Dinan Stage 2

[brb08]

Anybody have any feedback on the Dinan stage 2 upgrade? I have an 08 335xi coupe and am looking into getting the stage 2 done. From what I understand, the 08 models already come with a factory oil cooler - would this need to be upgraded with the stage 2?

Better yet - does anyone in CO have this done that I could come take a look and possibly test-drive? I know it's a great price when you get down to the dollar vs. HP, but I just want to know exactly what I'm getting.

[jz06man]

i just had my 08 335i sports sedan upgraded last week. I'm at less than 1000 miles and have not "nailed it" You can notince the TQ down low and middle range. I'm planning on putting the hammer down this weekend.... The stock cooler is eought for stage2 and if you don't do lpas at the local track.... Diana is having a 10% discount on the upgrade thr08/31/08. i found Patrick BMW in Shamburg , IL doing the upgrade at a$400 discount from MSRP.. So far i like the upgrade.
An Dinan oil coller is only needed for a stage 3 and you pick up 12hp and 8 tq- you have to add the Diana exhaut system. Not a very value added upgrade in my opnion. I'm waiting for the new and under development dinana intake system. This should be $300-500 and might/could produce 10 hp???

Go for it!

[abgarza21]

Hey JZ06MAN.... I have an 08 335xi, and was thinking about getting the stage II upgrade, but was wondering how much actual hp and tq you get if you dont get their exhaust. Dinan's website says,

"The results of Dinan’s tuning are nothing short of breathtaking, with the added boost and related recalibration along with the Dinan Free Flow Exhaust producing maximum output of 384 horsepower at 5700 rpm and 421 lb-ft torque at 4300 rpm*."

But nothing without the exhaust. ??????????

[Babagnush]

Anybody have any feedback on the Dinan stage 2 upgrade? I have an 08 335xi coupe and am looking into getting the stage 2 done. From what I understand, the 08 models already come with a factory oil cooler - would this need to be upgraded with the stage 2?

Better yet - does anyone in CO have this done that I could come take a look and possibly test-drive? I know it's a great price when you get down to the dollar vs. HP, but I just want to know exactly what I'm getting.

Not all 08 models have the oil cooler. Look in your passenger side wheel well to confirm that you have it.


Hey JZ06MAN.... I have an 08 335xi, and was thinking about getting the stage II upgrade, but was wondering how much actual hp and tq you get if you dont get their exhaust. Dinan's website says,

"The results of Dinan’s tuning are nothing short of breathtaking, with the added boost and related recalibration along with the Dinan Free Flow Exhaust producing maximum output of 384 horsepower at 5700 rpm and 421 lb-ft torque at 4300 rpm*."

But nothing without the exhaust. ??????????

I believe it's ~360 chp.

[arter]

Hey JZ06MAN.... I have an 08 335xi, and was thinking about getting the stage II upgrade, but was wondering how much actual hp and tq you get if you dont get their exhaust. Dinan's website says,

"The results of Dinan’s tuning are nothing short of breathtaking, with the added boost and related recalibration along with the Dinan Free Flow Exhaust producing maximum output of 384 horsepower at 5700 rpm and 421 lb-ft torque at 4300 rpm*."

But nothing without the exhaust. ??????????

Dinan states that the exhaust adds 6 hp, so you should be at 378 Dinan hp without it at stage 2. Note: Dinan hp numbers are vs a stock value of 329 ( see their site) so expect +55hp over stock with their stage 2 at the top end ( +79 hp mid range thou).

[Beer Goggles]

Dinan Oil Cooler is a TOTAL RIP. Save your money and install one for 1/3 of the price.

[bustamove]

Dinan Oil Cooler is a TOTAL RIP. Save your money and install one for 1/3 of the price.

I'm curious as to why you think Dinan's oil cooler is a waste of money. Have you had one installed in your car? Have you done any empirical testing with and without a Dinan oil cooler?

