AC Schnitzer tuning

GBR1 · 01-21-2013, 10:43 AM

Hi Guys n Girls.

I am looking seriously at getting the AC Schnitzer power upgrade for my car.

Although not cheap (£2400) with the 3 year warranty it looks to be one of the best systems around (currently) and the warranty seems to be very good as well. They basically said if there is an issue with the car and its anything to do with drive train or engine they will pay my local BMW dealer direct..

The list price difference in cost between the 118i and 116i is roughly £2000, so as they are the same engine etc etc this £2000 seems reasonable to get 30bhp more than the standard 118i..

So I have some questions:

1. I obviously have to inform my insurance company, I understand there will be an increase in my premium but was wondering what other people have experienced in this situation?

2. When I come to sell the car, do you think people will be put off with the extra tuning?

3. Has anyone had any experience with AC Schnitzer before and got any good/bad points to say about them or their products??

Many thanks for your help...

GBR1

dape90 · 01-21-2013, 11:10 AM

Hi,

Assuming you are getting the piggy-back system rather than the remap (which I think they do) then I can only say this.

Be very very careful!

Having looked into this a lot for my new F20 currently in build, I would say give some serious consideration to the Hartge solution. The main reason being that the Hartge does not require you to cut into the CAN-BUS (so Birds Auto told me) which the AC solution does.

I am quite sure that you would have a smaller fight on your hands with BMW if you had a warranty claim and had not cut into the CAN-BUS.

That my thoughts anyway :-)

D

GBR1 · 01-21-2013, 11:37 AM

I will have a close look, whats this issue with doing what you say??

Plus the Hartage unit only upgrades to 171BHP were as the AC Schnitzer is 200BHP..

GBR1 · 01-21-2013, 11:53 AM

fitting instructions attached, if you scroll down its in English. They will fit it for me though!

XavVD · 01-21-2013, 03:27 PM

Stupid question perhaps: why not buying a 118i or a 125i from scratch?

Bradbury · 01-21-2013, 11:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by XavVD

Stupid question perhaps: why not buying a 118i or a 125i from scratch?

I agree with you fully. I see more of a market for this box here in Norway where the price difference between 116i and 125i is about £17k.

Fanis · 01-22-2013, 01:36 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by XavVD

Stupid question perhaps: why not buying a 118i or a 125i from scratch?

A valid question, with many possible answers:

1. For me it was a case of budget, so instead of getting a 118i, I opted for a 116i with more extras (I am a sucker for gadgets and cars with high levels or equipment). Now if I want more power (I do not at the moment), tunning is a good solution.

2. Some people may buy it as a second hand, so they do not have many options regardings specs or engine.

3. Some people think that they do not need more power, but after a while they realize that they do!

4. Some cars (mainly 116i) where on offer from dealers.

5. Price difference is quite big in some countries. Fro example in Greece the 118i is 3.000 Euro more expensive than the 116i, but the 125i is a whooping 11.000 Euro more expensive than the 116i.

AusF20/F48 · 01-22-2013, 01:50 AM

If you hold off for a bit longer you will be able to get the M tune chip upgrade
It is BMW performance, so you know it wont be cheap.
It is expected to upgrade a 116i or 118i by 25 to 30kw- add full M exhaust system and it ups to around 45kw.
I am told it will be released later this year as BMW will want to keep out Merc A klass AMG

Fanis · 01-22-2013, 02:59 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by AusF20

If you hold off for a bit longer you will be able to get the M tune chip upgrade
It is BMW performance, so you know it wont be cheap.
It is expected to upgrade a 116i or 118i by 25 to 30kw- add full M exhaust system and it ups to around 45kw.
I am told it will be released later this year as BMW will want to keep out Merc A klass AMG

Will they release one for the 116i? I was told by my dealer that will only tune the 125i and 135i and will not deal with lesser models. I hope your dealer know more, since this is excellent news...I am hoping for an official M-Performance upgrade!!

Bradbury · 01-22-2013, 03:16 AM

If there will ever be an official power kit for the 116i, I seriously doubt it will make the it more powerful than the 118i. Just look at the power kit for the 120d. The increase in power is very modest, upping it from 135 kw to 147 kw (on paper). Adding more power would probably cut into the sales of the 125d.

Fanis · 01-22-2013, 04:14 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bradbury

If there will ever be an official power kit for the 116i, I seriously doubt it will make the it more powerful than the 118i. Just look at the power kit for the 120d. The increase in power is very modest, upping it from 135 kw to 147 kw (on paper). Adding more power would probably cut into the sales of the 125d.

I agree with you 100%.

I guess the power kit for the 116i (IF there will be one) will increase the power to around 160-165 bhp (on paper...in reality it could be higher). But I do not mind, since I prefer a modest increase from BMW itself than a higher increase from a tuner.

Dim73 · 01-22-2013, 04:21 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Fanis

I agree with you 100%.

