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      04-25-2014, 10:14 AM   #1
joshbromberg
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228i Tuners

does anyone plan on tuning their 228i or already done it? it is a brand new car so there aren't many tuners out there so i was interested in how it turned out and how much power you're getting. i plan to tune my 228i and was just looking for some advice.
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      04-25-2014, 11:29 AM   #2
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jb4..
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      04-26-2014, 03:14 PM   #3
843two
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I plan on going JB4 over the summer. Seems like the best option by a long shot.
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      05-20-2014, 09:38 AM   #4
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Is anyone worried about it being detectable by BMW? Maybe not dealerships, but BMW NA in the event of some major engine warranty work?

The cost vs benefit of JB4 is extremely tempting unless it could lead to being denied for the most costly of warranty repairs.
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      05-20-2014, 05:09 PM   #5
ryancolucci
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Quote:
Originally Posted by G228msport View Post
I did stage 1 jb4. Pretty awesome indeed
Initially I was dead set on doing a stage 1 jb4 however after reading a few of the recent articles I'm sort of confused. JB claims this tuner increases 0-60 times from 5.4 to 4.9 however Car and Driver's recent article claimed to get 4.9 from stock. Edmunds recent review claimed to get 5.1 from stock. So my question is are the gains that JB claims due to the tune or simple a result of BMW underrating their engine? G228 since you have actually installed the tune can you give me your before/after perspective?

Thanks!
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      05-21-2014, 08:25 AM   #6
ryancolucci
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Quote:
Originally Posted by G228msport View Post
If I remember correctly those 0-60 claims are for the f30. I also remember reading somewhere that "although the tune is good, 5.4 to 4.9 might be a stretch.." That's just from someones post so I have no way to be able to verify or deny that without concrete evidence. Our car however, is lighter so the tune Will show greater gains (than the f30) and it might be possible to get a gain of .5 seconds off 0-60. To be honest I never track my car nor do 0-60 / 1/4 mile times. So everything I go off of is my buttdyno. And as far as posted 0-60 times go..... (and 1/4 times) they are not the best indicators of speed. Even in well known magazines like C&D and R&T. Most of those 0-60/1/4 times are estimates and/or calculated/adjusted for certain conditions. Simply put they are not completely accurate. Not many people seem to know that. The only Real number is a cars trap speed. Or the speed at which the car reaches at the 1/4 mile. So personally I try not to get hung up on that stuff. I digress...

On to the tune.. I've had my car for about a month. I have the 6 speed and I love it! I drive mostly in Sport+. The car has always felt fast and has great pick up. Before the tune gear 1...well, literally was just to get the car moving. I'm not even sure if the turbo kicked in much at all. In fact I would often shift early so that I could get into 2nd. In 2nd the car would come alive and even more so in 3rd and up. I was however babying the car so although I stand by my statement it might have been pronounced by my light[er] foot.

After the tune..NICE lol. The car definitely wakes up in all gears. First gear is actually useful for sprinting as fast as you can. If you mash on it in 2nd it'll snap your neck. I'm not saying before the tune it wouldn't but it is definitely much more pronounced now. From what I can figure (and from the company's claim) the turbo kicks in sooner with more boost. Pretty simple. It feels like the power is more readily awaiting your foot at a lower RPM. The throttle response is better too. But you will have to get used to the extra push otherwise you'll start to take off when you didn't want to. (Turbos ha) The power band is still very smooth though, just like stock. Also a nice bonus is the engine is a tad louder! As is the blow off valve. Nothing crazy though, probably noticed by a trained ear. I've had zero issues with the tune so far. As long as it keeps it up, it'll do exactly what I wanted. Add some nice power with no fuss. Instillation is easy. The clips are a little tight though so be careful with taking those off not to yank the wires or damage the sensors. Anyone with common sense should be able to handle it =).

