Gone are the days of physical chips like I have in my M5. Nowadays it's a software programmer that usually goes through the OBDII port. HP gains can be seen all over the board, BMW never really see huge gains, if anything from 5-20, it really just depends on the whole setup. I still suggest Powerchips since they tune it based on your mods instead of a generic one-size-fits-all kind of tune most others do.

Jeez is powerchips info off... I just looked on their website and they are off their rockers! They say the 4.6is has 611 HP and 183 ftlbs of torque stock... just a wee bit off. Then they want $990 for the tuner? That page alone made me lose interest in them.

Wow, that is off just slightly...

Once again, Conforti or Dinan.

Ever made a typo? Obviously it's wrong, but either way. I'm not by any means defending them or saying they're the best, but over the years I've learned that $$Dinan$$ is conversative with their HP numbers for warranty/reliability reasons, Conforti is fine, but coming from the M5 forums, just about everyone rants and raves of the Powerchips for the E39 M5. My current E34 M5 has a physical chip made my Mark D'Sylva, the E38 7 is bone stock software only because I have no choice but going a custom tune and the 01 is still stock but I'm going to need to do something since I've got a pre-VANOS intake manifold installed, so I'm basically wasting potential power.

Yeah, but that's not just one typo.... They are waaay off on all their numbers, and the price listed is $990, which is more than double the price of Dinan which is only $399 full retail...

Yeah, but that's only Stage I. Add an intake, then you need Stage II for another $200, Stage III for exhaust adds another $200, etc etc. I still have a bad taste in my mouth when it comes to $$Dinan$$ from my E39 M5 days and my current 740iL when myself and others we're discovering that some of their parts we're nothing more than rebadged factory peices, like my pre-VANOS MAF and intake manifold swap. These aren't my words, but as I mentioned above, they're known to be on the more conservative side of HP gains for the sake of those who install their stuff and have warranties. BMW's (minus the newer FI cars) have always had a terrible $ per HP ratio. so if I'm going to spend any money whatsoever for software, I'd rather get my money's worth instead of going with the rumored conservative guys.

Last time I was on Powerchips site, they had my 740iL listed for like $600, but as I said, you tell them your mods and it's make the software for that. One you add more mods, then I'm not sure what happens. I was just throwing it out there as an option to add to those researching software tuners. I probably wouldn't make a decision on anyone of them till I actually called and spoke to someone regarding their warranty for gains, upgrading options, etc and weigh all the options.

no wonder you don't mind typos...

If it works in my favor....

Seriously though, I'd be calling all these retailers anyways just to ask questions before I throw $200 plus at anyone.

Cool business model. Every customer gets to be their very own beta tester.

If all the software is different, how do you have any confidence that it is better than the factory software? It obviously can't have been tested with your own engine configuration.

:rofl::rofl:

I think I will go with Conforti's software.