ESS S55 E-Tronic Tuner Review

[GOLFFRR]

Originally Posted by Merli

Pretty sure that's normal procedure for every single F8X owner...

I'm sure my neighbours absolutely hate me now, and I'm so embarassed starting my car in car parks if I've been there for a while.

I have been starting my car and rolling out right away for years, (I think I'm up to 6 M cars now?) but you would be surprised how many people still let their cars sit and idle and warm up. I would be willing to bet more then half still do. If I were to do that you prob would have not heard about me bc my neighbor would have killed me a long time ago haha. So far the start and drive out procedure although loud has seemed to work over the years. No complaints so far other then from my wife since our room is above the garage area haha

I totally know what you mean about starting in car parks HOLY CRAP its loud in there. I am hoping that even with the DPs installed my immediate start up and roll out procedure will yield basically the same volume as my current set up however I could be totally wrong. thats why I plan on driving toms car during his cold start process to find out before I install

[Bob MG]

Originally Posted by GOLFFRR

I was talking to Tom and he was stating the catted dps wont sound any different then the stock and that it basically is a stock dp? So with that said I think its a matter of leave it stock or get catless DPs. My game plan is I am getting the awron installed regardless. I am going to listen to toms car and drive it and then make my decision then. I don't mind it being a little louder when driving but the cold start needs to be within reason. If the cold start is crazy crazy loud then ill have to pass. I usually open my garage start the car and leave right away. So the cold start cycle is only for a second or two and lowers dramatically when you put it in gear. With that said whats your experience on that process volume wise?

Buddy start up was great! I'm really eager to hear your opinion of the Awron with valves closed on toms car. If it sounds vaguely civilised (routing the exhaust through the rear silencer) then I'll wait for Awron to arrive and re fit the catless DPs.

Btw I can't imagine how the sound will be the same when comparing 600cpi cats with 200s but hey maybe Toms ears are desensitised with that animal he is driving lol

[GOLFFRR]

Originally Posted by Bob MG

Buddy start up was great! I'm really eager to hear your opinion of the Awron with valves closed on toms car. If it sounds vaguely civilised (routing the exhaust through the rear silencer) then I'll wait for Awron to arrive and re fit the catless DPs.

Btw I can't imagine how the sound will be the same when comparing 600cpi cats with 200s but hey maybe Toms ears are desensitised with that animal he is driving lol

haha there very well could be some skewed hearing going on there! But Either way I def will let you know whatever way I end up going. I have a feeling I will get them love them but feel so bad about morning start ups that ill take them off. But hey its part of the fun of modding right!!

If it doesn't work out ill wait till you get your catted DPs and I can always buy those also!

[Mandi90TT]

Originally Posted by Bob MG

Buddy start up was great! I'm really eager to hear your opinion of the Awron with valves closed on toms car. If it sounds vaguely civilised (routing the exhaust through the rear silencer) then I'll wait for Awron to arrive and re fit the catless DPs.

Btw I can't imagine how the sound will be the same when comparing 600cpi cats with 200s but hey maybe Toms ears are desensitised with that animal he is driving lol

Are the stockers 600 cells? For some reason I thought they would be 400 cells? Either way, 200 cells on catted high flow downpipes would be a significant improvement to flow, while still retaining some emissions control, sound control, and probably not throwing a code.

[Bob MG]

Originally Posted by Dave 90TT

Are the stockers 600 cells? For some reason I thought they would be 400 cells? Either way, 200 cells on catted high flow downpipes would be a significant improvement to flow, while still retaining some emissions control, sound control, and probably not throwing a code.

Yup thats what I feel also. My Akra Evo is plenty loud enough. Slightly louder (like 5% will be perfect while increasing hp

This from ER themselves

Hi Andrew

We will be making a high flow metallic catted version in January. I can keep you updated on the progress of this if you’d like.

The high flow metallic catted version will be just slightly louder than the factory downpipe an considerably quieter than our catless downpipes. I think this would be the ideal sound for you if you are looking for it to just be a little bid louder than factory.

[CanAutM3]

Originally Posted by GOLFFRR

I have been starting my car and rolling out right away for years, (I think I'm up to 6 M cars now?) but you would be surprised how many people still let their cars sit and idle and warm up. I would be willing to bet more then half still do. If I were to do that you prob would have not heard about me bc my neighbor would have killed me a long time ago haha. So far the start and drive out procedure although loud has seemed to work over the years. No complaints so far other then from my wife since our room is above the garage area haha

I totally know what you mean about starting in car parks HOLY CRAP its loud in there. I am hoping that even with the DPs installed my immediate start up and roll out procedure will yield basically the same volume as my current set up however I could be totally wrong. thats why I plan on driving toms car during his cold start process to find out before I install

With my E92, I used to let the car complete its cold start sequence before driving off simply because the driveability (especially with DCT) was aweful during the cold start.

The good thing with the F8X is that this is no longer an issue. I can sart-up and immediately drive off .

