F80 M3 / F82 M4 S55 Tuning

[Sam335ix]

I am intrigued to see if the new m3/m4 could get serious numbers out by tuning. I spoke with a few tuners and they said the engine is already limited so if you could tune let's say Cobb it will be maybe additional 50 hp/tq. What does everyone think about this? Also, I am about to put a deposit and the dealer is asking for 5k?

[bogart]

COBB, Burger Motorsports, and Vishnu Procede will definitely come out with tunes since it's a turbo charged setup similar to the N54 and N55, which they've already done extensive tuning for, especially COBB. It might be a while though, 6 months to a year from the time they can get their hands on one.

[Groundpilot]

I think Cobb is the best tuning company for turbocharged engines and i am sure they will come out with the tune for m3/4.
I have their stage 2 tune plus a few other things in my 135i n55 engine, and let me tell you that this car is flying, especially now, cold temp, low 20s. I am impressed with this engine, and i can only imagine what this modified engine by bmw will be after tuning by Cobb.

[chmura]

Yup I will be going to Cobb.

Not too long ago they moved into a new facility and put in a few 4wd dynos in fountain valley CA.

Will be going to them for sure!

[JTO24]

The new ecus are very tough to crack and hopefully BMW doesn't do like Audi and flag a 'TD1' for modified ecu.. No tune for the b8.5 is completely invisible. I've tuned my 335i and my m3 but if I got an f80 I'd keep it stock most likely.

[nonagon]

Originally Posted by Sam335ix

I am intrigued to see if the new m3/m4 could get serious numbers out by tuning. I spoke with a few tuners and they said the engine is already limited so if you could tune let's say Cobb it will be maybe additional 50 hp/tq. What does everyone think about this? Also, I am about to put a deposit and the dealer is asking for 5k?

If they can make the engine push 500hp with just a cheap piggyback tune and make it reliable, they can just take my money.

[Transfer]

I can't imagine there is much potential left that still allows for the car to be reliable on the track. Try explaining to your SA that your turbo bearings blew apart and its not the tune's fault. Cooling will be the #1 issue. I do agree though that COBB would be the way I would go.

I don't see how anything close to 500 HP could be reliable at full tilt with stock hardware. You're just fooling yourself.

[RingMeister01]

Originally Posted by Transfer

I can't imagine there is much potential left that still allows for the car to be reliable on the track. Try explaining to your SA that your turbo bearings blew apart and its not the tune's fault. Cooling will be the #1 issue. I do agree though that COBB would be the way I would go.

I don't see how anything close to 500 HP could be reliable at full tilt with stock hardware. You're just fooling yourself.

Why not? There are so many S65's running 6-8 psi superchargers running stock internals. And this is on an engine designed to be NA. BMW has over engineered the S55 as they have with every other motor built. This motor and drivetrain particularly have increased torsional and mechanical strength. If the ECU is successfully manipulated, we'll see some big numbers, without a fuss.

[duk]

Will ECU upgrade do that much? The turbos are already pushing 21psi? There doesn't seem to be much room for improvement vs N54/N55 in terms of pure hp gains.

Which is ok to be honest, I suspect weakspot will not be the engine.

[biglare]

Let's get one thing straight, there is real tuning and there is piggyback tuning. Cobb, Burger and Vishnu are all piggyback tunes and are NOT real tunes. When the new M3/M4 comes out there will no doubt be piggyback tunes available, but please keep this in mind as it is NOT a real tune. The new M3/M4's will be on serious lockdown, just like several of the other new BMW's and they will be much more difficult to develop a real tune for. I have heard that it could take several months or up to a couple of years to develop real tunes due to the lockdown of the cars' DME's.

Now I will not be getting a piggyback tune on my new M3/M4 as I do not believe in tricking the car into thinking that it is functioning normal. I have seen time and time again folks with these piggyback tunes fail on the track. They get two laps into their session and they overheat or go into limp mode. I guess if you don't track and can live with tricking your car into thinking it is running as normal then more "power" to you. I myself do not subscribe to such piggyback tunes and will wait until the real tunes are available or just get a new car with more power.

Just my two cents!

[parky1215]

I will never put piggy back on my M3.
I will probably not put any tune for first year or two give BMW some time to fix small issues here and there.
After that, I will probably try GIAC or ESS.

[bogart]

a flash tune, like COBB, is not a piggy back. the S55 is completely different than the N54/55. we'll just have to wait and see, but it will be a while. probably at least 6 months.

[biglare]

Originally Posted by bogart

a flash tune, like COBB, is not a piggy back. the S55 is completely different than the N54/55. we'll just have to wait and see, but it will be a while. probably at least 6 months.

As stated before the only tunes that will be available first on the new M3/M4 will be a piggyback tune. The serious lock down will prevent real tunes for quite some time, so if you want a piggyback tune go for it and enjoy!

[Jockey]

Originally Posted by biglare

As stated before the only tunes that will be available first on the new M3/M4 will be a piggyback tune. The serious lock down will prevent real tunes for quite some time, so if you want a piggyback tune go for it and enjoy!

But Cobb is not a piggyback tune. JB4s are piggybacks.

So you might see a JB4 type tune first, but Cobb will take a bit as Cobb has to crack the ECU.

[solstice]

I'm no tuning expert but with a compression ratio of 10.2:1 and stock 18psi I would think the added boost window to run 93 octane with optimum ignition timing is pretty much closed independent on how much more boost the Mitsu blowers can muster. Maybe a tune addict can chime in on this aspect?

[JStang]

Originally Posted by Jockey

But Cobb is not a piggyback tune. JB4s are piggybacks.

So you might see a JB4 type tune first, but Cobb will take a bit as Cobb has to crack the ECU.

+1. JB4 and Procede are piggy backs. Cobb is a flash tune.

[pkimM3r]

maybe i can go back to RoadRaceEngineering and get a custom dyno tune on 85 with 4 fuel pump setup.

[JStang]

I'm sure the guys at Pro Tuning Freaks are salivating at the chance to get their hands on one of these.

[Ezio]

it had started. the new M age. how much can i get from a tune era....

let the games begin

[solstice]

Originally Posted by Ezio

it had started. the new M age. how much can i get from a tune era....

let the games begin

Personally I'm just interrested to know. The last car I tuned was 1989 when my SAAB 9000 T16 got a new "chip". Now a days cars are so powerful stock that it's not worth the drawbacks. There are other aspects ( often neglected in favour of power ) that IMO is much more important for a proper sports feel.

[Ezio]

Originally Posted by solstice

Personally I'm just interrested to know. The last car I tuned was 1989 when my SAAB 9000 T16 got a new "chip". Now a days cars are so powerful stock that it's not worth the drawbacks. There are other aspects ( often neglected in favour of power ) that IMO is much more important for a proper sports feel.

i know i just hate how bmw is turned into a tuner brand now. its like the brand is not pure anymore.

maybe i need to move to a Ferrari

[JTO24]

Originally Posted by Ezio

i know i just hate how bmw is turned into a tuner brand now. its like the brand is not pure anymore.

maybe i need to move to a Ferrari

Ferrari is moving to turbo too.