Dinan DCT Tune Review

[///M Ryder]

I know a few people subscribed to another thread, but that thread has been locked so I had to create a new one for the review.

So here are my thoughts. After getting the software loaded, I had a 50 mile (45 of that on the freeway) drive to test this out. As you all know by now, it does default to D2 just like the other tunes on the market. As I was pulling out of the shop the first thing I notice is how smooth the gear changes are in S4, (this is my normal setting). The next thing I noticed was how quick the gear changes were, (now I didn't think it was possible to change gears any quicker). Now as I weave my way to the on ramp, I encounter a small traffic jam......this was good news because I could now test the 3-2 and 2-1 down shift. All I can say is . There is absolutely and I mean no bucking when downshifting. When you downshift to 1st gear it feels really smooth.

Now that I am on the freeway I can open things up a little and run through some gears. As I stated earlier, the gear changes are instant when you pull the paddle. The rev matching, (throttle blip) is instant as well. Once I was in a clearing I decided to test the "Escape Gear", (accelerator floored and pull the downshift paddle). This was probably the biggest surprise......it immediately found 4th gear with no delay. This alone is worth the money. The next test was to load things up with the (M)agic button and see what this tune was really about. I will say this......if you are someone that likes that brut kick in the azz feeling, this tune is not for you. The shifts were lightning quick and non-violent. You can still feel the power of the gear change but it feels like all the power is still on the wheels and not in the tranny.

Last phase of my test.....picked up the CEO at the house and ran a few errands in rush hour traffic. I let her drive to the first destination so that I could feel the gear changes as a passenger. She opted to cruise in D3.....yeah I know...but anyway. The gear changes were so smooth, I found myself looking over a couple of times to see what gear she was in. Now keep in mind I'm running a full Dinan system. Heading back home I drove in S5 and the multiple downshifts were another great surprise. No delay in selecting a gear. You downshift and it follows......and this is all the way down to 1st. Once I was back at the ranch I had to test the instant reverse theory everyone looks for. If you are sitting still it is instant. If you are moving forward and select reverse, you still get the "conventional manual gearbox" <-------(this is how we will refer to you guys from now on ) feel. As for the memory....I left the car in S5 as my last setting and shut her down. Went back out to see what would happen and sure enough, she defaulted to D2 but my S setting was still S5. This is definitely better than the factory setting of maintaining the D settings.

All in all, this is a great upgrade compared to the factor software. And no I'm not a paid spokesperson for Steve and his mini empire. I'm just a guy that believes in Dinan products and have had great success with them............Phil

[Patrón]

How much?

[///M Ryder]

Originally Posted by Patrón

How much?

$299 and 30 minutes labor is what it list for .............Phil

[spool twice]

whats the launch control rpm on dinans software? is it 3500rpm like other GTS files? Price seems reasonable too, this is Dinan's first product that I can actually say has good value per dollar ratio.

[m3aviator]

If you need to re-flash for whatever reason, will dinan charge you again?

[///M Ryder]

Originally Posted by spool twice

whats the launch control rpm on dinans software? is it 3500rpm like other GTS files? Price seems reasonable too, this is Dinan's first product that I can actually say has good value per dollar ratio.

Spoke with Dinan today and I couldn't confirm the number. I've heard it was 3500 rpm...........Phil

[///M Ryder]

Originally Posted by m3aviator

If you need to re-flash for whatever reason, will dinan charge you again?

No......I've never had to pay for a reflash. Just make sure the work is done by a authorized Dinan dealer.............Phil

[SenorFunkyPants]

What is it like in S2 and S3?
The power shift with the OEM software is already enough to unsettle the rear of the car and chirp the tyres in S4 and S5 - which is not always desirable in bends with marginal grip.

[///M Ryder]

Originally Posted by SenorFunkyPants

What is it like in S2 and S3?
The power shift with the OEM software is already enough to unsettle the rear of the car and chirp the tyres in S4 and S5 - which is not always desirable in bends with marginal grip.

S2 and S3....what are those . I never drive in those settings but I'll give it a go today and let you know............Phil

[Jlm3]

Anyone know if there would be any issues combining this with a non-dinan tune?

