real special sauce in this tune.

The GTS car has I believe stronger clutches etc...

[1SICKM]

Does anyone have Alex's email

[SYZ]

Originally Posted by 1SICKM

Does anyone have Alex's email

alex@alpinemss.com