Cobb for N54 ?

[stuart-b]

I have a Z4 35iS, considering Cobb as the tuning backend for a FBO setup. Other alternatives are JB4/MHD, but Cobb seem to have a lot of support. Car would get custom mapping at Litchfield and they are mainly working on GTR's.

Any Cobb users here?

Cheers

[Dannbodge]

I thought about going Cobb but decided MHD was the way forward.

Going to be sorting mine out in the coming weeks.

[seefarr]

I've got a Cobb on my N54 335i. I bought it through Litchfield but just went with the standard maps rather than a custom tune as it's otherwise standard. I did a few runs with logging turned on to confirm it wasn't pulling timing or throttle and it was fine on the Aggressive map and Shell optimax. It's possible a tuner could pull a few more hp out but really, it turns it into enough of an animal for me as it is!

[Smuler]

Dannbodge said:

I thought about going Cobb but decided MHD was the way forward.

Going to be sorting mine out in the coming weeks.

Why did you chose MHD, Dann?

Thanks

[Rdawson]

I was going to go with Cobb as I particularly liked the handheld unit and they seemed to have good customer support, as well as being popular in the US. In the end I went with MHD. It is significantly cheaper, and although that would normally turn me off as I am a bit of a doubting Thomas, the man behind the MHD tunes is Ken Wedge, who writes the custom maps for Cobb anyway (or so I believe from the US forums). It costs $100 for the flasher module, $50 per map, and around $80 for the monitoring module so that you can use your Android phone or tablet as a fully configurable gauge display. MHD tunes are being constantly developed, whereas Cobb is winding down its N54 programme (though that is not to take anything away from them being a great option).

[Dannbodge]

Smuler said:

Why did you chose MHD, Dann?

Thanks

Pretty much as above.

It's only £100 (well £46 for logging and £67 for flashing) to get both logging and flashing licenses, and it has the ability to log and monitor along with giving you 8 extra gauges displayed on your phone/tablet.

I already have a cable that should work so it's very cheap for me.

I was more interested in the logging as it may point to failing waterpumps and HPFPs etc.

[Smuler]

Thanks guys.
Definitely cheaper, assuming the user has an android phone or tablet, I guess.

Anyone know if MHD is detectable by dealers, as I have a warranty?

[Liamst]

I chose jb4 as cobb is very costly for limited features i would go for a remap at evolve or dms over cobb. Not to say it isnt great and doesnt do the job, and i have heard that their customer support is very good but they dont offer much in terms of update / progression for n54.
JB4 got my pick because MHD wasnt as big as it is now when i got it but even now they still release constant updates and new features for it. The loggingg is very simple and so is the install. In the next month or so i will be running MHD backend flash on jb4 to tidy up some timing tables to allow higher boost. Currently not too bad heat has a big part to play. I also quite like the idea of running water meth and have used the jb4 ability to set 1st and 2nd boost caps etc at santa pod the one time i have been.

Also switchable maps in a second, shift lights, integrated / hijacked guages can show AFR/ boost / timing etc.
Also jb4 can be sold if you change your mind.
If you want cobb check forums i know baby bmw theres always cobb and jb4 up for sale.

[Dannbodge]

Smuler said:

Thanks guys.
Definitely cheaper, assuming the user has an android phone or tablet, I guess.

Anyone know if MHD is detectable by dealers, as I have a warranty?

No idea but I have warranty too.

You can flash back to stock though, Takes about 2 mins to flash maps after the initial 40min flash

[Shotdog]

I'd go for JB4 combined with MHD or just go with MHD, I'm running Jb4 at the moment but will be going with MHD pump flash along side! Heard nothing but good things about MHD. Cobb is old fashioned now

[V8A*ndy]

stuart-b said:

I have a Z4 35iS, considering Cobb as the tuning backend for a FBO setup. Other alternatives are JB4/MHD, but Cobb seem to have a lot of support. Car would get custom mapping at Litchfield and they are mainly working on GTR's.

Any Cobb users here?

Cheers

Whatever you do please report back.

I'm contemplating this in the summer for the 35iS. Though in reality I may never do it.

[Shotdog]

You'd be daft not to mate the amount of power you can get from the N54 is mad
Especially now New inlets are available that can get you into 60whp alone alongside other bolt one and a good tune

[Tea Pot One]

I have considered Cobb for my 35iS. That or DMS. I like something proven and not too extreme. A simple remap will do me for 390-400bhp

A warranty stops me as I do not want a 'tuned' marker against the car from BMW.

[Rdawson]

Tea Pot One said:

I have considered Cobb for my 35iS. That or DMS. I like something proven and not too extreme. A simple remap will do me for 390-400bhp

A warranty stops me as I do not want a 'tuned' marker against the car from BMW.

I'm in the same boat. The guys in the US are mad for full bolt on status, but for me I am happy with mid to high 300 level horsepower. I actually like how quiet the car is at cruising speed, and don't want to change the character of the engine either. I just want a little 'extra' so to speak. I think that with a tune and a decent suspension refresh the car becomes a great all rounder.