A was at Dinan HQ when development of the oil cooler was in progress. There is a lot of research, testing and more retesting that takes place before a product goes to market. This is how Steve backup his products with a strong warranty.

[Beer Goggles]

I'm curious as to why you think Dinan's oil cooler is a waste of money. Have you had one installed in your car? Have you done any empirical testing with and without a Dinan oil cooler?

A was at Dinan HQ when development of the oil cooler was in progress. There is a lot of research, testing and more retesting that takes place before a product goes to market. This is how Steve backup his products with a strong warranty.

An oil cooler isn't NEW technology. Go price out what an oil cooler upgrade costs then compare it to Dinan. They are taking parts you can buy yourself and charging 3 times the amount for a name.

I'll back up an oil cooler too. Put it on and temps go down. I'm not a rocket scientist but I do stay at Holiday Inn's.

Oil cooler are great. Getting ripped off for one isn't. If you feel you need to over pay for "Dinan" go ahead.

[Beer Goggles]

For comparison

http://www.dinancars.com/store/Engine-Tuning-p-1-c-413.html
http://www.intensepower.com/stoilcokit35.html

$429 or $1999....same stuff.

[Rolyf]

For comparison

http://www.dinancars.com/store/Engine-Tuning-p-1-c-413.html
http://www.intensepower.com/stoilcokit35.html

$429 or $1999....same stuff.

BG: You are comparing apples and oranges. The Dinan is custom made to fit the 90 series, it includes all baffles, shrouds and mounting hardware. It is (to my eye) larger than the competition and has all the correct adapters and properly sized hoses. It also has the correct engine adapter manifold with the thermostat to control oil flow.
Your example provided for comparison has none of the above.

[Rolyf]

BG: You are comparing apples and oranges. The Dinan is custom made to fit the 90 series, it includes all baffles, shrouds and mounting hardware. It is (to my eye) larger than the competition and has all the correct adapters and properly sized hoses. It also has the correct engine adapter manifold with the thermostat to control oil flow.
Your example provided for comparison has none of the above.

I said the 90 series but of course I was referring to the 335.

[bustamove]

BG: You are comparing apples and oranges. The Dinan is custom made to fit the 90 series, it includes all baffles, shrouds and mounting hardware. It is (to my eye) larger than the competition and has all the correct adapters and properly sized hoses. It also has the correct engine adapter manifold with the thermostat to control oil flow.
Your example provided for comparison has none of the above.

Hence the large cost difference. Thanks for pointing out the details of the Dinan oil cooler kit over the Stillen kit. There is also the balance of directing enough air flow to the oil cooler without taking away from the other things that need cooling such as the radiator and brakes. There is a limited amount of surface area so the right balance has to determined between the three.

[Beer Goggles]

Whatever you need to try and justify the cost difference. Oil coolers are simple. Route oil to a radiator, have air flow, cool oil. I think even somebody here priced out all the parts and got less than what Stillen (who is an over priced company as well) sells it for.

The point being, that $2,000 for $150 worth of parts is what I'd call a rip off. If you think "testing" consists of putting a oil cooler where THE FACTORY COOLER goes tons of expensive R&D you must be easily marketed too...

to each his own. I have an OC, and would never pay $2,000 for a slightly larger one.. Wait I think I paid $1000 for it from the factory, and it came with wheels, seats, steering wheel...or the sport package.

[brb08]

I didn't know that all of them didn't come with the oil coolers installed from the factory; however, according to my local dealer my car does have one.

On another note - I have done some more research by way of forums, websites, and simply calling "tuner" houses. I'm totally confused as to which way to go.....I like the warranty that Dinan offers with their products, but a lot of their products are 3-4 times more expensive than other manufacturers products. Would I be taking that big of a risk by installing a Vishnu or other type of chip? Can the 1k-1.5k price increase be all for the warranty they offer?

