Is it worth remapping the 3.0i Z4

[DonAmilo]

Alreet,

Been looking into getting some power gains out of the 231 lump. From what I gather BMW did all they could to get as much out of the lump possible.

However, I have been toying with the idea of getting a map done as there seems to be a a flat spot in 5th gear.

I'm looking at angel tuning or DMS. But DMS want 500+vat!!!!!!!

Any advice?

I know turbo's are the way forward with mapping. (I used to have a remapped 330d - and it flew!)

[rb5230]

i may be completely wrong as i am not so familiar with that engine but i doubt it would make much difference and you should probably keep your £500.

[Pulse]

Waste of money.

[300bhp/ton]

DonAmilo said:

Alreet,

Been looking into getting some power gains out of the 231 lump. From what I gather BMW did all they could to get as much out of the lump possible.

76bhp/litre from a modern EFI DOHC mutlivalve engine running variable timing?

Not to sure they really did do all they could.

DonAmilo said:

However, I have been toying with the idea of getting a map done as there seems to be a a flat spot in 5th gear.

I'm looking at angel tuning or DMS. But DMS want 500+vat!!!!!!!

Any advice?

I know turbo's are the way forward with mapping. (I used to have a remapped 330d - and it flew!)

Flat spot in 5th?

What sort of rpms? Are you certain its not just the fact 5th is an OD?

A map might improve throttle response, mpg and a small amount of power with a sweeter running engine. But I'd expect nearer 2-5hp at most. If it produced more than it's a bonus.

Of course the stock map might be rubbish, but I'd be surprised. For me a map seems an expensive way to get more power.


If you want more hp then the usual rules apply:

-Improve induction and exhaust breathing
-Improve head flow
-Bigger cam
-Some form of power adder
-buy a faster car


Not sure how good or bad the BMW is, or what parts are available off the shelf for them. So these are only generic tuning ideas.

But they usually follow along the lines of an induction kit with a cold air feed. This will reduce flow restriction and cooler air is good for HP. Remove all sound baffles and silencers in the intake.

Ported or bigger TB for greater flow.

Ported or better flowing intake manifold.

Freer flowing exhaust system and high flow CATS.

Long tube exhaust headers to promote exhaust scavenging.

Electric water pump to reduce loses from mechanical one.

After some mods you may need a remap to see benefits. Don't know if these engines run MAF or SD maps, if the latter then a remap would be needed to register the increased flow and breathing abilities.

If you just want some more bang for your buck then fit a nitrous oxide kit running a 75-100 shot

Edited by 300bhp/ton on Wednesday 3rd March 12:23

[The Black Flash]

Agree. You'll almost certainly need to make more traditional changes (exhaust, heads, cams etc) to increase power, which you then can release by tweaking the map - but you're talking a rolling road remap, not a generic chip. A remap alone is unlikely to do much on an NA engine - it works well on a turbo because you can turn the boost up.

You could try posting in the engines & drivetrain section, lots of knowledgeable folks in there...

[OllieWinchester]

300bhp/ton said:

If you want more hp then the usual rules apply:

-Some form of power adder

[bazking69]

Save your money. You won'y get many BHP for your £500 and the difference through the rev range will be nominal.

[OnTheOverrun]

OllieWinchester said:

300bhp/ton said:

If you want more hp then the usual rules apply:

-Some form of power adder

Snake oil?

[y2blade]

OnTheOverrun said:

OllieWinchester said:

300bhp/ton said:

If you want more hp then the usual rules apply:

-Some form of power adder

Snake oil?

electric supercharger?

Edited by y2blade on Wednesday 3rd March 12:34

[Robatr0n]

y2blade said:

OnTheOverrun said:

OllieWinchester said:

300bhp/ton said:

If you want more hp then the usual rules apply:

-Some form of power adder

Snake oil?

electronic supercharger?

Ebay resistor chip?

[y2blade]

Robatr0n said:

y2blade said:

OnTheOverrun said:

OllieWinchester said:

300bhp/ton said:

If you want more hp then the usual rules apply:

-Some form of power adder

Snake oil?

electronic supercharger?

Ebay resistor chip?

the real deal

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Electric-Intake-Sup...

Edited by y2blade on Wednesday 3rd March 12:35

[OllieWinchester]

Put £80's worth of pipercross cone filter on it, you're unlikely to gain any power and in all honesty you might even lose some, but it will soundfaster...

[y2blade]

doogz said:

y2blade said:

Robatr0n said:

y2blade said:

OnTheOverrun said:

OllieWinchester said:

300bhp/ton said:

If you want more hp then the usual rules apply:

-Some form of power adder

Snake oil?

electronic supercharger?

Ebay resistor chip?

the real deal

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Electric-Intake-Sup...

Edited by y2blade on Wednesday 3rd March 12:35

The 2nd power curve on the ad doesn't look too clever, does it!

Douglas you are no taking this seriously are you?

Edited by y2blade on Wednesday 3rd March 12:50

[edo]

DonAmilo said:

Alreet,

Been looking into getting some power gains out of the 231 lump. From what I gather BMW did all they could to get as much out of the lump possible.

However, I have been toying with the idea of getting a map done as there seems to be a a flat spot in 5th gear.

I'm looking at angel tuning or DMS. But DMS want 500+vat!!!!!!!

Any advice?

I know turbo's are the way forward with mapping. (I used to have a remapped 330d - and it flew!)

Waste of time.

Best bang for no bucks at all comes from taking out some of the foam from the sound pipe (designed to be done, but not advertised) that goes from the engine bay to the cockpit bulkhead (passenger side). Same effect as putting a sports exhaust on!

instructions and piccies here: http://forums.bimmerforums.com/forum/showthread.ph...

