feedback on Dinan 335i chip flash

[derbim]

My dealer says they have performed their first re-flash of the DME using the Dinan software for 335i coupe. $2200. Some can be done at the dealer, others have to have the unit shipped to CA to have it done. 3-4 day turnaround. Could not explain which ones could be done locally vs. those needing the trip to CA. First customer feedback...... = WOW. The fellow is evidently completely speechless. Unbelievable. (etc. etc.). Must have the oil cooler or they won't do it. It you have existing OEM cooler, add about 1k or so to get larger Dinan cooler. Existing OEM cooler may work ok, depending on where you live. Just keep an eye on operating temps. Without a cooler, about 2k to have the complete unit from Dinan installed. According to service tech., this chip change adds about 100 HP and close to 100 ft/lbs torque.

So...I drove an 08 M3 while visiting. A lot of car, and 70 large.

Anyone have any other info or experience with this particular upgrade before I do it?

VRROOOOOOOMMM.

[Beer Goggles]

Plenty of threads on this topic and the pros and cons of that flash.

Personally at $2200 for a software reflash I think it's not worth it...you run the same risk with the other "chips' and while you get a warranty...you really don't have one (again discussed to death).

[derbim]

I've read the other threads. And....some of this info today doesn't quite match figures quoted elsewhere....but this is the first time I have gotten more or less first hand feedback on the whole business. Other figures quote a lower HP gain. Still.....big bucks.

[trueblue]

I'm getting mine done tomorrow, will report back. By the way the tq gain is over 120, based on Dinan's dyno test. As for sending the ecu to cali, it depends on if the shop has the correct OBD connector for the car. 08 plug is diff than the 07, not every Dinan dealer get the plug yet.

[Danny 335i]

You are covered under warranty.If BMW denies a warranty claim because they say the problem was caused by the Dinan flash,then Dinan will cover the warranty.Dinan and BMW will get into the warranty discussion without you having to do anything.Believe what you want,but i have spoken directly with Dinan and my dealer about this because i am most likely getting the flash from Dinan within the next month or two.And i am not going to spend 2300 without knowing i will be covered if anything happens.The thing about the Dinan tune is that Dinan will not cover you unless all of your mods are Dinan products.Like if you get the tune and you put on a UR,Borla or any other exhaust,Dinan wont cover you under there warranty.

[dnanfan]

I think the upgrade is well worth the money since the performance gain is huge and the warranty remains. I think the smoothness of the turbo coming up to pressure is entirely seemless whereas cars that I have driven without the upgrade there was a slight torque fall just as the turbo was spooling up. That's just as seat of the pants observation. Love my car with the extra power, bought it from the dealer already installed.
08 335I coupe Black with 19's.

[mac335]

I'm thinking about getting a 08 335i with the Dinan already installed on it. Of course BMW says they can't CPO the car because of the chip. I was just wondering if you still have yours and if you ever had any problems with that.
Thank you!

[Johno]

.... is the way to go. Works the same was as the Dinan thing without the hype and cost. Plus you can set it to zero when you want stock performance.

Hashed to death.

Dinan claims benefits that are marketing spin. Example: the cooling system thing. BMW automatically increases coolling flow over 240 degrees. With the dinan software you are buying mostly brand and a little substance. With JB3 you get all substance and incredible customer support.

Dinan benefit is no need to mess with install. For $2000 they should give you a dinner and a movie first, but to each their own...

Marketing wise Dinan has an incredible product: Software = unlimited installs without incremental production cost. A real gold mine once fixed costs are met.

[derbim]

is that the above post is mostly incorrect. I did Dinan S2. Absolutely scary unbelievable change in the vehicle's performance. HP increase is one thing, but the torque increase is really really amazing. Your dealer is correct. Some ECUs need to get shipped to Dinan, others do not. Dinan upgrades their code regularly to keep abreast of BMW software changes, so.....if your dealer is a Dinan dealer, just follow their advice. The above post is incorrect. In addition to re-mapping boost, Dinan code also changes cooling parameters, fuel mix parameters, wastegaste factors, etc. It has over 2000 lines of code. JB3? For that price, you know they haven't written code...and the fact that you can "dial it to 0"??? that should tell you more about what is going on here. The ECU uses erasable, programmable large scale integrated chip technology. In fact, it can only be flashed or re-flashed a finite number of times, before you need a new ECU. Don't worry about going there....Bottom line: you get what you pay for. Read all the posts about the problems people have with these cheapo "chips" and what happens when the dealer backtracks to read the performance parameters when you are in for service. The computer will easily tell them if boost, for example, has exceeded OEM specs. HINT: you are in trouble with your warranty at that point. If you check the Dinan site, or with your dealer, you will discover that once or twice per year the software is on sale....25% off. That makes it a bit more affordable, but having in my 07 for some many many months now......just do it.

