Dinan Engine Software Upgrade -any diff??
 

Taking my X5 to Motor Works West | Independent BMW-Exclusive Specialist ...Heard good reviews about them and the bug to do some mod on the car...

My 3.0i struggles with the ramps on saw mill and i wish i had purchased a V8....so wondering if a 299$ minor software upgrade would add any improvement in the performance???

Though seriously tempted to spend 3 grand to get the whole suite and a Badge..

X5 Series*::*X5 3.0i (E53) 2001-2006*::*Engine Tuning*::*Performance Engine Software

People have noticed better throttle response with Cold air intake, exhaust, dinan software. Prob run u 1500-2000. Turner motorsports I belive sells a pulley set which can provide more acceleration. However 15whp gains don't go too far with a 4000+lb. X5

Yep, Dave Bogert is the main guy at Motorworks West. That's where I Dinan-ed out my X. He is a decent, straightforward guy. You pose a very interesting question. Does the software by itself boost hp/torque, without any hardware mods?? No idea. But Dave should know. When I did mine I had them do a bunch of things all at once: CAI, throttle body, exhausts, and software. Then I stopped by a year later to get the strut brace. Dave can probably answer your question regarding software alone. If you're on a budget and were going to get just one hardware mod, I would start with the cold air intake (CAI). Go with that and the Stage 1 software.

yeah, i did ask them..what i can do to the x5 with out blowing a lot and was suggested this upgrade...

I want to start one step at a time....

so how was your experience with the whole suite of dinan upgrades u did...if u have posted a detail post? i will look for it...

yeah i agree...going with V8 in the first place would always be a better option ....

One step at a time will not do any diff....
I have Dinan SW for engine and trans ,CAI ,exhaust ,X-pipe,Turner motorsports HP pulleys kit and a pair of Schrick Camshafts ...But combined turned my girly 3.0i into different animal.

Just Dinan software will basically do nothing. You may see a +5hp/tq gain but that is about it. That's where Dinan gets you! You get hooked on everything and then pretty soon you have a whole S-package.

I might as well as add my Dinan $0.02 as well. My X5 and e39 both had Dinan S1 packages. Dinan stuff basically does 3 things. 1) Make your BMW a little more unique, to where BMW SA's, and BMW Fans with give you the thumbs up because how many Dinan BMW's do you really see? 2) Empty your wallet. 3) Give you very small gains in HP and TQ.

Now, if you are looking to spend $3K and get significant performance upgrades than Dinan stuff isn't for you. Short of a SC you aren't going to see any real gains. You may see a +15 in both HP and TQ, and its up to you if it is worth it. I spent it on both cars and loved it, and would do it again if I had a BMW right now. But to each his own. Also, if you are planning on selling your X5 in the next 2-3 years I wouldn't do any Dinan stuff as you won't see any bump in selling price because its equipped with it.

This is a dumb question but my brother just got an M6. do they do Dinan upgrades for M6's? What other options does he have to upgrade without blowing up the engine?

Up they do M6's. If your brother does a signature package he can spend from $6K to $50K!
6 Series*::*M6 (E63) 2006-2010*::*Signature Packages

Wow! thanks jsears! I'll let him know.

You can buy another bimmer like a brand new 335 coupe for that.

I've done the Dinan Software upgrades with throttle body. The exhaust was too much for my liking so I went with deleting the resonators and replacing with an X pipe. Those mods alone gave my 3.0i a little more life in the mid and high range of its power band. No dyno slips but the car moves with less effort than before.

I have ordered TMS pullies and have yet to install them. I dont expect a huge increase in power, but enough to consider my purchase worth it.

Another suggestion would be to try the software upgrades from Superchips, TMS or Conforti...

TMS HP pulleys..... You will love it.

Have any of you 3.0i engine up graders ever ran a dyno for your X?

I would if I needed to know the exact numbers my X is putting out, but for the minimal amount of gains I already expect, I dont exactly see a point. At most, I'd be 10-14hp and 12-18ft.lbs more than stock. Even if it were slightly less, I wouldn't be disappointed. Its clear the 3.0i version of the e53 lacks power upgrades, aside from a supercharger kit.

Maybe if dyno runs were cheap/free and nearby I'd throw it on to see the numbers.

I hope so.....thank god they weren't too expensive either..:thumbup:

I also have the same question but on a 4.4. Would I see any "real" difference just upgrading the engine software and tranny software?

I am pretty sure upgrades on a 4.4 engine would be very worth it. And improvement felt would be much more obvious than on a 3.0

You really think a maximum 9 ft/lb hp and 11 ft/lb tq increase can be felt more in a 4.4 and not in a 3.0?

There is a CAI thread w/ a poll asking if anyone actually felt a difference or if it was placebo from spending the type of money $$Dinan$$ charges. It has some interestingly replies...mostly along the lines of no and that it only sounds louder.

I think the biggest problem is they do one or the other...software or physical mods, when in fact they should be installed together as a system.

For me. I installed a pre-VANOS intake manifold for $50 from a wrecked 7 series...the same one $$Dinan$$ sells for well over $1000. Paired w/ some www.powerchipusa.com software and its a whole different machine. Next is a BBK setup yanked from a 750I'll for $200...anyone wanna guess what $$Dinan$$ charges?

