Alex Alpine ECU Tune

[statik]

anyone know how many OBD monitors are “not ready/failed” with the stage 2 tune?

[statik]

Originally Posted by statik

anyone know how many OBD monitors are “not ready/failed” with the stage 2 tune?

for anyone else interested, sounds like the answer is one.

[tigermack]

Originally Posted by statik

for anyone else interested, sounds like the answer is one.

Which one is that?

[bd700]

Add me to the list of happy customers of Alpinemss. Alex supplied an engine tune, Euro MDM coding, and the GTS DCT flash yesterday. He was generously flexible with his schedule as I had to source a newer laptop because my old ass MacBook Air (10+ years) was too old to provide reliable transfer speeds for the DCT flash.

The tuning is well worth the cost of admission compared to any other non-invasive upgrade. Performance has definitely improved for day to day use. If you are on the fence, just do it.

[wyatth]

Alex, do you tune SC builds as well? I like your NA tune and wondering what options one may have if purchasing a used SC kit.

[HolyChitMeng]

Does anyone have the new software link? Mine expired.

[Alex@Alpine]

Originally Posted by HolyChitMeng

Does anyone have the new software link? Mine expired.

The link never changes. It is always the same. Look back at your original email instructions or at the bottom of a file request email you received.

[storM3trooper]

Is there still a group buy going on?
What will happen to my dinan stage 1 tune? (I also have euro dct tune)
If I select burble option can I turn it on and off or it's permanent?

I'm stock engine oem exhaust mod. cats are still in place

[pbonsalb]

Dinan stage 1 tune is not very good. I just changed from one to an Epic Race tune and am very impressed by the Epic tune but was never impressed by the Dinan tune. With most tune software you can save your existing tune, a 240E update if the tuner gives you one separately, and the tuner’s new tune. You can change to any of them.

[Dpc2u]

Originally Posted by pbonsalb

Dinan stage 1 tune is not very good. I just changed from one to an Epic Race tune and am very impressed by the Epic tune but was never impressed by the Dinan tune. With most tune software you can save your existing tune, a 240E update if the tuner gives you one separately, and the tuner’s new tune. You can change to any of them.

What he said, and Alex gives you unlimited maps at no extra cost. You can't do a burble tune though, unless you do a cat delete. You barely hear them, if at all, and it will damage the cats.

[Alex@Alpine]

Originally Posted by storM3trooper

Is there still a group buy going on?
What will happen to my dinan stage 1 tune? (I also have euro dct tune)
If I select burble option can I turn it on and off or it's permanent?

I'm stock engine oem exhaust mod. cats are still in place

No group buys anytime soon but you can use the coupon code BF19 still live for a couple more days. Sometimes you are able to backup your tune. Burbles not possible on stock car.

[storM3trooper]

Originally Posted by Dpc2u

What he said, and Alex gives you unlimited maps at no extra cost. You can't do a burble tune though, unless you do a cat delete. You barely hear them, if at all, and it will damage the cats.

Got it, I don't want to go catless due to the smell plus it's not legal here in CA. Received an advice that I should also consider getting x-pipe or test pipe to feel more difference with a new tune. Do I need to get them both or choose one?

[storM3trooper]

Originally Posted by Alex@Alpine

No group buys anytime soon but you can use the coupon code BF19 still live for a couple more days. Sometimes you are able to backup your tune. Burbles not possible on stock car.

Oh man that group buy pricing is so good. I see, so I should add the GTS DCT flash since my euro DCT will disappear as well

[sdbmwcoding]

Originally Posted by storM3trooper

Oh man that group buy pricing is so good. I see, so I should add the GTS DCT flash since my euro DCT will disappear as well

No, your transmission software won't be touched if you purchase and install Alex's ecu tune. The ecu tune is for the dme, the transmission module won't be touched.

[storM3trooper]

Originally Posted by sd*********

No, your transmission software won't be touched if you purchase and install Alex's ecu tune. The ecu tune is for the dme, the transmission module won't be touched.

