[hova00]

After a 2.5 weeks I finally picked up my 2023 BMW M3 Comp xDrive from Thompson BMW after they installed the new Carbahn Stage 2 ECU tune using Femto Unlock. All I can say is WOW!

The performance from this package while retaining your 4 year 50,000 mile warranty is a huge plus and makes modding the car a no brainer for me. It's shocking the level of performance this car delivers. It's on another level!!

Check out the video for Dragy results.

[Hit_Apex]

Congrats! I appreciate the way you are going about this, from the dealer install w/FEMTO unlock (which I still am puzzled by), warranty, and before and after results. Can't wait to see dragstrip runs on 93 and 100. Would be super cool to see pics of the HE installed including close up of the plumbing and plastic trimming required but I might be asking too much :P I have the Carbahn HE and will install prior to hitting the track. Oh, it is an incremental bit and slots in front of the OEM HE where the upper plastic guard sits, increasing cooling capacity by 40%!

[forcefed]

That's hilarious, dealer shipping the ecm to finland for unlock and then flashing a tune, how carbahn convinced dealers to do that is crazy. Can't wait for the dyno

[Crazyotter]

Originally Posted by hova00

After a 2.5 weeks I finally picked up my 2023 BMW M3 Comp xDrive from Thompson BMW after they installed the new Carbahn Stage 2 ECU tune using Femto Unlock. All I can say is WOW!

The performance from this package while retaining your 4 year 50,000 mile warranty is a huge plus and makes modding the car a no brainer for me. It's shocking the level of performance this car delivers. It's on another level!!

Check out the video for Dragy results.

10.5 in wet conditions?!
Sold!!!!

[somer]

Great vid thanks for compiling all the information. Guessing with the added power that 4WD mode might be better than 4WD Sport on the street at least. Gotta figure ~10.3 @ 133 would be rough guess for the drag strip!

[GrannyShiftG80]

$7,000 you could do a lot with that money

[M4Lou]

Great video - how in the h___ do you get your car to hook up on the road w/ that kind of power?? I've got MPS2's and my fastest 0-60 is 3.06, but I've had many runs slower because of traction.

Does the chassis in comfort allow the car to squat and get more traction????

What type of tires???

[Boostin335]

Originally Posted by M4Lou

Great video - how in the h___ do you get your car to hook up on the road w/ that kind of power?? I've got MPS2's and my fastest 0-60 is 3.06, but I've had many runs slower because of traction.

Does the chassis in comfort allow the car to squat and get more traction????

What type of tires???

MPS2 here as well and Comfort is the way to go to get the best launch on the street. I have matched C&Ds 2.8 stock time to 60 with sport plus, comfort, and 4WD mode (not sport).

[M4Lou]

Originally Posted by Boostin335

MPS2 here as well and Comfort is the way to go to get the best launch on the street. I have matched C&Ds 2.8 stock time to 60 with sport plus, comfort, and 4WD mode (not sport).

Sweet - thanks for that post.

[Hit_Apex]

Originally Posted by Allenssmart

$7,000 you could do a lot with that money

and that's exactly what he did! Hard to find fault with that decision without knowing his financial situation and how he allocates his overall spending.

[LD]

Great video. Did the dealership mention anything about how to address over the air updates after the tune?

[hova00]

Originally Posted by Hit_Apex

Congrats! I appreciate the way you are going about this, from the dealer install w/FEMTO unlock (which I still am puzzled by), warranty, and before and after results. Can't wait to see dragstrip runs on 93 and 100. Would be super cool to see pics of the HE installed including close up of the plumbing and plastic trimming required but I might be asking too much :P I have the Carbahn HE and will install prior to hitting the track. Oh, it is an incremental bit and slots in front of the OEM HE where the upper plastic guard sits, increasing cooling capacity by 40%!

Thank you! I'm ready to hit the drag strip. Being able to run 100 Octane is a huge benefit. 40% increased cooling capacity is huge and will come in handy when I go to the road course. I'll see if I can get some photos for you.

Originally Posted by forcefed

That's hilarious, dealer shipping the ecm to finland for unlock and then flashing a tune, how carbahn convinced dealers to do that is crazy. Can't wait for the dyno

I jumped at the opportunity when Carbahn released the package. Dyno session is scheduled!