I guess the power kit for the 116i (IF there will be one) will increase the power to around 160-165 bhp (on paper...in reality it could be higher). But I do not mind, since I prefer a modest increase from BMW itself than a higher increase from a tuner.

+1

AusF20/F48 · 01-22-2013, 04:23 AM

As usual, the hype will always come first, the reality could be more modest increases in Kw, but assisted by more torque through the mapping.
Models evolve with more power to combat what the opposition release.
See the current crop against the previous models.
This will also be the case here, Merc is releasing new A klass cars with similar specs to current BMW so BMW will up the power of the next 116i to something like the current 118i and up the power on the 118i a bit more (they are the same engine) etc etc etc. This then leads to chip replacements being available through the dealer to up the power on existing models.

It never gets them to the same level as the new model nor will it have the newest toys. That why a lot of people trade in every two to three years.

01-21-2013, 10:43 AM	#1
GBR1 Captain 338 Rep 674 Posts Drives: G05 45e on order Join Date: Nov 2012 Location: Hampshire iTrader: (0)	AC Schnitzer tuning Hi Guys n Girls. I am looking seriously at getting the AC Schnitzer power upgrade for my car. Although not cheap (£2400) with the 3 year warranty it looks to be one of the best systems around (currently) and the warranty seems to be very good as well. They basically said if there is an issue with the car and its anything to do with drive train or engine they will pay my local BMW dealer direct.. The list price difference in cost between the 118i and 116i is roughly £2000, so as they are the same engine etc etc this £2000 seems reasonable to get 30bhp more than the standard 118i.. So I have some questions: 1. I obviously have to inform my insurance company, I understand there will be an increase in my premium but was wondering what other people have experienced in this situation? 2. When I come to sell the car, do you think people will be put off with the extra tuning? 3. Has anyone had any experience with AC Schnitzer before and got any good/bad points to say about them or their products?? Many thanks for your help... GBR1
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01-21-2013, 11:10 AM	#2
dape90 Private First Class 17 Rep 155 Posts Drives: 2013 F20 118i M-Sport Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: Herts iTrader: (0)	Hi, Assuming you are getting the piggy-back system rather than the remap (which I think they do) then I can only say this. Be very very careful! Having looked into this a lot for my new F20 currently in build, I would say give some serious consideration to the Hartge solution. The main reason being that the Hartge does not require you to cut into the CAN-BUS (so Birds Auto told me) which the AC solution does. I am quite sure that you would have a smaller fight on your hands with BMW if you had a warranty claim and had not cut into the CAN-BUS. That my thoughts anyway :-) D
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01-21-2013, 11:37 AM	#3
GBR1 Captain 338 Rep 674 Posts Drives: G05 45e on order Join Date: Nov 2012 Location: Hampshire iTrader: (0)	I will have a close look, whats this issue with doing what you say?? Plus the Hartage unit only upgrades to 171BHP were as the AC Schnitzer is 200BHP..
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01-21-2013, 03:27 PM	#5
XavVD Private First Class 20 Rep 145 Posts Drives: 125i M Sport (soon) Join Date: May 2012 Location: Europe iTrader: (0)	Stupid question perhaps: why not buying a 118i or a 125i from scratch?
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01-22-2013, 01:50 AM	#8
AusF20/F48 Major 176 Rep 1,233 Posts Drives: F20 125i MS, F48 XD25i Join Date: May 2012 Location: Brisbane iTrader: (0)	If you hold off for a bit longer you will be able to get the M tune chip upgrade It is BMW performance, so you know it wont be cheap. It is expected to upgrade a 116i or 118i by 25 to 30kw- add full M exhaust system and it ups to around 45kw. I am told it will be released later this year as BMW will want to keep out Merc A klass AMG
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01-22-2013, 03:16 AM	#10
Bradbury Vroooooom! 5 Rep 206 Posts Drives: F20 120d Join Date: Nov 2012 Location: Norway iTrader: (0) Garage List 2013 BMW 120d F20 [9.50]	If there will ever be an official power kit for the 116i, I seriously doubt it will make the it more powerful than the 118i. Just look at the power kit for the 120d. The increase in power is very modest, upping it from 135 kw to 147 kw (on paper). Adding more power would probably cut into the sales of the 125d.
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01-22-2013, 04:23 AM	#13
AusF20/F48 Major 176 Rep 1,233 Posts Drives: F20 125i MS, F48 XD25i Join Date: May 2012 Location: Brisbane iTrader: (0)	As usual, the hype will always come first, the reality could be more modest increases in Kw, but assisted by more torque through the mapping. Models evolve with more power to combat what the opposition release. See the current crop against the previous models. This will also be the case here, Merc is releasing new A klass cars with similar specs to current BMW so BMW will up the power of the next 116i to something like the current 118i and up the power on the 118i a bit more (they are the same engine) etc etc etc. This then leads to chip replacements being available through the dealer to up the power on existing models. It never gets them to the same level as the new model nor will it have the newest toys. That why a lot of people trade in every two to three years.
	Appreciate 0 Quote