Initial review of the JB4 Stage 2

[capitalst]

First I would like to thank R33 for all the help he provided. He made this whole process easy and gave me the confidence to do it myself. I highly suggest working with him if you decide to do any project.

Now to the JB4 Stage 2 review.

I know many would disagree with doing a tuning before the 1,200 miles but hear my thoughts on this.

First, I just wanted to get it done since I purchased it two weeks ago from R33 and second after talking to some techs about this they made a very good point. My X5 had 610 miles on it at the time of install. I never taking it over 4,500 and never do kick downs. What they pointed out was its probably a good thing to do the tuning now and still drive it easy till the break in. Reason being your breaking it in and why not let the engine break in based on the higher boast it will driven with going forward. Key is how would this be any different than breaking in a different car that actually boost to 12 psi+ now? As long as you continue to follow the break in procedures things should be fine.

After my install last night I took it for a easy drive around town. All I can say was WOW. The X5 feels so light now and the engine feels as it should feel from day one. Funny thing is I don't feel the need to push the throttle to 75% or so to get it going now its 30-40% throttle to get the same feeling if not better. The engine just feels more efficient now which leads me to believe I will get better MPG. Further testing will let me know that soon. Also the power comes on smooth with a hint of surge from the extra power. Also, you will hear more turbo noise and i heard a blow off sound a few times. Either way it should great. Last it might be me but the exhaust sounds more athletic.


Overall I'm very happy with the tune and burger tuning really needs to recognize that this JB4 Stage 2 does in fact wok on F15 N55's. I told them this before and still didn't believe me.

I will report again after I hit the 1,200 mark and run it WOT and so on for now I think any one should invest in this. Install took about an hour or so only because it was my first time but without R33's help it would have taken well over 2+ hours. He helped with pictures and locations to put things. Great guy.

I hope this review helps others on the fence and second I recommend working with R33.

[r33_RGSport]

@capitalst , thank you for the kind words.
Also, great review. Glad that you like it.
Let me know if you start to want more power.

[Kzang]

Originally Posted by Alan l.

I picked up my X5 with the MPPK tune already installed and now i have the Racechip stacked on top of it with less than 600 miles on the odometer. I agree with your logic with breaking in the motor in the condition it will be seeing day to day. I take it easy for the most part and only let it stretch it legs a few times here and there with minimal kick down. I don't believe in overly babying the crap out the car for the first 1200 miles but at the same time I don't beat the car up either flogging it to redline at every light. I do easy driving until its fully warmed up. Moderate driving keeping it under 4K for normal driving with an occasional sprint up to 5K or so maybe a handful of times.

Alan

I don't have any tune yet.... but my breakin was similar.. I did a few, maybe 6 or 7 sprints to 4K and 5K RPM. Now that I am passed the 1,200 miles on the odo. I enjoy driving my X5

I am still on the fence with which tune to get... I don't want to deal with any CEL issues because I would have to bring it into the dealer to have it reset since I am not familiar with coding or resetting CEL. Or choosing JB4 aka BMS or Racechip... sometimes having so many options suck making it harder to choose

With that said, my M performance rear lip spoiler will be installed later today

[r33_RGSport]

@Kzang , in your case, I do suggest RaceChip Ultimate or BMS Stage 1 and leave it at default.

[Kzang]

Originally Posted by r33_RGSport

@Kzang , in your case, I do suggest RaceChip Ultimate or BMS Stage 1 and leave it at default.

So Ben,
Looking at Racechip's website here are the claims of the HP/TQ increases for the X5 35i.

For $439 - Racechip TB increases HP to 353 and TQ to 354
For $599 - Racechip TB Pro2 increases HP to 386 and TQ to 375
For $679 - Racechip Ultimate increases HP to 389 and TQ to 378

Are these ratings at the maximum settings or default aka minimal settings of the chip? If these are at the max settings, do you happen to know what the HP/TQ increases are at the default settings?

Also based on price and given HP/TQ increases wouldn't the Racechip TB Pro2 be the best choice?

[r33_RGSport]

Originally Posted by Kzang

So Ben,
Looking at Racechip's website here are the claims of the HP/TQ increases for the X5 35i.

For $439 - Racechip TB increases HP to 353 and TQ to 354
For $599 - Racechip TB Pro2 increases HP to 386 and TQ to 375
For $679 - Racechip Ultimate increases HP to 389 and TQ to 378

Are these ratings at the maximum settings or default aka minimal settings of the chip? If these are at the max settings, do you happen to know what the HP/TQ increases are at the default settings?

Also based on price and given HP/TQ increases wouldn't the Racechip TB Pro2 be the best choice?

Sorry, just got a chance to reply. I was at Bimmerfest all day.
The Ultimate have better, faster processor, which gives you a smoother power gain.
Also, its firmware is updateable compares to the TB and TB Pro2.
The BMS Stage 1 is also no firmware update.
If bang for the buck is the concern, I would suggest BMS Stage 1, since it is way cheaper.

[twelve535i]

Originally Posted by Alan l.

Just order the RC Ultimate from Ben Kzang. You won't regret it. Hardware wise it looks much better made than the JB S1.

Are piggybacks like RC Ultimate detectable by the dealer?

[r33_RGSport]

Originally Posted by twelve535i

Are piggybacks like RC Ultimate detectable by the dealer?

Dealer will detect it if they wanted to.
But, they will have to proof if the piggyback is indeed what is causing the damage to the motor.
BMWNA knows about all of this aftermarket parts, without aftermarket industry, they are running out of idea on what to sell. Hence; MPE, MPPK, MPBK, M Performance parts, DashCam, etc. All they gotta do just label it BMW and sell it higher than aftermarket and offer the warranty coverage.