Edited by edo on Wednesday 3rd March 12:51

[itz_baseline]

DonAmilo said:

Alreet,

...there seems to be a a flat spot in 5th gear.

Does this really matter? For you to be giving it the beans in 5th gear you must be at 120mph+. I can't think of a circuit in the UK where a flat spot in 5th would really cause an impact. I stand to be correctly though.

Having said that the cost per BHP is usually pretty good for mapping.

[300bhp/ton]

itz_baseline said:

Having said that the cost per BHP is usually pretty good for mapping.

Only on tubro and turbo diesels though.

Apart from refining the spark/timing curve and AF ratio there's not usually a lot you can do to an n/a petrol engine with a re-map.

Sometimes there are settings like torque management and such that can make a real difference to how it drives.

With a turbo car a re-map can up the boost to make potentially huge gains. Similar with turbo diesels, although they usually centre around the fuel control rather than just boost.

[DonAmilo]

edo said:

DonAmilo said:

Alreet,

Been looking into getting some power gains out of the 231 lump. From what I gather BMW did all they could to get as much out of the lump possible.

However, I have been toying with the idea of getting a map done as there seems to be a a flat spot in 5th gear.

I'm looking at angel tuning or DMS. But DMS want 500+vat!!!!!!!

Any advice?

I know turbo's are the way forward with mapping. (I used to have a remapped 330d - and it flew!)

Waste of time.

Best bang for no bucks at all comes from taking out some of the foam from the sound pipe (designed to be done, but not advertised) that goes from the engine bay to the cockpit bulkhead (passenger side). Same effect as putting a sports exhaust on!

instructions and piccies here: http://forums.bimmerforums.com/forum/showthread.ph...

Edited by edo on Wednesday 3rd March 12:51

Done that about six months ago. Does sound better...

Ok, i have taken the advice onboard...

Hunting around, I can get a before/after dyno run and a custom remap for £200. I might do it for sheer curiosity.

Or maybe save the money and put it towards the piggy bank for a Z4M in December

Edited by DonAmilo on Wednesday 3rd March 13:06

[DonAmilo]

doogz said:

DonAmilo said:

edo said:

DonAmilo said:

Alreet,

Been looking into getting some power gains out of the 231 lump. From what I gather BMW did all they could to get as much out of the lump possible.

However, I have been toying with the idea of getting a map done as there seems to be a a flat spot in 5th gear.

I'm looking at angel tuning or DMS. But DMS want 500+vat!!!!!!!

Any advice?

I know turbo's are the way forward with mapping. (I used to have a remapped 330d - and it flew!)

Waste of time.

Best bang for no bucks at all comes from taking out some of the foam from the sound pipe (designed to be done, but not advertised) that goes from the engine bay to the cockpit bulkhead (passenger side). Same effect as putting a sports exhaust on!

instructions and piccies here: http://forums.bimmerforums.com/forum/showthread.ph...

Edited by edo on Wednesday 3rd March 12:51

Done that about six months ago. Does sound better...

Ok, i have taken the advice onboard...

Hunting around, I can get a before/after dyno run and a custom remap for £200. I might do it for sheer curiosity.

Or maybe save the money and put it towards the piggy bank for a Z4M in December

Edited by DonAmilo on Wednesday 3rd March 13:06

If someone's going to put your car on a rolling road, and "tune" it, for £200, i'd say well away from that. You get what you pay for, and that seems way too cheap, for someone that knows what he's doing

No cowboy. A very highly regarded tuner in the auto tuning scene. Been around for a long time, also has been used by a number of people on various forums.

Turns out he knows my brother (brother recommended him) so I got a decent deal. Thing is, its booked in two weeks time, as he is booked up until that point.

I will post up the charts once its been done.

Probably be feck all compared to my 330d..but ho hum!

Edited by DonAmilo on Wednesday 3rd March 13:15

[Greg964]

doogz said:

DonAmilo said:

edo said:

DonAmilo said:

Alreet,

Been looking into getting some power gains out of the 231 lump. From what I gather BMW did all they could to get as much out of the lump possible.

However, I have been toying with the idea of getting a map done as there seems to be a a flat spot in 5th gear.

I'm looking at angel tuning or DMS. But DMS want 500+vat!!!!!!!

Any advice?

I know turbo's are the way forward with mapping. (I used to have a remapped 330d - and it flew!)

Waste of time.

Best bang for no bucks at all comes from taking out some of the foam from the sound pipe (designed to be done, but not advertised) that goes from the engine bay to the cockpit bulkhead (passenger side). Same effect as putting a sports exhaust on!

instructions and piccies here: http://forums.bimmerforums.com/forum/showthread.ph...

Edited by edo on Wednesday 3rd March 12:51

Done that about six months ago. Does sound better...

Ok, i have taken the advice onboard...

Hunting around, I can get a before/after dyno run and a custom remap for £200. I might do it for sheer curiosity.

Or maybe save the money and put it towards the piggy bank for a Z4M in December

Edited by DonAmilo on Wednesday 3rd March 13:06

If someone's going to put your car on a rolling road, and "tune" it, for £200, i'd say well away from that. You get what you pay for, and that seems way too cheap, for someone that knows what he's doing

+1
Custom maps are much more expensive and time consuming than off the shelf jobs. I can almost guarantee that'll be a shelf map.
Don't bother, with NA engines a remap is usually a waste of money.

[RobCrezz]

itz_baseline said:

DonAmilo said:

Alreet,

...there seems to be a a flat spot in 5th gear.

Does this really matter? For you to be giving it the beans in 5th gear you must be at 120mph+. I can't think of a circuit in the UK where a flat spot in 5th would really cause an impact. I stand to be correctly though.

Having said that the cost per BHP is usually pretty good for mapping.

Might be a flat spot early in the revs around 60-70mph, noticeable when overtaking on motorway.