TUNE DONE! Car is a beast

[BPMSport]

Just did another forum members car today (kevn23). Pulls like a freight train. Almost made him throw up on the test drive in a straight line! Hopefully he chimes in after his drive back to Santa Barbara.

LI-M5 will answer your questions when I get back to a computer in a couple hrs

[sbassi]

Originally Posted by Mike Benvo

Just did another forum members car today (kevn23). Pulls like a freight train. Almost made him throw up on the test drive in a straight line! Hopefully he chimes in after his drive back to Santa Barbara.

LI-M5 will answer your questions when I get back to a computer in a couple hrs

Mike was is stage 2?

[BPMSport]

Originally Posted by sbassi

Mike was is stage 2?

Stage I. Stock 2013, non comp pack.

[sbassi]

Originally Posted by Mike Benvo

Stage I. Stock 2013, non comp pack.

Nice.. Can't wait

[BPMSport]

Originally Posted by LI-M5

Mike , a few Q's for you pal !

which i'm sure other member's wouldn't mind aswell having the info

Trevor m3 is my cous , found out about you through him , on the fence about ecu flash or piggy!

Hi Neil,

My pleasure to answer your questions.

Originally Posted by LI-M5

being out of state I'm assuming i remove ecu's and send to you where you do your thing and send em back to me ?

Correct, for customers out of state, the DME's must be shipped in. If we receive the DME's before 1 or 2 PM, we will usually turn them around the same day to minimize downtime.

For local customers, we like to allocate 4hrs total, but usually get them done in 2-3 hours. The car today took two hours flat from start to finish, which is really good considering the DME's have to be pulled, drilled, have the passwords read, backed up completely, programmed, reinstalled, and then flashed over OBD + bleeding of cooling system. We are working on a step by step ECU removal guide which we will provide to customers to assist them with this process.

Originally Posted by LI-M5

once i receive em i install them back and thru OBD(cable i get thru you) you take over my laptop and turn me into a beast ?

Not necessarily. If you want to flash them over OBD, we can do that remotely or you can yourself. Usually we will send them out tuned and ready to go, so you just reinstall them, start the car, and you're ready to rock immediately.

Originally Posted by LI-M5

Being that your out of state for me if i have issue's can we always just plug back into OBD and bring the ecu's back to factory spec in order for me to get in to dealer ?
does this cost anything ?

If you opt for getting the BPMFlash cable, we are happy to provide you with the stock file to load back and you can do this anytime at your leisure. No charge for this. Usually for those going back to the dealer, we provide a special stock file which is your stock file with the tamper detection removed, so that way there is nothing that tips the dealer off that the ECU's are now OBD flashable. If you put the tune back to stock without this, each ECU will have a tamper protection code that is visible. With the modified stock file, it will not have any faults.

Originally Posted by LI-M5

will the dealer ever be able to see anything ? i know lately guy's are drilling holes or someshit but aside from them looking at ecu physically i mean can they plug in and see diff spec's air/fuel/boost other than what the factory set's car for ?

It's unlikely that at the dealer level that they would be able to see anything. Out of all of the M5's we've done, we haven't had any issues at the dealer. If the ECU's come back to us, we can restore the software 100% back (meaning everything it records, max RPM, max speed achieved, etc..) because we backup not only the tuning file, but other parts of the computer that store data. We can restore it 100% back to where it was before we touched it.

Originally Posted by LI-M5

I'm currently running drop in filters , axle back strait pipe's , rpi scoop's , JB4 w 5-6 gall's E85 my car is very quick , snappy , fast etc

i wanna say just by those modd's I'm let's say 590 wheel , what would your flash be able to bring me to as safe as posss w out compromising the integrity of the car , i wanna go fast but be as reliable as poss..

the mod's i spoke of ^^^ are on my 13 , i currently have a 16 on order and the flash and Q's are related to my incoming 16

Absolutely. We can make as much or as little power as you want. We like to keep it safe in the 650whp range. It's no problem pushing it to 700whp or even more, but we prefer to err on the side of safety. We don't do any ignition advance in any of our software unless the customer is using really good fuel. With the tune, the car will drive perfectly like a stock car but when you put your foot down it will be an untamed beast. Counter steering is necessary.