[Chem14]

Originally Posted by twelve535i

Are piggybacks like RC Ultimate detectable by the dealer?

That's the big question and why I have held off. I have seen some say yes, if a clever mechanic digs deep enough and some say no....

[Alan l.]

The question is why the dealership would go through such extent to try to pin something on a customer. They get paid regardless so it would not be in their best interest to investigate every Bmw that comes in for work to try to blame it on a tune and make the customer pay out of pocket.

Now if you keep blowing your engine, transmission, turbos every 6 months then that's a different story.

Alan

[r33_RGSport]

Originally Posted by Chem14

That's the big question and why I have held off. I have seen some say yes, if a clever mechanic digs deep enough and some say no....

AFAIK, those guys that work on your cars are not even a fully BMW trained mechanic. Only a few head mechanics are the one that is completely trained and have access to the diagnostics tools.
I had a good conversation with the insiders, and I was told that they only have 2 guys that is doing the computer related work, while the rest are the mechanical grease monkeys.
And I just got back from Bimmerfest west today, and guess what, compares to last year, there are more BMW dealership opening up the booth. They all have moded cars being shown and trying to grab a piece of this market.
As Alan said, why would they making it a trouble if it doesn't cause them any trouble.

[twelve535i]

That's good to know that most of the techs aren't qualified enough to detect the tune. I thought I read that Burger tunes automatically wipe out tuner codes or am I mistaken?

[Kzang]

The thing is when your car goes in for regular service (oil, transmission, brakes etc.) the techs will not even look for tunes installed or traces of installations unless they are instructed to by the head guy due to reasons for engine/turbo issues. If you are going in for regular service just remove the tune ( supposedly very simple by taking off the air filter housing ).

[r33_RGSport]

Originally Posted by twelve535i

That's good to know that most of the techs aren't qualified enough to detect the tune. I thought I read that Burger tunes automatically wipe out tuner codes or am I mistaken?

That I can't comment, since I can't read the OE ECU logs.
But, that is what they advertised.

[Alan l.]

RC and JB S1 could be removed in under 10min. 5 might be doable if you have the right tools with you.

Alan

[capitalst]

Officially hit my 1,200 miles on Friday. Had some time to play with the responsiveness of the JB4 Stage 2 with my new X5. I've been on map 1 since i installed it over a week ago. I can tell you when you just push on the throttle to about 50-60% before it hits the 160 F mark when the chip comes alive and you will see what stock really feels like. Once it warms up and the chip kicks in you feel the huge rush from the turbo. Overall Map 1 is consistent. Now today I decided to give Map 5 a run. All I can say is WOW. Talk about a huge surge of power over map 1. Now I do notice that I get more of a surge at different times (due to auto tuning) and not consistent as map 1 but it still awesome when it does kick in to the max. Pushes you deep into your seat. I'm planning to leave it in this setting going forward.

The only thing I need to figure out and maybe one of you can help. I realize that I can't just hammer it and let the trans change gear all the way up to the peak of the rpm's since you feel the big drop off just before it does. I feel as if I need to manually shift it into 2nd and so on maybe just before 6k or so. Not sure where the sweet spot is. When I did this it kept the right power going into the next gear and so on.

[HMN]

I could only imagine the ride after the 1200 . Please let us know what the results are!
Also, would this void the warranty?

[akhter]

The only tunes i have experience with are DTE and they products are top notch as is their customer support. I had their chip in my f10 and will probably get it for f15 later.

http://www.chiptuning.com/en/chiptuning-bmw.html

[EastCoast335i]

r33_RGSport

Hi, since you have experience with both tunes BMS and RC which would you recommend? This is for a 35i xDrive.
I'm looking for the most power provided in a smooth stock-like delivery.
If you would be kind enough to explain the differences between the two tunes and why you recommend one over the other. Thanks!

[capitalst]

From what I read the Racechip and JB4 Stage 1 is really about the same since both just plug into two things. Go with the JB4 Stage two which taps two extra wires and you can run Map 5 which I can tell you is night and day from Map 1 when it hits peak psi. WOW is all I can say. I would almost be afraid of the 50i with a stage 1 or stage 2 when it comes out. The X5 really pulls hard with this Map 5 tuning.

Its always nice to give it a little gas as it warms up just to feel what the stock psi feels like. Nothing to hard since you should always warm it up but just enough to feel the difference. Good reminder of what the tune actually does.

[r33_RGSport]

Originally Posted by EastCoast335i

r33_RGSport

Hi, since you have experience with both tunes BMS and RC which would you recommend? This is for a 35i xDrive.
I'm looking for the most power provided in a smooth stock-like delivery.
If you would be kind enough to explain the differences between the two tunes and why you recommend one over the other. Thanks!

Both tunes work similar. The main difference are these.

BMS Stage 1 require separately sold BMS DATA USB cable and a Windows Laptop to allow you to change the boost gain.
RC Ultimate require you to open up the box and change the boost gain by turning the dial switch.

Smoothness wise, I would pick RC Ultimate over BMS Stage 1. But, some user prefer the BMS Stage 1 since they can feel the power gain.

[EastCoast335i]

Originally Posted by r33_RGSport

Both tunes work similar. The main difference are these.

BMS Stage 1 require separately sold BMS DATA USB cable and a Windows Laptop to allow you to change the boost gain.
RC Ultimate require you to open up the box and change the boost gain by turning the dial switch.

Smoothness wise, I would pick RC Ultimate over BMS Stage 1. But, some user prefer the BMS Stage 1 since they can feel the power gain.

Thank you. Can you please pm me a price for the RC Ultimate? Also the coupon code you've advertised?