F30 Birds Upgrade VS BMW
Discussion
I've had a 2014 330d Touring for 6 months having replaced my C63 coupe. I'm really enjoying the 330 but am tempted by a bit more power and then possibly an LSD. I've read numerous reviews on the BMW power upgrade but almost nothing on the Birds power upgrade (which seems to be the Hartge ecu).
Has anyone experienced a Birds fettled car? I would then look to the Quaife LSD and finally onto a slight suspension upgrade.
Thanks for any thoughts.
Has anyone experienced a Birds fettled car? I would then look to the Quaife LSD and finally onto a slight suspension upgrade.
Thanks for any thoughts.
Birds for the LSD and suspension, Evolve for the ECU http://www.evolveautomotive.com/330d_1176/engine-e...
I've used Evolve a couple of times ( on M3 and 335i ) and have been very pleased with the results each time. The 330D power claims for the Evolve module are almost identical to the Hartge option but the Hartge unit costs 4 times as much.
I've used Evolve a couple of times ( on M3 and 335i ) and have been very pleased with the results each time. The 330D power claims for the Evolve module are almost identical to the Hartge option but the Hartge unit costs 4 times as much.
Till135 said:
The Hartge ECU is very expensive.
That's because Hartge provide a warranty (2 years I think?) to cover the warranty that would be voided by BMW for aftermarket tuning.Hartge isn't a mapped ECU either, it's a piggyback tuning box like the Burgertuning JB4 etc.
Evolve is a good option though
No one ever seems to mention AC schnitzer anymore...??????????
http://shop.ac-schnitzer.co.uk/ac-schnitzer-perfor...
Only a few years ago you could get all ac schnitzers products through BMW dealerships
They were Hot now they are Not.........
I remember a great write up once in Total BMW when these cars were new they put an E46 alpina B3s up against the 330i with AC supercharger ( 300bhp) and suspension bits...it was a take your pick horses for courses ,no winner just the AC more savage in its delivery
http://shop.ac-schnitzer.co.uk/ac-schnitzer-perfor...
Only a few years ago you could get all ac schnitzers products through BMW dealerships
They were Hot now they are Not.........
I remember a great write up once in Total BMW when these cars were new they put an E46 alpina B3s up against the 330i with AC supercharger ( 300bhp) and suspension bits...it was a take your pick horses for courses ,no winner just the AC more savage in its delivery
Edited by smashy on Sunday 28th September 18:21
Edited by smashy on Sunday 28th September 18:21
I had slightly forgotten about Schnitzer.
Hadn't realised that the Hartge is a piggy back unit either, which makes it even worse value?
At least with the official BMW power upgrade you get an ECU as well as the slightly bigger radiator. Maybe that is the one to go for after all and keep the warranty intact as well as having some slight meaning to a potential used buyer in the future? Funny though that the official power upgrade doesn't officially take it to the same power as the piggy back units. Maybe this is to avoid treading on the toes of the 335d?
TBH I am happy with the power but am also aware of the potential for more! The car happily overwhelms the rears in much the same way as the C63 did hence the LSD.
This is my third 330d of 3 successive generations and it is such a big step over the previous ones (and they were all really good). I can genuinely look at is as a "drivers" car though even with the derv!
Thanks for the advice. Any more always welcome
Hadn't realised that the Hartge is a piggy back unit either, which makes it even worse value?
At least with the official BMW power upgrade you get an ECU as well as the slightly bigger radiator. Maybe that is the one to go for after all and keep the warranty intact as well as having some slight meaning to a potential used buyer in the future? Funny though that the official power upgrade doesn't officially take it to the same power as the piggy back units. Maybe this is to avoid treading on the toes of the 335d?
TBH I am happy with the power but am also aware of the potential for more! The car happily overwhelms the rears in much the same way as the C63 did hence the LSD.
This is my third 330d of 3 successive generations and it is such a big step over the previous ones (and they were all really good). I can genuinely look at is as a "drivers" car though even with the derv!
