[proveg]

Little over a day ago I installed racechip from r33_RGSport onto my G05 40i now that I have gone through breaking period.
I must say, I am impressed. I will write up my thoughts later today, but it feels like the beast can still be awoken.
Some photos and non scientific review is coming.

[Jrunr]

Sounds good. Definitely looking to hear more about this in detail!!

[rmorin1249]

Does this void the OEM warranty?

[mikenyc]

[QUOTE=proveg;24300548]Little over a day ago I installed racechip from r33_RGSport onto my G05 40i now that I have gone through breaking period.
I must say, I am impressed. I will write up my thoughts later today, but it feels like the beast can still be awoken.
Some photos and non scientific review is coming.[/Q

we need all details

[ven7782]

Pardon my ignorance but what is a racechip? Is it some kind of performance tuning? And what are you trying to show in the pic?

[verruckt]

Originally Posted by rmorin1249

Does this void the OEM warranty?

Of course.

[Ilyam5]

My only advise on the B58 engine - replace the charge Pipe immediately. Google - charge pipe on B58 engine

look at IND or EMS shops to get metal charge pipe.
I blew mine off just driving stock 440 aggressively. not a huge deal - you can clamp in back on but it also cracks and will blow off again/

[proveg]

This review is for the GTS Black version with Bluetooth control.
US version claims increase of 60HP and 73LB. Claimed improvement of 20% MPG

This mod is likely going to void warranty on your vehicle just like any other modification you will install on your vehicle such as hard wire radar detector or dash cam, install non OEM wheels or spacers, change oil that is BMW approved, etc. so if you are concerned about warranty, do not consider this or possibly another mod.

Reason to order: I felt that the vehicle is an improvement over F15 although having driven friends F16 50i, I had a craving for a bit more.

Order: From the time of order, the Racehip arrived via UPS under a week across the states.

Documentation: RG Sport has plenty of documentation to simplify and explain the installation with some images and guides, examples of clips, etc. I believe they are working on improving and streamlining the documentation in a better cohesive single document.

Installation: (as you start, I had to unlock the hood and bring the key out of the range so the vehicle would not enable electrical system). Using documentation install is very simple and the hardest part other than figuring out which connectors are the ones that need to be inter-connectors is to wiggle out and unplug OEM from their own sensors. Remove the tab and connect the harness, GTS Black had A, B and C cables that need to be connected. Some connectors took some effort and persistence to pull out due to how rubber seals and/or vacuum was created inside. After all 3 were interfaced, the Chip was plugged in, tested as per instructions, tidied up the wires hid the chip out of the way and closed the hood. (While making sure I can connect with Bluetooth via iPhone. I have not tested Android phone yet)
Its installed out of the way and would in most scenarios not be visible by anyone doing regular service unless they are looking to troubleshoot some engine issue.

Immediate reaction: Went on a short ride and definitely felt the improvement in "race" mode for throttle and HP response from start and while going at speed.

The App: (fell a bit short of expectations) While chip is advertised to have 7 settings available, the app only allows to have total of 4 settings. Economy, Sport and Race modes in addition to off. There is also a warm-up timer which does not know if you are starting the car warm or not so each time you start the car, the timer starts although you can easily bypass it. What ever setting you left on through the app, it stays for the next start until you launch the app again and change settings. In order to get all 7 modes you would need to get an extra XLR which increases cost and makes the installation a bit longer having to run wires from engine compartment into the passenger/driver area.
To be honest, I find that I will be using Off or sport for most of the time and when I am really hungry for power, I will use the Race mode.

First road trip with the Racechip: With perfect timing I had gone on a 200 mile trip and experimented with sport and race modes within the app on the way there.
When switched to ether modes, Sport improves on throttle response and provides power quickly when you press the pedal. Race, if you accelerate, you feel a significant bump in power and while I dont think I felt as much power as my friends F16 with 8 cylinder, it was very close to it. Accelerating in Sport mode (BMW) and Race mode (Raceship) put a huge grin on my face. The power is felt gradually as you increase speed and the feeling of the engine seems as I can call looser, kind of a difference of another kick of a difference from changing from comfort mode to sport. Imagine having "race" mode added from BMW.
Please keep in mind, racechip works and affects similar to all modes you have enabled on your car, so if you have Economy(BMW) and Race (Chip) your throttle response is opened up, although obviously best felt Sport or Sport+ (BMW) and Race (Chip)
This is all non scientific and I am explaining my feeling as well as my friend who was also in the passenger seat.
On the way back, I wanted to experiment with Economy option and see if the performance would add anything. I was disappointed since when race chip was enabled, my MPG (non scientific test) within the vehicle started to dip whichever mode I was running, once I have turned off the chip, the MPG started to climb. One major note, I was averaging 75MPH which is not optimal for economy in the first place.
I did not have the time and patience to drive slower since the day was ending and needed to get home.

