Proper Flash Tuning is HERE!

[sA x sKy]

As you guys all know I haven't been much of a fan of the flash tunes that are currently available compared to our N54 brethren. But that is all about to change. I believe the DME must still need to be bench flashed (not positive) but we now have the ability to tune the car ourselves and work together to define tables like the N54 community has been doing for so many years. Not to mention, proper JB4 backend flashes will be here. Amazing step forward.



If any of you have access to your DME and/or close with a local flash tuner and don't mind helping Dzenno move this platform forward, please PM me.

[Kr3st]

PTF have been hard at it from what I've seen.

In for more info.

[terahertz]

That's cool, but will they be sharing that information? That company looks like they provide custom tunes.

[chewbakam4]

Sooooo looking forward to this. Finally the end of off the shelf crap tuning out there. I don't think people realize just how big this is!! Can't wait!

[CaryTheLabelGuy]

THIS IS HUGE!!!! This personally excites the hell out of me. Finally, I'll be able to tune my own damn car.

Is there anything I can do to help? Please let me know. I don't know if there is anybody near me that can bench flash my DME. I'm hoping bench flashes aren't necessary to get into the DME.

It looks like they're using a program that looks similar to ECUFlash?

[Bowser330]

So just to confirm, this is excitement over better access to the flash tune data, which will help to develop more robust flash tuning for the platform.

Straight obd2 is still not yet available...right?

[ASAP]

Outstanding news... at least PTF is a legit company and Dzenno knows his stuff... he is one of the foremost guys in the N54 world... any mention of what tables are already available and what will be available?

[ASAP]

Originally Posted by Bowser330

So just to confirm, this is excitement over better access to the flash tune data, which will help to develop more robust flash tuning for the platform.

Straight obd2 is still not yet available...right?

This is an an encryption issue and has nothing to do with actual flashing / tuning...

[03Saleen]

I think we all just need to pool some money together to rent some time on a super computer that will do a brute force attack and break the encryption.

[Irishace]

Dzenno is the man, really looking forward to PTF's solution.

[M3anPower]

For those who are new to BMW (like me) what is this excitement about?

[Boss330]

Originally Posted by ///M1990

For those who are new to BMW (like me) what is this excitement about?

The first issue with the Fxx generation BMW's was that old school flash tuning via OBD was impossible. And it took until late 2014, early 2015, for tuners to break into the encryption and be able to gain access to the software. This still has to be done via bench flashing (removing the DME from the vehicle and either open it, or drilling holes, in order to gain direct access to the relevant chip inside the DME).

After the encryption in the DME has been cracked, OBD flashing can be done for subsequent reflashing.

I guess the excitement is that the software needed to rewrite the software is publically available. You can write your own software if you wish.

However, CMD Flashtec (which many tuning companies use) have sold their reader and programmer systems with Fxx support at least since last year...

http://flashtec.ch/
http://flashtec.ch/index.php/cmdflash-bdm

In September 2014, BR-Performance in Belgium was one of the first to announce their capabilities to reflash and do a proper flash tune of the Fxx DME:

The original thread (quite funny to see the resistance this news was met with though...):

http://f80.bimmerpost.com/forums/sho....php?t=1065967

[chewbakam4]

The really cool thing about this is we won't need to pony up $10k or more for special tools to get this done. This is so exciting so glad this is coming. Days of just flash and forget are officially numbered!

[FC4]

This is awesome!! I hear there are even bigger details to be released in 2-3 weeks...

[ASAP]

Originally Posted by Boss330

The first issue with the Fxx generation BMW's was that old school flash tuning via OBD was impossible. And it took until late 2014, early 2015, for tuners to break into the encryption and be able to gain access to the software. This still has to be done via bench flashing (removing the DME from the vehicle and either open it, or drilling holes, in order to gain direct access to the relevant chip inside the DME).

After the encryption in the DME has been cracked, OBD flashing can be done for subsequent reflashing.

I guess the excitement is that the software needed to rewrite the software is publically available. You can write your own software if you wish.

