[914kid]

I searched for a thread like this but didn't find any good results.

Now that its 2013 and most of these tunes have been out for awhile I was wondering if we could have a thread started where people can post how many miles they have been running a tune/(other engine mods) and how the reliability has held up?

I am planning on getting a JB4 but plan to keep this car for another 5-7 years so I don't want my car becoming unreliable after a tune. Even when I do get a JB4 I will not always run it in aggressive maps, just want it for some brief fun.

So post up!

[enrita]

It all depends on the power you are putting down.

[GraphiteAZ335]

Ive run JB4 G4 ( I know..Time for an upgrade ) for just under 40,000miles in addition to a ER charge pipe w/ synapse BOV, DCI's and a FMIC. The only problems I have had are ones that stock boost did not reveal. Vacuum leaks (only two hoses) and plugs/a coil. In that time I also have run upto a 60/40 mix of 93/E85 almost every other tank. The rest has been routine maintenance since i'm out of any kind of warranty. I will also point one thing out. Its not that since I have not had any real issues you wont. Go over the car prior to installing modifications.. Check vacuum lines, plugs, coils, other fluids Make sure you are keeping up with the car by shortening maintenance cycles appropriately. Plugs go down to 30k, oil at a minimum every 7k, and I like to give the motor a solid once over about once a month.

[Ovitrix335]

My car has been tuned for over 70k miles. At the moment the car has over 110k miles, FBO on E85, custom e30map through ptf (highly recommend with a cobb tune). When i changed my clutch (8k miles ago) i did a compression test and it was 180 across the board. For a car that has over 110k miles it is pretty good

[Fillyo75]

Nice post, I am following. I was in your boat, wanted easy power, but nervous about reliability. I bought my JB4 two months ago, definitely love the power, and once you have it, it becomes normal. I also thought I would run it 25% of the time also! When I first got it, the power increas was intoxicating, constantly flooring it, gas mileage went to shit. Now, all is back to normal, I just leave it on, and the power is there when you need it. I just ordered new plugs, since I have 45k miles and it is due. So far, no issues. I am leaning towards a local walnut blast very soon.

[Jeff@TopGearSolutions]

This car is just as reliable tuned as it is stock and the motor is stout. There are guys making over 600WHP on stock motors. Rest assured you guys have a solid platform. All the quirks about fuel pumps, coilpacks, injectors, etc will happen even stock.

[joec500]

I have a super early build 11/06. and initially I had quite a few issues, that would be expected for the first year of a new model. But most of my failures are things like injectors, coilpacks, plugs. I proactively changed out my waterpump at 60k miles, so I could travel without the fear of that failure. I have been tuned since 10k miles. Overall it's not the best, but given the performance level of the car it's been acceptable.

[robc1976]

Originally Posted by Jeff@TopGearSolutions

This car is just as reliable tuned as it is stock and the motor is stout. There are guys making over 600WHP on stock motors. Rest assured you guys have a solid platform. All the quirks about fuel pumps, coilpacks, injectors, etc will happen even stock.

+1

[Jeef]

Reliable but extra maintenance

[tennis_pr0]

Originally Posted by Jeef

Reliable but extra maintenance

Just oil changes and spark plugs more frequently from that I have heard...

[Jeef]

Originally Posted by tennis_pr0

Just oil changes and spark plugs more frequently from that I have heard...

Which is extra maintenance. nothing bad though.

[tennis_pr0]

Originally Posted by Jeef

Which is extra maintenance. nothing bad though.

Yeah. I used to b e concerned just as the OP is about more engine wear and major components going bad because of a tune, but after enough research I learned that tuned cars are no more vulnerable than stock cars. The only thing you have to be careful with is warranty stuff of course.

On a side note, I am very happy I decided to tune my car.

[Jeffman]

Originally Posted by tennis_pr0

Just oil changes and spark plugs more frequently from that I have heard...

+1

[ken1137]

[BEAR-AvHistory]

Not long, about 19,500 out of 21,000 on the 335is. No issues todate.

[hemi to e90]

Originally Posted by Jeff@TopGearSolutions

This car is just as reliable tuned as it is stock and the motor is stout. There are guys making over 600WHP on stock motors. Rest assured you guys have a solid platform. All the quirks about fuel pumps, coilpacks, injectors, etc will happen even stock.

this is the most important thing to remember.

i will add you can accelerate problems if you are modded, but they are the same ones as stock.

[Stucks]

Bought my car 2.5 years ago with 28k on the clock. It got a tune at 30k miles. It now sits in my garage with almost 84k miles on the clock. I drive it every day to work. Its had 93 octane all the way to a full e60 mixture @ 18+ psi through it time and time again. driven the car in temps as low as 10 degrees f and as high as 109 degrees f. Still runs good. still on original turbos. It did have a hpfp replaced before i bought it and had the injectors done under warranty at 29k miles just after i bought it. water pump went at 73k miles, but they all do around that time. bmw and their wonderful cooling systems LOL. all ive really done is spark plugs, oil changes, trans fluid change once, and rear differential fluid change once.

I do a lot of racing too.

[fazman]

These cars are intended to be modded OP. The key here is to get the correct upgrade path and the right supporting mods in place.

1) Tune (Open Flash Table, JB4, etc...) + DCI
2) Aftermarket FMIC and OCC
3) Aftermarket Down pipe
4) Aftermarket metal Charge Pipe + BOV (this is a supporting mod)
5) Consider adding an Oil cooler or upgrading your stock oil cooler (This is a supporting mod).

Also you should consider getting carbon/walnut blasting done every ~50k miles and I would say doing spark plug changes 1/2 way between that (so spark plugs every ~25k miles). When you do your spark plugs you should also consider cleaning/replacing your DCI's?? Oil+filter change should be done every 7500.

- Faz

[135Pats]

When you look at the motor, the engineers were basically asking us to power mod. The block is extremely robust, I wouldnt fear damage to the bottom end until I cleared at least 600 wheel.

My car sees E30 and 18.5psi day after day, though during the work week it doesnt get driven very hard. Peripheral parts will fail more quickly but thats just the logical outcome when you push said parts.

[Jeffman]

Somewhere else on this E90post or competitor's blog I provide a list of the maintenance items recommended by Mike Miller of BMWCCA's tech talk column in Roundel. A lot of what he said is mirrored above.

[07tundra]

Originally Posted by Jeff@TopGearSolutions

This car is just as reliable tuned as it is stock and the motor is stout. There are guys making over 600WHP on stock motors. Rest assured you guys have a solid platform. All the quirks about fuel pumps, coilpacks, injectors, etc will happen even stock.

Since Rob beat me to it!

+2