Notes: It seems that general cruising is a bit louder with Racechip enabled and X5 is purring a bit more than with it being off.

Final thoughts: My plan to use have it in OFF on daily commute, on in Sport mode for some of the trips and race when I feel a bit bored because it really loosens the engine response by a large margin.
I will see if there is a way to Dyno the X5 with it now, not sure if its worth the investment nor do I even know what the costs are. For now my feeling that it adds a whole lot of fun to driving this heavy SUV without having to buy the 8 cylinder version.
Having initial feel that economy is not improved is a mild disappointment, although who are we fooling here, we know that this was an add-on for fun and not to improve gas mileage.

[proveg]

Originally Posted by ven7782

Pardon my ignorance but what is a racechip? Is it some kind of performance tuning? And what are you trying to show in the pic?

The photo shows that I just ended the break-in mileage.
BMW recommends to keep under 4K RPM until you drive for 1200 miles

[mikenyc]

Originally Posted by proveg

The photo shows that I just ended the break-in mileage.
BMW recommends to keep under 4K RPM until you drive for 1200 miles

try to use a race-logic or BMW M Laptimer app for 0-60 stats on a good 95 gas

[proveg]

Originally Posted by Ilyam5

My only advise on the B58 engine - replace the charge Pipe immediately. Google - charge pipe on B58 engine

look at IND or EMS shops to get metal charge pipe.
I blew mine off just driving stock 440 aggressively. not a huge deal - you can clamp in back on but it also cracks and will blow off again/

Thanksf or the advise, so far google tells me that with B58 its no longer an issue

[Ilyam5]

Hmm interesting.... i would still keep an eye on it. My friend's 540 blew off - he had it reattached by dealer...stock car.

https://www.ftpmotorsport.com.tw/pro...0t-charge-pipe

[bichoo]

Thank you for your detailed review of the Racechip.

I'm curious to know how it felt in Sport mode as I would plan to always keep it on this setting. Is it smooth enough to keep it in this setting (So Sport mode Racechip and Comfort BMW)? Was the power delivery across the RPM range similar to stock and just a liner increase? Was there any jerkiness felt in terms of hard down/upshifts or the accelerator being overly sensitive (like in sport+ mode).
thanks

[r33_RGSport]

proveg , thank you for your quick and honest feedback on the RaceChip.

I hope you don't mind for me to add and clarify.

- RaceChip XLR is a gas pedal / throttle tuner, it will change the reaction time of your gas pedal from Efficiency+, Efficiency, Normal, Sport, Sport+, Race, Race+.
It doesn't connect to the RaceChip Power Module itself. It intercepts the gas pedal sensor to a separate module. So, no wire need to go through the firewall.

- For Ilyam5 Chargepipe concern, on the B38/B48/B58 motors, the chargepipe is strong and solid enough. I've been using RaceChip GTS Black on my G30 540i B58 motor with Race setting for 2 years now.
Unlike the previous N20/N26, N54, N55, S55 motors, the B series motor uses thicker plastic pipe and bolt on flange.
Some companies made the upgraded chargepipe, but so far I haven't seen them failing yet.

- Mapping. With App function, you will still get 7 different map, except the maps is pre-assigned from the backend server.
By default, here are the map assigned per mode.
Efficiency - Map 2
Sport - Map 5
Race - Map 6

While without App function, you can choose manually by pressing the external +/- button on the module itself. The option will be from 0 to 7 with 5 as default.

With that saying, I will need @proveg to let me know when you are ready for me to up the map on Race mode from 6 to 7.

[ssadri]

Thank you for the detailed review proveg
I am curious to know, when in "Race" and or in Sport+ mode with the chip enabled, did you notice a much different engine and exhaust note?

[proveg]

Originally Posted by bichoo

Thank you for your detailed review of the Racechip.

