*** Best Tune for N52, MY09 125i?

[jkho]

Hey 1Addicts crew,

REF:
125i Stock:
Engine --> 160KW (214eHP) / 270Nm
Wheel --> 136KW (181wHP)

130i Stock:
Engine --> 195KW (261eHP) / 315Nm
Wheel --> 165KW (221wHP)


Not sure how active these forums are... but just wanted to pick every1's brains!

1) What's the best bang for buck Stage1 Tune for the N52 nowadays?
Ideally with some Dyno results to show!

I've searched some older posts on this forum and a couple of names came up:

• 2015 - Active Autowerke - https://www.1addicts.com/forums/show....php?t=1185458
• 2013 - EvolveR - https://www.1addicts.com/forums/showthread.php?t=923769
  - https://www.1addicts.com/forums/showthread.php?t=926493
• 2013 - Digitec - https://www.e90post.com/forums/showthread.php?t=916863
• 2011 - Send ECU and flash in Germany (MS Tuning) - https://www.1addicts.com/forums/showthread.php?t=528152
• OE?
• More recently come across BPC/Stage FP, but saw most the posts are for the 128i though... any difference?
• Any others?

2) My understanding is that Aussie E82 125i (are like the Euro spec ones and) all have the 3 Stage Manifold, does that mean we can get awesome gains (up to ~130i levels) with just a ECU Remap (N52 valvetronic)?


3) Can I just do an ECU Remap or do we need to also upgrade both exhaust headers and higher flowing cats?


4) Do you guys know any1 in Sydney who is able to help?


Thanking you in advance.
Appreciate all your input brainstrust!!

[MBan]

Hi jkho,

I used Active Autowerks for mine but I hazily recall everyone started using something else not long after. Bimmer Works maybe? I have no idea if you can still get tunes from any of these places. I installed mine remotely with a laptop and there were no shops in WA at the time who could do it for me. Sydney may be a different story.

The Australian 125i is intentionally restricted, presumably so it didn't get too close to the 135i, so all you need is a tune to unlock it to 130i spec. I did headers and front pipe with high flow cats at the same time, but that was only worth about 6hp before the tune.

Good luck - I really enjoyed my 125i while I had it.

[golfer23rm]

is it auto or manual?
I have a 125i and did a bimmerlabs tune. Was free from the site.
Need a laptop that has inpa and connects to the car and the obd cable.
Flashes the engine ecu to 130i spec.

[jkho]

Originally Posted by golfer23rm

is it auto or manual?
I have a 125i and did a bimmerlabs tune. Was free from the site.
Need a laptop that has inpa and connects to the car and the obd cable.
Flashes the engine ecu to 130i spec.

Mine is an auto, pretty much stock with a muffler delete.

ooh nice; did you ever do a dyno run before and after the tune?
If yea, what sorta numbers did you get with Bimmerlabs?

Did u load the 125i or 130i one?
Easy to do?

Sorry heaps of questions, I'm not familiar on the process... new to all this!

[golfer23rm]

so i also have an auto.

i loaded the 130i file. what i found was that there was a miss match between the gearbox and the engine, the revs would be out.

so you have to tune the gearbox to 130i spec too.

while you can tune the engine with a generic obd cable, you cannot use the same cable for the gearbox, you have to update the cable or use a bimmergeeks cable or icom cable.

https://www.1addicts.com/forums/show....php?t=1754063

https://www.1addicts.com/forums/show....php?t=2037462

have a read through those thread regarding the gearbox update.

[jkho]

Originally Posted by MBan

Hi jkho,

I used Active Autowerks for mine but I hazily recall everyone started using something else not long after. Bimmer Works maybe? I have no idea if you can still get tunes from any of these places. I installed mine remotely with a laptop and there were no shops in WA at the time who could do it for me. Sydney may be a different story.

The Australian 125i is intentionally restricted, presumably so it didn't get too close to the 135i, so all you need is a tune to unlock it to 130i spec. I did headers and front pipe with high flow cats at the same time, but that was only worth about 6hp before the tune.

Good luck - I really enjoyed my 125i while I had it.

Hey Mban,
Cheers for ur reply!
What car u driving nowadays? Miss the 125i sometimes?


Saw that you hit 220wHP/164wkw (with ARMA Speed headers and high flow cats <200 cell Magnaflow>) on the Dyno@Advan, which is pretty much the 130i Coupe we were all chasing!

Sorry for all the newb questions, still learning... hoping to pick your brain -->

So best bang for buck gain would be to do just do an ECU flash?
If that's all I'm doing, I'm keen to find the best one to get

Am I correct in saying that all these listed tunes would alter the valvetronic maps and make use of our 3 stage manifold?

Saw that you were deciding between AA, EvolveR amongst others:

• was there a particular reason you ended up going with AA (if you recall, way back in 2015!) ?
• did you ever consider the German ones that were quoting 270PS/266HP/198kw? (assuming that's at the engine); so that's roughly 226wHP/168wkw?

Appreciate the input mate!

[jkho]

Originally Posted by golfer23rm

so i also have an auto.

i loaded the 130i file. what i found was that there was a miss match between the gearbox and the engine, the revs would be out.

so you have to tune the gearbox to 130i spec too.

while you can tune the engine with a generic obd cable, you cannot use the same cable for the gearbox, you have to update the cable or use a bimmergeeks cable or icom cable.

https://www.1addicts.com/forums/show....php?t=1754063

https://www.1addicts.com/forums/show....php?t=2037462

have a read through those thread regarding the gearbox update.

ooh a free tune! (I've been MIA since 2010 haha)
Did ya get a Dyno before and after the tune?

I'll pm ya later to pick your brain if that's cool?
Thx bro

[golfer23rm]

Originally Posted by jkho

ooh a free tune! (I've been MIA since 2010 haha)
Did ya get a Dyno before and after the tune?

I'll pm ya later to pick your brain if that's cool?
Thx bro

No prob. did a dyno after and it was 169kw, 300odd torque.

[jkho]

Originally Posted by golfer23rm

No prob. did a dyno after and it was 169kw, 300odd torque.

169W, nice! Bang on 130i numbers
Is that just from the Tune...stock config or with additional upgrades like intake, exhaust headers, high flow cats, etc?