/wave! PCW Exhaust and BM3 Stage One review...

[propete1031]

I'm back!


A bit of a hiatus since the E46 M3 11 years ago but alas, new job, bit of a pay rise and I'm back in the game with a 2017 M4 cab CP in dark grey. Apologies for the cabriolet bit but it's soooo worth it :E

So. Just took a trip down PCW today, have to say I'm impressed with the results !
Got the exhaust work done and a stage one bm3 remap including the GTS transmission flash, I've got to say, f*** me that was all worth it! Loved every minute of my 4 hour drive back home, the results are fantastic. I've had the M4 for 10 months already but these mods have transformed it into what every M4 car should have been from stock!

• First the exhaust mods from Paul at PCW, fantastic guy and a true professional, I watched him do the whole job, brilliantly executed to the highest standard, no concerns there. The results are fantastic and just what I wanted. Burbles much more pronounced, a deeper louder sound over all and all the pops and bangs you could ask for which are completely customisable from the bm3 remap!
• Casual mode exactly the same (which is what I wanted in case you need to tone it down to stock anytime) and the cold start and GTS roar are gone so my neighbours and wife are happy at 6am on Monday mornings :E
• Wow what a difference bm3 has made! a-side from the above, the power is sooo much more usable now (even in the damp conditions today it's REALLY noticeable, the delivery is much more gradual and planted, it's miles faster with that extra horsepower, not just because it's more hp (which of course is noticeable in itself), but because it's delivered in a better way BMW implemented and now the car has so much more control over that power! Thing I really love is the integrated sports display on the iDrive has also been updated to a maximum of 660BHP, class! It's so professionally done. The remap must have updated this bit of the car and you can see actual figures of how much you're using (in the 500 range for me), That's the benefit of doing a full remap I guess rather than just tricking the car with a bolt-on chip.
• Finally the GTS transmission update is awesome too! No more kangarooing but also the changes are miles smoother now and faster with a much more seemless feel. I used to find the gear changes so aggressively clunky that it would kick the car to the right and even break traction sometimes, I didn't notice that once today...

Anyway, in sure you lot already know the impact of these mods but I just feel better for sharing ok! if anyone is in the Poole or Bournemouth area and wants to see, let me know I'm more than willing to share! haha

Right time to get me a pair of MP4S for the rear!

Peace

[Yun350]

Great to read the review of BM3 I’m considering getting this at a later date but knowing that it brings such a smile to the face, I’m keen to get this on

[propete1031]

Originally Posted by Yun350

Great to read the review of BM3 I’m considering getting this at a later date but knowing that it brings such a smile to the face, I’m keen to get this on

You won't be disappointed! I highly recommend you consider the PCW exhaust mod as well to complete the package Car sounds savage now and it's completely customisable through the BM3 interface

[Steveo]

Any drone at any revs?

[propete1031]

Originally Posted by Steveo

Any drone at any revs?

Hi Steveo,

No, certainly not in Comfort mode, sport mode it's a little more there perhaps but I really haven't noticed it, it's a great mod. I usually switch between modes a lot anyway and only hit Sport Plus when I need it.

[jamiesecker]

Great write up, cheers.
When this situation is over It would be good to meet as be keen to see the differance if possible?
I am only in the New Forest so not to far away if oay with you?

Cheers,

Jamie

[t5pilot]

Not a good idea turning cold start off if you still have your primary cats. It's designed to protect them from damage at startup.
Not worth risking the cost of new cats for the sake of 30 seconds louder noise imo.

[wilse23]

Great post. I have seen a lot about PCW and heard great things. Can I ask what work he did to the exhaust and how much it cost? Does he have different options for the exhaust side of things?
Cheers

[propete1031]

Originally Posted by jamiesecker

Great write up, cheers.
When this situation is over It would be good to meet as be keen to see the differance if possible?
I am only in the New Forest so not to far away if oay with you?

Cheers,

Jamie

Sold the car now buddy so can't do that now Good luck though (it's definitely worth it!)

[propete1031]

Originally Posted by wilse23

Great post. I have seen a lot about PCW and heard great things. Can I ask what work he did to the exhaust and how much it cost? Does he have different options for the exhaust side of things?
Cheers

Hi mate it was about £400 if I remember rightly, that plus the stage 1 flash was about £700 and I had it done all at the same time through Paul at PCW. The best money I've ever spent on a car!

I believe he can taylor the sound how you want but to be honest I'd recommend you get the full treatment and then tone it down if you want using the bootmod3 flash which allows you to control all the baffles, when it kicks in, what revs, how aggressive etc. It's awesome! Still super quiet in comfort too

[dsmclark]

Originally Posted by t5pilot

Not a good idea turning cold start off if you still have your primary cats. It's designed to protect them from damage at startup.
Not worth risking the cost of new cats for the sake of 30 seconds louder noise imo.

Isn't it just to get heat in them so they are more efficient? cold start even with both sets of cats is embarrassingly loud on these cars

[t5pilot]

Originally Posted by dsmclark

Isn't it just to get heat in them so they are more efficient? cold start even with both sets of cats is embarrassingly loud on these cars

It is, but in doing so it prevents unburnt fuel getting into the cats. Unburnt fuel kills cats & renders them useless.

[dsmclark]

Originally Posted by t5pilot

It is, but in doing so it prevents unburnt fuel getting into the cats. Unburnt fuel kills cats & renders them useless.

guess I need to decat it then! haha

[t5pilot]

Originally Posted by dsmclark

guess I need to decat it then! haha

Indeed. Lol, and you think it's loud now!

[dsmclark]

Originally Posted by t5pilot

Indeed. Lol, and you think it's loud now!

Oh its perfect now! its just the cold start. with secondary cat and centre resonator delete it sounds like gravel in a beer can on cold start