Autoblog.com article about 29.2 and our frustration!

tek818 · 08-22-2008, 12:47 PM

http://www.autoblog.com/2008/08/22/b...s-performance/

Posted Aug 22nd 2008 1:27PM by Merritt Johnson
Filed under: Maintenance, BMW

BMW's N54 engine has won the International Engine of the Year award for the past two straight years. It has also been listed as one of Ward's 10 Best Engines during the same period. The engine produces 306 hp and 295 ft-lbs of torque in a 3.0L inline six package thanks to the use of twin Mitsubishi turbochargers and direct injection. The N54's quick response and smooth torque curve has been an attraction for many enthusiasts, including myself - I call my Montego Blue coupe the turbo Cookie Monster. That is why a few BMW 335i owners are miffed by a feeling of reduced performance after a recent service update. Posters on the BMW forum e90post.com claim that a software update to adjust rattling wastegate valves has induced lag into the turbochargers that wasn't there before.

As illustrated in the gallery below, the N54 turbochargers differ from most setups in that the wastegates default to the open position. This allows for better emissions due to the ability of the exhaust gas to bypass the turbochargers on start up so the catalytic converters can heat up faster. It certainly follows suit that BMW has the ability to adjust the ECU settings in order to hold those wastegates open, thus altering the turbochargers' peak boost point and adding to the perception of lag. Currently all performance degradation discussion has been based on seat of the pants feel, along with increased exhaust noise and fuel consumption. Despite the claims, BMW North America and service centers have, thus far, found no critical issue with the new settings. If owners want to present true evidence, they should use a simple OBD scanner device to data log the manifold pressure or simply run a dyno comparison test. Thanks for the tip everyone!

Bubbles · 08-22-2008, 01:09 PM

Wow, very nice! Where there is smoke........

Manboy · 08-22-2008, 01:23 PM

FINALLY!!!

tek818 · 08-22-2008, 02:13 PM

get your comments in there!

ezatnova · 08-22-2008, 02:22 PM

Cool!

Tobias1980 · 08-22-2008, 02:32 PM

The ball has started the roll for real now!

Thanks guys for all your efforts with this BMW scam!

2point3 · 08-22-2008, 03:17 PM

Scam?

slubu · 08-22-2008, 03:28 PM

This is pretty sweet. How well known is autoblog? Just curious what type of audience we are reaching here...

swifty · 08-22-2008, 03:33 PM

autoblog is very well known...wen a blog gets to review bentleys and ZR1s then its up there as far reach is concerened...

my only question concerning this update is how do you know if BMW has already done this to my car...can you ask them to send a history..i'm giving my car in on tuesday for trunk issues and they want to keep it for the whole day..pls let advise.

Kerosene Hat · 08-22-2008, 03:37 PM

NICE

Now we need those before & after dynos for stock vehicles:

MSD80: pre and post 29.2

MSD81

Let's see those graphs, fellas!

Zeph · 08-22-2008, 03:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kerosene Hat

NICE

Now we need those before & after dynos for stock vehicles:

MSD80: pre and post 29.2

MSD81: pre and post 29.2

Let's see those graphs, fellas!

Did they release MSD81's pre 29.2?

ezatnova · 08-22-2008, 03:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Zeph

Did they release MSD81's pre 29.2?

Nope.

ezatnova · 08-22-2008, 03:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 2point3

Scam?

+1000

bait and switch scam!

Kerosene Hat · 08-22-2008, 04:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Zeph

Did they release MSD81's pre 29.2?

Damn fingers working faster than brain...

Zeph · 08-22-2008, 04:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kerosene Hat

Damn fingers working faster than brain...

hehe, sorry not trying to bust your balls

I was just making sure

OBI_agent · 08-22-2008, 05:43 PM

Awesome....autoblog is listening

tyler9595 · 08-22-2008, 05:59 PM

that's sweet! its about time we got some press!

holo777 · 08-22-2008, 07:08 PM

I've got an OBDII Scanner that I'm going to play with over the weekend. I have a 135i that is a May Build Date, so I'm pretty sure I have 29.2. I'm going to look at Manifold Pressure vs. RPM vs. Throttle position vs. Barometric pressure. If someone has a pre 29.2 car and a logger let us know so we can see what's different.

