How dangerous is it to run aftermarket turbos (RB next gens) with just an OTS tune? (MHD)

[theobjectivist]

Im aiming to have new turbos fitted for me at a shop in southern california.

Prob is that I live ~500 miles away meaning ill have to drive the untuned car from the shop back home (im going to stay in so cal for the week too which = even more city miles)

Ill keep the car as low in the RPM range as possible, but will prob cruse ~75-85mph on the way back


How big of a problem will this be if I only have the MHD OTS maps?

Could I leave on stage 2+ and drive without worries? Should I instead set to stage 0?

Ill get a custom tune as soon as I return home and have familiar areas to data log/test the base maps)

[Terry@BMS]

With a JB4 not a huge deal, it will mostly compensate on it's own. With a flash only map just don't go more than half throttle and should be OK to putt around.

[theobjectivist]

Gotcha - so youre saying it's not RPM sensitive as much as throttle dependent? Its a 6spd so ill try to keep it which ever gear allows the least throttle whilst in the city


Also, can anyone explain the exact issue with running untuned equipment?

In my head im picturing the ECU seeing too low PSI at low RPMs (larger turbo takes longer to spool), and it trying to compensate with duty cycle, only then to have it overboost when the RPMs pickup and cause engine damage? (air, fuel, and timing cannot adjust enough)

Is this thought process even in the ballpark?

[Torgus]

Contact your tuner of choice, I vote @motiv.

They will give you a basemap you can load when you pick your car up. Then log and flash from there.

As you need a custom tune might as well start on a basemap and have it from the get go.

As stated above don't go above mid/part throttle and you should be fine. But get the basemap and start tuning from day 1.

[evl335]

some one as talented as motiv needs to be in Aust!

[Torgus]

some one as talented as motiv needs to be in Aust!

They do a good job remote tuning FWIW. You can always set up a dyno tune session with them if you want to get it done all at once. Just make sure maintenance is done.

[evl335]

really thanks for the heads up ill look into it

[Sticky]

some one as talented as motiv needs to be in Aust!

If you are looking for a quality tuner in Australia @JD75 or @martymil can help you out.

[martymil]

I dont tune peoples cars, liability reasons.

Choose any of the remote tuners like @motiv or the like

[theobjectivist]

Contact your tuner of choice, I vote @motiv.

They will give you a basemap you can load when you pick your car up. Then log and flash from there.

As you need a custom tune might as well start on a basemap and have it from the get go.

As stated above don't go above mid/part throttle and you should be fine. But get the basemap and start tuning from day 1.

This is a really good idea, thank you!

[theobjectivist]

Ive researched the forums and it appears there are quite a few tuners but not all are taking business.

From what I found:

V8Bait (forum member) - Rated as best of the best, but doesnt appear to be taking new business

Motiv - highly regarded by posters, but quite a few complaints that it takes months to actually get anything done (revisions and comms are super slow)

Twisted Tuning - a lot of positive feedback around quality and communication - (this seems my best bet so far and I emailed them)

BQ Tuning - limited info/reviews. Facebook only?

Trebila - doesnt appear to taking new business

Wedge - strange mix of happy and unhappy customers. Seems he created the OTS MHD maps?

Pureboost.de - Worried about language barriers since site is 100% german. €399 price tag...

PD Tuning - cant find many reviews but he has a "lifetime" of free tunes? Site says base tunes are sent out in 1-3 days. Very interesting.



Let me know if there are any forum favorites I should try.
Im aiming to get the hardware installed Oct the week of the 14th

Details around the vehicle:

hardware: IJE0S

2008 535i 6spd

~65k miles

Running MHD OTS stage 2

To be installed:

RB Next Gen turbos (15t compressor / 11 blade wheel)

RB Inlets 1.75"

VRSP catless downpipes

PSP 600ic intercooler

ER charge pipe

turbosmart diverter valves (set to recirculate)

Less than 15k miles:

NGK 95770 gapped to .022

Delphi ignition coils x6

Version 12 BMW injectors x6

Walnut blasted

pierburg boost solenoids x2

waterpump and thermostat

Edit: most importantly, this must be a tune for 100% ACN 91 octane!

