Newby - 2008 BMW 135i 6MT (a few questions!)

[AllanC 4]

Hey peoples,

Just picked up a 2008 BMW 135i 6MT (and yes, am waiting for that water pump to go). All very stock standard currently, in titanium silver. Runs the n54 straight six twin turbo.

Time to investigate what modifications I can do without voiding the autosure extreme warranty... anyone have any knowledge or experience around that?

Also, anyone here have any good contacts for updating the frequency region on the radio for the CCC idrive? It's in english, country code set correctly, but japanese frequencies on the radio still. Quoted $900 or so from a couple places to update it - have a nav maps dvd and not that bothered about sorting the maps anyway, just the radio.

One other question - anyone got any recommendations around a reasonable priced place to get walnut blasting done? Probably could use it.

Will take some pics when I get a moment, here's one exactly the same as mine.

Thanks!

Allan

[handgrenade 189]

Did you buy this from a dealership? Just check for factory recall items - from memory of friends who own these cars with the N54 - there are issues with the fuel pump which are covered under factory recall? 

Looks good - have thought about something like this .. easy to modify to Full Bolt On and run 270-300kw at the wheels (pump/e85) but definitely needs some work on the suspension!! The modifications will void your warranty though - a stock ECU remap will give you another 50+ hp which they shouldn't pick up, or revert back to a stock map if something happens .. 

I'm sure there are many other 135/335i owners that can comment. Enjoy your new ride!

[AllanC 4]

Thanks for the input! Yeah was from a dealership, had read there was a factory recall on fuel pumps for a particular range, will double check if mine was in that. 

Have heard of eurosurgeon or bmworkshop doing exhaust and downpipes / intake work on a 135i or 335 and having it checked with autosure and things so will look into that. Downpipes and intake and an ecu map would be a nice start. Pretty sure suspension work just voids the warranty on the parts that have had work done on them and areas that directly relates to.. if its was full bolt on then probably an LSD would be a good idea too I'd imagine? It has an open diff with the ESD controlling power to the wheels when that's turned on.

Some visual stuff would be nice too, going black for the wheels and wing mirrors (paint or plastidip or vinyl?) and a black front lip and the little boot spoiler, maybe some tints too? I'm pretty fresh to the car scene... have mainly been a motorbike person when it comes to performance.
 

Edited July 25, 2016 by AllanC

[Matth5 471]

If you want to be safe on the warranty side, you could just do the BMW Performance Power kit. $2500 or so, so far from cheap.

You won't get them to approve a tune I'm sure, and the intake + downpipe is rather pointless without that (except for the sound aspect). Maybe it helps throttle response a tad.

I managed to get them to approve an aftermarket charge pipe for me when my stock one blew, had to ask the mechanic to assure them it was purely a reliability upgrade (which it was, I'm only using the BMW Performance Power Kit myself)

Really though, for Auckland, stock power is already more than you can use here. Enjoy the car, don't get hung up on mods. These are very fun cars even in stock form!

Edited July 26, 2016 by Matth5

[Allanw 1071]

AWESOME! A real trans too...

You've just joined a VERY exclusive club: we now have 3 Allans, all with 6 cylinder BMW's with a proper trans :-)

 

Welcome!

[handgrenade 189]

ECU map will net you 50-60hp .. without any other mods. stock is fast .. feels like a larger displacement engine .. with a remap, brings on the torque stronger. much more fun! 

but I agree, auckland streets .. stock is plenty of power. that being said, more power is always fun:)

[AllanC 4]

Thanks for the welcome other Allan! All the allan's should hang out and do doughies in a carpark sometime, haha.

And yes, it's pretty fun as it is, but another 80 or so bhp would be more fun : ) My daily ride motorbike is a custom gs1200ss with about 133bhp at the wheel and weighing 195kg, so I quite like having a bit of power on hand personally.

I had a chat today with the friend of a friend who had an aftermarket exhaust system approved on his warranty covered car so it is possible, just has to be approved before and negotiated with the warranter.

A tune wouldn't get approved but 'hypothetically speaking' with a cobb accessport and a duplicate of the original map set as one of the map option it could just be switched back should any problems arise... (would speak with jtune and get it set up correctly). I also think with the correct map and some thorough engine inspection and testing prior to doing anything the level of risk isn't that high in terms of the engine going bust from running excessive boost or anything stupid.

What does the bmw powersport pack consist of? I googled it but didn't get a very specific answer (within the three clicks of time I gave it looking).

[handgrenade 189]

*most* aftermarket maps are pretty safe. The N54 is a very strong engine - you can do a quick search online to find the numbers people (especially in the states) are pushing on a stock block N54 - 700hp+. Of course if you are running a bad tune, you'll kill any engine. So yes, definitely get it done by someone reputable. 

