[gravediggingaditch]

I have had my e92 for 4 months and am considering an upgrade . . . .
Now, to preface, I have purchased my car and did so with the intention of keeping it for 6 years and making the most of my warranty. That being said, my warranty is what I am most concerned with - I don't want to risk damaging my car, hurt it, damage it, stress it, etc and on top of that, not have a warranty when an issue arises. This is the reason I am thinking about the options listed above in this poll.

a) Leave it alone. This is without a doubt my safest move. I am also happy with it as it requires $0.

b) Split Second Turbo Tuner. The safest of the engine upgrades from my research. The gains are also somewhat minimal compared to others in the same ballpark. I am worried about screwing up the car and possibly losing my warranty with something going wrong.

c) Dinan Stage 2. Obviously most expensive but comes with a warranty. Problem will be years 4 - 6. Which from what I hear, BMW will not give me an extended warranty on the car if I have Dinan done.

thoughts and advice are greatly appreciated. Just looking to get some input from people with greater knowledge so if you care to share your opinion, please provide me with some support as to why you think option x is the best route. If you've got an opinion on the JB3 or something else - please let me know why you think that would fit my situation.

Thanks !!!

[E92Pilot]

JB3.................

[scottp999]

Vishnu V3 or JB3. With plug and play you can get them in and out in 30 minutes or less. They are still invisible to BMW.

[Zeph]

SSTT as it is completely stealthed to the big brother monitoring tattle-tells, plus only takes about a minute to install/remove for service. This is important because if you "blow up" or just "die" driving down the road and have to call a tow truck, you can remove it very very easily while waiting (just keep a couple of guitar picks in your car).

BMW gets to pay for towing, repair, etc. you just throw it in your pocket and get a rental or loaner.

Plus I personally agree it is safest... it doesn't try to tune (or over-tune) your car it just basically tricks the ECU into TUNING ITSELF into higher boost mode to make up for high altitude and crappy air.

Plus it is not pushing 15psi like some tunes, it has been written/said by some tuning companies that anything over 14psi is beyond efficiency range for our turbos. This is important especially if you plan to keep the car and longevity is important.

I am not bashing any other tunes, but these are the types of "bonuses" from a SSTT that appeal to me since I do want to keep my warranty and reliability but still enjoy a little more power. Plus with these fuel pump and wastegate issues CONSTANTLY causing problems, I don't want to get crazy on the modding until this stuff is first properly recitified by BMW. Just doesn't seem to smart to me to void a warranty on a car that really has been a bit of a ticking timebomb up to this point.

SSTT is fairly cheap too.

[ATSR]

Originally Posted by scottp999

Vishnu V3 or JB3. With plug and play you can get them in and out in 30 minutes or less. They are still invisible to BMW.

+1

Didn't vote because you should go for Procede V3 or JB3.

EDIT: Ok, came back and voted for SSTT but I still think you should get V3 or JB3

[ArmyBimmerDude]

Turbo tuner. You don't seem like the kind of person that wants to get into an ECU box and deal with the wiring. That and it's a 5 min, simple job with the SSTT that give you a nice power boost.

[stock335]

JB3. I am in the same boat. I am going with the JB3, making sure that my ecu is not updated, and removing it before I go into the dealership. Seems like the best of both worlds to me.

[Makushr1]

I voted for SSTT, but I'd get exhaust first.

[Dr_Dirt]

Any word on the Sharkedit?

[ArmyBimmerDude]

Originally Posted by Dr_Dirt

Any word on the Sharkedit?

All the Jim Conforti followers are still waiting for their product. If I remember right, it was supposed to be realized in the summer....maybe he meant 2009?

[Tuned335i]

If the OP isn't comfortable with the level of difficulty of a JB3/V3, I think the Sharkedit is out of his league also. IMO, once you start down the road to the Dark Side (modding) there're no turning back. You might not think you're going to want an intake/exhaust/FMIC/etc now, but that will change. The best option may be to leave it stock. No matter how much power you have, you'll get used to it and want more.

[gravediggingaditch]

Thank you all - and please keep the comments coming - Its very informative.

Originally Posted by Makushr1

I voted for SSTT, but I'd get exhaust first.

Why ??

Originally Posted by ArmyBimmerDude

Turbo tuner. You don't seem like the kind of person that wants to get into an ECU box and deal with the wiring. That and it's a 5 min, simple job with the SSTT that give you a nice power boost.

Originally Posted by Tuned335i

If the OP isn't comfortable with the level of difficulty of a JB3/V3, I think the Sharkedit is out of his league also. IMO, once you start down the road to the Dark Side (modding) there're no turning back. You might not think you're going to want an intake/exhaust/FMIC/etc now, but that will change. The best option may be to leave it stock. No matter how much power you have, you'll get used to it and want more.

You are both right on - unless i go with the Dinan - I would like to stay away from any chips that I can't do/undo with a flick of the wrist if I die on the freeway etc. (Is that a risk with the SSTT?) I thought about the JB3 or V3 but to me, its just not worth the risk - I don't want to have to mess with the wiring of the car . . . and have to remove a bunch of parts.


What's the Shark-edit? (Yes - probably out of my league but I like knowing).

[gravediggingaditch]

I guess the SSTT isn't as perfect as I initially thought either --> http://www.e90post.com/forums/showthread.php?t=176348

[ar design]

Our 3" downpipes + a tune!

[gravediggingaditch]

Any other thoughts?

[RMA]

SSTT

[ar design]

Originally Posted by gravediggingaditch

Any other thoughts?

I'd say neither - either the new Vishnu Rev II race or a JB3.....

[luca335i]

sstt seems like a good choice but all the pnp options are making it alot easier.

[bootay]

JB3 using the low-boost map (~13psi max boost).
EASY to install (you could pay someone $50 to do it for you), EASY to remove if necessary, insanely good power, no abnormal stuff goes on with it, fully dynamic so you don't have to monkey with it at all.

SSTT isn't worth the time compared to the other more modern tunes, Dinan is too expensive and still has warranty concerns, and V3 just seems more complex than you'd ideally want given your statements.

The group buy on the JB3 right now is insane too - $379 and you're good.

[munters]

For towing reason sstt.
Otherwise V3 (As "easy" to install like the JB3 but programmable.) and programm it for the level of power you want. You have it in your hands how much power you want to produce and when.
Means you put your safety factor in it.

[Sniz]

get a JB3 or V3 PnP...you wont be sorry.

[absix]

Originally Posted by Sniz

get a JB3 or V3 PnP...you wont be sorry.

+1

My main concern is warranty as well, but those tunes are too good to be detected