Originally Posted by LI-M5

on my 16 the modd's so far i know for sure will be , MSR Intake's , turner axleback , catless DP's and Most likely a flash due to the Drivetrain Malf FML which seem's most likely due to my piggy!

does your flash create any DM's ? im sure it has once and a while and I'm fine w that but on open throttle run's i'll pull a DM every time

anyway any other info you can add to this will be great for myself, trevorm3, another m6 and possibly another friend of mine w an M5 that I'm trying to persuade to Flash Aswell as all the other member's here for general reference on this tune !!

Drivetrain Malfunctions are absolutely unacceptable and should never happen unless there is an issue with a sensor, plug, injector, or something else. My car has 10,000 miles on it almost, and I've run to 200MPH multiple times and have repeatedly abused it, and have never seen a drivetrain malfunction to date. We've had customers in the past experience drivetrain malfunction due to bad coils or injectors, but after replacing the faulty part, the car is back to business with no errors. If there is nothing wrong with the car itself, you should never get a drivetrain malfunction. It also shouldn't be something that is sporadic - meaning sometimes you get it and sometimes you don't. It should be consistent and reproducible. We've had people switch from a number of other piggybacks and software with Drivetrain malfunction issues, and our software has resolved those issues for those that didn't have a vehicle related issue.

Originally Posted by LI-M5

Sorry about all the Q's just trying to understand all this BS

I'd rather you make a well informed decision than a blind purchase. Let me know if I can answer anything else! Thanks

[kevn23]

Originally Posted by Mike Benvo

Just did another forum members car today (kevn23). Pulls like a freight train. Almost made him throw up on the test drive in a straight line! Hopefully he chimes in after his drive back to Santa Barbara.

LI-M5 will answer your questions when I get back to a computer in a couple hrs

Yes, the car definitely has ENOUGH power now! Pretty much a tires shredder, especially in 60ish degree F temperature and DA ~0. I will do a more comprehensive write up when I get more seat time.

[apexlocator]

Mike's detailed reply should be a sticky or FAQ. I see a lot of similar questions spread out/hidden in various threads.

[LI-M5]

Welll WoooWieee !!

im a Salesman and just by mike's responses im Sold lmfao...

all seriousness though thank you for the very detail'd response , the time taken to respond is enuff to realize that there is a commitment of product and quality that you obv stand behind!

so essentially you would tune for 650'ish hp at the rear wheel's w the new modd's i ment'd on 93 and running e85 whenever i want , will running e85 gimme a couple xtra been's like my piggy does ??

Also just to be clear not your personal nor any cust's car's are receiving DM's atall huh , hate to be a pia but in erly stage's of ecu flash's the flash's where cause DM's like crazzy even more than piggy's , it's was very frustrating ! and nvr wannna go thru tat agaiin !

ok i again really appreciate asweell as im sure the other member's that do/will/want the info stated in your reply !

will be in touch for sure , prolly sooner than later as ment'd trevor 's car is here already and just waiting for break in mileage to get his ecu's to you , hopefully you'll give us some sorto break on pricing if we do a few 2-3-4 cars together !

Much Thxx for your time

NEIL

[fhaze3]

I too am interested in a flash, no piggys for me. I am not interested in drilling though.

Can you provide some more detail, and maybe some before and after pics of the alternative method of opening them up?

[TrevorM3]

Mike drills em, that is his preferred way. Puts a small cap back on to cover it. There was a thread on it somewhere, he posted pics actually.

[apexlocator]

You can either drill or cut the sealant material open. Most tuners will prefer to drill since its quicker. MissionPerformance can do both; I'm sure BPM has the same capability.

[kevn23]

A little update, I put 3 gallons of e85 in and filled up the rest of the tank with 76 91. Had traction control going off in 3rd or 4th at 80mph...the car pulled stronger than yesterday.,maybe it's adapted more now.

