A visit with Maximum PSI at Bimmerfest and quick interview - Discussing E85 plus upcoming Stage 3 and Stage 4 built motor S54 turbo setups

[Sticky]

I had the pleasure of meeting the guys from Maximum PSI at Bimmerfest this year. I met Mike and Luke and told Mike I was from BimmerBoost.com. Mike seemed pretty tired (likely from working on the car for the show) and drank his coffee while Luke was more than happy to do a quick interview in the car and go over the features as well as answer all my questions. I tend to ask a lot of questions very quickly and Luke was happy to answer them all.

Now what we have seen thus far is Stage I and II turbo setups on the stock DME from Max PSI on the E46 M3. In Stage II trim the car has shown an impressive 697 wheel horsepower on MS109 race gas. They also are already in the 10's in the 1/4 mile with the with the car. Now I was sure to ask about the timeslip and if they planned to hit the strip again as it looked like past the 1/8 mile the car had some issues killing the top end. I was told the car was pulling timing and they would be heading back out as soon as it was possible. So expect to see more timeslips from the Stage II setup soon.

Now, what I was pleased to learn was that Stage III and Stage IV built motor setups are next on the agenda. 697 wheel on the stock motor is with MS109 and they plan to match that output with the Stage III on pump gas meaning 700 whp all the time. The Stage IV setup will go beyond that with race gas and E85 maps. What that puts down we will just have to wait and see .

Quick video below along with pictures from the Max PSI booth. Thanks again to Max PSI for taking time to answer my questions and for blazing a new trail for turbo E46 M3's.

[inter1032]

impressive stuff, looking forward to the stage 4 results

[Jeffman]

Nice pics of all of their Goodies, Sticky!

[Sticky]

Nice pics of all of their Goodies, Sticky!

I try.

[Payam@BMS]

Good video and great questions.

[dreikraft]

6466 w/700rwhp on pump gas?

[Sticky]

6466 w/700rwhp on pump gas?

That's what he said, 93 octane.

[bobS]

Nice vid, those guys are great, I used them to fix my oil cooler and install brakes/pads. If I lived closer to them I'd use them more.

[0-60Motorsports]

Very Impressive. Really like their turbo kit

[mdrobnak]

Sticky, you were definitely busy at Bimmerfest! Now I have a face to put to Luke. Talked to him on Friday. Going to have the 330 kit installed by them. I was jealous they were still in sunny, warm weather while it was gloomy in NYC.

Exciting stuff on the M3 front as shown here.

@NickG deserves a lot of credit for the research he's done. There are a lot of functions going on in the ECU, and figuring out what they do isn't exactly simple. It takes a lot of time and research on the hardware, and then even more time pouring over code.

-Matt

[Sticky]

The map switching on the fly I still can't comprehend.

[mdrobnak]

That's actually easy to explain.

In a given function, you're taking in inputs like airflow, temp, throttle, coolant temp, etc...

You then look up the AFR and ignition advance values at any given moment...

Before you do that lookup, you check the state of the sport button.

Pseudocode

if ( SPORT = true ) {
   advance=lookup_spark(@inputs,@Location_Spark_HighOct_Table)
   afr = lookup_afr(@inputs,@Location_AFR_HiOct_Table)
} else {
   advance=lookup_spark(@inputs,@Location_Spark_Table)
   afr = lookup_afr(@inputs,@Location_AFR_Table)
}

Like so. Items with @ in front of it you can imagine as an array.

It's more complicated then this, but that's the general idea.

-Matt

[Sticky]

Im just gonna rep you and get back to my beer.

[Brey335i]

That's actually easy to explain.

In a given function, you're taking in inputs like airflow, temp, throttle, coolant temp, etc...

You then look up the AFR and ignition advance values at any given moment...

Before you do that lookup, you check the state of the sport button.

Pseudocode

if ( SPORT = true ) {
   advance=lookup_spark(@inputs,@Location_Spark_HighOct_Table)
   afr = lookup_afr(@inputs,@Location_AFR_HiOct_Table)
} else {
   advance=lookup_spark(@inputs,@Location_Spark_Table)
   afr = lookup_afr(@inputs,@Location_AFR_Table)
}

Like so. Items with @ in front of it you can imagine as an array.

It's more complicated then this, but that's the general idea.