If we can get a proof ready that might give Autoblog a reason to Update and bump it back to the top!

BzzzBom · 08-22-2008, 07:18 PM

Try autospies as well.

RBBMWE46M3 · 08-22-2008, 07:50 PM

Sweet...I hope BMW sees this

Someone needs to forward this to BMWNA

ezatnova · 08-25-2008, 02:43 PM

bump - get those comments posted!

chinoxs203 · 08-25-2008, 06:15 PM

great! i was extremely disappointed when i bought my 08 march 335 to have such LAAGG

08-22-2008, 12:47 PM	#1
tek818 Lieutenant Colonel 137 Rep 1,954 Posts Drives: 2020 X3M Competition Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Los Angeles, CA iTrader: (2) Garage List 2018 M3 ZCP [9.50]	Autoblog.com article about 29.2 and our frustration! http://www.autoblog.com/2008/08/22/b...s-performance/ Posted Aug 22nd 2008 1:27PM by Merritt Johnson Filed under: Maintenance, BMW BMW's N54 engine has won the International Engine of the Year award for the past two straight years. It has also been listed as one of Ward's 10 Best Engines during the same period. The engine produces 306 hp and 295 ft-lbs of torque in a 3.0L inline six package thanks to the use of twin Mitsubishi turbochargers and direct injection. The N54's quick response and smooth torque curve has been an attraction for many enthusiasts, including myself - I call my Montego Blue coupe the turbo Cookie Monster. That is why a few BMW 335i owners are miffed by a feeling of reduced performance after a recent service update. Posters on the BMW forum e90post.com claim that a software update to adjust rattling wastegate valves has induced lag into the turbochargers that wasn't there before. As illustrated in the gallery below, the N54 turbochargers differ from most setups in that the wastegates default to the open position. This allows for better emissions due to the ability of the exhaust gas to bypass the turbochargers on start up so the catalytic converters can heat up faster. It certainly follows suit that BMW has the ability to adjust the ECU settings in order to hold those wastegates open, thus altering the turbochargers' peak boost point and adding to the perception of lag. Currently all performance degradation discussion has been based on seat of the pants feel, along with increased exhaust noise and fuel consumption. Despite the claims, BMW North America and service centers have, thus far, found no critical issue with the new settings. If owners want to present true evidence, they should use a simple OBD scanner device to data log the manifold pressure or simply run a dyno comparison test. Thanks for the tip everyone! __________________ 2020 F97 X3M Competition (current) - 2018 F80 M3 Competition - 2015 F82 M4 - 2012 E82 135i - 2010 E92 335i - 2007 E92 335i Last edited by tek818; 08-22-2008 at 01:11 PM..
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08-22-2008, 01:09 PM	#2
Bubbles Brigadier General 2757 Rep 4,445 Posts Drives: Green Bastard Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Bishop Bend iTrader: (3)	Wow, very nice! Where there is smoke........ __________________
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08-22-2008, 01:23 PM	#3
Manboy Captain 448 Rep 849 Posts Drives: 2020 M135i Misano Blue Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Sweden iTrader: (0)	FINALLY!!!
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08-22-2008, 02:13 PM	#4
tek818 Lieutenant Colonel 137 Rep 1,954 Posts Drives: 2020 X3M Competition Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Los Angeles, CA iTrader: (2) Garage List 2018 M3 ZCP [9.50]	get your comments in there! __________________ 2020 F97 X3M Competition (current) - 2018 F80 M3 Competition - 2015 F82 M4 - 2012 E82 135i - 2010 E92 335i - 2007 E92 335i
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08-22-2008, 02:22 PM	#5
ezatnova Colonel 97 Rep 2,188 Posts Drives: C63 AMG Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: West Chester, PA iTrader: (5)	Cool!
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08-22-2008, 02:32 PM	#6
Tobias1980 Read the manual please, just do it before asking! 11 Rep 397 Posts Drives: F31 328i, F55 Cooper Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Sweden iTrader: (0)	The ball has started the roll for real now! Thanks guys for all your efforts with this BMW scam! Last edited by Tobias1980; 08-22-2008 at 04:34 PM..