Originally Posted by Crazyotter

10.5 in wet conditions?!
Sold!!!!

I'm super impressed! Can't wait to hit the drag strip.

Originally Posted by somer

Great vid thanks for compiling all the information. Guessing with the added power that 4WD mode might be better than 4WD Sport on the street at least. Gotta figure ~10.3 @ 133 would be rough guess for the drag strip!

Thanks my man! I'll have to get back out and try 4WD. 10.3@133mph or better at the strip would be amazing

Originally Posted by Allenssmart

$7,000 you could do a lot with that money

I did!! I bought the Carbahn Stage II package.

Originally Posted by M4Lou

Great video - how in the h___ do you get your car to hook up on the road w/ that kind of power?? I've got MPS2's and my fastest 0-60 is 3.06, but I've had many runs slower because of traction.

Does the chassis in comfort allow the car to squat and get more traction????

What type of tires???

Thank you sir! I have the OEM tires on the car and they've done great on the street, strip or road course. Comfort mode does let the car squat a bit more.

Originally Posted by Boostin335

MPS2 here as well and Comfort is the way to go to get the best launch on the street. I have matched C&Ds 2.8 stock time to 60 with sport plus, comfort, and 4WD mode (not sport).

Nice 0-60 times! I'll give 4WD mode a try and see how it compares.

Originally Posted by M4Lou

Sweet - thanks for that post.

Anytiime! I'm happy to share with the community.

Originally Posted by Hit_Apex

and that's exactly what he did! Hard to find fault with that decision without knowing his financial situation and how he allocates his overall spending.

Right on bro!! Gotta do what makes you happy!

Originally Posted by LD

Great video. Did the dealership mention anything about how to address over the air updates after the tune?

Great question! From my understanding over the air updates are turned off. I'll double check with my SA.

[mike@x-ph.com]

It's not my tune of choice, but then again, it's not my car or money, so my opinion does not matter

Congrats OP on the upgrade, I'm glad you like it

[BvB1909]

How do you like the “burble override”? Is it similar sounding to stock or quite a bit louder? Does it still tone down with the exhaust valve closed?

[Zanardi43]

Mike—curious why it’s not your tune of choice? I’m trying to decide which tuning route to take and Carbahn with the warranty is where I’m leaning at this point. You’ve got a lot of experience and your opinion is very informed, so would love to hear why you’d not go with the Carbahn tune. Is it just the inflexibility of not being able to adjust to additional mods/fuel?

[Ervin87]

Congratulations. That power level while maintaining a factory powertrain warranty and having a piece of mind is a no brainer option.

For those commenting on the price versus “others” , good luck when something goes wrong and you are left stranded, or when the car is flagged and you have to deal with claims. $5K saved will mean nothing.

This is also a huge plus for the next owner (for those planning to sell). I sure wouldn’t buy a tuned G8X without a warranty like this.

[Boostin335]

Originally Posted by Ervin87

Congratulations. That power level while maintaining a factory powertrain warranty and having a piece of mind is a no brainer option.

For those commenting on the price versus “others” , good luck when something goes wrong and you are left stranded, or when the car is flagged and you have to deal with claims. $5K saved will mean nothing.

This is also a huge plus for the next owner (for those planning to sell). I sure wouldn’t buy a tuned G8X without a warranty like this.

I would think this would absolutely retain its value or at least most of it for the next buyer making this cost less for its usage for the owner. $6700 all in or so, I would think this would add a min of $4K to the sale.

So under $3K is probably the net cost to original owner. With keeping a warranty its a no brainer if you purchased the car.

[chris3g]

Originally Posted by Ervin87

Congratulations. That power level while maintaining a factory powertrain warranty and having a piece of mind is a no brainer option.

For those commenting on the price versus “others” , good luck when something goes wrong and you are left stranded, or when the car is flagged and you have to deal with claims. $5K saved will mean nothing.

This is also a huge plus for the next owner (for those planning to sell). I sure wouldn’t buy a tuned G8X without a warranty like this.

it doesn't maintain the factory warranty though, you are getting a "matching" warranty provided by Carbahn. I have no idea what Carbahn's track record is for handling warranty claims but it's kind of an important distinction.