I had thought that the same upgrades to a base 4.4 engine would result in more significant torque and hp gains because of the higher output capacity of the engine to begin with. Perhaps I am referring more to the maximum performance gains.

I suppose you are correct, 9 hp added to a ~225 hp car is quite significant compared to 9 to a ~280 (cant quite remember the specs)

335 HP on X5 3.0i

Has any one tried this mod??

2001-2006 X5 3.0 7PSI VT1 CENTRIFUGAL SUPERCHARGER SYSTEM (108-41)Please enquire

Variant Code: xxesssck*3638


Click to Enlarge

Click to Enlarge

Click to Enlarge

Click to Enlarge
Suitable for: X5 (E53), X3 (E83).

Description
The system features 6 larger Bosch injectors and a fully re-programmed engine management system for exceptional power gains, with civilized everyday driveability. The system maintains all OBD-II functions. It is backed by a comprehensive 2 year, unlimited mileage warranty and a supplemental powertrain warranty is also available which covers factory drivetrain components potentially affected by the supercharger installation for the remaining term of the vehicle manufacturer''s new car warranty, up to 4 years or 50,000 miles. The system installs in 8-10 hours using normal hand tools and no irreversible modifications to the car is necessary.

-335HP DIN (7PSI)
-Vortech V2SQ Supercharger unit.
-One belt driven w/self tension system.
-CNC Machined, hard anodized brackets.
-CNC Pulleys.
-Long life serpentine drive belt.
-6 Larger Bosch injectors.
-Recalibrated MAF (airflow sensor).
-True OBDII, optimized performance ECU supercharger software with removed top speed governor, improved throttle response programming and 6800RPM limit.
-All powder-coated mandrel bent tubing w/ K&N cold air intake located inside front bumper.
-Bosch bypass-valve system.
-Oil pressure and return system.
-Oil breather assembly.
-2yr./unlimted mileage warranty.
-16 page, 37 step detailed and illustrated (54 photos) installation manual.
-100% maintenance free operation.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Boost pressure: 7 PSI
Horsepower: 335 DIN (Stock 225/231)
Torque: 415 NM (Stock 300)
0 - 60: Man : 6 sec, Aut : 6,4 sec

PLEASE NOW REFER TO THE LINK AT THE BOTTOM FOR THE FULL ESS PRICE AND APPLICATION LIST

ESS PRICE LIST

Fitting Time: 9.00 hours.
Estimated Installation Cost at CA Workshops: £585.00 inc VAT
CA: ESS SUPERCHARGING SYSTEMS X3 & X5 SUPERCHARGER KITS (Variants)

This costs about $10,000+

You would have to be a nut job to spend 10g's upgrading a 3.0 engine.

Why not just sell the 3.0 and buy a 4.8? :dunno:

:iagree:.....Unless you can find the SC for much less, there's no point.

In stock form the 3.0 engine is very small on power, but don't underestimate what the 3.0 is capable of vs the 4.4, 4.6, or 4.8 engine. BMW I6's are notorious for loving boost, and if given the right recipe, will destroy any V8 powered X5...minus maybe the X5M. Spend some time on the FI forums of the Bimmerboard, Bimmerfest, E46fanatics, etc and you'll see what I mean.

Sure, spending 10k on a 3.0 might seem useless now, but when the truck itself is only selling for 10k, spending 20k total for having X5M power at 1/6th the cost isn't so unreasonable. It all depends on the persons personal modification goals. I almost bought an 3.0 5speed years ago, but then I came across the black on black 740iL I still have now. Had I gotten the X5, it was the perfect package just screaming for boost. Had I known (at the time) all that I'd be spending on my V8 powered engine just to get it ready for boost, I still wonder how much closer I'd be to my goals. Had I just gotten the X5 instead way back, I'd probably be there since I'm well over 15k in mods to my 740iL, and it's not even boosted yet :(

In reply again to the OP's original question...it's my opinion that $$Dinan$$ is a complete waste of money in that they are WAY WAY WAY overpriced and known to be on the conversative side of power compared to other tuners. They WERE the company to goto back in the day, but there are easily 4-5 other companies doing the same things they offer for far less. The only time I'd ever suggest $$Dinan$$ to anyone is if they're still under the factory warranty or a Certified vehicle since they warranty is the same as purchasing a stock BMW, hence why they're on the more conversative side of HP...safety and warranty. For anyone past their warranty period, they are the last place I'd goto. After owning a handful of factory (MR2T, RX7TT, F350TD, etc) and even aftermarket FI (Tacoma V6, R6, R1) vehicles, $$Dinan$$ has the the WORST power per dollar ratio of anyone in the market, period...but some people just love the bragging rights of the badge.