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08-22-2008, 03:17 PM	#7
2point3 Private 1 Rep 66 Posts Drives: 335 Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Woodlands iTrader: (0)	Scam?
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08-22-2008, 03:28 PM	#8
slubu Never Go Full Retard 182 Rep 1,851 Posts Drives: White Lightning Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Agrestic iTrader: (2)	This is pretty sweet. How well known is autoblog? Just curious what type of audience we are reaching here... __________________ 2008 335i
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08-22-2008, 03:33 PM	#9
swifty Colonel 314 Rep 2,448 Posts Drives: F80, Levante & Tesla 100D Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: canada iTrader: (7)	autoblog is very well known...wen a blog gets to review bentleys and ZR1s then its up there as far reach is concerened... my only question concerning this update is how do you know if BMW has already done this to my car...can you ask them to send a history..i'm giving my car in on tuesday for trunk issues and they want to keep it for the whole day..pls let advise.
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08-22-2008, 03:37 PM	#10
Kerosene Hat Regional Governor 26 Rep 556 Posts Drives: '10 E92 335i Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: ATL iTrader: (0)	NICE Now we need those before & after dynos for stock vehicles: MSD80: pre and post 29.2 MSD81 Let's see those graphs, fellas! __________________ 2010 E92 335i \| Alpine White \|Coral Red \| M-Sport \| Logic 7 \| My Website\| My Flickr Page Last edited by Kerosene Hat; 08-22-2008 at 04:35 PM..
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08-22-2008, 05:43 PM	#16
OBI_agent D to the X to the B! 348 Rep 2,106 Posts Drives: ABS,American bargain supercar Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Dubai iTrader: (0)	Awesome....autoblog is listening __________________ 11 corvette C6
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08-22-2008, 05:59 PM	#17
tyler9595 Captain 47 Rep 723 Posts Drives: Boring Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Indianapolis, IN iTrader: (1)	that's sweet! its about time we got some press!
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08-22-2008, 07:08 PM	#18
holo777 Private First Class 1 Rep 162 Posts Drives: 135i Conv Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: NE TN iTrader: (0)	Let's Get Em an Update I've got an OBDII Scanner that I'm going to play with over the weekend. I have a 135i that is a May Build Date, so I'm pretty sure I have 29.2. I'm going to look at Manifold Pressure vs. RPM vs. Throttle position vs. Barometric pressure. If someone has a pre 29.2 car and a logger let us know so we can see what's different. If we can get a proof ready that might give Autoblog a reason to Update and bump it back to the top!
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08-22-2008, 07:18 PM	#19
BzzzBom Major 93 Rep 1,216 Posts Drives: 05 R53 MINI / 09 335i Coupe Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Los Angeles iTrader: (0)	Try autospies as well.
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08-22-2008, 07:50 PM	#20
RBBMWE46M3 blaupunkt 56 Rep 525 Posts Drives: 2008 335xi 6spman montego Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: THE REGION iTrader: (0) Garage List 2008 x5 [0.00] 1972 R75/5 [0.00] 2008 335xi [0.00]	Sweet...I hope BMW sees this Someone needs to forward this to BMWNA __________________ BMW ENGINEERS
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08-25-2008, 02:43 PM	#21
ezatnova Colonel 97 Rep 2,188 Posts Drives: C63 AMG Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: West Chester, PA iTrader: (5)	bump - get those comments posted!
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08-25-2008, 06:15 PM	#22
chinoxs203 Major 122 Rep 1,369 Posts Drives: 08 E92 335xi AW Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: CT iTrader: (7)	great! i was extremely disappointed when i bought my 08 march 335 to have such LAAGG __________________ FOR SALE: Dropbox - please
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