[Matth5 471]

Cobb AP is old and abandoned. MHD is the preferred choice these days.

The BMW Performance Kit (MPPK for short) is a mild tune. 320hp. Personally I found it to be a great improvement in responsiveness, but I'm not sure how much of that was just due to getting a software update at the same time. My car has the N55 engine so your experience might differ. 

On some N55's there's an exploit where it works without the activation key, no such luck on N54s so you'd have to pay a BMW dealer. You can probably get similar tunes with MHD though for much less.

Edited July 26, 2016 by Matth5

[AllanC 4]

Hadn't heard of MHD but just googled it, pretty cool working straight from android. Probably come down to whether there's anyone like jtune or eurosurgeon or anyone that has experience using it and happy to check the maps and like prior to running it. The Cobb AP everyone seems to have a bit of experience setting up etc. Any idea who might be good to talk to with experience using the MHD flasher?

I drove the N55 and it did feel a bit more punchy in stock form than mine but only had the dct auto models around rather than the traditional manual and I do quite like a traditional manual so ended up sticking with the '08 rather than the '10 dct I drove. Think I'd rather go aftermarket tuning than the bmws performance package.

[handgrenade 189]

Something a lot of people overlook is that they use the best tuning software or aftermarket engine management computer out there, but end up with not many people with the experience to get the most out of it. 

This is the reason why I stuck with 'old' tech of an Apexi PowerFC over new EMS units due to that most tuners know the unit and can use it fast and easily and I can get a retune or adjustment almost any time and anywhere . 

[AllanC 4]

Definitely, wouldn't mess with plugging something in right out of the box and not having it checked and set up by someone who knows exactly what they're doing. 

Want to get the charge pipe and other things checked over for pressure leaks, check coils / spark is up to scratch and make sure it's cooling correctly and maybe walnut blast the intakes as best they're pretty crusty at the moment.

Still the most fun car I've owned in stock form so will be happy with it as is until there's a bit of money burning a hole in my pocket to do a few things on it.

Do you guys go to the bmw meetups? My mate has an '89 e30 with about 60,000kms on it and has been to some of the e30 meetups. 

Radar and laser 'parking sensor' system ordered and on its way just incase my throttle pedal gets stuck on nice drives in the country....

[Matth5 471]

I've heard of people getting tunes online. Just need to be able to upload logs and do some test runs for fine tuning. No experience with it though, just what I've read.

 

9 hours ago, AllanC said:

Radar and laser 'parking sensor' system ordered and on its way just incase my throttle pedal gets stuck on nice drives in the country....

Mind sharing what your bought and the cost? I'm curious.

Get an aftermarket charge pipe before you do any tunes. Mine had no leaks that I could tell, and then just went bang right as I was approaching the Coromandel one day. 

Edited July 27, 2016 by Matth5

[AllanC 4]

In terms of laser 'parking sensor' went with the blinder hp-905 from the states. They're on ebay for $549usd for twin sensor (just forwards facing) or $729usd for quad sensor which does both back and front, have to use a reshipping service to get it off ebay though as they're a US listing... the legality of these is questionable but you just have a switch and turn it off after you get pinged the first time (and slow down to the speed limit).

I actually just decided against the radar detector I was going to get due to problems with shipping and still making a call on that, there's so many in a similar bracket. If you want a cheap but effective option the whistler c90 is on trademe for like $350 or so, it's sensitive but not very good at filtering so does alot of false alerts if not turned down in city areas, should be good (for the money) on country roads though. Might go with one of those as only want it for country roads and long trips etc, I don't drive fast around urban areas. 

There's valentine 1, passport max and escort redline in the premium price bracket of around $800 to $1000. 

Not cheap stuff but I've had a couple mates loose licenses for six months or three months getting caught in the 140 to 150 range on country roads.

[Rubix 434]

I'm using a Uniden LRD 750nz.
Cheap (got mine for $400) but absolutely brilliant, almost never get false alerts and is quite sensitive (couple km read).
Every time it's started screaming there's been a legit reason (cop/camera/van), so am happy. Use on both my bike and car.

[AllanC 4]

Cool good to know. Had a quick google and reviews well but slightly less range than some of the pricier ones. Good to have a well priced unit that doesn't do false alerts though.

[Matth5 471]

On 7/27/2016 at 9:27 PM, AllanC said:

In terms of laser 'parking sensor' went with the blinder hp-905 from the states. They're on ebay for $549usd for twin sensor (just forwards facing) or $729usd for quad sensor which does both back and front, have to use a reshipping service to get it off ebay though as they're a US listing... the legality of these is questionable but you just have a switch and turn it off after you get pinged the first time (and slow down to the speed limit).

Hmm pricey, but worth it if you drive in the country a lot.Maybe I'll go for a reasonably priced radar detector to start with.