Does the tune add around 21hp and 40lbs torque? From what I can "feel" I'd say so yes. Is it worth the money? Definitely. I was a little nervous putting that thing on my brand new car but I have no regrets after the fact. I probably read every post out there on these tunes and people seem to have zero problems. With the tune the car feels like the fastest car on the road, or maybe that's just my pride in my car =)
Thanks for the thorough write-up. Now that i think about it, I think i may have read somewhere too that JB's figures were based on the F30. In any event ive been looking all over for a first hand review of the tune on a 228i so thanks! I think you've convinced me it will be worth it, not that I really needed any convincing . Just curious, you said you've only had your car about a month, how long did you wait to install the tune? Should be receiving my car very shortly and curious as to the breakin period and how long i should wait. Also from what i understand there is an adjustment on the tune that allows you to adjust the boost? Do you keeps yours at the default setting?
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      05-21-2014, 07:59 PM   #7
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Quote:
Originally Posted by ryancolucci View Post
Initially I was dead set on doing a stage 1 jb4 however after reading a few of the recent articles I'm sort of confused. JB claims this tuner increases 0-60 times from 5.4 to 4.9 however Car and Driver's recent article claimed to get 4.9 from stock. Edmunds recent review claimed to get 5.1 from stock. So my question is are the gains that JB claims due to the tune or simple a result of BMW underrating their engine? G228 since you have actually installed the tune can you give me your before/after perspective?

Thanks!
Motor Trend just posted 5 seconds flat in their review too.
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      05-30-2014, 01:57 PM   #8
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Quote:
Originally Posted by G228msport View Post
I did stage 1 jb4. Pretty awesome indeed
Was it an easy install? How long did it take you?
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      05-30-2014, 02:08 PM   #9
ryancolucci
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There's an install guide on the website. Looks farily straightforward

http://burgertuning.com/N20_BMW_performance_Tuner.html
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      06-06-2014, 05:54 PM   #10
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Quote:
Originally Posted by G228msport View Post
I did stage 1 jb4. Pretty awesome indeed
Would installing stage 1 jb4 affect your fuel consumption a bunch? When driving civilized of course.
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      06-06-2014, 08:01 PM   #11
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I'm sure if it works like most other tunes, as long as you stay out of boost you should get the same MPGs.
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      06-16-2014, 10:06 AM   #12
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4.9 was car and driver 228 automatic
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Save The Manuals!!!
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      06-18-2014, 09:57 AM   #13
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Quote:
Originally Posted by G228msport View Post
I did stage 1 jb4. Pretty awesome indeed
I'm really considering the full JB4 upgrade, I really do hope its compatible..
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      06-18-2014, 08:56 PM   #14
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I wish they made a plug and play version like they had for the N54. You could hook it up in less than a minute once you knew where it went. Never had the dealer detect or say anything. That being said, I asked the GM of the dealership about a tune on my M235 and he said it could void the warranty.
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      06-19-2014, 01:05 PM   #15
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I've heard some people say 30 minutes. Why does it have about 6 connections and yet some people have mentioned you don't need to connect them all. The plug and play I referred to on the Burger website is one connection, they refer to it as Plug and Play and it's around $300 not the JB4 at around $600.
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      06-22-2014, 02:17 PM   #16
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Last sentence on the JB4 description: "During closed course GPS VBOX testing our 2012 F30 328i 0-60 times improved from 5.4 seconds to an incredible 4.9 seconds!"
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      06-22-2014, 04:43 PM   #17
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Lucky13 View Post
I've heard some people say 30 minutes. Why does it have about 6 connections and yet some people have mentioned you don't need to connect them all. The plug and play I referred to on the Burger website is one connection, they refer to it as Plug and Play and it's around $300 not the JB4 at around $600.
The only one ive seen for the 228 on burger website has i think 4 connections and its $379. Not sure which tune you're possibly referring to.
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      06-22-2014, 07:11 PM   #18
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Must be some kind of new math, it shows 9 plugs. 1 vs 9 I'd prefer one referencing the N54.
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      06-23-2014, 07:53 PM   #19
ryancolucci
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Just ordered mine, will report back once i get it installed!
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      06-25-2014, 10:57 AM   #20
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So what are everyone's numbers so far with the tune?
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      06-28-2014, 09:08 AM   #21
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I have a buddy that keeps warning me about the Jb4 or other "piggy backs", what is the concern that people have with these compared to a flash?
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      06-28-2014, 03:29 PM   #22
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Quote:
Originally Posted by G228msport View Post
I think we should ask you. What does your buddy warn you about specifically? I haven't found any evidence of problems from online. That's not to say there aren't any but still. Please elaborate.
Essentially he's stating that since the "piggy back" is "tricking" the ECU to perform a certain way that it is very risky on the motor, and the high risk of it voiding the warranty if it does affect the motor and dealerships have to tap into ECU to see any issues.

In addition to my previous question, could you answer this for me? Does the JB4 fix the CEL for a downpipe?
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