remap E60 545i?

[Bebs]

Just picked up a lovely E60 545i from the classifieds - what a great car.
19 inch Alpina alloys, front and rear Alpina spoiler.
Is it worth remapping/chipping the 4.4 V8?

Thanks all

[Zwolf]

Not really as there's rarely much to be gained from it on an NA petrol engine without hardware changes to improve airflow into and out of the engine.

Is 330 bhp and 330 lb ft not quite *enough* then?

[Bebs]

Zwolf said:

Not really as there's rarely much to be gained from it on an NA petrol engine without hardware changes to improve airflow into and out of the engine.

Is 330 bhp and 330 lb ft not quite *enough* then?

Well.. you can never have enough can you
Its a good point so i guess I'll stick with the std 330 bhp

[The Stiglet]

I have the 4.4 V8 in my E39 but that only develops 282 bhp. I spoke to a guy at Evolve last year and I seem to recall him saying that the engine was particularly conducive to ecu mapping and could generate an extra 20 bhp depending on the state of it etc... This seems like a pretty massive number to me given that it is NA and we didn't discuss doing anything to the intake, filters or exhaust. I'm sure that they wanted my business but if you can genuinely gain 20 bhp and maybe 25 lb ft without doing anything more than a map, then it seems like you're on to a winner....?

After a but of research I didn't take it any further because I thought that if it sounded too good to be true, it usually is. Many people on PH say that mapping an NA car is pointless because of the minimal gains compared to diesels and petrol forced induction engines. I would provide links but given how crap the Evolve website is, I haven't been able to find anything in the Engine/ECU area for the E60 545i. Maybe give one of them a ring?

[Bebs]

Thanks for the input stiglet

[Zwolf]

Bebs said:

Well.. you can never have enough can you

I know what you mean, but if I wanted more, I'd have sourced an E60 550i/M5 instead. For the weight of car, even a 10% gain is going to have a marginal effect upon absolute performance.

I think I recall the car you say you've bought though, has popped up a few times in the relevant barge/BMW fetishist threads. Dark blue in colour, grey interior, ALPINA wheels and front spoiler with the BMW DFA rear spoiler?



Looks great if it is that one.

[Bebs]

That's the one
Fabulous buy - its absolutely mint inside/out.
Now residing in my garage. Very pleased with it.

[Crackie]

The car looks great Bebs

In my experience 7% more power is easily noticeable on the road as is the sharpened throttle response. I've got nothing but praise for the Evolve maps on my E36 M3 and 335i.

http://www.evolveautomotive.com/ecu-remapping_121/...

iirc Evolve will take the map back off if you're not happy with the gains.

[Bebs]

Crackie said:

The car looks great Bebs

Thank you - that front splitter gives it a lovely hunched look from the front and the 19 inch Alpinas fit the arches beautifully.

[scz4]

I have a 550i... When I was on the phone to CA Automotive a few months back ordering my exhaust, I mentioned the possibility of a remap. They said the 4.8 V8 responds very well to a remap unlike a lot naturally aspirated engines, something to do with the manipulating valvetronic system. I was told 25bhp and 30NM about 7% increase, taking it close to 400bhp with the exhaust and intake, I'd be happy with that! Speak to E-Maps too.

http://www.e-maps.co.uk/products/BMW/5+Series+%28e...

[Derestrictor]

Zwolf said:

Is 330 bhp...not quite *enough* then?

No.

333 is, however.

[Zwolf]

Derestrictor said:

No.

333 is, however.

PS.

[Derestrictor]

Rule No.485(i) Don't ever bother responding to a technical post by The Spreader of Sheets.

Sorry, Scouse's pic of the immaculate '34 Fünf has knocked me sideways.

[Bebs]

scz4 said:

I have a 550i... When I was on the phone to CA Automotive a few months back ordering my exhaust, I mentioned the possibility of a remap. They said the 4.8 V8 responds very well to a remap unlike a lot naturally aspirated engines, something to do with the manipulating valvetronic system. I was told 25bhp and 30NM about 7% increase, taking it close to 400bhp with the exhaust and intake, I'd be happy with that! Speak to E-Maps too.

http://www.e-maps.co.uk/products/BMW/5+Series+%28e...

Thank you for this - I might give them both a call

[M888SXY]

Alpina B8 4.6???

[quote=Derestrictor
No.

333 is, however.



[/quote]

[The Stiglet]

scz4 said:

I have a 550i... When I was on the phone to CA Automotive a few months back ordering my exhaust, I mentioned the possibility of a remap. They said the 4.8 V8 responds very well to a remap unlike a lot naturally aspirated engines, something to do with the manipulating valvetronic system. I was told 25bhp and 30NM about 7% increase, taking it close to 400bhp with the exhaust and intake, I'd be happy with that! Speak to E-Maps too.

http://www.e-maps.co.uk/products/BMW/5+Series+%28e...

I sometimes fantasise about buying a manual 650i and having it remapped, exhaust and intake. I thought it might hit 400 bhp and reading about your gains it seems possible. Would be a pretty fantastic machine IMHO.

In the meantime I really might consider having my 540i mapped if these sorts of gains are realistic from the website:

4.4 i Bosch M5.2/7.2 (540) 286 (bhp standard) 420 (torque NM standard) 305 (bhp mapped) 450 (NM mapped)

Bebs, if you speak to both let us know which sounds better, eh?!

[Bebs]

Will do Stiglet!

[Zwolf]

The Stiglet said:

I sometimes fantasise about buying a manual 650i and having it remapped, exhaust and intake. I thought it might hit 400 bhp and reading about your gains it seems possible. Would be a pretty fantastic machine IMHO.

The only trouble there being that 650i manuals are very rare and I for one wouldn't be able to get past the concept of going for the M6 instead for what would only end up being a few £k more, if anything subject to the cost of the mods.

Then just drive it in P400 mode everywhere if 400bhp is all I wanted, nice to have another 100-odd though at the flick of a button, plus an M rather than a standard series chassis under me.

[The Stiglet]

Zwolf said:

The only trouble there being that 650i manuals are very rare and I for one wouldn't be able to get past the concept of going for the M6 instead for what would only end up being a few £k more, if anything subject to the cost of the mods.

Then just drive it in P400 mode everywhere if 400bhp is all I wanted, nice to have another 100-odd though at the flick of a button, plus an M rather than a standard series chassis under me.

I understand that point but the running costs of the M6 are ridiculous and too much for me living in central London. I also want a manual gearbox and that's why the E39 M5 appeals but I get scared about the running costs of that too! The 650i on the otherhand is newer, has better fuel consumption, should have more than enough HP and is much cheaper to maintain. It seems like a bit of a winner. As you say, there aren't many about so I'll make use of what I've got until the perfect vehicle reveals itself

[Mr-B]

Don't want to sound like a party pooper but would 20-ish bhp make that much difference to a 5er with nearly 300bhp to start with? Its a pretty hefty car and wouldn't have thought that kind of increase would be take your breath away noticeable. I have no experience of remapped big NA engines but I have a remapped 3 litre turbo diesel (3er coupe) and got an extra 40bhp from a starting point of 200 and that is noticeable.

Just my 2p's.