[eldogo]

MY CAR & CURRENT MODS
2008 328xi E92
- BMW Performance Exhaust
- AFE Air Intake
- KW V1
- AA Tune (Which I removed, then installed the ESS Tune)

BACKGROUND

I purchased the AA Tune 3 years ago, and to be honest I wasn’t very impressed with it, especially for the price. I then researched for other companies that tune N52 engines, and it seems that ESS is the best bet. Considering the quality of work ESS is putting out for 335’s and M BMW’s, I think we can all agree that they know what they are doing.
I reached out to ESS asking if the advertised numbers are accurate. And they said that they do stand by them…, and suggested that I should dyno my car with the stock/AA ECU map then after the ESS tune, and if I am not satisfied with it, they will give me a full refund!
I then decided to pull the trigger and purchased the N52 Flash Tune.



INSTALLATION

I followed the included instructions and installed the software, then read my ECU (it took about 40 mins), then emailed the file it to ESS. I received the modded ECU file in 24 hours.
ESS told me that the current/AA tune had a ridiculous amount of ignition timing and they were concerned if my engine was OK since it was vulnerable to knocking.
I then installed the new ESS file, which took 15 minutes….


IMPRESSION

I fired up the engine and took it for a drive. Not sure if its just me, but the car had a deeper sound to it while slowly driving out of the parking garage. As soon as I exited the garage, I hit the gas… and I was amazed!!! The car feels completely different. Off the bat I knew it was properly tuned.
The car pulls much harder through out the gears. It isn’t sluggish anymore… its quick on its feet… It feels very different. The revs are smooth; torque has definitely increased. One thing that I am very impressed with is how the car pulls when I’m on 5th gear cruising on the highway… I can hit the gas and it takes off as if I’m in 3rd or 4th gear.
N52 owners, I highly recommend the ESS tune over the AA. Its safer, better in all aspects.
ESS doesn’t recommend installing headers on to N52 engines due to the sensor placement which throws off the ECU. But they recommend installing the 3 stage intake manifold in order to gain more torque.
It has been 2 weeks since I installed the tune, and I love it. I will keep monitoring it and provide feedback as it adopts.

[rick100]

So are we supposed to believe a tune plus AFE intake and performance exhaust ( both already shown very little gains) are better than a tune plus headers??

I m also unsure how you can feel all these difference and increase in power with just a tune ? ...

First time I hear a company saying headers are not good for increasing power ...

Plus ESS can not even get their tune right for their supercharger . Their tuning skills for the N52 are questionable , at least to me

Also , ESS never posts here, they blamed AA headers for their supercharger not working , customer removed the aa headers and the damn thing still does not work properly. AA responded back to the thread and noone from ESS even comes to defend their point.

I'm not even sure why anyone would say AA tune is not good for your car, when I have not heard anyone blowing their engines or having major problems after installing it

[fravel]

This is the 2nd post I've seen where someone is claiming that ESS was talking down about AA to a customer. Interesting. I believe we have a rivalry brewing.

[W37V]

If you were lurking on here, by now you should know that BPC appears to be the best when it comes to n52 tunes.

[Ruddigger]

This comes off to me as a paid advertisement for ESS. Not saying it is, OP, but it sure sounds like it.

I'll wait for more than a Butt-dyno.

[hassmaschine]

Without dyno proof - meh. Just more big tuner smoke and mirrors.

[ZeroSum]

Id be interested in seeing dynos

[Taskmaster]

Originally Posted by rfinger

Id be interested in seeing dynos

You'll never get them. Just a bunch of vague claims that AA is terrible, etc etc, while ignoring calls to produce their own numbers.

OP just decided to buy a completely new tune for near $1000 with zero logic behind the purchase, zero dyno graphs, nearly no posting history.

Completely believable.

[bimmerquick43321]

Maybe to also take into consideration, AA came up with the tune for the N52 a while ago, maybe they're first iteration wasn't the best (which is ok), and newer versions have improved a lot, so maybe this is something in between, an older version of the tune and a little bit of exageration around the parts that were less good coming from a competitor...

[eldogo]

Hey man, I'm just sharing my experience and recommendations to anyone else who is frustrated with any other tunes not just AA.

I never review things, but I felt it's right to share with other N52 owners since the mods are limited compared to 335 and M.

You are free to make your own judgements!

[Ruddigger]

I'm not the kind of guy that believes extraordinary claims without evidence. Basically, without dyno proof, this thread is meaningless.

[W37V]

Originally Posted by mecbain

Maybe to also take into consideration, AA came up with the tune for the N52 a while ago, maybe they're first iteration wasn't the best (which is ok), and newer versions have improved a lot, so maybe this is something in between, an older version of the tune and a little bit of exageration around the parts that were less good coming from a competitor...

The current tune sold by AA is actually their second take on it, thus "stage 2". Since AA doesn't believe there is not much left on the table for N52 they said they would not realease another version of it.

