F30 330d BMW Performance Power Kit
Discussion
Just thought I would share my experience of the official BMW PPK, in case any one else is considering this.
Fitting time was one hour, plus an extra seven hours for coding. That's normal apparently.
Since fitting last Friday, my fuel consumption in normal driving has increased dramatically. My 50 mile each way commute used to give about 45mpg, with PPK that's 35mpg. The official BMW literature claims no mpg difference in normal driving. The car runs far less smoothly, the gearbox is up and down the ratios like a yoyo even on the motorway and the shifting is now very jerky.
And the power increase? Barely noticeable. Virtually nothing. We're talking the difference between having a full or empty tank, or one passenger compared to none.
In summary, a complete waste of time and money, which has now basically ruined the car for me. Very unhappy indeed and trying to get a refund and car put back to standard.
Should have gone for the tuning box option which is easily removed and most of whom do a refund if you're not satisfied.
Fitting time was one hour, plus an extra seven hours for coding. That's normal apparently.
Since fitting last Friday, my fuel consumption in normal driving has increased dramatically. My 50 mile each way commute used to give about 45mpg, with PPK that's 35mpg. The official BMW literature claims no mpg difference in normal driving. The car runs far less smoothly, the gearbox is up and down the ratios like a yoyo even on the motorway and the shifting is now very jerky.
And the power increase? Barely noticeable. Virtually nothing. We're talking the difference between having a full or empty tank, or one passenger compared to none.
In summary, a complete waste of time and money, which has now basically ruined the car for me. Very unhappy indeed and trying to get a refund and car put back to standard.
Should have gone for the tuning box option which is easily removed and most of whom do a refund if you're not satisfied.
Edited by cycle tramp on Wednesday 7th October 18:47
The retail price for the PPK is about £1,300 inc vat and fitting. There is an offer on at the moment for £1,000 inc vat and fitting.
The kit includes a new intercooler and ecu and your warranty remains intact. Just to clarify, the advertised fitting time is one hour but that doesn't include coding. This can take (apparently) between one hour and up to twelve hours. This doesn't add to the fitting cost but if you're there waiting it sure is a waste of a day.
Anyway, the kit adds almost no power and is a complete load of bs.
The kit includes a new intercooler and ecu and your warranty remains intact. Just to clarify, the advertised fitting time is one hour but that doesn't include coding. This can take (apparently) between one hour and up to twelve hours. This doesn't add to the fitting cost but if you're there waiting it sure is a waste of a day.
Anyway, the kit adds almost no power and is a complete load of bs.
Blimey, I'd be getting that back to dealers pdq. Having given them £1,000, they need to be sorting it out (.. I'm sure you are already on it!).
I'm also very confused about the 1-12 hours thing. Is the software involved not 'off the shelf' both on the car OE ECU and the tuning kit? What would be bespoke on either that would need coding? IANAME (motor engineer) so I'd be interested to know.
I'm also very confused about the 1-12 hours thing. Is the software involved not 'off the shelf' both on the car OE ECU and the tuning kit? What would be bespoke on either that would need coding? IANAME (motor engineer) so I'd be interested to know.
I would guess the software comes direct from bmw servers in Germany and you are at the mercy of how much demand is placed on them at the time.
Similar to volvo. AFAIK you can only get official software updates from franchised dealers with a hard link to volvo servers.
The above may be complete b
ks btw.
st for the OP.. Interesting to see how it gets resolved anyway.
Similar to volvo. AFAIK you can only get official software updates from franchised dealers with a hard link to volvo servers.
The above may be complete b
ks btw. s
t for the OP.. Interesting to see how it gets resolved anyway. There has to be something wrong ,Knitware had his done and loves it,,,rolling road figures 299bhp on someone elses car as well. ...nightmare scenario of them saying there is no problem when there surely has to be ,wish you luck with it all
EDITED This is one of Knitwears posts
The PPK has altered the mapping and also the gearbox, it's subtle but noticeable and it affects all driving modes. For example in the comfort setting there is a change, it's as it was before the PPK when driving normally but when I go for an overtake the urgency of the gearbox and engine is instant, it's almost like it's switched to a sport setting if that makes sense. There's no need to move the gear stick to the left, overtakes can be made in comfort with no lag, it's a really good improvement.