Thank you for the clarification

[pbonsalb]

Originally Posted by storM3trooper

Got it, I don't want to go catless due to the smell plus it's not legal here in CA. Received an advice that I should also consider getting x-pipe or test pipe to feel more difference with a new tune. Do I need to get them both or choose one?

If you don’t go catless, you aren’t getting a real stage 2 tune because there is no reduced backpressure to take advantage of. However, many still say their stage 1 tune feels better and it should also gain some rwhp on a dyno. The tuners update your software to the latest bmw software for smoother running. Some say that just updating to the latest bmw software is good for a few rwhp over earlier bmw software. Then the tuners lean out the AFR target slightly, which adds a few rwhp. Depending on the software you have now, you could pick up 5-15 rwhp. Stage 2 gains would be greater plus you would be gaining from the free flowing x pipe.

[wyatth]

Originally Posted by pbonsalb

If you don’t go catless, you aren’t getting a real stage 2 tune because there is no reduced backpressure to take advantage of.

I imagine what you meant by “catless” is “removing the primary cats.” But for other readers’ sake, you can still retain the secondary cats (or any Xpipe with HFCs) and run a stage 2 tune for some solid gains. There’s little power to be found in a full catless setup so I see no point running such hardware on the street.

[pbonsalb]

Yes, removing the front cats is a good compromise. But the rear cats still pose a restriction. For maximum gains, run a true catless x pipe, and buy one with the X at the front rather than in the middle. The most bang for the buck is test pipes in the stock x-pipe, leaving the rear cats. I would love to see some back to back dynos of just the front cats deleted versus a full catless aftermarket x pipe. People write all the time that there is little difference, but I have been here for 9 years and can not recall seeing such a dyno comparison.

[storM3trooper]

Originally Posted by pbonsalb

If you don’t go catless, you aren’t getting a real stage 2 tune because there is no reduced backpressure to take advantage of. However, many still say their stage 1 tune feels better and it should also gain some rwhp on a dyno. The tuners update your software to the latest bmw software for smoother running. Some say that just updating to the latest bmw software is good for a few rwhp over earlier bmw software. Then the tuners lean out the AFR target slightly, which adds a few rwhp. Depending on the software you have now, you could pick up 5-15 rwhp. Stage 2 gains would be greater plus you would be gaining from the free flowing x pipe.

Awesome, first get the tune and feel the difference on software update and then add test pipes

[storM3trooper]

Originally Posted by pbonsalb

Yes, removing the front cats is a good compromise. But the rear cats still pose a restriction. For maximum gains, run a true catless x pipe, and buy one with the X at the front rather than in the middle. The most bang for the buck is test pipes in the stock x-pipe, leaving the rear cats. I would love to see some back to back dynos of just the front cats deleted versus a full catless aftermarket x pipe. People write all the time that there is little difference, but I have been here for 9 years and can not recall seeing such a dyno comparison.

Leaning towards the "compromise" keeping the secondary cats. I like your "most bang for the buck idea"

[mrspecter]

Originally Posted by storM3trooper

Leaning towards the "compromise" keeping the secondary cats. I like your "most bang for the buck idea"

I was also interested pretty interested in the group buy for Alex's Alpine tune as well, but I stumbled upon this thread too late. Maybe if we get enough people we can make it happen again?

It seems like we are in the same boat. I'm also considering either doing test pipes or an x pipe to enhance the sound of my MPE, but I'd rather not delete my cats due to smell and emissions reasons. NY is also not friendly when it comes to state inspections and emissions.

If you want to keep the secondary cats, take a look at the fabspeed secondary cat bypass pipe. I'm heavily considering doing this as well
https://www.fabspeed.com/bmw-m3-e90-...bypass-x-pipe/

Also been looking at the RKP street or sport x pipe, but the sport is pretty steep at $1800.

[pbonsalb]

He wrote 2 days ago that the discount was still good. If you want the tune, go for it. Or wait for the next sale or group buy for this time or another. They happen regularly.