[Johno]

Problem posts? Let's see them.

Who said anything about dialing?

The variables that get adjusted are identical , unless you are aware of something other than the maf sensor signal, fuel and air. The jb3 having 7 plus user selectable maps does in fact include programming. Do you think it uses gears or a pulley or something?

OP - do yourself a favor and contact Terry Burger and Dinan and ask your questions direct. Then decide.

[gary88]

COBB has a new N54 flash out that I've heard great things about, if I were buying a tune I'd be looking at that.

[duncan17]

Every 335 with JB3 I've seen at the track on a warm day goes over 300F oil temp and goes into limp mode. Haven't seen a Dinan do that yet.

[Johno]

That is interesting. How many of each system have you seen in track use? Oil cooler status same on each? Any non-enhanced 335s go into limp mode?

This kind of experience can be very valuable but the data needs to complete to be useful.

I'm sincerely interested and do not ask these questions to challenge.

[duncan17]

Probably about 3-4 of each, Dinan and JB3. To be honest the performance is very close, on normal driving one may never have a problem unless you go on an extended mountain run where you really push the car. I hope everyone tracking has an oil cooler, I did one weekend on the stock oil cooler before installing the larger one and saw temperatures around 280 on 50 degree days. That was before stage 3 and the larger oil cooler. Now I see 250-260 on very hot days. The Dinan software does remap the water pump speed to control engine temperatures. Before I went with Dinan I was instructed by someone who had Dinan to ask about that. JB does not, Dinan does.

[Johno]

Interesting. Thanks. You have me curious about this cooling thing. I was told factory cooling increases automatically above 240 degrees.

Even those who never track their luxury car should be concerened about cooling. It sounds like I miheard somthig about cooling.

In related news, I see there is a new version of the JB3 (JB4), with intriguing info about oil cooling and cooling system remapping.

Whoever said this isn't software may be misinformed?

From the Burger site:

"Now shipping with JB4 featuring 5x the processing power, 2x the memory, more robust signal conditioning, and integrated CANbus. Our new CANbus module allows the JB4 to communicate with your vehicle like never before. New features include code reading/deleting, optional in dash boost, timing, air/fuel, shift light, and IAT gauges, autotuning, a buttery smooth new CANbus based integrated boost control system, map switching on the fly via steering wheel controls, built in downpipe fix, hot/cold oil temperature protection, progressive methanol integration, water pump remapping, gear dependent boost control/traction assist, and much more to come with free firmware updates uploaded using a windows laptop (or mac w/ windows emulator) and BMS USB cable."

Sounds like BMS is closing the gap/percieved gap between it and Dinan, even in this area of cooling.

Interestingly, previous customers get the new JB4 for free to $150, depending on prchase path. That's pretty amazing customer support.

If I were buying this system I wouldn't think twice. JB4 seems to have closed any percieved gap. That 4,500 RPM "valet mode" I didn;t copy and paste and map-selectable via steering wheel buttons is kind of nice.

[tphss]

When is the Dinan computer tuning for the N55 coming out?

[Terry @ BMS]

Hey guys,

Coming in to the conversation a bit late but can shed more light on the JB4 functions/features in regard to cooling.

Recent changes from the JB3 include logging of coolant and water temperatures, allowing the tuning to limit boost during cold oil conditions when the oil is thicker, and proactively manage higher temperature conditions where overheating is imminent.

As most know the flash tuners advertise "improved cooling" via the software flash, but this is essentially a myth, as the OEM DME increases water pump and fan capacity to 100% on its own as temperatures increase. The only way to improve cooling capacity is with an augmented oil cooler, for example, or by proactively reducing power as oil temperatures increase as we do with the JB4.

Where we have found a small benefit is increasing the water pump speed relative to water temperature faster than the DME would otherwise. It does not improve the cooling capacity but helps stay a little cooler a little longer. The main advantage though is for drag racers allowing them to quick cool the car sitting in the staging lanes. Both of these features will be added to the JB4 via a future software update.

JB4 also includes in dash gauges, automatic code reading/deleting, steering wheel controls for map switching, etc, so overall a nice upgrade over the JB3 including several features not offered by flash tunes.