[EuroKar]

Originally Posted by m3aviator

If you need to re-flash for whatever reason, will dinan charge you again?

You get 1 year free flash updates. If a BMW dealer updates your software due to a factory software level upgrade then you can return to ANY Dinan dealer and receicve your Dinan software re-flashed for free.

[Patrón]

Originally Posted by ///M Ryder

$299 and 30 minutes labor is what it list for .............Phil

Not bad. Thanks.

[bigjae1976]

Originally Posted by SenorFunkyPants

What is it like in S2 and S3?
The power shift with the OEM software is already enough to unsettle the rear of the car and chirp the tyres in S4 and S5 - which is not always desirable in bends with marginal grip.

Which is why I can't understand why people drive it in S6. Nonetheless...interesting. I'd like for S5 to be a little less unsettling. I track the car in S4 because of that jerk.

But I've never considered my DCT rough after riding in an SMG M5 driven by Mike Renner. Can you say...face bounce off the steering wheel rough? I thought we hit something.

[ASU]

Interesting review for me especially since I didn't realize there was a DCT Tune from Dinan. I thought for sure you were simply reviewing the Dinan Engine Tune. Obviously not...I had to go and check to make sure. Similar to yourself I have done many Dinan mods with exception of the braces however I did do the 3.62 Diff (substantial difference) and I very pleased with this mod however I do get some bucking/jerking at times and since I did change the Diff this is even more rough times.

So bottom line, you did find a reasonable improvement and worth the $?

Thanks for writing this up,

[NELSON.MLGB]

You should let some coding specialists to check see if it has the same ZB# as the GTS one, if so, they are the same thing lol..

[M3-S65]

Originally Posted by ///M Ryder

$299 and 30 minutes labor is what it list for .............Phil

Calling Dinan on Monday thanks for the great review !!

This is a no brainer with the relationship Dinan has with BMW and the Dinan warranty. Plus all this rough shifting cant possibly be good for the internals of the DCT overtime.

Thanks

[dparm]

Originally Posted by ///M Ryder

All in all, this is a great upgrade compared to the factor software. And no I'm not a paid spokesperson for Steve and his mini empire. I'm just a guy that believes in Dinan products and have had great success with them............Phil

Phil, does Dinan require the car to have stock US DCT software before they'll flash? Can they/will they flash over a GTS tune or someone else's DCT software?

[s85e90]

I got lost when you picked up the CEO and started to let her drive the car.....

[Amirsm3]

This...this makes me sad there isn't an authorized Dinan dealer near me.

[///M Ryder]

Originally Posted by dparm

Phil, does Dinan require the car to have stock US DCT software before they'll flash? Can they/will they flash over a GTS tune or someone else's DCT software?

The software update overrides whatever you are running. It's not a upgrade or add on to the factory software. You'll be fine

Originally Posted by s85e90

I got lost when you picked up the CEO and started to let her drive the car.....

Go back and read it again. It's about the stop and go traffic behavior.......Phil

[///M Ryder]

Originally Posted by SenorFunkyPants

What is it like in S2 and S3?
The power shift with the OEM software is already enough to unsettle the rear of the car and chirp the tyres in S4 and S5 - which is not always desirable in bends with marginal grip.

S2 and S3 shifts are very tamed. At slow speeds it reminded me of the CVT tranny from Audi. It obviously wasn't hunting for gears but the gear changes are quiet and uneventful......kinda boring really. Based on my street test, I don't think it's possible to upset the rear of the car in S2, S3, or S4 with this tune. Now S5 and S6 may still unsettle things a bit when exiting a corner but that will depend on when you're on the accelerator.

Let me add this after a couple of days of driving now. The multi gear downshifts have been nothing short of amazing. You can "rev match" gears all the way down....even 1st rev matches perfectly. In the past you couldn't always downshift to 1st. Every time I've executed a multi gear downshift it has been flawless.......This tune is worth the money!...............Phil

[///M Ryder]

Originally Posted by Jlm3

Anyone know if there would be any issues combining this with a non-dinan tune?

No....it's a stand alone tune..........Phil