M4cs Power output analysis - This S55 variant is quite potent

[CanAutM3]

Originally Posted by Parabolica

Are you trying to justify your soon to be purchased CS?

In a way yes, it is part of the decision process. I wanted to find out if there is a measurable power advantage with the CS.

Originally Posted by Parabolica

Would be nice to see the GTS also plotted on that graph.

I could do that eventually if I get bored on another cold and rainy fall Sunday afternoon

[M4 CSL]

Originally Posted by Parabolica

Are you trying to justify your soon to be purchased CS?

Shhhhh......Its working to justify my soon to be purchased CS.

[ajfriedm87]

In looking over the specs for either motor, I haven't found any major component or structure differences that would actually attribute to more power. I suspect the base motor was very safely underpowered, and that this all comes from ECU changes. If so....wouldn't this lend itself to being a very safe motor to piggyback/flash, as bmw left so much on the table initially?

[CanAutM3]

Originally Posted by ajfriedm87

In looking over the specs for either motor, I haven't found any major component or structure differences that would actually attribute to more power. I suspect the base motor was very safely underpowered, and that this all comes from ECU changes. If so....wouldn't this lend itself to being a very safe motor to piggyback/flash, as bmw left so much on the table initially?

I agree. The OP dates back to April when the M4CS was originally launched. Not much info was available back then. With the information that is now available, it is safe to assume the added power stems solely from an ECU tune.

[captainaudio]

So I decided to go for the Competition Package with 19s. I hope I did not make a mistake and wind up with another BMW that rides like a Conestoga Wagon (i.e. my 2007 335i with Sport Suspension and RFTs). I checked every option but Carbon Ceramic Brakes and Apple Car Play. Still on the fence about MT vs DCT. I will place the order tomorrow.


This will be my third BMW retractable hardtop Cabrio.

2007 335i
2015 M4
2018 M4

[CanAutM3]

Originally Posted by captainaudio

So I decided to go for the Competition Package with 19s. I hope I did not make a mistake and wind up with another BMW that rides like a Conestoga Wagon (i.e. my 2007 335i with Sport Suspension and RFTs). I checked every option but Carbon Ceramic Brakes and Apple Car Play. Still on the fence about MT vs DCT. I will place the order tomorrow.


This will be my third BMW retractable hardtop Cabrio.

2007 335i
2015 M4
2018 M4

I am not sure how your post fits in this thread, but congrats anyhow

[metomwhou]

Originally Posted by stevehifi

BMW just plays with the timing and boost control and fine tunes the engine map even more.
Maybe the stepper motor on the boost control is even finer resolution.

I bet you in a year or so some tuner will offer the update for the ECU for all cars...

Can I borrow your crystal ball???

[BMW M Power Mexico]

Thanks for this thread! It sure helps "rationalize" the money I literally just spent as a wise decision.

All in all, getting these cars is all about emotion. But the left side brain needs a story to tell!

[Negtvions]

Feels that powerful to me!

[melvyn]

BM put a software update into the early cars for better traction as can be seen below.
CS has huge mid range pulling power over the CP.

[shortseller]

Out of the hole the early F80s were monsters! But as we see if I’m reading correctly at 2800 RPMs seems to be the take off point for the other versions. Was there a torque curve too?

[melvyn]

Originally Posted by shortseller

Out of the hole the early F80s were monsters! But as we see if I’m reading correctly at 2800 RPMs seems to be the take off point for the other versions. Was there a torque curve too?

There you go buddy

[M3GymNut]

Worthless thread unless you have dyno comparisons on all 3 models.

[melvyn]

Originally Posted by M3GymNut

Worthless thread unless you have dyno comparisons on all 3 models.

Is that so hard for you to work out.

[shay2nak]

lol I guess he missed the dynos.

***
wow, huge difference. I wonder if a dealer would flash a CP car with the CS software/tune.

[Remonster]

Originally Posted by melvyn

There you go buddy

This is exactly accurate, I did a comparison of my 2018 M3 vs a friend's 2015 M3 and you can definitely feel the software artificially waiting until after 2,250 before it even lets the turbos BEGIN to spool up and then you start getting real torque after 2,500 - 2,800 depending on what gear you're in.

As for CS vs. regular factory tunes, I flashed the M3 CS map into my car and even compared to car's normal ZCP map, it's a noticeable jump up in torque at pretty much all RPMs. Going back from CS to ZCP felt significantly slower.

Originally Posted by shay2nak

lol I guess he missed the dynos.

***
wow, huge difference. I wonder if a dealer would flash a CP car with the CS software/tune.

No chance but you can do it yourself in about 4 minutes and $600 with Bootmod3 and an Enet cable (plus having the capability to play with other maps like the GTS tune and full aftermarket Stage 1, Stage 2, etc. tunes). If you don't ever want to play with other tunes, there are coders like Alex@Alpine who can flash it in remotely for you as well.

[CanAutM3]

Originally Posted by shortseller

Out of the hole the early F80s were monsters!

Yes they were, and I kind of miss that on my CS. Coming from 4 years of driving a 2015M4, that missing low RPM grunt has caught me off guard on a few occasion where it was like "come-on, move". I guess I'll get use to it and re-learn to downshift .

Originally Posted by shortseller

But as we see if I’m reading correctly at 2800 RPMs seems to be the take off point for the other versions.

More like 2300RPM, where the torque plateau starts.

Originally Posted by shortseller

Was there a torque curve too?

Yes there was, I just did not bother to plot the overlay. I only did it for the power.

[CanAutM3]

Originally Posted by M3GymNut

Worthless thread unless you have dyno comparisons on all 3 models.

[melvyn]

Have put 5k miles on mine now and find the sweet spot between 3-6k revs.Had it at a drag where it was doing 12.3s at 118, short shifted at 6k in third and hit an 11.9 and 121.

[CanAutM3]

Originally Posted by melvyn

Have put 5k miles on mine now and find the sweet spot between 3-6k revs.Had it at a drag where it was doing 12.3s at 118, short shifted at 6k in third and hit an 11.9 and 121.

That seems odd given the power curve, as both, the OE and Evolve dyno charts suggest a higher shifting point to keep the revs above 5500RPM for optimal acceleration.

Can't wait for brean-in to be over so I can have it the sweet spot of the power band

[CanAutM3]

Originally Posted by melvyn

BM put a software update into the early cars for better traction as can be seen below.
CS has huge mid range pulling power over the CP.

Agreed. It's now a known fact that BMW trimed the low end torque on all S55 variant. They even modified their official torque ratings specifying that peak torque now starts at 2300RPM instead of the 1850RPM stated for the earlier cars. My graph in the OP should show all 3 variant exactly matching on torque below 2300RPM.

[melvyn]

Originally Posted by CanAutM3

That seems odd given the power curve, asBoth, the OE and Evolve dyno charts suggest a higher shifting point to keep the revs above 5500RPM for optimal acceleration.

Can't wait for brean-in to be over so I can have it the sweet spot of the power band

Wouldn't shifting at 6000 keep it above 5500 and in the torque plateau.After 6k it falls off fast and is very noticeable, although it will still hit the redline in 4th, can't say if it will in 5th