[Tobias Funke]

Tea Pot One said:

I have considered Cobb for my 35iS. That or DMS. I like something proven and not too extreme. A simple remap will do me for 390-400bhp

A warranty stops me as I do not want a 'tuned' marker against the car from BMW.

Same here, the power gains are tempting, but I value the warranty on my 335i over them.

[stuart-b]

Rdawson said:

I was going to go with Cobb as I particularly liked the handheld unit and they seemed to have good customer support, as well as being popular in the US. In the end I went with MHD. It is significantly cheaper, and although that would normally turn me off as I am a bit of a doubting Thomas, the man behind the MHD tunes is Ken Wedge, who writes the custom maps for Cobb anyway (or so I believe from the US forums). It costs $100 for the flasher module, $50 per map, and around $80 for the monitoring module so that you can use your Android phone or tablet as a fully configurable gauge display. MHD tunes are being constantly developed, whereas Cobb is winding down its N54 programme (though that is not to take anything away from them being a great option).

Lot more responses here than I expected! I already bought the MHD app and a data cable, I guess my main reservations were the long flash time compared to cobb (any ideas why?) And the requirement for a battery charger. It all seemed Heath Robinson compared to the PNP option from Cobb. Not only that, but I rely on an unknown cable, my phone, plus an app where I have no background knowledge or places to go if it goes wrong.

If anyone is willing to assist or point me know the right direction to a decent forum and not just the massive single thread I found @ burger motorsports then I am game !

Cheers

[Smuler]

stuart-b said:

Lot more responses here than I expected! I already bought the MHD app and a data cable, I guess my main reservations were the long flash time compared to cobb (any ideas why?) And the requirement for a battery charger. It all seemed Heath Robinson compared to the PNP option from Cobb. Not only that, but I rely on an unknown cable, my phone, plus an app where I have no background knowledge or places to go if it goes wrong.

If anyone is willing to assist or point me know the right direction to a decent forum and not just the massive single thread I found @ burger motorsports then I am game !

Cheers

I presume you've looked on e90post.com , where there is a lot discussion albeit I think lacking something as clear cut /definitive as other options such as cobb??

I was disappointed not to see some real clear step by step instructions on you tube.

Maybe you can be pistonheads MHD pioneer

[Dannbodge]

stuart-b said:

Lot more responses here than I expected! I already bought the MHD app and a data cable, I guess my main reservations were the long flash time compared to cobb (any ideas why?) And the requirement for a battery charger. It all seemed Heath Robinson compared to the PNP option from Cobb. Not only that, but I rely on an unknown cable, my phone, plus an app where I have no background knowledge or places to go if it goes wrong.

If anyone is willing to assist or point me know the right direction to a decent forum and not just the massive single thread I found @ burger motorsports then I am game !

Cheers

You only need the battery charger for the first flash as it can take up to 40mins and I would assume uses quite a bit of juice to do. It's more safe than sorry though as it doesn't hurt to keep the battery full when doing it. Once the initial flash is done it only take a minute or two to flash a new map. for which you won't need a battery charger.

E90 post had a 154page long thread on the MHD flasher, with both support from MHD himself and the guy that writes the maps Wedge Tuning (I believe). Generally posting that thread and Tagging MHD in it gets you answers pretty quickly.

Just found this after a bit of googling:
http://www.1addicts.com/forums/showthread.php?p=18...

Edited by Dannbodge on Wednesday 6th January 11:51

Edited by Dannbodge on Wednesday 6th January 12:01

[stuart-b]

Dannbodge said:

You only need the battery charger for the first flash as it can take up to 40mins and I would assume uses quite a bit of juice to do. It's more safe than sorry though as it doesn't hurt to keep the battery full when doing it. Once the initial flash is done it only take a minute or two to flash a new map. for which you won't need a battery charger.

E90 post had a 154page long thread on the MHD flasher, with both support from MHD himself and the guy that writes the maps Wedge Tuning (I believe). Generally posting that thread and Tagging MHD in it gets you answers pretty quickly.

Just found this after a bit of googling:
http://www.1addicts.com/forums/showthread.php?p=18...

Edited by Dannbodge on Wednesday 6th January 11:51

Edited by Dannbodge on Wednesday 6th January 12:01

Thanks, I've sent an email to WedgePerformance to see if I can pay him to help me and develop a custom tune. I don't fancy pretending to know if the engine is performing properly post-map, so I'd rather pay for his time and to reassure me I'm not going to toast my engine!

[Dannbodge]

stuart-b said:

Thanks, I've sent an email to WedgePerformance to see if I can pay him to help me and develop a custom tune. I don't fancy pretending to know if the engine is performing properly post-map, so I'd rather pay for his time and to reassure me I'm not going to toast my engine!

I suppose that's the point of the logging part of his app. As the N54 has a wideband it's pretty easy to check whether it's healthy or not. MA fair few people on N54tech or E90post are very good at analysing logs and seeing issues etc.