[Beer Goggles]

I didn't know that all of them didn't come with the oil coolers installed from the factory; however, according to my local dealer my car does have one.

On another note - I have done some more research by way of forums, websites, and simply calling "tuner" houses. I'm totally confused as to which way to go.....I like the warranty that Dinan offers with their products, but a lot of their products are 3-4 times more expensive than other manufacturers products. Would I be taking that big of a risk by installing a Vishnu or other type of chip? Can the 1k-1.5k price increase be all for the warranty they offer?


I think if you search you'll find your answer. Realistically if there was a failure by using Dinan, Vishnu...blah blah. BMW isn't covering anything. Do you trust Dinan to honor replacing a 25K engine (there's a thread where somebody blew something and said it was around that to fix). I've read posts saying that they had nightmares dealing with "who's problem" is it. And I'd bet most won't have a problem.

My advice after adding twin turbos to car I was paying for and under warranty....buy an old car, and when it's paid for....mod that. Then you won't have to worry about "what happens" because you know it's your car...your problem.

[nm335]

I'm curious as to why you think Dinan's oil cooler is a waste of money. Have you had one installed in your car? Have you done any empirical testing with and without a Dinan oil cooler?

A was at Dinan HQ when development of the oil cooler was in progress. There is a lot of research, testing and more retesting that takes place before a product goes to market. This is how Steve backup his products with a strong warranty.


An oil cooler isn't NEW technology. Go price out what an oil cooler upgrade costs then compare it to Dinan. They are taking parts you can buy yourself and charging 3 times the amount for a name.

I'll back up an oil cooler too. Put it on and temps go down. I'm not a rocket scientist but I do stay at Holiday Inn's.

Oil cooler are great. Getting ripped off for one isn't. If you feel you need to over pay for "Dinan" go ahead.

Hello "bustamove" and "Beer Goggles":

OK, as a very old engineer and OCD physicist who still cares just a small amount about what he puts his name on (but not as much as I care about money these days)...

I have no problem believing that Dinan puts a lot of work into their products. Why not? They make a $hitload of shekels for what they sell. They offer well engineered products that work. They charge top $$ for this because they do deliver. They can offer well engineered products because they make a bunch of $$ on what they sell.

Oh, wait, that is a bit circular.

Do they make a bunch of profit? Sure. Too much? Read more Rand. I certainly do not know what the proper balance of profit vs research $$ is or I would not give a damn about writing this evening instead of sleeping.

Dinan seems to have found out.

They charge big $$ and they do big research. They make big $$.


But what the hell do I know? I plan on retiring pretty soon and sucking off the tax payers.....

Yup. Six figure Gov. retirement pension until the wife croaks. And to think that her Grandmother is still casting spells....

[fun2drive]

I am not getting the Dinan oil cooler. I was one of the unfortunate ones that read BMW's literature about the oil cooler being part of the package back in oh Aug 2006 so I didn't order sport pack.
Now I bought the BMW version and will get it installed by BMW and do Dinan Stage II. If you are going to keep your car like I do, well over 11 years on my M3 and will keep my E93 15 or so I want something that is well engineered.

I did see on the E90 forum an alternative oil cooler that is better then the stock one but if you are not eqipped with the one in the right front wheel well then you need to buy a lot of BMW parts the most expensive ones being the radiator and the change out of the oil filter housing.

If my car was not under warranty I would do it but since it is I will have them install the factory oil cooler.

By the way I have looked into alternative coolers but the cost to get hot pressurized oil to a cooler and mounting it is not trival. If you front mount it you will cool the oil and heat the other rads behind it, no free lunch.

Having driven and still owning turbo cars and trucks with intercoolers and oil coolers BMW solution is a well known one. My 911 Porche had the oil cooler in the exact same place they have it.

Dinan
Yes expensive but for me the warranty is the deal and I have never heard of a situation where they (Dinan) didn't pay for costs to include reflashing when there was a problem attributed to their product.

YMMV