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DINANTRONICS Stage 1 Review - Magazine Layout
DINANTRONICS Stage 1 Review - Traditional Layout
For those of you that don’t like to read, let’s cut this review to “It feels faster, bro.” (TL,DR). For those of you that do (or don’t mind, at least), continue on!
Dinan is a well-known BMW tuning company that also has an impressive racing history. Steve Dinan has made a name for himself and his company by developing and selling high quality products with factory-matching warranties. For the F8x, they offer their engine tune in the form of a DINANTRONICS Stage 1 piggyback unit. Dinan has historically been a software company in relation to their tunes. All the way to the e92 M3, they have successfully circumvented BMW’s encryption on their ECU’s to offer software tuning when many other competitors only offered piggyback based units. Recently, however, Dinan has gone the piggyback route due to the ever-increasing difficulty to break BMW’s encryption on newer F based vehicles. While they have openly discussed the benefits (and their preference) of software tuning, they somewhat had to backpedal when releasing their DINANTRONICS products to tout that they can safely tune via a harness that intercepts and modifies signals to safely increase power (air/fuel ratio, boost pressure, etc.).
How To Install DINANTRONICS Performance Tuner On You F8x M3/M4
*Note:* I had mine installed by BMW of North Houston. If you're in the Houston area, I can't recommend them enough. Shout out to
scott@bmwhn!
EDIT/NOTE: The videos below are only intended to highlight the fact that Dinan had to reverse their tuning philosophy, as they historically touted ECU tuning and "bashed" piggyback systems. They are not intended to prove or disprove Steve Dinan's comments that their tunes produce the same (or close to the same) power as their competitors' offerings.
ECU Tuning:
Piggyback Tuning:
Although these videos are convoluted when paired, Dinan’s credo, at least, is simple. They “offer the means to make your BMW driving experience even more exciting, without sacrificing warranty coverage or the civility you expect from a BMW automobile.” Do they live up to this statement? Let's find out.
So, how’s the power?
With the M3 in it’s OEM state, it’s clearly fast. DINANTRONICS brings this to a new level. Boost comes on much harder in lower RPMs. The car pulls like a powered procession of attached carts on a track, otherwise known as a train (e.g., 6th gear pulls on the highway are noticeably better). It’s, simply, much faster. I was initially concerned if I would notice the increase in power right away. I’ve heard reports ranging from “it’s awesome” to “I can’t feel a difference.” I won’t speak for others’ experiences, but the increase power certainly registers on the butt dyno. Not only is the power instantly noticeable, but also the whooshing sounds (you know, turbo-y noises ☺) are much more apparent. Between the feel and sound, it’s been a great visceral improvement. This may be controversial to say, but I’ve owned both to comment. My M3 now reminds me more of my 996 911 Turbo X50 than it does the stock M3. Perhaps this is due to the increased power. Perhaps this is due to increased induction noise. Perhaps this is due to the slingshot effect of the car. Perhaps it’s all three. Honestly, though, it doesn’t matter – what does matter is that I think of my beloved 911 Turbo when I press on the throttle. Not only does one benefit from such improvements, but the car also drives as Dinan states – civility one would expect from a BMW. It’s the combination of such factors that makes this tune such a quality product.
DINANTRONICS Stage 1 1/4 Mile Run (12 seconds @ 120 mph)
Many forum members state that Dinan is conservative with their tunes. Dinan states that they are not conservative and, instead, strike the correct balance between power and drivability. I won’t argue either and find that the power delivered by the DINANTRONICS tune certainly makes the car more fun to drive with what appears to be no short or long-term compromises. To avoid using subjectivity, I will now insert objectivity. To do this, take a look at the gains from the tune. My M3 was run on an AWD Dynojet 424x using STD correction.
For the stock run, the temperature was 82 degrees Fahrenheit and humidity at 67%. The car was run in Sport+ in fifth gear with DSC off. For the tuned run, the temperature was 88 degrees Fahrenheit (+6) and humidity at 57% (-10%). I used the best runs from both days, but also included a chart of all 6 runs (3 stock, 3 tuned). For the graphs and gains, I compared the best runs from each session.
Stock Run
Tuned Run
Stock
Tuned
Stock vs. Tuned
Stock WHP: 442
Stock WTQ: 422
Stage 1 WHP: 451
Stage 1 WTQ: 451
Stage 1 WHP Peak # Increase: 9 WHP
Stage 1 WTQ Peak # Increase: 29 WTQ
Stage 1 WHP Peak % Increase: 2%
Stage 1 WTQ Peak % Increase: 7%
Stage 1 WHP Max # Increase: 33 WHP
Stage 1 WTQ Max # Increase: 55 WTQ
Stage 1 WHP Max % Increase: 7%
Stage 1 WTQ Max % Increase: 13%
Dinan Claimed HP: 516
Dinan Claimed TQ: 489
Measured HP: 531*
Measured TQ: 531*
*Calculating 15% drivetrain loss.