OK, I'll bite. Give me this "recipe" for how you plan to have a blown 3.0 X5 beat a naturally aspirated 4.8is. Without using nitrous oxide and blowing the I6 to kingdom-come after 2 traffic light races. I'm talking about a mod where the pistons are still in one piece 6 months later.:popcorn:

I'm gonna act like you're not being smug towards me w/ the little popcorn smiley :)

Turbo
Turbo manifold
Intercooler (depending on HP, but not always needed)
Custom intake piping (easier part, hence why I laugh at $$Dinan$$ $300+ intakes)
Boost controller (manual for $20, electronic for $200)
Fuel pressure regulator
Higher volume fuel pump (depends on HP demands) if the stock pump isn't sufficient
Tuning via either a piggyback (choose your weapon) or custom software (it's getting cheaper and cheaper nowadays, some doing if from home via laptop)
About 5-8k laying around, which is still a decent amount, but the gains will be higher

I've driven a custom, single turbo'ed E34 540i w/ an M62 swap, Unichip piggyback (same system I used on my Tacoma) running around 450hp. For the case of my 740iL, VFEngineering makes an centrifugal S/C system for around 6k, but it's very limited on power, not intercooled and the sweet spot of the power (like most centrifugals) is in the higher revs. I've been considering going something like www.ststurbo.com, either single or dual turbo so I don't have to deal w/ having custom headers made, not to mention the added heat to an already hot and prone-to-overheating engine bay in the V8.

As I said above, check over on the FI forums on the boards I listed above. 3 series and I6 equipped 5 series BMW guys have been throwing boost at the I6 LONG LONG LONG before an X5 ever rolled off the assembly line. This might be an extreme example, and he's since rebuilt the motor, but it shows what just ONE person was able to get from a dinky little 1997 2.8 - www.bmwturbo328.com Mind you, he got like what, 600hp and countless 1/4 runs before he even had a single issue w/ the motor...and that's a 2.8!!

Point is, the I6, while less power in stock form, is for more reliable and tuneable than any V8 for the simple fact...there are thousands upon thousands of I6 owners who modify their cars vs V8 owners. Does reliability go down as you add more power, sure...but that's the case w/ any engine, so you gotta pay to play. It can be argued that adding an intake, exhaust and software (it should be done as a package) could theoretically lower reliability since I guarantee you will be driving the car harder. It's a moot point though because those who modify should also expect a certain detriment of change in longevity, otherwise they'd stay stock because they simply don't care to modify in the first place.

Do I believe that a turbo'ed I6 running a mild 6-8psi will last 6 months or more...abso-friggin-lutely!! Are there cases of where $$Dinan$$ first got into the FI game w/ the M62 V8 and had MAJOR blow-by issues before they switched to the Vortech V2 or V2SQ...abso-friggin-lutely. Did people still pay for $12,000 to $15,000 for their systems...abso-friggin-lutely. Does spending the most money for mods GUARANTEE the best quality...abso-lutely-friggin not!!! Ask any pre Vortech SC owner, or the handful of people who had their motors build for obscene amounts of money by the guys at D/A Motorsports to twin supercharge their 540/M5 engines, only to have catastrophic failures. Hell, look at resale of BMW's in general vs brand neww...ask anyone who bought an X5 brand new if they got their money's worth on their 60k SAV and are spending thousands of dollars to this day on repairing the issues we speak or regularily. Spending large sums of money guarantees nothing except that the seller will definately have a thicker wallet.

Off topic alert.


the 2011 X5 35i is I6 turbo (twin scroll) with $699 tune will outrun 4.8i. and you'll have 6 pistons even after waranty is over guarantee, the same number of pistons you start with.:D

But 2011 X5 50i kinda scarry, it has detuned version of X5-M engine, twin scroll turbos fed by 8 exhaust manifold (it's like having 4 turbos), virtually no lag. If speed important gets 2011 X5 50i with tune that thing will be the best thing after sliced-bread.

My only concern of 4.4i TT (on 50i or M version) is it share the same block as our N62 4.4i, can someone spell valley-pan gasket for me?
Hint2, both the twin scroll turbos sit in the valley so have to be removed in fixing the VP leaks, ouch.

M5James- out of what 7 series did you pull the manifold from?

Hi
 

Hi Stan,
I was reading about Dinan upgrades when I came across your comments. I have a 2006 X5 4.8is and thinking to install exactly everything you listed except the exhaust. I would like to get your opinion in more detail regarding your upgrade and especially the struts brace.
My plan is to get CAI, throttle body, engine software, and strut brace in one shot. I really appreciate your help.
Thanks a lot,
Kevin

Hey Kevin,

PM sent.

I got mine from a 97. I believe the last time they we're used before being converted to VANOS was 9/98. The part number is 11611729528, and can be found in anything from 540's to 840's, Z8's and the X5 4.6is as well.

RealOEM.com Part Cross-reference - This should confirm exactly what years are available. If you happen to be shopping and wanna be sure, enter the last 7 of the VIN on this website and make sure it's the same part number that I listed above. While you're at it, go ahead and replace the CCV on the back of the intake manifold. Before I knew much about BMW V8's, I passed up on a perfectly good car because it smoked at startup. Ends up it was just this little valve that needed to be replaced, but it's definately a tight fit when the intake manifold is installed...at least on the 7.

Thanks M5James, Ill be on the lookout for one