X5 diesel tune.

[qbix]

I've been following this thread as I also wanted to get this chip but apparently it looks like it is a piece of junk.
Thoughts based on this thread as well as the one about 5.0i.

Any other alternatives to 3.0d? (3.5d US market)

[EIGHTLUG]

I've put 3,500+ miles on our X5 in the past month, with the Race Chips installed. Zero issues. I think the "issues" are rooted in something else, but that's just me.

[greentrbo95gst]

5800 miles and no issues in the highest setting.
There is 30+ of us here that have been using it with no issues.

[42pilot]

That figures - I install it, leave it at factory setting, and within 300 miles it throws a code.

[42pilot]

Originally Posted by EIGHTLUG

I've put 3,500+ miles on our X5 in the past month, with the Race Chips installed. Zero issues. I think the "issues" are rooted in something else, but that's just me.

What do you think?

[EIGHTLUG]

Originally Posted by 42pilot

What do you think?

There was a firmware update that was released just as our initial orders were put in. Did you update yours before you installed? It may make no difference or it may make a huge difference. The unit is super simple in its design. There aren't many internal components. It's one of those things that will either work or not work.

[42pilot]

That's a good point, and no I have not looked for the firmware update - thanks for the info as customer service didn't mention this.

And I agree - the design and software is super simple. That's why we were looking at the harness first in case there is a bad crimp.

[42pilot]

Originally Posted by EIGHTLUG

There was a firmware update that was released just as our initial orders were put in. Did you update yours before you installed? It may make no difference or it may make a huge difference. The unit is super simple in its design. There aren't many internal components. It's one of those things that will either work or not work.

Thanks again for this info. RaceChip answered my email and confirmed there was a firmware update and could be the problem, depending on the software version in my car. I'll know more on Monday when they can access the firmware version (paperwork) of my chip.

[qbix]

Software upgrades should not be my problem. If a box is released it should be first tested thoroughly.
For most people it works but apparently there are some that experienced problems with this device. I won't take the chance. Thanks!

Was also wondering how much the DPF is going to suffer with this upgrade. Increased fuel means increased smoke and higher workload on the filters.

[42pilot]

Originally Posted by qbix

Software upgrades should not be my problem. If a box is released it should be first tested thoroughly.
For most people it works but apparently there are some that experienced problems with this device. I won't take the chance. Thanks!

Was also wondering how much the DPF is going to suffer with this upgrade. Increased fuel means increased smoke and higher workload on the filters.

Now I am experiencing finger pointing between DTM, RaceChip US and RaceChip Germany. There is a firmware update depending on the year model you drive and it seems that DTM might have ordered the wrong box. Let's see how long it take for this to play out.

If you are talking about the DEF fluid, I wouldn't be too concerned as there's enough in the tank for nearly 10,000 miles. Keeping your foot in it might bring it down to 8,000 miles. The cost of DEF is pretty cheap too.

If you really want an eye opener, call AC Schnitzler and ask them about their little black box. Same stats, but it goes for more than $5k. I think it's explained by their warranty.

In addition, here is a direct quote on their tuning:

Engine tuning and performance upgrades have a long tradition at AC Schnitzer. To be on the safe side however, we prefer not to extract the maximum possible power but instead ensure greater robustness, which means a longer life of the engine. Many of our performance upgrades are therefore designed for an increase in torque rather than an increase in horsepower. Because torque is what you feel when for example you're "pressed back in the seat" on pulling away.

Check out the price here:

http://preisliste.ac-schnitzer.de/ac...e_id_auswahl=1

[Mhnd198502]

Will this affect the warranty?
I know VW (in Canada) will void the warranty if you do any mods (engine/suspension) on the car.

Is there a place in Canada - Vancouver where you can chip your X5 35d?

[42pilot]

My last comment on this chip is, you really need to play around with it to find the sweet spot. Mine came in as E0 and I tried all sorts of combinations. I've settled with 00 since it provides just a little better throttle response and my mpg jumped to 30-ish mpg, same mixed driving I've been doing since I bought the car. I also find that the computer is about 2mpg higher than what works out on paper. This last fill up with the 00 setting gave me 30.2 mpg compared to the E0 setting of 28.6 mpg.

And, we never determined what the CEL was a couple weeks ago. It came on, went away on its own and hasn't returned.

[nicoz]

How do we get thee GB price? It doesn't show on the website.

[EIGHTLUG]

Originally Posted by 42pilot

My last comment on this chip is, you really need to play around with it to find the sweet spot. Mine came in as E0 and I tried all sorts of combinations. I've settled with 00 since it provides just a little better throttle response and my mpg jumped to 30-ish mpg, same mixed driving I've been doing since I bought the car. I also find that the computer is about 2mpg higher than what works out on paper. This last fill up with the 00 setting gave me 30.2 mpg compared to the E0 setting of 28.6 mpg.

And, we never determined what the CEL was a couple weeks ago. It came on, went away on its own and hasn't returned.

I may be able to research more into it, but what two parameters are being adjusted when you incrementally rotate the two pots? This would go a long way into understanding how one could calibrate a different tune for economy or performance. Anyone know?

