X3 Sabine - Alpinweiss F25 Build Thread (N55)
- Thread starter doodlebro
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Took the car into my tuner yesterday. I am moving from BM3 to ECUTek, and he is still dialing in the wastegate control. Update this morning says he made ~360 whp targeting 15 PSI (tapering slightly to redline). ECUTek is really robust software and I should have full boost control available through the steering controls or my phone, down to the PSI. Excited to have her back today or tomorrow.
Damn, freaking impressive! Loving the idea of an SUV that hauls ass and is tuneable. 
I don't see BMW on the EcuTek site, is this a BETA test?
I don't see BMW on the EcuTek site, is this a BETA test?
Damn, freaking impressive! Loving the idea of an SUV that hauls ass and is tuneable.
I don't see BMW on the EcuTek site, is this a BETA test?
I'm doing a bit of R&D help for both this tuner, as well as ECUTek themselves. But they recently released S55/N55 support to their tuning suite, including an addition called "RaceROM" which allows on the fly map switching, peak torque control, custom functions that the tuner can write, flex-fuel sensor integration (which I will likely eventually do, need a fuel pump upgrade first though).
The tuner is Dave Bigley at Cryotune Performance, and he's a really great dude who has no problem getting into and explaining the details to customers. After my call back tonight, he says he reached 364WHP targeting 15PSI, which is more than Bootmod3 was getting targeting 17PSI (350WHP on the same dyno, not same day).
Still tons of work to do though, the wastegate control is kind of a bitch to dial in because PWG, so after going back and forth with ECUTek and collecting a bunch of data, I will eventually take the car back to Dave after ECUTek sorts out the missing pieces. I'm told it's something to do with the car detecting overboost and pulling the throttle angle back, but they have not found the table that is controlling this interaction.
I'm not surprised since this car is a bit weird, N55's with PWG started being phased out as early as 2015 yet F25's have the PWG up to the last year were made. Either way I'm happy to help ECUTek cause anybody that tunes a PWG PS2 after me will likely benefit from this R&D.
Data from the first R&D session. On the fly map switching works, but many bugs and kinks to work out. You know, BMW problems! The main issue is figuring out boost control between the throttle, wastegate, valve lift, and the PS2 itself. I believe ECUTek needs to find the table that is causing the car to think it is overboosting. They tried a few different things but ended up collecting a lot of data to figure out where it lives in the coming weeks.
ECUTek logging/dashboard is way better than bootmod3. Just an OBD/Bluetooth dongle that connects to your phone/tablet., and the app is very well engineered for what it is. Coolest feature we have working is an adjustable torque slider in the app. At the min setting it gives full torque, at halfway it reduces peak torque by 100 ft-lbs, and at max reduction it reduces by 150 ft-lbs. That's plenty of control for me to play with, and let's me essentially dial back to stock power. I'm going to be getting used to full power for awhile anyways. Eventually that feature will be possible by taking over the HP and TQ displays on the head unit and using the cruise control toggle to adjust.
First image is the before/after comparing Bootmod3 Stage 2 (Dark Red) with a solid first pass custom tune that is still extremely conservative (light red). I believe the boost targets are virtually identical accounting for altitude (17 PSI), but now requires less baby-ing the throttle to get reliable, repeatable power. Bootmod3 could fall on its face up top if you opened the throttle too early. HPFP is only sagging to ~2100PSI so I shouldn't need an XDI or Spool upgrade yet.
Second image is a slightly better pull where the dip isn't as furious, but from the previous day which I believe was cooler.
I love data. I wonder if I'm the only X3 with ECUTek in the US currently?
ECUTek logging/dashboard is way better than bootmod3. Just an OBD/Bluetooth dongle that connects to your phone/tablet., and the app is very well engineered for what it is. Coolest feature we have working is an adjustable torque slider in the app. At the min setting it gives full torque, at halfway it reduces peak torque by 100 ft-lbs, and at max reduction it reduces by 150 ft-lbs. That's plenty of control for me to play with, and let's me essentially dial back to stock power. I'm going to be getting used to full power for awhile anyways. Eventually that feature will be possible by taking over the HP and TQ displays on the head unit and using the cruise control toggle to adjust.
First image is the before/after comparing Bootmod3 Stage 2 (Dark Red) with a solid first pass custom tune that is still extremely conservative (light red). I believe the boost targets are virtually identical accounting for altitude (17 PSI), but now requires less baby-ing the throttle to get reliable, repeatable power. Bootmod3 could fall on its face up top if you opened the throttle too early. HPFP is only sagging to ~2100PSI so I shouldn't need an XDI or Spool upgrade yet.
Second image is a slightly better pull where the dip isn't as furious, but from the previous day which I believe was cooler.
I love data. I wonder if I'm the only X3 with ECUTek in the US currently?
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If I'm reading that right, you lost a ton of torque because of the throttle closure and that's delaying getting into the power band by about 700 RPM and 40whp. I'd say your car on the BM3 tune would put a car and half on you by then, versus your EcuTek tune and that the current EcuTek tune would have had a hard time making it up on the top end, even with the extra 10-15whp above 5500.
As far as tuning, without logs to review, it's hard to say, but it's either hitting one of the limiters or he can try changing the pre-throttle over boost tolerance limit or major throttle closure threshold tables. Not sure what those are in EcuTek speak. The table names differ some between BM3 and EcuTek.
As far as tuning, without logs to review, it's hard to say, but it's either hitting one of the limiters or he can try changing the pre-throttle over boost tolerance limit or major throttle closure threshold tables. Not sure what those are in EcuTek speak. The table names differ some between BM3 and EcuTek.
A ton is probably an overstatement. You can't really tell the difference in peak torque, and the area under the curve everywhere else matters more. Bootmod3 might be able to achieve a high number, but as soon as the car overboosts, throttle cuts and the entire car shudders. At that point WGDC is so conservative that it can't catch back up. Keep in mind this was the stage 2 map for the stock turbo, the Stage 2H was even worse, and that's supposed to fit the turbo better.
Now, that "overboost and die" effect is gone regardless of the starting RPM, no shudders, and any overboost still lets the car catch up on the top end. 60-130 went down by half a second so it is faster in practice.
Got some mirror caps in from NRW/NRD. They look beautiful and I had them clear wrapped the day after installing.
Pretty understated upgrade considering I already had some exterior bits, but I wish I had started them sooner with how much they complete the look. Last piece of CF should be the Alpina rear diffuser, should have that started soon.
Pretty understated upgrade considering I already had some exterior bits, but I wish I had started them sooner with how much they complete the look. Last piece of CF should be the Alpina rear diffuser, should have that started soon.
