CleanIsFast Journal: BMW X5 4.6iS

[X53Jay4.8is]

Originally Posted by CleanIsFast

Update 01.28.17: Weekend Work

DINAN is having sale on software for E53 so I jumped on it. Not many times DINAN is 50% off anything. Another reason being; my transmission has the harsh 2-1 downshift at normal operating temp. Only time it is not there is prior to normal operating temp, and sport mode. Adding the DINAN Automatic Transmission software couldn't hurt. For $280 for transmission and engine software was a no-brainer for me. The shop didn't even charge me labor and hooked me up with a DINAN t-shirt. I also snagged some old DINAN brochures because I thought they were cool.





StephenVA was nice enough to let me swing by his house today and wrench on my vehicle. Super knowledgeable and has all the tools. Thanks again! About half the plugs were covered in oil, the other half were just old. Really surprised I wasn't having misfires in cylinder #4 & #8 because those were the worst ones. Fresh NGK Iridium plugs and Bremi coils in. Still need to replace the valve cover gaskets, that'll be next. Beast started right up, idled much better (rough idle is gone), misfires are gone now. Did an oil service as well when I got home. Previous owner had a Hengst oil filter in there . Fresh Mobil1 0w-40 and Mann Filter.

Those NGks are way better than the bosch for these engines. You should experience a much better response from your X5

[dannyzabolotny]

I use Hengst filters all the time, they've always worked great for me. Mann is fine too. As long as it's a German filter and not some generic Autozone filter it's probably fine.

[X53Jay4.8is]

OOh I think I'll be making an appointment to get the Dinan software on the X5!!!!

[X53Jay4.8is]

CleanIsFast so how is the Dinan software? What do your have you noticed over stock?

[Dking078]

Trans SW : Fun on a bun!


I'm still debating Stage 1 engine SW

[OrangeFurious]

Originally Posted by Dking078

Trans SW : Fun on a bun!


I'm still debating Stage 1 engine SW

I'd love to hear more about the differences from stock. I'm all about upping the fun for a few hundred bucks, but ~8HP at an RPM range I never see doesn't do much for me on paper. Would love to understand it in real life.

[Dking078]

Originally Posted by OrangeFurious

I'd love to hear more about the differences from stock. I'm all about upping the fun for a few hundred bucks, but ~8HP at an RPM range I never see doesn't do much for me on paper. Would love to understand it in real life.

I didn't notice too much with the trans SW performace, but as said above the behavior of the trans is what changed. I like that I can stay in gear without a forced shift and the slightly higher rev limit (In manual mode) is nice. I love it for canyon driving.

Stage 1 Engine SW is kinda "meh". You wont notice the HP, but what you likely will notice is the throttle remapping and "feel" faster. Some say that since it's optimized for 91AKI you get a smidge better MPG, but it's not like we count that anyway .

[bcredliner]

Originally Posted by OrangeFurious

I'd love to hear more about the differences from stock. I'm all about upping the fun for a few hundred bucks, but ~8HP at an RPM range I never see doesn't do much for me on paper. Would love to understand it in real life.

Key benefits of transmission software are faster and firmer shifts and shift points that are in a better HP/TQ range than stock tune. Both contribute to faster 0-60mph times.

All Dinan engine software is designed to work best with other Dinan mods. Depends on the stage as to what else is needed to generate their numbers.

Dinan doesn't run many sales, certainly not 50% off. I think they do that once a year. Both trans and engine software are great prices! HP gain doesn't matter as much as torque gain and the associated curve. It doesn't take much to make a worthwhile difference.

[CleanIsFast]

Originally Posted by X53Jay4.8is

OOh I think I'll be making an appointment to get the Dinan software on the X5!!!!

Yes so far so good!

Originally Posted by X53Jay4.8is

OOh I think I'll be making an appointment to get the Dinan software on the X5!!!!

Figured it was a no brainer at 50%, basically 2 for the price of 1.

Originally Posted by X53Jay4.8is

CleanIsFast so how is the Dinan software? What do your have you noticed over stock?

Yes I do notice a difference but in my case it's night and day different because I had the misfires prior to the software installation and coils/plugs. So obviously everything is going to "feel" better to me. Overall, I believe it keeps the rpms slightly higher at idle which in turn helps with the harsh 2-1 downshift. Vehicle definitely shifts faster, and when you want to get on it - it'll keep the revs longer before the next upshift.

Originally Posted by Dking078

Trans SW : Fun on a bun!

I'm still debating Stage 1 engine SW

I really just wanted the transmission software but while I was there I said why not the engine software as well. I do have a DINAN Intake laying around I could install as well. I just wanted to have the vehicle sorted before making it look pretty

[X53Jay4.8is]

Originally Posted by CleanIsFast

Yes so far so good!



Figured it was a no brainer at 50%, basically 2 for the price of 1.



Yes I do notice a difference but in my case it's night and day different because I had the misfires prior to the software installation and coils/plugs. So obviously everything is going to "feel" better to me. Overall, I believe it keeps the rpms slightly higher at idle which in turn helps with the harsh 2-1 downshift. Vehicle definitely shifts faster, and when you want to get on it - it'll keep the revs longer before the next upshift.




I really just wanted the transmission software but while I was there I said why not the engine software as well. I do have a DINAN Intake laying around I could install as well. I just wanted to have the vehicle sorted before making it look pretty

How much did your idle change with the Dinan Software?