My ActiveAutoworks 4.8is tune

[PropellerHead]

Well, this (probably) won't be one of those high pic threads that drawls on and on. I know, I know.. I'll do my best.

It alllll began so long ago in 2004 when I... Oh. Fast fwd to 2017 when I replaced my transmission. It was after this fun time of having the exhaust moved around (again) that the slight rattle from the cats got that much worse. A few weeks later, I'd made the (poor) choice of inexpensive aftermarket cats. They lasted about 2 years before I was getting CE lights. I even wrote ab that here bc I could happily clear the CE light right through my snifty Android radio using the Tourque app.

But of course, that's tiresome. The light only came on every few weeks or miles or both- I never really studied the frequency. I saw it more often on our December road trip than around town- where I drive sparingly.

Anyway, I found that Active Autowerke is one of a number of folks who offer N62 tuning, and advertised for the X5 as well. I was particularly encouraged that they have an option for removing the cats. For +$200, I can remove the cats and avoid this headache all the way around. Once I learned my Indy has the tools and a relationship at Active, I set it up.

In an odd circumstance, running to pick up the '04 4.4 in Philly made this very simple for all of us. They would have access to the 4.8is for 10 days. In the 4.8is, I had also been chasing down an SLS error and had ordered a replacement pump + ride height sensors. The long story short on THAT is the pump seems to have answered the trouble of the SLS error, But like all of these errors, we have to wait and see.

We can't really talk about the chip and the great exhaust sound adventure until I explain the 1st ever mod to my 4.8is: Something like 8 years ago now, I removed the center resonator and replaced it with a cross pipe. I have LOVED the sound ever since. The new, cheaper cats made this sound just a touch meaner, especially at WOT. No problems with that.

But removing the cats altogether and screwing around with valvetronics via the AA Tune made for an aural experience matched most closely at the track. And that's *any* track with lumpy, mean sounding, tuned V8's. It sounded like a tuned NASCAR. From the outside, it was giggle-inducing. It was surely louder than it was was supposed to be, and it sounded really awesome. The real thing that weighed over my head was the sound *inside*. Especially at about 2,500RPM. Man, that 1:2 shift leaving a stoplight in a nice, relaxed way. It was IN the car. a second later at the 3:4 shift and the exhaust was back in the rear seats. Like a pissed off elephant strapped into a car seat. Something had to be done.

Thankfully, I searched here. Where else would I find experience with a resonator for the E53? I was pointed to a couple inexpensive units from Amazon. For ~$100 for the two, I was willing to try.

So, we were back up on the lift for short couple of minutes to add the new ear muffs. (ass muffs?) I was out of town yet again for a few days, affording all the time needed to button it all back up.

And the sound is *back*! BACK to the german-tuned highway brawler with that 'any road' wandering eye. Inside, it may even be a little more quiet than it was. Or that may be a mind trick after the week-o-backseat-V8. Anyway, it's nice again and the wife will finally ride in it.

Now, I know what you're all waiting for. The TUNE, man! The TUNE! GIVE!

Do any of you guys have that thing when you press the gas on your N62 and there's this tiny moment of... 'Who? Me?" from your E53? You know? Like you curl your toes after a stop and it sorta... hesitates? Yeah. Mine did that. With the tune, that's *gone*. Curl your toes at a stop and you'll take off as smoothly as you curl 'em. It's a nice start to a really nice experience further up the guage.

The big change is right at that 1,700-3,200 range. It just feels linear- like it should. Of course, I had grown accustomed to feeling the peaks and valleys of power delivery for ~130k miles in this thing, so any difference in the seat is pretty easy to notice. It's in this range that I have experienced the most notable changes. Along with the smooth power delivery, it seems like there's more of it available- especially in the lower range. Navigating surface street traffic offers the power I want right *when* I want it. It may even be that it holds a gear longer so I don't have to wait for a shift in some instances. I really like it. Now, I dunno if that smoothed out feeling comes from numbers that can be measured or what. And I don't really care. I like the drive with the chip and I would do it again. But it's my money, of course. Anyone else may want something different for theirs.

Anyway, another mod to keep that lovin feelin'. Like nearly any car- and any good relationship- you add a little here and there and you'll never stray too far away. The lowered stance- maybe a little TOO low- giving way that something might be different with this one. The enthusiasts' eyes are drawn to the 6 pot StopTechs up front. The calipers are subtle in silver so as to attract only the specific eye that finds itself caught by their ridiculous size. And all of that behind those Style 87's.

Like most of us, all this talk about car mods has me lookin' for the next thing. But alas, like many of us, I have to get back to that *other* relationship to keep it running, too. I'm off to find a Bowler hat and some assless chaps. See you boys in a little while!