BimmerRob08 wrote Thanks fella's for the replies. I should have stated also that my BMW dealer here in Albuquerque is also a DINAN dealer and installed my DINAN STG II software. So if I stay with DINAN, I'll get them to flash with the latest BMW software and then they'll re-download and tune my DINAN II software. If I decide to go with Mike's tune, then I'll have him do it.
But overall my question was if I stay with DINAN, will the latest BMW software perform better overall? IOW, am I going to even feel/realize there is a new software update and better performance?
Cheers,
Any time man! The beauty of the forum is being able to share difference of opinions, hopefully in a respectful manner.
I personally think, from my own experience, that you would only benefit if you have a much older software version. Your dealer should be able to help if you inquire about it. Pending that result, then I would ask DINAN if they can offer some sort of update. From my experience, I never felt a difference as I had my dealer update my software revision. When I first got my E90 M3 in 08.2009, I did have a DCT issue. My dealer update my MSS60 and GS40 to BMW's latest revision at the time. Even then, I only felt a difference with the DCT, not motor.
Otherwise, if you feel the necessity to spend money on a whole new tune, there are lots of forum sponsors to choose from.
Mike Benvo wrote Being that he has a 2008, depending on when he purchased his DINAN flash, he's probably still on older software. I don't think they update your software version but rather tune you on the version you are on - but you would have to defer to DINAN for this.
Agreed. Chatting with DINAN is probably best.
Mike Benvo wrote I had a customer tuned by us on 240E that had an aggressive DINAN diff and the DCT was acting weird. Dinan Claimed they could fix it. The DME was sent off, and the problems were worse upon re-installation. He brought the car back for us to tune it again, and we had to update it to 240E as DINAN had downgraded the software to 231E (presumably because their latest tuned software is 231E).
Great to know your client's car got sorted out. I'd imagine that to be rather frustrating.
Mike Benvo wrote There are many tuners on here that have R&D's their tune on the street and track, employing datalogging. An in house dyno is not relevant - a dyno is a dyno and it doesn't matter where it is located as long as you make valid comparisons.
In my humble opinion, from the perspective as a consumer and car enthusiast, I personally would never call an in-house dyno as irrelevant. Please understand that I don't have much first hand experience tuning cars, calibrating DMEs, or being a professional tuner. But throughout my many years in the car community, whether it be Domestic, Import, and European, EVERY single tuner I met has always expressed to me how crucial having an in-house dyno can be for development.
By no means belittling the fact that anyone can rent a dyno, but it just seems much more convenient and time worthy for a specialized expert to invest in a dyno for their own product development even with how expensive they are. Having access to control parameters in a controlled environment, gives an individual the clear opportunity to focus on tuning calibration. No worry about variance on the street or track environment. Eliminates some of the weather conditions (snow, rain, etc). No worry about rental rates or time restrictions of another party's facility.
The way I see it, and I'm just one opinion out of the billions in the world, is that having focussed attention and near unlimited utilization of a dyno is part of the equation of developing a solid tune. When tuners start calibrating multiple different platforms, it just seems financially wiser to have in-house dyno rather than renting one out every single time.
I'm not saying that a tuner without a dyno is a bad tuner. I'm not saying that a tuner with a dyno is always going to be the better tuner. But as a consumer, I just personally see it to be more ideal when a good tuner has an in-house dyno for their own development and research. Although I understand, that there are some who just choose to go a different route. For many of our minds, ECU/DME Tuning and Dynoing just go so hand-in-hand, of course along with street/track development.
