More dead horse beating: BMS Powerbox installed, but on 6MT

CoffeeBean · 01-16-2013, 10:22 AM

I've had a chance to drive with it installed for a couple weeks now on my 328i 6MT. Most reviews seem to be for AT cars so this might help.

Reason vs AA tune: Less expensive of course, but I also wanted to be able to pretty easily return it back to stock if I needed to, and also adjust throttle response/performance tune on or off on the fly myself. Returning back to stock just isn't easily done with the AA tune. i.e. selling the car to a mass audience who isn't interested in modifications and will generally shy away from modified cars.

Installation: Easy to connect once you get to the ECU, but it's a bit of a pain to get to it if you've never done it before. Would not recommend a true newbie trying to install it. I was sick when I installed it though, so that may have made it seem more difficult.

Results: The main reason I wanted it was to get rid of the annoying throttle delay, and that it does extremely well. I don't know if it's just the increased throttle response or a combination of it and the power increase (doesn't really matter), but low end torque/response/whatever you want to call it is amazingly better. Before, the car felt sluggish in low rpm, but now it immediately starts accelerating and revs much faster. I'd think it had a lightened flywheel in it if I didn't know any better. In addition to that, it pulls a good bit harder all the way past 6k rpm. The 100% throttle response increase seemed a little too touchy to me at first, so I switched it to 60% for a few days which was better. I then changed it back to 100% to see the difference and have since gotten used to it and doesn't seem as touchy anymore.

Anyway, I hope this helps someone. It's well worth the money!

Delusive · 01-16-2013, 11:05 AM

Nice review and great information, I might just buy a BMS Powerbox since I plan on selling my car sooner or later.

Thanks & rare car you have there.

CoffeeBean · 01-17-2013, 09:23 AM

Thanks. You'll enjoy it. Rare car? I guess that's a relative term. I used to have a Celica All-Trac which was 1 of about 1700 sold in the US, and 1 of 281 of that model year..

This 328i actually showed up on a dealer lot about 10 miles from my house one day. Original owner bought it new at the local BMW dealer and traded it in for a Hyundai (??). Even have the guy's name and address.

andrey_gta · 01-17-2013, 10:00 AM

post a dyno when you can, it would be great to see since the results are mixed

redline2001 · 01-17-2013, 07:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by andrey_gta

post a dyno when you can, it would be great to see since the results are mixed

No need to have a dyno done. No real hp gains come from it, just a more responsive throttle. This already has been established.

mike-y · 01-17-2013, 10:35 PM

you get a little power, but not really much to write home about. I got 8-9 ft lbs of torque in the midrange. You'll find the dyno printout somewhere if you search.

cdgatti · 01-18-2013, 08:11 AM

Totally agree with OP. More power or not - to me it doesn't matter. What matters is this little box does make my 328 much more enjoyable to use every day. Who cares about more dyno-verified power, 99+% of us are not racing our cars - we just enjoy spirited driving and the great handling afforded by BMW. I used to actually get frustrated at every stop sign or street light with the BMW intended throttle delay, it made it difficult to drive my car smoothly. This little box eliminates all that.

CoffeeBean · 01-18-2013, 10:28 AM

cdgatti +1 to that. The people who bash it are the ones who haven't driven one that has it.