-Matt

And it's all programmed in Java lol

Just messing around. Yeah the biggest issue with map switching on the fly isn't the code per se since you can as you said just have a jump table, if statements, etc. The problem is having to look things up while running as the code can't run fast enough to make the car respond instantly. And you don't want to switch to a completely different set of functions either for each switch. I don't know how they do it but as a code guy, I would be very interested to take a peek.

Either way, amazing work my Maximum PSI. I am a potential customer once I have seen the kit get some more miles on it. And preferably gotten a ride in a local one.

[mdrobnak]

And it's all programmed in Java lol

Just messing around. Yeah the biggest issue with map switching on the fly isn't the code per se since you can as you said just have a jump table, if statements, etc. The problem is having to look things up while running as the code can't run fast enough to make the car respond instantly. And you don't want to switch to a completely different set of functions either for each switch. I don't know how they do it but as a code guy, I would be very interested to take a peek.

Either way, amazing work my Maximum PSI. I am a potential customer once I have seen the kit get some more miles on it. And preferably gotten a ride in a local one.

LOL. Yes, I was trying to make it somewhat accessible.

The speed of the processor (either 33 or 40MHz I think), is fast enough such that you're adding a 1-3 cycle delay in there as a result of the branches, which is a small enough of a delay that it shouldn't matter.

However, assuming pressing the sport button generates an interrupt, some jackass might cause issues by hitting the button too much lol. (As they are sending a signal to the e-boost 2 on each change of the button, there has to be some sort of handler for that.)

And, as for wanting to take a peek...no you don't. It's not fun in assembly land hahaha Very rusty sections of my brain are being exercised by looking at assembly these days.

-Matt

[JoshBoody]

Interested in tuning based on E content. Most "newer" ECUs should have the ability to base tuning off a sensor or trims just need to understand how to enable it. If the E46 does NOT have this ability then potentially you have to map switch... how would you have >2 maps (and accessing them) using stock DME?

[Brey335i]

However, assuming pressing the sport button generates an interrupt, some jackass might cause issues by hitting the button too much lol. (As they are sending a signal to the e-boost 2 on each change of the button, there has to be some sort of handler for that.)

And, as for wanting to take a peek...no you don't. It's not fun in assembly land hahaha Very rusty sections of my brain are being exercised by looking at assembly these days.

Well they have the lock key under the armrest that locks the Sport button into whatever setting it is currently on (aka button doesn't transmit the signal). So that would prevent an unruly passenger from hitting the button too much. But obviously it wouldn't solve a determined passenger who knows where that lock is or an idiot owner. But at that point you shouldn't be giving them a ride or buy a turbo kit respectively lol.

I actually enjoy assembly. I'm weird. To a degree of course. I'm sure I'd get real tired real quick if I had to work with it a lot.

Interested in tuning based on E content. Most "newer" ECUs should have the ability to base tuning off a sensor or trims just need to understand how to enable it. If the E46 does NOT have this ability then potentially you have to map switch... how would you have >2 maps (and accessing them) using stock DME?

My guess would be manipulating input / output data using some kind of multiplier or other method that makes changes on the fly based on perceived ethanol content. Or if impossible I guess they could have a map for various ranges of ethanol content but I am unsure if the DME has the ability and capacity to do that. Unfortunately, I don't think we'll be privy to that information for quite some time.

[Artsoasis]

I wonder how functional this is with SMG?

[Sticky]

I wonder how functional this is with SMG?

No reason you can't use it with SMG.

[Artsoasis]

Well if it can be used with SMG will the upgraded clutch cause allot of chatter?

[Sticky]

Well if it can be used with SMG will the upgraded clutch cause allot of chatter?

I don't think so unless you mess with the flywheel.

[Artsoasis]

I want to keep my smg, but if I take it to the track I will never put down times like a 6MT for an e46 m3.

[Sticky]

I want to keep my smg, but if I take it to the track I will never put down times like a 6MT for an e46 m3.

True unless you do euro launch control and beef up your subframe...

[Artsoasis]

I have csl software and subframe reinforced. Just contemplating the swap for overall use.

[Sticky]

I have csl software and subframe reinforced. Just contemplating the swap for overall use.

If your goal is 1/4 mile it will be hard to beat the 6 speed manual.