[TrevorM3]

Traction issues at 80? Oh my..

[kevn23]

Originally Posted by TrevorM3

Traction issues at 80? Oh my..

Make that traction control going off 4th at ~100mph! After topping off with another 3 gallons of 100 octane fuel to full tank. Repeatable. So either these 305 PIRELLI isn't all that great or...

I'm thinking cup 2s next.

[BPMSport]

Originally Posted by kevn23

Yes, the car definitely has ENOUGH power now! Pretty much a tires shredder, especially in 60ish degree F temperature and DA ~0. I will do a more comprehensive write up when I get more seat time.

Looking forward to your feedback

Originally Posted by apexlocator

Mike's detailed reply should be a sticky or FAQ. I see a lot of similar questions spread out/hidden in various threads.

Thank you. I should make a tuning FAQ thread.. Perhaps when I get back in town next week.

Originally Posted by LI-M5

Welll WoooWieee !!

im a Salesman and just by mike's responses im Sold lmfao...

all seriousness though thank you for the very detail'd response , the time taken to respond is enuff to realize that there is a commitment of product and quality that you obv stand behind!

so essentially you would tune for 650'ish hp at the rear wheel's w the new modd's i ment'd on 93 and running e85 whenever i want , will running e85 gimme a couple xtra been's like my piggy does ??

Also just to be clear not your personal nor any cust's car's are receiving DM's atall huh , hate to be a pia but in erly stage's of ecu flash's the flash's where cause DM's like crazzy even more than piggy's , it's was very frustrating ! and nvr wannna go thru tat agaiin !

ok i again really appreciate asweell as im sure the other member's that do/will/want the info stated in your reply !

will be in touch for sure , prolly sooner than later as ment'd trevor 's car is here already and just waiting for break in mileage to get his ecu's to you , hopefully you'll give us some sorto break on pricing if we do a few 2-3-4 cars together !

Much Thxx for your time

NEIL

My pleasure Neil. As far as E85, mixing in three gallons isn't an issue. I normally run 91 octane on mine with a pretty aggressive tune. It does ping a little bit which is expected (stock cars ping right out of the box). E85 will effectively raise the octane - and at the time same will require more fuel to maintain the targeted AFR. The good news is that the injectors still have plenty of room, and that the car will automatically adapt to this. So to answer your question, I do recommend mixing in 3 gallons or so of E85 where possible. After a short adaptation period, you'll notice the car will love it. I'm taking the M5 to Vegas for a conference tomorrow and am excited to put E85 in it again as they have stations all over the place. I've run up to 6 gallons of E85 in my car without any issues. I do prefer putting 100 octane in over E85 where possible, because you get the added effect of raising octane without needing more fuel volume to reach targeted fueling mixture - but E85 will do just fine in situations where this isn't possible.

And yes, to confirm, my car has never had a Drivetrain Malfunction in almost 10K miles, nor has the M5 I had prior to this one which was a 2014 with the mechanical wastegate. Any Drivetrain malfunctions would be as a result of an issue with the coil, plug, injector, or sensor, and not due to the software changes themselves.

Originally Posted by TrevorM3

Mike drills em, that is his preferred way. Puts a small cap back on to cover it. There was a thread on it somewhere, he posted pics actually.

Originally Posted by fhaze3

I too am interested in a flash, no piggys for me. I am not interested in drilling though.

Can you provide some more detail, and maybe some before and after pics of the alternative method of opening them up?

Drilling is a MUCH preferred method to opening the DME's for a number of reasons. There are capacitors, resistors, and other electrical components lining the edge of the DME, and opening them creates potential for damming these components. Not to mention that it's nearly impossible to open these without tweaking the casing slightly. Drilling is preferred because the entire seal stays intact, the ECU cover is not tweaked or bent at all, and the risk of damaging components is non-existent. On top of that, there is also epoxy on top of some of the capacitors which keep them held to the casing, and this has to be cut in order to remove the DME cover.