[Chris@VargasTurboTech]

Regarding BQ; I've worked with BQ on my personal car for both my pump gas and ethanol tunes. The tune was solid, smooth, and most importantly (for me), BQ did the specific things/targets I asked for. This was especially important to me on my pump gas map using lousy ACN91 and ridiculous AZ temperatures. A guy that actually listens to your goals is worth a lot IMO.

[Torgus]

Jake at motiv gets back to me within 3 business days usually FWIW. Go with the one you feel the most comfortable with.

I noticed your list is missing EMP?

[Sticky]

Twisted Tuning - a lot of positive feedback around quality and communication - (this seems my best bet so far and I emailed them)

Just wanted to add, these tuners are on the forum:
@TwistedTuning

Also @[email protected]

Also @kbaldi29

Also @Dan@BPC

Also @Tony@Codewerx

[langsbr]

Go with the one you feel the most comfortable with.

I noticed your list is missing EMP?

LOL Isn't going with the one that makes you feel the most comfortable how people started using EMP?

Dean Fuhriman with RFPTuning and David Shoup have had some good results and are pretty responsive as well. Another thing to ask - are the tunes locked? I know most people don't care about that, and some will say it allows you to steal their work, but it just bothers me because you are now locked to that tuner, and only THEY can make any changes. I'll be redoing my own tune so I can modify it. Nothing is more frustrating than waiting a week or three to get a degree or two of timing added. Make sure you ask what the time limit is on the tuning. A lot are now saying "1 year of tuning" which I disagree with. If you can't get a reply for a week or two at a time, there should be no limit to the timeframe. I can understand changes, i.e. upgraded turbos, different intercooler, PI, etc, but not just for the initial tune.

[Sticky]

What shop are you going with anyway?

[theobjectivist]

What shop are you going with anyway?

It's called SSR Performance out of Orange, CA. They have good reviews on the 3 series forums and quoted me a reasonable price.

The guy I spoke with mentioned they've installed "hundreds" of Pure turbos and that they can work on E60s too so Im hoping for the best.


What's funny is that bmw shops in norcal (near sacramento) are incredibly sparse. I called six and none of them were willing to do any work if it involved downpipes, and even with OEM cats, they wanted 2-3.5x the price. I emailed two others in Socal, and none got back to me. Dunno whats thats about


Im open to any recommendations with positive experience and in CA.

[Sticky]

It's called SSR Performance out of Orange, CA. They have good reviews on the 3 series forums and quoted me a reasonable price.

I've heard of them and follow their social media posts. I think you made a good choice.

Let us know how it goes.

[threetirtyfive]

Pureboost here, they're fluent in English and get good results...
Ignore my sig, that figure is out of date

[Carl Morris]

I've also looked around a little in the Sacramento area and concluded that it made more sense to drive or trailer it down to VTT in Hayward if I wanted to get turbos installed. I looked at shipping but the cost was ridiculous to go that short of a distance.

[theobjectivist]

quick update:

From what ive researched, it's difficult to go wrong with Twisted Tuning or Motiv


I emailed TT 9/26 and received a reply back 10/4 indicating a base tune wouldnt be a problem. (I also received a reply from Motiv but it came after, so I went with TT)

I paid on 10/4 and TT sent me the base tune 10/10.


I made an appointment for the install with SSR performance 10/29. It'll be the second time in my 20 years of car history/wrenching that someone else is doing the work. Feels weird

[theobjectivist]

I've also looked around a little in the Sacramento area and concluded that it made more sense to drive or trailer it down to VTT in Hayward if I wanted to get turbos installed. I looked at shipping but the cost was ridiculous to go that short of a distance.

Agreed. Nor cal is not the best for these. You cant swing a dead cat without hitting a ford/GM/honda speedshop, but nothing for BMW.

It's worth noting that I found a shop called N54 Exclusive Garage though.

From what I read, they have two locations, (or maybe they rent two locations and you meet them at whatever spot is avail) Theres one in campbell/north bay. definitely weird, but they were nearly 1/2 the price I saw at VTT

[Sticky]

It's worth noting that I found a shop called N54 Exclusive Garage though.

Interesting. The shop limits itself to just N54? Huh. Weird we've never heard of them.

[Torgus]

Interesting. The shop limits itself to just N54? Huh. Weird we've never heard of them.

They are probably to busy replacing parts on N54s to have a forum presence.

[Sticky]

They are probably to busy replacing parts on N54s to have a forum presence.

Or trying to figure out what the latest code to pop up means...