[martinblair]

Originally Posted by eldogo

Hey man, I'm just sharing my experience and recommendations to anyone else who is frustrated with any other tunes not just AA.

I never review things, but I felt it's right to share with other N52 owners since the mods are limited compared to 335 and M.

You are free to make your own judgements!

So you weren't impressed with the AA tune "for the price", but you were willing to spend another 1k on a tune? Makes perfect sense.

[rick100]

Originally Posted by W37V

If you were lurking on here, by now you should know that BPC appears to be the best when it comes to n52 tunes.

as far as I know they do not have a tune out yet....

[Mike.]

Originally Posted by rick100

as far as I know they do not have a tune out yet....

bpc has a tune, I was going to get it

[rick100]

Originally Posted by Mike.

bpc has a tune, I was going to get it

Im assuming BPC is bmw perormance center. I ve been following their thread on and off and I read that he was working on a tune but I dont recall reading that it was out for sell

I just looked on their website, but it seems you have to send your ecu to get the tune. No pricing. But the dyno results are amazing

[W37V]

Originally Posted by rick100

Im assuming BPC is bmw perormance center. I ve been following their thread on and off and I read that he was working on a tune but I dont recall reading that it was out for sell

I just looked on their website, but it seems you have to send your ecu to get the tune. No pricing. But the dyno results are amazing

They always had the tune for sale. However, they started exploring possibilities with the engine, which resulted in creation of the new tune - the one which has been discussed in the thread you mentioned.

[gunnerxq]

I really don't know if ESS is telling the truth or just scaring you into buying their product but I think AA's product is safe. I've had the AA stage 2 since 78k miles and now my car has 119k miles and let me tell you...it's perfectly fine with no unexpected repairs.

Did you have AA first stage or 2nd? Because 1st to ESS tune would probably be an upgrade. But 2nd to ess would be a serious downgrade. A 328i gets 10 Hp over stock and a 325i gets 13 Hp. And they call that a tune?

Let me know when I wouldn't be slower then a 330i because AA already figured it out.

[jc5988]

Originally Posted by gunnerxq

I really don't know if ESS is telling the truth or just scaring you into buying their product but I think AA's product is safe. I've had the AA stage 2 since 78k miles and now my car has 119k miles and let me tell you...it's perfectly fine with no unexpected repairs.

Did you have AA first stage or 2nd? Because 1st to ESS tune would probably be an upgrade. But 2nd to ess would be a serious downgrade. A 328i gets 10 Hp over stock and a 325i gets 13 Hp. And they call that a tune?

Let me know when I wouldn't be slower then a 330i because AA already figured it out.

I had one of the first ESS tune for 5yr 50k now, no problem at all too. also, and im still on original tune dyno'd at 229whp SAE, should be one of the higher N51 ever dyno'd here, not sure why its a down grade from AA stage 2.

ESS is one of the first to fully cracked the N52/51 tune, a year earlier then AA stage 2.

[gunnerxq]

Originally Posted by jc5988

I had one of the first ESS tune for 5yr 50k now, no problem at all too. also, and im still on original tune dyno'd at 229whp SAE, should be one of the higher N51 ever dyno'd here, not sure why its a down grade from AA stage 2.

ESS is one of the first to fully cracked the N52/51 tune, a year earlier then AA stage 2.

Sorry I was just going off of what their website says. I have to dyno mine. I feel like it'd be up there.

[rick100]

Originally Posted by jc5988

I had one of the first ESS tune for 5yr 50k now, no problem at all too. also, and im still on original tune dyno'd at 229whp SAE, should be one of the higher N51 ever dyno'd here, not sure why its a down grade from AA stage 2.

ESS is one of the first to fully cracked the N52/51 tune, a year earlier then AA stage 2.

Username: tetsuo111
Car/Engine: 328xi/N52B30
Transmission: Auto
Mods: DISA manifold, AA tune+headers+ceramic, Dinan-style CAI, RM TB hose, charcoal delete, Cyba scoops, Delrin diff bushings
Dyno type: Mustang
Peak Numbers: 222whp/196wtq (with European intake box and Pipercross filter) vs 238whp/211wtq (Dinan intake, Charcoal delete, RM hose)


Unless it is a before and after done the same day , dyno numbers are all over the place for the N52, since gains are relative small it is hard to say

However AA tune also has some impressive dyno numbers ( over 220 whp) when they are paired up with headers, like your car.

One thing I don't like about ESS is that they bash another company but they never come here to defend their point. If AA tune was so bad and they are the ones saying it , at least come clean here and explain why. Instead , it seems they like to scare people off so that they buy their product.

[rick100]

here is another one. There are too many to list them all. Thanks to the axiom for his thread



Username:
Car/Engine: 128i/N52B30
Transmission: Manual
Mods: K&N filter w/charcoal delete, 3 stage intake manifold, AA headers and AA tune
Dyno type: Dynojet
Peak Numbers: 248whp/225wtq