Drilling is much safer, and the way we do it ensures that no shavings enter the internals of the DME, as they are drilled upside down while being carefully vacuumed. At your request we can open them instead of drilling, but we strongly advise against this for safety and longevity reasons. For the drilled DME's, we have a specially designed press fit high temperature seal that will ensure the DME's stay clean and secure for years to come.

Originally Posted by kevn23

Make that traction control going off 4th at ~100mph! After topping off with another 3 gallons of 100 octane fuel to full tank. Repeatable. So either these 305 PIRELLI isn't all that great or...

I'm thinking cup 2s next.

You might have to bring it back to be detuned! Glad you're enjoying it!

[fhaze3]

Mike thank you as always for the thorough and articulate responses to questions. Sounds like upside down vacuum drilling is the safest way.

Originally Posted by Mike Benvo

Looking forward to your feedback



Thank you. I should make a tuning FAQ thread.. Perhaps when I get back in town next week.



My pleasure Neil. As far as E85, mixing in three gallons isn't an issue. I normally run 91 octane on mine with a pretty aggressive tune. It does ping a little bit which is expected (stock cars ping right out of the box). E85 will effectively raise the octane - and at the time same will require more fuel to maintain the targeted AFR. The good news is that the injectors still have plenty of room, and that the car will automatically adapt to this. So to answer your question, I do recommend mixing in 3 gallons or so of E85 where possible. After a short adaptation period, you'll notice the car will love it. I'm taking the M5 to Vegas for a conference tomorrow and am excited to put E85 in it again as they have stations all over the place. I've run up to 6 gallons of E85 in my car without any issues. I do prefer putting 100 octane in over E85 where possible, because you get the added effect of raising octane without needing more fuel volume to reach targeted fueling mixture - but E85 will do just fine in situations where this isn't possible.

And yes, to confirm, my car has never had a Drivetrain Malfunction in almost 10K miles, nor has the M5 I had prior to this one which was a 2014 with the mechanical wastegate. Any Drivetrain malfunctions would be as a result of an issue with the coil, plug, injector, or sensor, and not due to the software changes themselves.





Drilling is a MUCH preferred method to opening the DME's for a number of reasons. There are capacitors, resistors, and other electrical components lining the edge of the DME, and opening them creates potential for damming these components. Not to mention that it's nearly impossible to open these without tweaking the casing slightly. Drilling is preferred because the entire seal stays intact, the ECU cover is not tweaked or bent at all, and the risk of damaging components is non-existent. On top of that, there is also epoxy on top of some of the capacitors which keep them held to the casing, and this has to be cut in order to remove the DME cover.

Drilling is much safer, and the way we do it ensures that no shavings enter the internals of the DME, as they are drilled upside down while being carefully vacuumed. At your request we can open them instead of drilling, but we strongly advise against this for safety and longevity reasons. For the drilled DME's, we have a specially designed press fit high temperature seal that will ensure the DME's stay clean and secure for years to come.



You might have to bring it back to be detuned! Glad you're enjoying it!

[BPMSport]

Originally Posted by fhaze3

Mike thank you as always for the thorough and articulate responses to questions. Sounds like upside down vacuum drilling is the safest way.

My pleasure! If anyone has any questions please feel free to let me know. A few people will be getting their DMEs back soon so hopefully they chime in.

[Lerxst M4]

Originally Posted by Mike Benvo

My pleasure! If anyone has any questions please feel free to let me know. A few people will be getting their DMEs back soon so hopefully they chime in.

Mike, do you have any packing tips once they're removed for shipping - bubble wrap or anything you recommend to keep them intact? Blue tape maybe covering the connectors?

[m5 guy]

This is definitely tempting. Subscribed for more reviews. Still breaking in the beast so I figure I still have some time to research lol...

[boots]

Chris this going to make for good competition here. Congrats

[Lerxst M4]

Originally Posted by boots

Chris this going to make for good competition here. Congrats

haha...still a month or so away brother, but it's going to happen.

Country Run here I come.

[boots]

Yea you've missed lots of runs man. But u need no tune to go on it