Clearly, the peak HP gains are a bit disappointing (+9 WHP, +27 WTQ), but it is clear that the DINANTRONICS tune is more about midrange gains/power than ultimate horsepower numbers (+33 WHP, +55 WTQ max). This is also apparent in the way that it drives. It was a tad hotter today, so perhaps this impacted the numbers by just a couple of WHP and WTQ.
Unfortunately, the dyno was modified since my original run. I don’t understand the inner workings of their AWD dyno, but they had an issue with a shaft (kind of looks like an axle shaft) that helps drive the front wheel barrel. I believe a belt attaches to it and is what spins both front wheel and rear wheel barrels simultaneously. In any case, I tried to follow along as the tech explained that there may be some slight differences in how the dyno measures the car because they were doing something slightly different (I really wish I was more savvy to better explain it, but it still wasn’t working 100% to their liking). This is clear in the stock versus tuned videos. In the stock video, both front and rear wheels spun. In the tuned video, only the rear wheels spun. In any case, this may have had some impact on the numbers, according to the tech.
Dinan claims that we should see a +42 HP and +47 TQ from stock. My numbers, assuming Dinan used a 15% drivetrain loss calculation, equate to 10 HP and 33 TQ. Clearly, this is far off from their claim based on my runs if looking at peak numbers. However, my *final* numbers *are* indicative of where my car should have ended up. For instance, Money2536’s M3 measured a final run of 443 WHP & 454 WTQ after his tune, running on a Dynojet, while in similar weather/elevation. That’s very similar to my final numbers. Okay, enough about numbers!
How do competitors stack up?
There are four primary components when comparing the DINANTRONICS tune to competitors: Price, Power, Features, and Warranty.
Fact: Dinan is expensive relative to other available tunes @ $2,500 MSRP. When JB4, ESS, Eurocharged, etc. offer tuning packages $1,000+ cheaper, Dinan has a tough sell on their hands. Furthermore, tunes, such as JB4, offer a comprehensive set of additional features, such as a CEL delete, a boost gauge, and exhaust valve operation, among many others. DINANTRONICS is a purely “set it and forget it” tune. Dinan has also publicly stated that they will no longer offer CEL deletes due to environmental regulations. While this doesn’t appear to be a legal decision (i.e., just market the product as “race only”), it sounds like an ethical decision. Touching on this topic, aftermarket-tuning companies play nicer with power adding mods. JB4, for instance, allows one to run custom maps to better suit their vehicle’s power mods – E85, downpipes, turbos, etc. If this route interests you, pass on Dinan. On the other hand, if a tune, intake, and exhaust are all the “power adders” you crave, you may have a tougher decision on your hands.
Warranty vs. Risk Tolerance…FIGHT!
What may ultimately sway your vote is related to the ever so controversial “warranty discussion.” Dinan is well known for their *factory matching* warranty. Tuning competitors have no such warranty, so you as the consumer take on increased risk when running their product. In Dinan’s case, they assume the risk.
When discussing warranties, it comes down to one thing: Risk Tolerance. I have been quite vocal in that I am quite conservative when it comes to ensuring I am covered in the event of an issue. I, therefore, have an admittedly low risk tolerance. Is that the “right” way to be? Yes and no. “Yes” if you have a similar outlook. “No” if you do not. If the thought of having an engine or turbo issue that isn’t covered under warranty bothers you or may cause a significant impact to your personal finances, DINANTRONICS is a great route to take. If this doesn’t bother you and/or you can afford and/or live with the fact that an uncovered failure is low risk, then JB4, ESS, Eurocharged, etc. are likely better options for you. Before making a decision, do some soul searching. Figure out which side of the fence you fall on and stick with that philosophy. Regardless of your decision, the debate about Dinan versus X competitor will live on in good (and poor) health.
Final Words
Ultimately, I’m very pleased with Dinan’s offering. My car got a nice boost in power and I can drive it worry free. Furthermore, my BMW dealer installed the tune, so it furthers the convenience from my perspective should there ever be an issue (whether with the tune or install). If you can spare $2,500 for a bit more power and care to keep your warranty, go ahead and tick the “Dinan” tune box with your local Dinan-certified BMW dealer upon your purchase
.
Pros:- Respectable power gain in the midrange
- Factory-matching warranty
- BMW drivability maintained
- Considerably louder induction noise
Cons:- Expensive
- Peak HP gains far off from claimed numbers
- Conservative gains relative to competitor’s offerings
- No tune maps for additional components (e.g., downpipes)
- No additional features
