Any recommendations for which tune I should go with?

[that_grey_m3]

I know this is a commonly discussed and debated topic, but I could really use some advice. I am not looking for a burble tune option as I am not interested in it, I just want the best performance gain possible while not sacrificing drivability and reliability.

I keep hearing that the Epic Tune is the most powerful, but I am leaning more towards Alpine tune due to the better pricing and quicker response to my emails.

Which tunes do you guys have experience with and suggest I run? I have already searched almost all the thread posts on this forum regarding tunes and still can't decide, it seems that people are saying go with the one with the best customer service. SIDE NOTEL I am running full catless and my torque down low is absolutely horrible and underpowered so I always have to keep my RPM revs up high. Thanks guys.

[Bomiz]

cant go wrong with alex@alpine

[BOOF-M3]

Originally Posted by Bomiz

cant go wrong with alex@alpine

There you go.

[Scharbag]

Originally Posted by that_grey_m3

I know this is a commonly discussed and debated topic, but I could really use some advice. I am not looking for a burble tune option as I am not interested in it, I just want the best performance gain possible while not sacrificing drivability and reliability.

I keep hearing that the Epic Tune is the most powerful, but I am leaning more towards Alpine tune due to the better pricing and quicker response to my emails.

Which tunes do you guys have experience with and suggest I run? I have already searched almost all the thread posts on this forum regarding tunes and still can't decide, it seems that people are saying go with the one with the best customer service. SIDE NOTEL I am running full catless and my torque down low is absolutely horrible and underpowered so I always have to keep my RPM revs up high. Thanks guys.

Not really sure any NA S65B40 will ever be considered a torque monster The joy of 5000+ is why I bought this car and why I use so much damn fuel.

Drive it like you stole it!!

As per the original question, my tune is from Alex and is Stage II. Works well and the support is really top notch.

Cheers,

[aswy6]

Epic is probably your best bet on this one. Just look at that torque curve, its beautiful

[Montaver]

Stage 1 - Probably not worth it
Stage 2 - Evolve or ESS

[shimmy23]

Sounds like you searched. I don’t believe the outcome to this thread will be any different. People will chime in with their opinions... all different good and bad. BPM, Dinan, ESS, evolve, epic, alpine. My advice would be for you to actually visit these tuner sites, call them and ask your questions. Tuner customer service should be a consideration. I've heard great things about BPM

[BPMSport]

Info on our tune can be found here, and there is no doubt that you will love it:

Http://www.bpmsport.com/BPMTune.pdf

Feel free to PM for forum discount code.

[McSwine]

Originally Posted by Bomiz

cant go wrong with alex@alpine

Concur.

And just an absolutely first class guy to deal with.

[Bomiz]

Originally Posted by McSwine

Concur.

And just an absolutely first class guy to deal with.

Yep once again. He'll give you the best service and always be available to help

[codinge90]

Honestly all 91 tunes are going to feel and perform the exact same. Just go with some bigger names and you'll be satisfied. There's not much variation between 91 stage 2 tunes, they start varying when you add in burble applications and different fuel maps but since you only plan to run 91 I don't think you can go wrong with any listed on this thread so far.

[R_lara]

BPM Sport

[BOOF-M3]

Originally Posted by codinge90

Honestly all 91 tunes are going to feel and perform the exact same. Just go with some bigger names and you'll be satisfied. There's not much variation between 91 stage 2 tunes, they start varying when you add in burble applications and different fuel maps but since you only plan to run 91 I don't think you can go wrong with any listed on this thread so far.

I would shop around and go with the cheaper tune of the few that have been mentioned in your thread.

[EricSMG]

Originally Posted by aswy6

Epic is probably your best bet on this one. Just look at that torque curve, its beautiful

Where can I see this?

[aswy6]

Originally Posted by EricSMG

Where can I see this?

http://www.motoiq.com/MagazineArticl...S65-V8-M3.aspx

[EricSMG]

Originally Posted by aswy6

http://www.motoiq.com/MagazineArticl...S65-V8-M3.aspx

OMG how did I miss this! Thanks man - this is killer. This motor needs midrange more than anything else and this looks like the ticket.