I'm curious to know how it felt in Sport mode as I would plan to always keep it on this setting. Is it smooth enough to keep it in this setting (So Sport mode Racechip and Comfort BMW)? Was the power delivery across the RPM range similar to stock and just a liner increase? Was there any jerkiness felt in terms of hard down/upshifts or the accelerator being overly sensitive (like in sport+ mode).
thanks

I think we have to primarily say thank you for BMW engineers on designing and putting in the amazing 8 gear transmission into the vehicle. With this race chip, the up and down shifting was very smooth to a point of you hearing the change in the throttle but not feeling any jerkiness and especially downshifts were a pleasant and well received surprise, sound wise felt like you are in an M car at the same time it felt similar to a single speed transmission.
Hopefully this feeling of my X's performance will stay

[proveg]

Originally Posted by r33_RGSport

proveg , thank you for your quick and honest feedback on the RaceChip.

I hope you don't mind for me to add and clarify.

- RaceChip XLR is a gas pedal / throttle tuner, it will change the reaction time of your gas pedal from Efficiency+, Efficiency, Normal, Sport, Sport+, Race, Race+.
It doesn't connect to the RaceChip Power Module itself. It intercepts the gas pedal sensor to a separate module. So, no wire need to go through the firewall.

- For Ilyam5 Chargepipe concern, on the B38/B48/B58 motors, the chargepipe is strong and solid enough. I've been using RaceChip GTS Black on my G30 540i B58 motor with Race setting for 2 years now.
Unlike the previous N20/N26, N54, N55, S55 motors, the B series motor uses thicker plastic pipe and bolt on flange.
Some companies made the upgraded chargepipe, but so far I haven't seen them failing yet.

- Mapping. With App function, you will still get 7 different map, except the maps is pre-assigned from the backend server.
By default, here are the map assigned per mode.
Efficiency - Map 2
Sport - Map 5
Race - Map 6

While without App function, you can choose manually by pressing the external +/- button on the module itself. The option will be from 0 to 7 with 5 as default.

With that saying, I will need @proveg to let me know when you are ready for me to up the map on Race mode from 6 to 7.

Thanks, I guess I stumbled on some video online explaining XLR how it has to go through firewall or I may have mixed it up with another tuner add-on. Still, for my use, I am not too concerned for it.
As for the change from 6 to 7, damn, let me ride some more before I decide to make this call. It is tempting to see that there is one more click reserved that I have not tapped.

[AndroidRobot]

Originally Posted by Ilyam5

My only advise on the B58 engine - replace the charge Pipe immediately. Google - charge pipe on B58 engine

look at IND or EMS shops to get metal charge pipe.
I blew mine off just driving stock 440 aggressively. not a huge deal - you can clamp in back on but it also cracks and will blow off again/

What? I had an X3 M40i with the higher output B58 355Hp/369lb-ft and hammered that engine daily. I never had even the slightest issue even with hard launches

[proveg]

Originally Posted by ssadri

Thank you for the detailed review proveg
I am curious to know, when in "Race" and or in Sport+ mode with the chip enabled, did you notice a much different engine and exhaust note?

It seems to me that vehicle has a bit deeper sound, not by much.
Please keep in mind, mine has a flap permanently open.

[proveg]

Originally Posted by mikenyc

try to use a race-logic or BMW M Laptimer app for 0-60 stats on a good 95 gas

Doesn't look like Laptimer works any longer. Maybe you can give me tips.
I will take a look at vbox by racelogic and see if it makes any sense.

[r33_RGSport]

Originally Posted by proveg

Doesn't look like Laptimer works any longer. Maybe you can give me tips.
I will take a look at vbox by racelogic and see if it makes any sense.

Use Dragy.
This is what everyone use now.
Even guys in F90 M5 sub-forum who has VBOX switched to Dragy.

dragy 10Hz GPS Based Performance Meter https://www.amazon.com/dp/B077KKPMTB..._tsiuCbGVB6QFH

[proveg]

Originally Posted by r33_RGSport

Use Dragy.
This is what everyone use now.
Even guys in F90 M5 sub-forum who has VBOX switched to Dragy.

dragy 10Hz GPS Based Performance Meter https://www.amazon.com/dp/B077KKPMTB..._tsiuCbGVB6QFH

Thanks, please ship one to my house I will gladly supply numbers gathered since I am first one to have racechip in G05