Thanks for the advice. Any more always welcome
Just had a proper look at the Schnitzer package. That seems really relatively good value for money. My only very slight criticism of the car is that on standard MSport suspension, it can be a bit soft on high speed cornering although it is night and day comfort wise compared with the previous MSport 3 that I had.
High temptation especially with the warranty
High temptation especially with the warranty
This is interesting looks like ACS are still working with many Dealers
http://shop.ac-schnitzer.co.uk/where-to-order-4-w....
http://shop.ac-schnitzer.co.uk/where-to-order-4-w....
Certainly interesting to see that the dealers are happy to fit the parts etc.
Along those lines, I wonder what sort of price an standalone Alpina upgrade would be. I had been thinking that I like this car so much, that it would consider a very well thought out individual new Alpina B3/D3 might tempt me at some time.
Along those lines, I wonder what sort of price an standalone Alpina upgrade would be. I had been thinking that I like this car so much, that it would consider a very well thought out individual new Alpina B3/D3 might tempt me at some time.
Now your talking!!!
http://www.autocar.co.uk/car-review/alpina/d3
start from £47K ...a bit more than your own fettling I guess.
http://www.autocar.co.uk/car-review/alpina/d3
start from £47K ...a bit more than your own fettling I guess.
Till135 said:
I had slightly forgotten about Schnitzer.
Hadn't realised that the Hartge is a piggy back unit either, which makes it even worse value?
All of the aftermarket tuners upgrades for the F-series cars are now piggy-back or plug-in controllers as none of them have been able to crack the newer highly encrypted BMW ECU's.Hadn't realised that the Hartge is a piggy back unit either, which makes it even worse value?
Till135 said:
So all except the BMW power upgrade which is an entirely new ECU?
BMW power packs involve the ECU being reflashed via the dealer diagnostics tool, not a new ECU.Is there a BMW power kit for the new F-Series 330 out yet though?
It's not listed on the BMW Performance list as being available for the F-Series 330d?
aeropilot said:
BMW power packs involve the ECU being reflashed via the dealer diagnostics tool, not a new ECU.
Is there a BMW power kit for the new F-Series 330 out yet though?
It's not listed on the BMW Performance list as being available for the F-Series 330d?
There is a BMW power kit for the 330d / 530d. I believe they do replace the entire ECU along with the intercooler, as they do for the 320d / 520dIs there a BMW power kit for the new F-Series 330 out yet though?
It's not listed on the BMW Performance list as being available for the F-Series 330d?
The 330d kit requires you to have the M Sport brake package already, or fit the M Performance after market brakes
Edited by 335d on Monday 29th September 22:17
335d said:
aeropilot said:
BMW power packs involve the ECU being reflashed via the dealer diagnostics tool, not a new ECU.
Is there a BMW power kit for the new F-Series 330 out yet though?
It's not listed on the BMW Performance list as being available for the F-Series 330d?
There is a BMW power kit for the 330d / 530d. I believe they do replace the entire ECU along with the intercooler, as they do for the 320d / 520dIs there a BMW power kit for the new F-Series 330 out yet though?
It's not listed on the BMW Performance list as being available for the F-Series 330d?
New ECU must be to do with the F-cars then, as the E** cars were flashed via the dealer diagnostic tool.
aeropilot said:
Wonder why it's not listed?
New ECU must be to do with the F-cars then, as the E** cars were flashed via the dealer diagnostic tool.
Not sure why it isn't listed. A few on F30post in the UK have added the PPK to their 330d. Tends to get quite positive reviews, not sure how much if any of that is placebo. BMW claim something like 0.1 sec off 0-62 I believe. Nothing available for the 335d unfortunately. New ECU must be to do with the F-cars then, as the E** cars were flashed via the dealer diagnostic tool.
335d said:
Presumably in gear improvements are better than that ?Cheib said:
Presumably in gear improvements are better than that ?
I imagine that's right. From experience of the PPK on a 520d, it made almost no difference to normal relaxed driving, which is often below about 1700rpm. The improvement all comes at the upper end of the rev range. I would expect it to be better for fast overtakes, which is where you really want the performance.Gassing Station | BMW General | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff