[DougM]

Hi guys.

First post, stock 2013 M135i, 8at, pro nav, hk audio, privacy glass.

dropping car off at southern bm Monday:

- quaife LSD
- evolve technik ecu (380hp)
- m performance exhaust
- BMW sport steering wheel (from m235i)
- high temp brake fluid

Then off to Winton for a track day early June.

Anyone here with experience of the above. Most seem to do "jb4", how's that compare to evolve? Any Recommendations on further mods (not too fussed about cosmetics).

Will remain a daily driver, driven by the wife on occasion so needs to remain discrete, comfortable, docile.

Have owned a few fast/track cars (datsun 510 turbo then 13B BP, clubman with S2000 vtec engine , porsche 964 c2) but have been impressed by the performance of this thing so keen to see how will go on track.

[Robo_70]

The evolve technick ecu is simply rebranded RaceChip from Germany....at almost double the price...
http://www.racechip.com/chiptuning/b...-235/index.php

[chaddy74]

What's does anyone know about the CPA Powerbox Nitto ? Claims big power and they can do custom maps based on your mods ? Send them a parts list and the tweak the tune accordingly

http://www.cpa-chiptuning.de/en/chip...uning_2211.htm

[Robo_70]

Originally Posted by chaddy74

What's does anyone know about the CPA Powerbox Nitto ? Claims big power and they can do custom maps based on your mods ? Send them a parts list and the tweak the tune accordingly

http://www.cpa-chiptuning.de/en/chip...uning_2211.htm

Seems a lot of bang for you buck, 400hp for under AU$900

Talks about 4 parameters but I cant see any wiring harness pics.

Here is their FB page. Not much from consumers
https://www.facebook.com/cpa.chiptuning?fref=photo

[chaddy74]

im running the JB4 stage 2 Map 2 on Flex fuel harness wires running on E30 without issues. I ordered this also as I wanted to understand and test the difference.

[Robo_70]

Let us know what it's like when you get it... I assume the quoted KW & NM figures quoted are with the thing dialled up to 10/full these things tend to invoke engine warning alarms when on full and have to be turned down but then you don't get the full quoted power.

[chaddy74]

Cheers Robo !! I will most certainly let you know how things go.

Originally Posted by Robo_70

Let us know what it's like when you get it... I assume the quoted KW & NM figures quoted are with the thing dialled up to 10/full these things tend to invoke engine warning alarms when on full and have to be turned down but then you don't get the full quoted power.

[DougM]

Feedback:

Southern BM great to deal with, highly recommended.

M Perf exhaust - nice burble, crackle on overrun, very quiet when cruising, no drone. Probably not quite as loud as I expected but it's a great compromise, sounds great from outside. Happy.

Evolve chip - still getting to know what it can do but so far, very good. Certainly punchier/ torquier down low and faster for sure. Will get some performance box times to see how fast.

Quaife LSD - the best mod of all and I'd recommend doing this first. Some say only useful on track. Couldn't disagree more. Just feels so much more planted. No more rear end walking around/squirrelly under hard acceleration. Just hooks up and goes, less traction control intervention so more fun and less wondering what it's going to do next. Traction off in the wet, it's a different car, far easier to control and more predictable.

Track day at Winton on Sunday (maserati car club) so will be interesting to see how it performs on stock wheel, brakes, suspension, first time it's been on track.

[Bee Pee]

+ 1 for quaife LSD. Had it installed same time as upgrade ARBs and H&R sports springs.

Chassis is well and truly sorted. Rides well, corners even better.

[ovekvam]

How about dampers? When the F20 was new, the dampers felt just right, but after 27 000 km they seem to have worn in. Now they feel slightly on the soft side. When you change springs or swaybars to a stiffer type, it would seem appropriate to match that with stiffer dampers as well. In my experience, the dampers are more important for the handling than the springs.

[Bee Pee]

I'm on my 3rd BMW and previous cars [both 3 series with passive dampers] were over damped as stock.

My M135i is my first car with adaptive dampers and they seem to genuinely adapt to road conditions/number of passengers/tyre pressures/springs/ARB's - hence no issue for me.

I know the aftermarket tuners are starting to bring SW to upgrade adaptive damping control but at present I'm more than happy with my car's set up. Vast improvement over stock.

[ovekvam]

I'm on my fourth BMW, and they all seem to become underdamped as the dampers get worn. I prefer the handling with a slightly overdamped setup, so I have upgraded to Bilsteins on the three previous ones. Also vast improvement over stock.

[Bee Pee]

Underdamping is inevitable due to normal wear and tear, more so as cars these days tend to be heavier and with much wider tyres, making suspension work harder.

Agree, upgrades to stock BMW chassis yield some good benefits:-

on my e46 ACS3 springs/dampers
on my e91 birds B3s ARB's/springs/dampers and oem e9x M3 component upgrades F&R
on F20 H&R springs and birds ARB - waiting for F8x M3/M4 component compatibility to maybe upgrade further to get most of out of these amazing std fit PSS tyres.

[Rbezzz]

Hi how much was the m Perf exhaust?? Even just the supply given you got a range of items.

[DougM]

Roughly 2k exhaust, 4k diff, 1.5k chip in A$

Supplied and installed

[Robo_70]

Is the Quaife LSD a full swap out so you can put the old diff back in when you sell it?

[DougM]

No it's an exchange item. I'll sell it as is (eventually) unless it becomes a track pig one day.

Maserati car club Track day today - tight twisty track (Winton), great punch/torque and drive from LSD out of corners but too softly sprung and it scrubbed out the front tyres quite badly after 3 sessions. Packed up early and went home - shame only 40 cars in 2 groups so would have had heaps of sessions.

Needs tighter suspension and semi slicks to work on track. Maybe some negative camber as well. But Rather than chasing the slippery slope of track mods and ruining daily drive ability, I'll just keep it a road car where it's brilliant. Just proves the point again that a good road car is not normally great on track and vice versa.

[Bee Pee]

Originally Posted by 2013M135i

No it's an exchange item. I'll sell it as is (eventually) unless it becomes a track pig one day.

Maserati car club Track day today - tight twisty track (Winton), great punch/torque and drive from LSD out of corners but too softly sprung and it scrubbed out the front tyres quite badly after 3 sessions. Packed up early and went home - shame only 40 cars in 2 groups so would have had heaps of sessions.

Needs tighter suspension and semi slicks to work on track. Maybe some negative camber as well. But Rather than chasing the slippery slope of track mods and ruining daily drive ability, I'll just keep it a road car where it's brilliant. Just proves the point again that a good road car is not normally great on track and vice versa.

If you adaptive, try Eibach or H&R springs. I did and it sorts out the softness you refer to. If money no object then coil overs.

[Robo_70]

Chaddy, did you get that new powerbox yet?

[ddmyte]

Originally Posted by Robo_70

Seems a lot of bang for you buck, 400hp for under AU$900

Talks about 4 parameters but I cant see any wiring harness pics.

Here is their FB page. Not much from consumers
https://www.facebook.com/cpa.chiptuning?fref=photo

Hi Robo, I've just bought one of these for my car - wondered if you ever purchased one? Their aftersales really sucks. I can only find one connector and their manual states there's 2.