Edit - this IS the combo BUT I think the lion's share of the midrange grunt is from the x placement more than the tune. My only gripe is that the pipe is catless. Why not give us a 100 or 200 cell catt'd version?

[codinge90]

Originally Posted by EricSMG

OMG how did I miss this!

Thanks man - this is killer. This motor needs midrange more than anything else and this looks like the ticket.

This has more to do with the actual x pipe than it does with the tune. The bimmerworld x pipe connect is closer to the motor than most of the other x pipes on the market. If you look up the testing from the closer connect you'll see they tend to have more mid range. I tested this with my buddy with an Mrf x pipe, same tune and same mods different x pipe and he made 30 more torque than me in the mid range. The tune isn't going to make more torque.

[aswy6]

Originally Posted by codinge90

This has more to do with the actual x pipe than it does with the tune. The bimmerworld x pipe connect is closer to the motor than most of the other x pipes on the market. If you look up the testing from the closer connect you'll see they tend to have more mid range. I tested this with my buddy with an Mrf x pipe, same tune and same mods different x pipe and he made 30 whp more torque than me in the mid range. The tune isn't going to make more torque.

30 whp by moving the X portion 5 inches closer to the header? Highly doubt that. Bimmrrworld shows two dynos of the same car with the same tune but 2 different x-pipes and the new design one adds 5hp and 3-5tq starting from mid range and up top. Moving the X portion 5 inches forward is not going to make 30trq difference

[aswy6]

Originally Posted by EricSMG

OMG how did I miss this! Thanks man - this is killer. This motor needs midrange more than anything else and this looks like the ticket.

Edit - this IS the combo BUT I think the lion's share of the midrange grunt is from the x placement more than the tune. My only gripe is that the pipe is catless. Why not give us a 100 or 200 cell catt'd version?

They actually do have 200 catted version. You will make 5-10hp and pay a little bit more

[EricSMG]

Originally Posted by codinge90

This has more to do with the actual x pipe than it does with the tune. The bimmerworld x pipe connect is closer to the motor than most of the other x pipes on the market. If you look up the testing from the closer connect you'll see they tend to have more mid range. I tested this with my buddy with an Mrf x pipe, same tune and same mods different x pipe and he made 30 whp more torque than me in the mid range. The tune isn't going to make more torque.

Yep, I edited my posted to say almost the same thing. However - the Epic tune is tailored specifically to this X pipe.

I also disagree with your blanket statement that "all stage 1 tunes are equal" just from a technical standpoint. That assumes that every stage 1 tune is has the same timing targets, vanos changes, fuel targets, torque mgmnt targets, etc.

Further, that ALSO assumes that every tune is written by people who A) fully understand what the hell they're doing and B) understand how engines make power and C) know how to translate code into more power.

If it were easy more people would do it. Surely skill and knowledge comes into play here. Will most stage 1 tunes provide similar results? Probably. But are they all the same and will they all provide identical drivability (what matters most)? Doubtful.

I had a powerchips/Evosport tune on my first E46 M3 15 years ago before I knew anything an it ruined the car. Worst mod ever. Then went to an ESS and it was night and day. Both stage 1 tunes.

[EricSMG]

Originally Posted by aswy6

They actually do have 200 catted version. You will make 5-10hp and pay a little bit more

Not for use with the stock headers that I can see.

Or am I missing it?

[EricSMG]

Originally Posted by aswy6

30 whp by moving the X portion 5 inches closer to the header? Highly doubt that. Bimmrrworld shows two dynos of the same car with the same tune but 2 different x-pipes and the new design one adds 5hp and 3-5tq starting from mid range and up top. Moving the X portion 5 inches forward is not going to make 30trq difference

Link?

It's been proven that a front mounted X increases midrange significantly (not top end, which this car doesn't need), but I'd like to see what you're referencing above.

The S65 needs more grunt from 4-6k rpm - the torque dip is huge on the street and makes the motor feel weak in that range. The S54 is much more responsive in that range due to the shape of it's curve.

Edit - you're confusing whp for midrange, I think.