01-16-2013, 10:22 AM	#1
CoffeeBean Lieutenant 226 Rep 553 Posts Drives: 640i M-Sport GC Join Date: Aug 2012 Location: AL iTrader: (2)	More dead horse beating: BMS Powerbox installed, but on 6MT I've had a chance to drive with it installed for a couple weeks now on my 328i 6MT. Most reviews seem to be for AT cars so this might help. Reason vs AA tune: Less expensive of course, but I also wanted to be able to pretty easily return it back to stock if I needed to, and also adjust throttle response/performance tune on or off on the fly myself. Returning back to stock just isn't easily done with the AA tune. i.e. selling the car to a mass audience who isn't interested in modifications and will generally shy away from modified cars. Installation: Easy to connect once you get to the ECU, but it's a bit of a pain to get to it if you've never done it before. Would not recommend a true newbie trying to install it. I was sick when I installed it though, so that may have made it seem more difficult. Results: The main reason I wanted it was to get rid of the annoying throttle delay, and that it does extremely well. I don't know if it's just the increased throttle response or a combination of it and the power increase (doesn't really matter), but low end torque/response/whatever you want to call it is amazingly better. Before, the car felt sluggish in low rpm, but now it immediately starts accelerating and revs much faster. I'd think it had a lightened flywheel in it if I didn't know any better. In addition to that, it pulls a good bit harder all the way past 6k rpm. The 100% throttle response increase seemed a little too touchy to me at first, so I switched it to 60% for a few days which was better. I then changed it back to 100% to see the difference and have since gotten used to it and doesn't seem as touchy anymore. Anyway, I hope this helps someone. It's well worth the money! Attached Images
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01-16-2013, 11:05 AM	#2
Delusive Lieutenant Colonel 136 Rep 1,598 Posts Drives: Bagged E92 Join Date: May 2012 Location: Bay Area, CA iTrader: (9)	Nice review and great information, I might just buy a BMS Powerbox since I plan on selling my car sooner or later. Thanks & rare car you have there. __________________ Instagram Youtube
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01-17-2013, 09:23 AM	#3
CoffeeBean Lieutenant 226 Rep 553 Posts Drives: 640i M-Sport GC Join Date: Aug 2012 Location: AL iTrader: (2)	Thanks. You'll enjoy it. Rare car? I guess that's a relative term. I used to have a Celica All-Trac which was 1 of about 1700 sold in the US, and 1 of 281 of that model year.. This 328i actually showed up on a dealer lot about 10 miles from my house one day. Original owner bought it new at the local BMW dealer and traded it in for a Hyundai (??). Even have the guy's name and address.
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01-17-2013, 10:00 AM	#4
andrey_gta Brigadier General 298 Rep 4,040 Posts Drives: 130i coupé ;) Join Date: Nov 2011 Location: Bimmerpost iTrader: (1) Garage List 2008 BMW 128i [10.00]	post a dyno when you can, it would be great to see since the results are mixed __________________ 128i Sport 6MT converted to Euro 130i spec, 3.73 diff, tuned by evolve ~220 whp 207 wtq(ft-lb) SAE In-progress: //M front arm, M3 rack, e36M lip Wishlist: Coils, n55 mnts, headers, LSD, e60 finn diff "The 1-series is the last car that BMW engineered before the Germans, as a car-making culture, fell out of love with driving." - R&T 2013 135is
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01-17-2013, 10:35 PM	#6
mike-y just another bmw douche bag 195 Rep 3,640 Posts Drives: 1.9L of fury Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Los Angeles, CA iTrader: (4)	you get a little power, but not really much to write home about. I got 8-9 ft lbs of torque in the midrange. You'll find the dyno printout somewhere if you search.
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01-18-2013, 08:11 AM	#7
cdgatti Colonel 255 Rep 2,547 Posts Drives: e90 328i Join Date: May 2011 Location: KY iTrader: (4)	Totally agree with OP. More power or not - to me it doesn't matter. What matters is this little box does make my 328 much more enjoyable to use every day. Who cares about more dyno-verified power, 99+% of us are not racing our cars - we just enjoy spirited driving and the great handling afforded by BMW. I used to actually get frustrated at every stop sign or street light with the BMW intended throttle delay, it made it difficult to drive my car smoothly. This little box eliminates all that.
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01-18-2013, 10:28 AM	#8
CoffeeBean Lieutenant 226 Rep 553 Posts Drives: 640i M-Sport GC Join Date: Aug 2012 Location: AL iTrader: (2)	cdgatti +1 to that. The people who bash it are the ones who haven't driven one that has it.
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