[Ervin87]

Originally Posted by chris3g

it doesn't maintain the factory warranty though, you are getting a "matching" warranty provided by Carbahn. I have no idea what Carbahn's track record is for handling warranty claims but it's kind of an important distinction.

PO picked his car up directly from the BMW dealership with a tune. They didnt flag it or give him any issues. The fact that BMW dealership is offering this service is a huge plus. Carbahn (formerly Dinan) has been doing this for decades. As long as individuals don’t add any additional modifications outside of Carbahn , I don’t see any issues.

Try taking a jb4 to your dealership and ask them to install it.

[chris3g]

Originally Posted by Ervin87

PO picked his car up directly from the BMW dealership with a tune. They didnt flag it or give him any issues. The fact that BMW dealership is offering this service is a huge plus. Carbahn (formerly Dinan) has been doing this for decades. As long as individuals don’t add any additional modifications outside of Carbahn , I don’t see any issues.

Try taking a jb4 to your dealership and ask them to install it.

I’m not arguing any of that or discounting the added value. But the dealership and BMW corporation are separate entities. If something goes wrong which requires the dealer to get paid for work on the powertrain of your car , it’s no longer BMW who is covering and paying the claim, it’s Carbahn. Will it be the same overall experience for the owner ? I have no idea. Just pointing it out.

[hova00]

Originally Posted by mike@x-ph.com

It's not my tune of choice, but then again, it's not my car or money, so my opinion does not matter

Congrats OP on the upgrade, I'm glad you like it

Thanks Mike! "Like it" is an understatement. I love it!

In my opinion there isn't a better choice for those of us that want the best of both worlds. Supercar performance and a Warranty!!

In addition Steve Dinan has been tuning and modifying BMW's longer than some of us have been alive.

Originally Posted by BvB1909

How do you like the “burble override”? Is it similar sounding to stock or quite a bit louder? Does it still tone down with the exhaust valve closed?

It's like stock but has a different tone and duration to my ears. This could be a placebo effect because I didn't have the car for a couple weeks.

Originally Posted by Ervin87

Congratulations. That power level while maintaining a factory powertrain warranty and having a piece of mind is a no brainer option.

For those commenting on the price versus “others” , good luck when something goes wrong and you are left stranded, or when the car is flagged and you have to deal with claims. $5K saved will mean nothing.

This is also a huge plus for the next owner (for those planning to sell). I sure wouldn’t buy a tuned G8X without a warranty like this.

Thank you! Maintaining the warranty is huge plus and provides peace of mind for me and the next owner when I decide to sell. This car absolutely rips and has more power on the table when I run 100 octane.

Originally Posted by Boostin335

I would think this would absolutely retain its value or at least most of it for the next buyer making this cost less for its usage for the owner. $6700 all in or so, I would think this would add a min of $4K to the sale.

So under $3K is probably the net cost to original owner. With keeping a warranty its a no brainer if you purchased the car.

Great point! I didn't consider resale because it isn't a concern for me. The car would sell itself if I ever chose to sell. From what I've see in the past Steve Dinan badged/modified cars bring a slight premium over the stock counterparts.

Originally Posted by chris3g

it doesn't maintain the factory warranty though, you are getting a "matching" warranty provided by Carbahn. I have no idea what Carbahn's track record is for handling warranty claims but it's kind of an important distinction.

The car still has the BMW warranty in addition to Carbahns warranty on any Carbahn part or OEM parts affected by a Carbahn part. No warranty worries here.

Originally Posted by Ervin87

PO picked his car up directly from the BMW dealership with a tune. They didnt flag it or give him any issues. The fact that BMW dealership is offering this service is a huge plus. Carbahn (formerly Dinan) has been doing this for decades. As long as individuals don’t add any additional modifications outside of Carbahn , I don’t see any issues.

Try taking a jb4 to your dealership and ask them to install it.

Exactly!! I'll even get a loaner.

[mike@x-ph.com]

Originally Posted by Zanardi43

Mike—curious why it’s not your tune of choice? I’m trying to decide which tuning route to take and Carbahn with the warranty is where I’m leaning at this point. You’ve got a lot of experience and your opinion is very informed, so would love to hear why you’d not go with the Carbahn tune. Is it just the inflexibility of not being able to adjust to additional mods/fuel?

I'd rather not respond here as it will probably derail the thread. feel free to call me or dm me and I'm more than happy to discuss it.