With the gear lever left and the button in sport presented is a huge beautiful linear flow of torque and speed with each gear change nailed in at the top of the revs, it's super quick but there aren't many places and opportunities to drive like this too often, saved for a treat.
EDITED This is one of Knitwears posts
The PPK has altered the mapping and also the gearbox, it's subtle but noticeable and it affects all driving modes. For example in the comfort setting there is a change, it's as it was before the PPK when driving normally but when I go for an overtake the urgency of the gearbox and engine is instant, it's almost like it's switched to a sport setting if that makes sense. There's no need to move the gear stick to the left, overtakes can be made in comfort with no lag, it's a really good improvement.
With the gear lever left and the button in sport presented is a huge beautiful linear flow of torque and speed with each gear change nailed in at the top of the revs, it's super quick but there aren't many places and opportunities to drive like this too often, saved for a treat.
Edited by smashy on Thursday 8th October 11:53
Using this thread as a guide,it seems that there may well be something wrong with your install...
http://f30.bimmerpost.com/forums/showthread.php?t=...
http://f30.bimmerpost.com/forums/showthread.php?t=...
Car is booked in next week to see if there is a fault.
To be fair I don't think its a dealer fitting issue, I think its more likely to be a combination of my unrealistic expectations, misleading BMW literature and the fact that my car was probably making a fair bit more than 258bhp originally.
In any case, can anyone honestly say they would notice 0.2 seconds off the 0 to 60? Damn sure I cant.
To be fair I don't think its a dealer fitting issue, I think its more likely to be a combination of my unrealistic expectations, misleading BMW literature and the fact that my car was probably making a fair bit more than 258bhp originally.
In any case, can anyone honestly say they would notice 0.2 seconds off the 0 to 60? Damn sure I cant.
Mind you cycle you said this..........Since fitting last Friday, my fuel consumption in normal driving has increased dramatically. My 50 mile each way commute used to give about 45mpg, with PPK that's 35mpg. The official BMW literature claims no mpg difference in normal driving. The car runs far less smoothly, the gearbox is up and down the ratios like a yoyo even on the motorway and the shifting is now very jerky...............
Surely thats not you just thinking its happening?? Please keep us informed and good luck
Surely thats not you just thinking its happening?? Please keep us informed and good luck
Edited by smashy on Saturday 10th October 22:59
Update. Should have posted this a month back. Raised a complaint with the dealer, they had the car back for a day and returned it all to standard (thankfully they still had my old ecu and intercooler)and gave me a full refund.
Absolutely top service from BMW and no quibbles at all, so the aggravation I was expecting didn't materialise, thankfully. The car was back to its previous self, ie much smoother and mpg back to where it was before.
I really couldn't recommend this upgrade. The power increase was barely perceptible and the additional fuel consumption and 'busy' gearbox mapping just made it ste to drive.
If I was in the market for an F30 330d power upgrade I think I'd try the Superchips one at £450. Decent power increase, comes with a money back guarantee and you can take it off and sell it if you change the car.
What did I do in the end?
.............bought an F80 M3!
Absolutely top service from BMW and no quibbles at all, so the aggravation I was expecting didn't materialise, thankfully. The car was back to its previous self, ie much smoother and mpg back to where it was before.
I really couldn't recommend this upgrade. The power increase was barely perceptible and the additional fuel consumption and 'busy' gearbox mapping just made it s
te to drive.If I was in the market for an F30 330d power upgrade I think I'd try the Superchips one at £450. Decent power increase, comes with a money back guarantee and you can take it off and sell it if you change the car.
What did I do in the end?
.............bought an F80 M3!
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