[Horseman]

So…. Curious as to ya’lls thoughts on getting a stage 1 tune while still under warranty. I’m aware that if there’s an issue if they trace it back to the time I gotta cover costs, and that if they wipe the software…. I lose the time.

But what’s the real risks here? Is it worth it? Looking to get a small bump in hp and mpg.

[StanDiego]

Originally Posted by Horseman

So…. Curious as to ya’lls thoughts on getting a stage 1 tune while still under warranty. I’m aware that if there’s an issue if they trace it back to the time I gotta cover costs, and that if they wipe the software…. I lose the time.

But what’s the real risks here? Is it worth it? Looking to get a small bump in hp and mpg.

IMHO it's not worth the risk while under warranty. Some tweaks such as Bimmercode are probably low risk but a stage 1 could potentially give BMW an excuse to deny virtually anything under the hood that fails. Anything that messes with boost or AFR is a red flag. I know, not much help if you tend to buy a new car every four years but it's the approach I took with previous cars. I believe that a stage 1 is pretty safe but unless you're prepared for a potentially $15-20K repair that could actually be unrelated to your stage 1, I'd pass. The small bump in power isn't worth the risk.

[Horseman]

That's a fair response.

[stlcdr]

I’ve thought about this, and almost immediately dismissed it. There’s so much power going to the back wheels, that anything extra is a waste. I’ve not thought - while driving - ‘I wish this had just a little bit more power’.

Also, I have, technically, the second fastest vehicle at work (the other being a Tesla, so it don’t really count): there is that

And then there’s the warranty thing already mentioned.

[Westside Guy]

Originally Posted by Horseman

So…. Curious as to ya’lls thoughts on getting a stage 1 tune while still under warranty. I’m aware that if there’s an issue if they trace it back to the time I gotta cover costs, and that if they wipe the software…. I lose the time.

But what’s the real risks here? Is it worth it? Looking to get a small bump in hp and mpg.

IMHO, this is a classic case of risk vs. reward and to risk your warranty in order to achieve a small bump in hp and mpg simply isn’t worth it.

[Horseman]

I’m more open to the increase in fuel economy than power. But you all have put my curiosity to rest. I’ll wait a few years and just go straight to a stage 2 and replace exhaust…. Add some fun carbon cosmetics until then

[Balr14]

I am going to install a JB+ unit when my warranty expires, if I am still driving. It's been used on all flavors of B58s for a number of years with no reports of problems. Basically it just adds 4lbs of boost, which I have done on a variety of turbo cars over the years with no ill effects. By all accounts, the B58 is seriously over-built.

[COKen]

A buddy of mine just lost his turbo on his 2020 with a tune. Not sure which brand or level of tune. He was out of town in a different state and spent a bunch to have it towed back to his house. Don't know yet if there is more damage than just the turbo. He was out of warranty because of mileage.

[BEAR-AvHistory]

Originally Posted by stlcdr

I’ve thought about this, and almost immediately dismissed it. There’s so much power going to the back wheels, that anything extra is a waste. I’ve not thought - while driving - ‘I wish this had just a little bit more power’.

Also, I have, technically, the second fastest vehicle at work (the other being a Tesla, so it don’t really count): there is that

And then there’s the warranty thing already mentioned.

Agree. Don't really believe you can add any significant power to the 4.0 without additional modifications to put the added power to the ground.

Have never had any major issues with any JB4 system. I ran one on the 2011-2014 335is 7DCT coupe 319WHP stock to 410WHP modified. Sold the car after 4 years & it was running local AutoX by the new owner.

2013- 2022 135 6MT Convertible. Upper mid level boost caused two blown plastic charge pipes till I installed a BMW alloy version. Never Dynoed but it was quicker than the 335is.




The Cobra built during 2014 registered in 2015 was my performance car choice for modification.

Both BMW cars warranty serviced by local BMW dealer without comment.

FWIW would never buy the base BMS system. The full JB4 is so much more flexable & feature rich.

[Balr14]

I ran a JB4 on my 2009 335i with no issues. It had some some basic mods, but nothing outlandish. It developed blow-off valve rattle at about 60k miles, but I gather that isn't unusual. Every turbo engine I've owned would handle 4lbs or 5lbs of extra boost without major mods and no negative side effects. Mostly, you need to make sure the injectors could handle it.