[42pilot]

Originally Posted by EIGHTLUG

I may be able to research more into it, but what two parameters are being adjusted when you incrementally rotate the two pots? This would go a long way into understanding how one could calibrate a different tune for economy or performance. Anyone know?

S1 = duration of the fueling (timing - crank angle)
S2 = amount of fuel

[EIGHTLUG]

Originally Posted by 42pilot

S1 = duration of the fueling (timing - crank angle)
S2 = amount of fuel

Thanks, Four Two. I'll play around with my settings this weekend. I had always assumed that S1 should always be "E" and S2 adjusted the power gain/fuel sprayed. I'm currently @ E/2. So, is "E" advancing the duration by 5 degrees from stock, if "A" is the baseline?

[42pilot]

Originally Posted by EIGHTLUG

Thanks, Four Two. I'll play around with my settings this weekend. I had always assumed that S1 should always be "E" and S2 adjusted the power gain/fuel sprayed. I'm currently @ E/2. So, is "E" advancing the duration by 5 degrees from stock, if "A" is the baseline?

S1 is torque since it's fuel timing. I don't know the value of each click, but I could imagine it's not too aggressive since you can max it out and not burn a piston, head gasket or send you temps over the limit. The documentation states you don't need to adjust it because they already found the best timing for torque. And, after all, torque is what you feel in your seat, not HP, and this is what sells chips to most people. You will feel a bigger difference here rather than adjusting S2 and it won't be much.

S2 is the amount of fuel and is throttle response and horse power. Each click is 1.5% and is set at 20% from the mfg. I turned mine up all the way and there was no recognizable difference over what I settled with. That's when I played with it for economy and settled with 2 clicks over the factory setting.

[cobra006]

Hi All,

Sorry if this has been asked already. It seems some people are concerned with whether the engine is designed to handle the additional power this chip will give. What about the transmission ?
I ask because it seems there are a few different variant of the ZF 8 speed transmission, each designed to handle different levels of HP and torque. For example I would think the transmission in the M50D is not the same as the one in the 35D . Even though they're both ZF 8 spd . I would imagine the ones rated for higher HP would be more expensive than the ones rated for less. Why would BMW pay more for a transmission if they didn't have to ? So what does the increased torque do to the 35D transmission over long term ? Anyone has insights ?

[chiplee]

Originally Posted by cobra006

Hi All,

Sorry if this has been asked already. It seems some people are concerned with whether the engine is designed to handle the additional power this chip will give. What about the transmission ?
I ask because it seems there are a few different variant of the ZF 8 speed transmission, each designed to handle different levels of HP and torque. For example I would think the transmission in the M50D is not the same as the one in the 35D . Even though they're both ZF 8 spd . I would imagine the ones rated for higher HP would be more expensive than the ones rated for less. Why would BMW pay more for a transmission if they didn't have to ? So what does the increased torque do to the 35D transmission over long term ? Anyone has insights ?

That's going through operational evaluation as we speak, sponsored by all of the people here who were willing to install this device. In other words, no one knows, and unless someone has designed a test plan with a method to collect data from the people using the device I don't guess we'll ever know. The concerns are rather obvious, but the Diesel needed to come from BMW with 300hp. It falls on its face after the initial jump due to its anemic 255hp.

[CatFlap]

Originally Posted by EIGHTLUG

I may be able to research more into it, but what two parameters are being adjusted when you incrementally rotate the two pots? This would go a long way into understanding how one could calibrate a different tune for economy or performance. Anyone know?

I've never bought one of these 'tuning' boxes though can someone tell me how many electrical harness connectors it has? 2 (male) + 2 (female) I guess? One pair inserted in the fuel rail pressure transducer loop and one in the turbo boost pressure transducer loop?

[CatFlap]

Originally Posted by 42pilot

Engine tuning and performance upgrades have a long tradition at AC Schnitzer. To be on the safe side however, we prefer not to extract the maximum possible power but instead ensure greater robustness, which means a longer life of the engine. Many of our performance upgrades are therefore designed for an increase in torque rather than an increase in horsepower. Because torque is what you feel when for example you're "pressed back in the seat" on pulling away.

Why do these 'experts' imply that power and torque are somehow independent variables? In fact, quite the opposite is true, and we should be clear on these facts:

• POWER (the rate of doing WORK) is wholly dependent on TORQUE and RPM.
  
• TORQUE and RPM are the MEASURED quantities of engine output.
  
• POWER is CALCULATED from torque and RPM, by the following equation:
  
  HP = Torque x RPM ÷ 5252
  

You can't have more POWER without producing more TORQUE unless, that is, your engine can produce that SAME TORQUE at an increased RPM.

You can make a more meaningful comparison of the performance of a tuned engine by comparing the 'before and after' torque curves. The larger the area under the torque curve the greater the 'overall' performance, max POWER values do not tell the whole story!

Do these experts think they're addressing an audience, the bulk of whom are idiots?

[Ray knight]

I'm in!