Alex Alpine ECU Tune

[gillara]

Originally Posted by Dpc2u

The "flash first" file that he sends is the 241e tune. That is the latest factory tune. If you have deleted cats, you will need to swap that back to factory as well.

Oh I see now. Thank you very much for the information. Now to install the factory pipes.

[tigermack]

Originally Posted by gillara

Hey guys, not sure if I am able to have a technical discussion here but I would like to get some help. I am located and California and I am due for a smog test soon. What is the process to switch from Stage 2 tune to stock? Tune instructions do not describe this process. Thanks

After flashing back to stock, you have to do couple drive cycles to make sure your car's readiness monitors are all ready/OK before you smog, otherwise you'd get failed if it's INC.

[chocstraw]

Originally Posted by tigermack

After flashing back to stock, you have to do couple drive cycles to make sure your car's readiness monitors are all ready/OK before you smog, otherwise you'd get failed if it's INC.

I've had it pass in as little as about 35 miles of highway driving but aim for 50. Get in the car, let it do a full cold start cycle (150 sec), cruise at highway speeds (bmw literature says 60mph but I do 75), then let it idle for a couple minutes before shutting off.

[romero1990]

hmmm. dumb question, I have some slight feeling the previous owner might have the car with Alex Tune at one point. but not sure if it was reverted to stock. Is there a way to check?

[smokinjoe64]

Anyone have experience installing Alpine tune with a MacBook Pro running a PC virtual machine [Win 10 Pro]?

• Successful?
• Issues?
• Suggestions?

...comments please

[leeyawn]

Originally Posted by smokinjoe64

Anyone have experience installing Alpine tune with a MacBook Pro running a PC virtual machine [Win 10 Pro]?

• Successful?
• Issues?
• Suggestions?

...comments please

Did it with my 2011 macbook pro.... granted that it had an SSD in it with 8GB of RAM. Went well. He will give you a preloaded VM to run along with the program needed or you can just run your own VM and install/run the tuning program.

[smokinjoe64]

Originally Posted by leeyawn

Did it with my 2011 macbook pro.... granted that it had an SSD in it with 8GB of RAM. Went well. He will give you a preloaded VM to run along with the program needed or you can just run your own VM and install/run the tuning program.

Good to know viable with a MBP...appreciate the feedback

[SnohoRaptor]

Originally Posted by leeyawn

Did it with my 2011 macbook pro.... granted that it had an SSD in it with 8GB of RAM. Went well. He will give you a preloaded VM to run along with the program needed or you can just run your own VM and install/run the tuning program.

I tried using the virtual machine supplied from Alex but couldn't get it to work on my MacBook. A quick internet search for another virtual app worked fine and without a hiccup.

[smokinjoe64]

Originally Posted by SnohoRaptor

I tried using the virtual machine supplied from Alex but couldn't get it to work on my MacBook. A quick internet search for another virtual app worked fine and without a hiccup.

I chose to use Parallels vm software since its optimized for MacBook Pro running Big Sur...worked perfectly!

I chose to buy Parallels; however, they offer full feature free trial as well AND there's a totally free open source Oracle solution [VirtualBox]...not as 'slick', yet fully functional.

[leeyawn]

Originally Posted by SnohoRaptor

I tried using the virtual machine supplied from Alex but couldn't get it to work on my MacBook. A quick internet search for another virtual app worked fine and without a hiccup.

Think my 2011 Macbook Pro is still running off of El Capitan. I did switch to using VirtualBox since VMware stopped working due to the trial. Didnt wanna use my 2018 Macbook since I would have to use a usb adapter *wack*.

[smokinjoe64]

Originally Posted by leeyawn

Think my 2011 Macbook Pro is still running off of El Capitan. I did switch to using VirtualBox since VMware stopped working due to the trial. Didnt wanna use my 2018 Macbook since I would have to use a usb adapter *wack*.

Suggest, at a minimum, install Catalina on your MBP since many OS 'changes' occurred from El Capitan to Catalina.

Have a 2020 MBP [no USB ports]... sucks, no backwards compatibility w/o adapter purchase.

[Scharbag]

Originally Posted by smokinjoe64

Suggest, at a minimum, install Catalina on your MBP since many OS 'changes' occurred from El Capitan to Catalina.

Have a 2020 MBP [no USB ports]... sucks, no backwards compatibility w/o adapter purchase.

I just used cheap USB-C to USB adapters, a VMware Windows 7 VM and the supplied cable with my 2017 MBP. Works fine for me on Big Sur (and all previous versions).

Unfortunately, I had to abandon the Alpine tune due to recurring pre-detonation issues. Sucks but such is life.

Cheers,

[Alex@Alpine]

Originally Posted by Scharbag

I just used cheap USB-C to USB adapters, a VMware Windows 7 VM and the supplied cable with my 2017 MBP. Works fine for me on Big Sur (and all previous versions).

Unfortunately, I had to abandon the Alpine tune due to recurring pre-detonation issues. Sucks but such is life.

Cheers,

Originally when we went hunting for the problem I was suggested by someone it was vanos. I reverted the vanos changes to stock and went on a wild goose chase.

With the thread on the lower end bogging coupled with your thread on pre detonation the problem was resolved with test group 16 some confirming 100% or 99% gone. This was last month.

Give a new map a try, worst case you flash back to your other configuration.

The problem was the vanos struggling on the bottom end, it wasn't pre detonation and that was the reason I was not able to pin point it. Once the bogging thread came into light the problem was pin pointed and figured out.

[bmwm3s65]

Hypothetically, If I have a stage 2 tune map flashed and I use winkfp to flash 241E DME update, will that overwrite the MAP with the stock MAP? As far as i understand, i already updated to the latest 241e software using the "flash first" map and that flashing the "flash first" is the stock tune, however, i am curious if flashing with winkfp and a dat file will do the same thing.

[Alex@Alpine]

Originally Posted by bmwm3s65

Hypothetically, If I have a stage 2 tune map flashed and I use winkfp to flash 241E DME update, will that overwrite the MAP with the stock MAP? As far as i understand, i already updated to the latest 241e software using the "flash first" map and that flashing the "flash first" is the stock tune, however, i am curious if flashing with winkfp and a dat file will do the same thing.

You would return to stock

[bmwm3s65]

Originally Posted by Alex@Alpine

You would return to stock

Thanks!

[gillara]

Have there been any recent updates on the Stage 2 motor tune file as well as the GTS DCT flash file? Going to switch back to stage 2 after smogging the car and I am inquiring about any recent tune updates.

Thanks

[HGreen335]

Any reviews/testimony of the e85 tune? Significant difference in power, drivability, etc? I'm running stage 2 currently but kind of want an extra little kick. I've experience the night and day difference of e85 in a 335 but curious what it will do for a N/A car. Seems like there is very little info anywhere on e9x m3's running e85 in general.

[MechEngineer408]

I have the E85 stage 2 tune and there's a notable bump in power over 91 octane stage 2. It's worth the upgrade assuming you have easy access to E85 because you will be filling up more often.

[Alex@Alpine]

Group buy is open for anyone that like to join: https://www.m3post.com/forums/showth...5#post25921805

Thank you

[gillara]

Have there been any recent updates on the Stage 2 motor tune file as well as the GTS DCT flash file? Going to switch back to stage 2 after smogging the car and I am inquiring about any recent tune updates.

Thanks

[911r]

Tune requests are limited to once per month, correct?