[RavenGX]

Originally Posted by Horseman

I’m more open to the increase in fuel economy than power. But you all have put my curiosity to rest. I’ll wait a few years and just go straight to a stage 2 and replace exhaust…. Add some fun carbon cosmetics until then

That's what you tell yourself to get the stage one, but you'll end up using more than before, since the car is more fun and pulls faster :-)

Ive had mine on a stage 3 during warranty (stage 1 after first year). No issues with the bmw dealership. I figured if after one year the engine didn't explode on me, it would be okay to tune it

Yes if it breaks you have to pay for it yourself, but it's the same when you break it after warranty. If it's someting you really want, i wouldn't wait for my warranty to expire.

[Mr. Bill]

I have a very bad habit of modifying my cars. I currently run a BMW M240i x-drive with a Dinan stage 1 tune, performance exhaust, intake, blah blah. I love it! However, I was able to get the Stage 1 tune with Dinan’s factory matching warranty. Otherwise, I would have skipped the tune. Sadly, Dinan is getting away from the matching warranty. Why would I skip it? I got burned on an Audi TTRS that I had tuned with a Stage 1, racing clutch, exhaust, blah, blah. I blew up my transmission while the car was still under warranty. As soon as the dealership discovered the tune, Audi refused to cover the repair. Luckily, it was a company car and the company covered the repair. Lesson learned. Will I still tune cars now that Dinan has changed its warranty? Yes, but I will buy a car already out of warranty and then tune it. I’m comfortable with modest tunes. I’m just not comfortable with getting burned on a warranty that I paid for.

If you want to do something to your car that gives you the choice between better gas mileage and sportier response, try the Pedal Commander. I have one on my M240i and my Honda Ridgeline. I got it for the Ridgeline to keep myself from leaping out of the truck from sheer boredom while driving. I got it for the M240i b/c I liked it so much in the Ridgeline. The Pedal Commander won’t affect your warranty and it really wakes up the throttle response. Does it add horsepower? No and there are many people who will tell you that it doesn’t do anything more than what you can do by mashing your foot on the go pedal. The vast majority of those people do not have any personal experience with the Pedal Commander and I will tell you that the Pedal Commander really works. My M240i is sick (I do realize that I have plenty of other go fast parts that contribute to its sickness). I was pretty happy with the car but the PD added that last bit that I wanted (we’re not talking about need here). The PD takes about 15 to 30 minutes to install (you have to get to the pedal to unhook the throttle cable, and it can be maddening at times). If you don’t like it, you can send it back within 30 days for a full refund.

Dinan makes a similar product for the Z. It does the same thing as the PD, which is vastly eliminating the throttle lag that comes from a drive by wire system. You can also modify settings to save on gas if that is your objective. Does it save gas? Don’t know. Never tried it. Never will.

I wanted to put one on my wife’s X7 M50i, but she said that there is nothing that needs to be done to make her car more enjoyable to drive. I disagree, but it’s her car, and it is quite the beast for such a large vehicle.

I am thinking of getting a Z and putting Dinan go fast parts on it. The only thing that gives me hesitation is the RWD only format. We’ll see. Good luck!

[BEAR-AvHistory]

Originally Posted by Mr. Bill

Dinan makes a similar product for the Z. It does the same thing as the PD, which is vastly eliminating the throttle lag that comes from a drive by wire system. You can also modify settings to save on gas if that is your objective. Does it save gas? Don’t know. Never tried it. Never will.

No. It just changes the rate that the throttle reacts to the pedal position.

Example it the pedal & throttle were evenly matched it would be perfectly linier. What the mod does is increase the actual throttle opening more than the pedal is moved at the beginning of the pedals movement.

It just front loads the rate the throttle plates move. At higher engine speeds the rate the throttle opens vs pedal movement slows down. No free lunch.

I have control over the ECU in the Cobra & have my pedal/throttle rate set exactly the opposites. I slow down the opining rate so I have better control of the power input on launch with the high power very light car.