However, CMD Flashtec (which many tuning companies use) have sold their reader and programmer systems with Fxx support at least since last year...

http://flashtec.ch/
http://flashtec.ch/index.php/cmdflash-bdm

In September 2014, BR-Performance in Belgium was one of the first to announce their capabilities to reflash and do a proper flash tune of the Fxx DME:

The original thread (quite funny to see the resistance this news was met with though...):

http://f80.bimmerpost.com/forums/sho....php?t=1065967

Lol, i am still asking the same question... which tables are available?

[JoeFromPA]

I'll throw this out there:

To me, this means truly customized tuning for each individual car and set of modifications meaning you can do things like extract the most possible power or ensure the tune is running completely safe on your personal machine.

My own experience in this realm is that this is the equivalent of being given the tools to be a master tailor and having a whole lot of guidance on how to customize your own suit. Many people can make really good progress, but many people also go down this road and realize too late they truly don't know wtf they are doing and screw something up.

OTS tunes are generally derided to some extent, but the point of an OTS tune is to extract alot more performance in a safe manner across a wide array of vehicle conditions (ambients, state of tune, fuel quality) - and a GOOD OTS tune will be working just as well in 50-100k miles as it was on the day it was installed.

By comparison, custom tunes can achieve the same results - but then they are closer to OTS tunes anyway. Taking advantage of custom tuning means frequent or semi frequent data logging and tune tweaking.

For alot of people, they love it. But alot of folks dive into it and realize they don't have the time or motivation to do it right. And doing a custom tune half-hearted is not a good place to be.

[chewbakam4]

Custom tuning is huge on the N54 and N55 and OTS maps there are just tip of the iceberg. These guys are huge in the N54 and N55 World.

[Warranty P]

Originally Posted by Railgun

"Proper" flash tuning ≠ bench tune anywhere in the process.

This exactly, I guess definition of proper is lost on OP. I can't even imagine the kind of damage he'll do to his car with this thing.

[chewbakam4]

I just emailed and they said it'll just be a one time UNLOCK of the DME and then its game on through OBD like they do on the N54 with Cobb all these years. I don't know about you but for me that's WAY better than just going with some generic one time flash. I can get the most out of my setup that way and run full E85 finally and also ask them for my own shit in terms of tuning that I want done and all that just an email away. I just hope it doesn't end up being too expensive! We'll see I guess...

[dmk08]

Originally Posted by chewbakam4

I just emailed and they said it'll just be a one time UNLOCK of the DME and then its game on through OBD like they do on the N54 with Cobb all these years. I don't know about you but for me that's WAY better than just going with some generic one time flash. I can get the most out of my setup that way and run full E85 finally and also ask them for my own shit in terms of tuning that I want done and all that just an email away. I just hope it doesn't end up being too expensive! We'll see I guess...

Wouldnt you need new fuel pumps to run full E85?

[sA x sKy]

Originally Posted by dmk08

Wouldnt you need new fuel pumps to run full E85?

Just need to upgrade the LPFP with a Walbro 450 pump. It's in the works..

[Boss330]

Originally Posted by chewbakam4

I just emailed and they said it'll just be a one time UNLOCK of the DME and then its game on through OBD like they do on the N54 with Cobb all these years. I don't know about you but for me that's WAY better than just going with some generic one time flash. I can get the most out of my setup that way and run full E85 finally and also ask them for my own shit in terms of tuning that I want done and all that just an email away. I just hope it doesn't end up being too expensive! We'll see I guess...

But that isn't new either...

The solution of flash tuning that was introduced late 2014 also opened up for OBD reflashing after the bench flash had been done.

I'm not quite sure what the big news here is?

Is it that your local tuner finally can do what many tuners have had access to for quite some time now?

Companies like Manhart have been doing custom flash tuning and developing their models (like the latest model X5 M) by constantly remapping (via OBD after initial bench flash) and developing their tunes, before releasing it on the market. Many other tuners also offer "off the shelf" tunes and custom mapping on the Fxx generation.

Or is it a new breakthrough?