Z4 2.0i sdrive with a tuning box.

[DonaldTrump]

The TMC box has been here for a week now, still not fitted it and not sure I will now. My main concern is engine damage as suggested by other ph members in this thread. Searching the net I cannot find any instances of this TMC box causing any issues, in fact all the reviews seem to be positive but im still not convinced.

The box does come with a 2 year engine warranty so this must surely mean that TMC have faith in their product, also comes with a 14 day money back guarantee.

So do I bite the bullet and fit it?? or do I stick the returns label on and send it back??

[Brainpox]

It'd probably be fine, but I'd make your decision based on their 2 year warranty not being worth the paper it's written on. If they did actually shell out in the event of a failure then consider it a bonus.

[Otispunkmeyer]

TMC are pretty well talked about in the Abarth forums I visit. I think they're up to a bit more than tricking the AFR/lambda sensor reading. Think there are a number of sensors you have to re-route through the box.

That said, I would still have gone and gotten a proper remap (if possible with the BMW ECUs).

[DevonLad]

Massive thread revival. Still have the Z4 it has been great fun and absolutely faultless, it's now just passed 26k miles and is still mechanically standard apart from a K&N panel filter.

As you can see I toyed with the idea of a tuning box but never got one fitted, I did buy one but returned it but the urge for a bit more power has never gone away.

So I have bitten the bullet and have gone for a remap. Being done tomorrow and it's fair to say i'm a tad excited.

This is how she sits today, crying out for more power.

If anyone is interested I will report back with the results.

[Julian Thompson]

Will be very keen to see how you get on with this. I have exactly the same car and have also been thinking that it really does need a bit more shove.

Looks great on the black wheels too!

Just noticed the black grille surround too - how did you do that? Paint or a replacement part?

[DevonLad]

The grills are gloss black replacements. Thinking of getting the mirror caps done next.

[Bright Halo]

Really interested in how you get on with the remap. My son has had his 2.0is for 18months now and said the other day he would like a bit more power so very apt timing.

Who’s doing the remap?

[DevonLad]

Remap being done by Paddock Motors, a BMW specialist near Exeter.

I will post back over the weekend and let you know what it's like.

[paultownsend]

Do these use the B48 2.0 engine?

[cerb4.5lee]

paultownsend said:

Do these use the B48 2.0 engine?

I believe that it uses its predecessor the N20 engine, but I'm not a 100 percent sure. I have the B48 2.0 engine in my Mini and that engine came out in 2014.

[DevonLad]

cerb4.5lee said:

paultownsend said:

Do these use the B48 2.0 engine?

I believe that it uses its predecessor the N20 engine, but I'm not a 100 percent sure. I have the B48 2.0 engine in my Mini and that engine came out in 2014.

Yes you are correct, it uses the N20 which to me seems like a pretty good engine.

[cerb4.5lee]

DevonLad said:

cerb4.5lee said:

paultownsend said:

Do these use the B48 2.0 engine?

I believe that it uses its predecessor the N20 engine, but I'm not a 100 percent sure. I have the B48 2.0 engine in my Mini and that engine came out in 2014.

Yes you are correct, it uses the N20 which to me seems like a pretty good engine.

Cheers.

You have a lovely car by the way.

[DevonLad]

cerb4.5lee thank you very much, you also have a past and present list of some great cars.

Do you have any opinions of the N20? good or bad i'm all ears.

[cerb4.5lee]

DevonLad said:

cerb4.5lee thank you very much, you also have a past and present list of some great cars.

Do you have any opinions of the N20? good or bad i'm all ears.

Thanks and that is very kind of you to say.

I don't have any experience with the N20 sadly, so I don't honestly know either way.

The E89 Z4 is a car that I've always loved though, a great shape and I really like the folding metal roof aspect of it too.

Enjoy it, and I will look forward to watching your developments with it.

[chrismc1977]

Decent remap over a tuning box every time.

I tried a tuning box on our Golf GTD. Didnt like it.

spikey power delivery & not a whole lot over stock. As soon as you tweaked the settings it just got a load of diesel clatter & limp mode.

No good at all. That was a DTUK box as well (supposedly half decent)

[DevonLad]

So it's back with me and it's fair to say i'm happy. Not driven it far yet because it's absolutely pissing it down but from the brief few miles I have done all I can say is awesome. The difference is night and day a cliche I know but it really does feel like a different car. It drives like before i.e docile when you want it to be but now when you put your foot down it picks up and heads for the horizon so much quicker then it did before.

Engaged sport mode for the return leg of my test drive, again just as impressive pulls really hard now.

I know I'm singing the praises of a now 260ish bhp 2.0L 4 pot turbo and there are countless cars out there with far more power but the jump from 184 bhp and the big increase in torque has truly made this a rapid little car.

This will be the end of mechanical mods on this car I am happy with how it is, K&N panel filter and the remap, I'm to old for noisy exhausts and lowered hardened suspension.

Any future mods and I'm sure there will be some will now be purely cosmetic.

[cerb4.5lee]

Great stuff and I'm really pleased that you are happy with it.

I will never forget years ago when I modified my 200SX from 200bhp to around 250bhp. I put colder plugs in/a K&N filter/dump valve/an adjustable actuator(10 psi as standard to 16psi)/full decat stainless exhaust and it completely transformed it. I can still remember taking it out and being absolutely blown away by the difference!

Enjoy the extra shove!

[VSKeith]

Nice. I do like Z4's.

Any hit on the insurance, OP?

[DevonLad]

VSKeith said:

Nice. I do like Z4's.

Any hit on the insurance, OP?

I'm going to be brutally honest here, I only got the car back a few hours ago and in my excitement I totally forgot about it. I will be on the phone to them first thing in the morning when I will let you know if it has increased and by how much.

[Julian Thompson]

That’s a great review thanks for sharing! 75hp from a remap is an amazing percentage gain.

How does the lag feel?