Alpine Stage 2 Tune for New to Me 2011 M3

[rosemont83]

Hey guys!

Just picked up a 2011 E90 M3 that I am currently waiting for an Alpine stage 2 tune on. Second to last PO emailed and transferred over the tune to me and had some email communications with Alex and made the request.

I thought it was already tuned, but the person I bought it from ended up flashing back to stock when he put the cats back on, so I had some evolve cat delete pipes installed and popped the check engine light so patiently waiting for the stage 2 tune.

Mods are dinan pulley, evolve cat delete, and ACM mod.

My question- when he does the stage 2 cat delete portion of the tune, is the check engine light constantly being reset, or does the tune just turn off the o2 monitoring?

[narkotic]

Go with another tuner.

[smokinjoe64]

Originally Posted by rosemont83

My question- when he does the stage 2 cat delete portion of the tune, is the check engine light constantly being reset, or does the tune just turn off the o2 monitoring?

See experience, review...

Originally Posted by narkotic

Go with another tuner.

+++1

[rosemont83]

Originally Posted by narkotic

Go with another tuner.

The PO transferred the tune to me so it was a $60 tune for me. He sent it over and all seems fine. Any reason to go with another tuner if I already have the tune and its working well?

Originally Posted by smokinjoe64

See experience, review...


+++1

I saw those and I agree on his attitude, he was a little unnecessarily rude at first because I didn't follow the format/structure that I never was communicated in the first place but I did get an updated tune on the 2nd business day. But to your point, I've dealt with a lot of tuners over the years, evolve, powerchip, Sam ahdoot at bydesign, Dinan, carbahn, etc etc and Alex by far has the shortest fuse to put it nicely..

If my tune feels fine, and I have no codes, am I good to go or is there something I need to check? Your review was a bit scathing but I haven't experienced anything odd yet with the tune itself

[tom @ eas]

Unfortunately, You get what you pay for.

Get the Epic tune and don't look back. Real Motorsport experience.

Epic Motorsports - ECU Performance Software - BMW E9X M3
https://europeanautosource.com/produ...are-bmw-e9x-m3

[smokinjoe64]

Originally Posted by rosemont83

The PO transferred the tune to me so it was a $60 tune for me. He sent it over and all seems fine. Any reason to go with another tuner if I already have the tune and its working well?

I saw those and I agree on his attitude, he was a little unnecessarily rude at first because I didn't follow the format/structure that I never was communicated in the first place but I did get an updated tune on the 2nd business day. But to your point, I've dealt with a lot of tuners over the years, evolve, powerchip, Sam ahdoot at bydesign, Dinan, carbahn, etc etc and Alex by far has the shortest fuse to put it nicely..

If my tune feels fine, and I have no codes, am I good to go or is there something I need to check? Your review was a bit scathing but I haven't experienced anything odd yet with the tune itself

GL!
Let us know how it goes over time...particularly running Stage II tune.

[narkotic]

Let's just say I am aware of another tuner that "fixes" Alex' tunes bricking ECU's. There is another car with a blown engine. Go ahead and play roulette with your motorsport engine.

[rosemont83]

Originally Posted by narkotic

Let's just say I am aware of another tuner that "fixes" Alex' tunes bricking ECU's. There is another car with a blown engine. Go ahead and play roulette with your motorsport engine.

Blown because of the tune? I'm open to get a new tune but if this was the case, wouldn't we see a bunch of these cases?

I'll probably go with Epic or Chaos for a retune but was hoping to not get exaggerated data lol

[TboneS54]

Originally Posted by rosemont83

Blown because of the tune? I'm open to get a new tune but if this was the case, wouldn't we see a bunch of these cases?

I'll probably go with Epic or Chaos for a retune but was hoping to not get exaggerated data lol

I think it's a mix. So if a tuner turns off knock control to get higher numbers, that often doesn't result in catastrophe. But if conditions are such, it could. Then who would you blame? The tune didn't make it happen perse, but it did stop the ECU from protecting itself.

[rosemont83]

Well thanks ya a-holes, I just ordered an epic tune and their DCT flash to go along with it because I've noticed some odd shifting characteristics of the current GTS flash also

You guys just want me to spend money don't you...

[rosemont83]

So I am tempted to do a before and after dyno run between the alpine and epic tune but not if the tune isn’t that safe.. maybe I’ll do a stock vs epic tune instead?

[rosemont83]

Anyone even interested in the dyno runs of before and after? Cable should get here today from eas, wondering if it's even worth it for the alpine vs epic dyno runs.. might just skip the dyno and just flash the epic tune

[Bigtriece]

Originally Posted by rosemont83

Anyone even interested in the dyno runs of before and after? Cable should get here today from eas, wondering if it's even worth it for the alpine vs epic dyno runs.. might just skip the dyno and just flash the epic tune

I'd be very interested to see them!

[zcp312]

I’d be curious to see all three. I switched from Alpine to Epic, night and day

[RugbyBro]

+1 for Epic, Randy is the man

[BimmerPaul]

Originally Posted by rosemont83

Anyone even interested in the dyno runs of before and after? Cable should get here today from eas, wondering if it's even worth it for the alpine vs epic dyno runs.. might just skip the dyno and just flash the epic tune

I’m very interested. I have Alpine now and have been thinking about switching to epic so would like to see the difference

[rosemont83]

Originally Posted by smokinjoe64

See experience, review...


+++1

Originally Posted by narkotic

Let's just say I am aware of another tuner that "fixes" Alex' tunes bricking ECU's. There is another car with a blown engine. Go ahead and play roulette with your motorsport engine.

I thought you guys were exaggerating and a little full of it at first but I flashed over the epic tune and I do see a difference..

Originally Posted by Bigtriece

I'd be very interested to see them!

Originally Posted by zcp312

I’d be curious to see all three. I switched from Alpine to Epic, night and day

Originally Posted by RugbyBro

+1 for Epic, Randy is the man

Originally Posted by BimmerPaul

I’m very interested. I have Alpine now and have been thinking about switching to epic so would like to see the difference

I got the cable a bit early and didn't think anyone was going to reply so flashed the new tune a couple hours before I saw these.. I still have the Alpine tune that I can reflash and do the before and after dyno runs now that I know that people are interested.

Long story short, the Epic tune is nothing short of Epic.. I was skeptical, thinking that the tune would just be the same as an Alpine tune just repackaged with a different cable and interface but that is totally wrong. Epic definitely feels a bit stronger but besides the bump in power throughout the range, the throttle mapping seems much better, the car starts and idles better, and it sounds better too. Honestly Alpine seems kind of a junk budget tune and after reading about some people's experiences with Alex, can't recommend the Alpine tune at all even if it's half the price of the Epic tune.


I also did Epic's DCT flash, which is a version of the GTS flash. The car previously had the GTS flash provided by Alex at Alpine and I can't say that I notice a big difference between the two versions of the DCT flash.

[tom @ eas]

Originally Posted by rosemont83

I thought you guys were exaggerating and a little full of it at first but I flashed over the epic tune and I do see a difference..

I got the cable a bit early and didn't think anyone was going to reply so flashed the new tune a couple hours before I saw these.. I still have the Alpine tune that I can reflash and do the before and after dyno runs now that I know that people are interested.

Long story short, the Epic tune is nothing short of Epic.. I was skeptical, thinking that the tune would just be the same as an Alpine tune just repackaged with a different cable and interface but that is totally wrong. Epic definitely feels a bit stronger but besides the bump in power throughout the range, the throttle mapping seems much better, the car starts and idles better, and it sounds better too. Honestly Alpine seems kind of a junk budget tune and after reading about some people's experiences with Alex, can't recommend the Alpine tune at all even if it's half the price of the Epic tune.

I also did Epic's DCT flash, which is a version of the GTS flash. The car previously had the GTS flash provided by Alex at Alpine and I can't say that I notice a big difference between the two versions of the DCT flash.

Glad you're happy with the new setup and now know the true potential a proper tune can provide.

Should get even better once you get some adaptation and better octane (ACN91 is awful).

[supergoji]

Originally Posted by tom @ eas

Unfortunately, You get what you pay for.

Get the Epic tune and don't look back. Real Motorsport experience.

Epic Motorsports - ECU Performance Software - BMW E9X M3
https://europeanautosource.com/produ...are-bmw-e9x-m3

can second this. picked up 15hp over rk, the dyno operator actually wanted to work with Epic after seeing him tune live.

[interactivebizco]

Yeah my experience with Alpine tuning has been similar. They are not professional and I was all set on using them but after dealing with Alex I wouldnt trust him with any car of mine

[interactivebizco]

Originally Posted by narkotic

Let's just say I am aware of another tuner that "fixes" Alex' tunes bricking ECU's. There is another car with a blown engine. Go ahead and play roulette with your motorsport engine.

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[Alex@Alpine]

Originally Posted by narkotic

Let's just say I am aware of another tuner that "fixes" Alex' tunes bricking ECU's. There is another car with a blown engine. Go ahead and play roulette with your motorsport engine.

We haven’t bricked an ECU or blown an engine. We’ve tuned thousands of E9x M3s over the past 17 years. These comments are being made without a shred of evidence.

I’m working on my short fuse and apologize to anyone I may have offended.

Knock control and knock tables are not disabled. We’re not trying to be the most powerful tune on the market—we aim to be the safest and most reliable.

If your tune from us is from before 2022, I suggest updating it and then comparing it to other tunes. You may be surprised by the results. We also offer unlimited tune revisions for the life of your purchase, not just a single tune.