[Andrew115]

Originally Posted by CanAutM3

With my E92, I used to let the car complete its cold start sequence before driving off simply because the driveability (especially with DCT) was aweful during the cold start.

The good thing with the F8X is that this is no longer an issue. I can sart-up and immediately drive off .

I agree with you here. If your trying to back out of a garage in a controled manor it can be tricky. As soon as you tap the gas it goes then you get on the brake to slow and it wants to stop, kinda jerky until you get it figured out. Waiting for the idle to drop down yields a much better result.

[GOLFFRR]

^^I always back into my garage and parking spaced. Old habit from when I worked in Valet way back in the day. Just drive right out no hassle.

Originally Posted by CanAutM3

With my E92, I used to let the car complete its cold start sequence before driving off simply because the driveability (especially with DCT) was aweful during the cold start.

The good thing with the F8X is that this is no longer an issue. I can sart-up and immediately drive off .

90% of the time with my e92Ms I would just start and drive off. When I was somewhere other then my garage then of course I would let that baby sing its heart out . Especially loved doing it at the club, I'm sure it was heard throughout the clubhouse and a few holes

ps when are you changing your avatar pic? Time to let the e92 go man!

[GOLFFRR]

Originally Posted by Bob MG

Yup thats what I feel also. My Akra Evo is plenty loud enough. Slightly louder (like 5% will be perfect while increasing hp

This from ER themselves

Hi Andrew

We will be making a high flow metallic catted version in January. I can keep you updated on the progress of this if you’d like.

The high flow metallic catted version will be just slightly louder than the factory downpipe an considerably quieter than our catless downpipes. I think this would be the ideal sound for you if you are looking for it to just be a little bid louder than factory.

I just worry about the phrase "slightly" could be a little skewed. But either way ill wait till you get them or if they pop up here ill see what I can do. I just would hate to spend money/time just to find out its basically same sound level as stock.

[smedin]

I wonder how much of a run the Burger Stage-1 unit will give ESS, especially at $379...

[GOLFFRR]

Originally Posted by smedin

I wonder how much of a run the Burger Stage-1 unit will give ESS, especially at $379...

Not sure, good question. Maybe someone will do a "vs" one of these days.

[smedin]

Originally Posted by GOLFFRR

Not sure, good question. Maybe someone will do a "vs" one of these days.

It looks like they'd perform similarly...

I wonder more so if there's a difference in R&D, or testing, or something. I'm always suspicious when one is so much cheaper than the other.

Regardless, I ordered the BMS.

[GOLFFRR]

Originally Posted by smedin

It looks like they'd perform similarly...

I wonder more so if there's a difference in R&D, or testing, or something. I'm always suspicious when one is so much cheaper than the other.

Regardless, I ordered the BMS.

Congrats! Hope you enjoy the new set up mate.

[RocketBoots]

Golffrr, I think you basically said this in post #11, but to be clear, is this a non-CAN bus tune? I thought maybe it tapped into the CAN without cutting wires somehow?

[GOLFFRR]

Originally Posted by RocketBoots

Golffrr, I think you basically said this in post #11, but to be clear, is this a non-CAN bus tune? I thought maybe it tapped into the CAN without cutting wires somehow?

I believe so. there def is NO CUTTING from what I understood. Just a basic plug and play!

[sales@ESSTuning]

Originally Posted by GOLFFRR

I believe so. there def is NO CUTTING from what I understood. Just a basic plug and play!

Correct there is no cutting into CAN BUS with our system. Our controller can access RPM, MAF, Boost and Map data without it.

[GOLFFRR]

Thanks Roman!

Still loving this piggy

[carholic]

Hi Roman

Any plans for a firmware update to get more hp? Maybe more in line with the recent release of other tunes like Active Autowerkes?

Thanks.

[sales@ESSTuning]

Originally Posted by carholic

Hi Roman

Any plans for a firmware update to get more hp? Maybe more in line with the recent release of other tunes like Active Autowerkes?

Thanks.

We are pretty happy with the current power levels on our tuner. We have 3 maps currently that range from linear power delivery to full power which provides a lot of mid range power and good amount of top end over stock. The issue with piggybacks is that when you push really hard with them you will get limp modes and other issues so for us we have no desire to have a product that looks good on a dyno but causes driveability issues for customers.

[GOLFFRR]

Originally Posted by Roman@ESS

We are pretty happy with the current power levels on our tuner. We have 3 maps currently that range from linear power delivery to full power which provides a lot of mid range power and good amount of top end over stock. The issue with piggybacks is that when you push really hard with them you will get limp modes and other issues so for us we have no desire to have a product that looks good on a dyno but causes driveability issues for customers.

+1
one of the main reasons I chose ESS was bc it was not pushing the limits. I have been more then satisfied with the power!

[tom @ eas]

Originally Posted by GOLFFRR

Not sure, good question. Maybe someone will do a "vs" one of these days.

In the works, possibly this week.

[GOLFFRR]

Originally Posted by tom @ eas

In the works, possibly this week.

sweet!