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      08-07-2022, 01:52 PM   #1
vasillalov
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Software differences between Base and Competition

Hi folks,

I apologize if this has been asked and answered before, but I really curious what are the software differences between Base and Competition trims. I know the Competition has more HP and way more TQ, but what else is different?

In particular, I am curious to know if the coding for braking, suspension, e-Diff, throttle mapping is also different.

To give you an idea why I am asking this: I spent a lot of time tuning my E90 335i,not only the engine management but also all of the modules that are responsible for the chassis. A lot of the controllers in the E90 are shared between the 328, 335 and the M3 and the difference is the firmware and coding.

Can someone confirm the differences between G80 Base and Competition models when it comes to controller firmware and coding?

Thanks in advance
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      08-07-2022, 04:48 PM   #2
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Curious if there is any difference. I would have guessed that if it were not for the "base" being a manual, they'd be 100% identical.
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      08-07-2022, 08:46 PM   #3
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Nothing else. Just higher PSI from 10.x to 14.x to gain the extra 30 HP. For that you lose 6MT but get “competition” moniker and automatic ZF tranny that’s in every other BMW and other manufacturers
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      08-07-2022, 09:06 PM   #4
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Quote:
Originally Posted by MTM3 View Post
Nothing else. Just higher PSI from 10.x to 14.x to gain the extra 30 HP. For that you lose 6MT but get “competition” moniker and automatic ZF tranny that’s in every other BMW and other manufacturers
It's a marketing ploy
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      08-08-2022, 04:17 AM   #5
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Tyga11 View Post
It's a marketing ploy
Why wouldn't they call the 503/8ZF the competition version? Its quicker than the 473/6MT both on the drag strip & track day.

The 6MT is the "fun nostalgia" version but as the quick winning competition car, that ended for the manual transmission in the 1960/1970's Muscle Car Era.
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      08-08-2022, 05:47 AM   #6
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Quote:
Originally Posted by BEAR-AvHistory View Post
Why wouldn't they call the 503/8ZF the competition version? Its quicker than the 473/6MT both on the drag strip & track day.

The 6MT is the "fun nostalgia" version but as the quick winning competition car, that ended for the manual transmission in the 1960/1970's Muscle Car Era.
I agree with most of what you said except the manual was the better performance option until at least the 90s.

If you want the best numbers, an auto is the only way to go now.
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      08-10-2022, 12:24 PM   #7
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Quote:
Originally Posted by BEAR-AvHistory View Post
Why wouldn't they call the 503/8ZF the competition version? Its quicker than the 473/6MT both on the drag strip & track day.

The 6MT is the "fun nostalgia" version but as the quick winning competition car, that ended for the manual transmission in the 1960/1970's Muscle Car Era.
Because there's not a regular non-competition AT car, so basically any auto car is competition and that's a marketing ploy. Especially that it's just turbo boost higher, once the DME is broken in you will be able to dial up boost on either AT or MT
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      08-10-2022, 12:27 PM   #8
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Quote:
Originally Posted by MTM3 View Post
Quote:
Originally Posted by BEAR-AvHistory View Post
Why wouldn't they call the 503/8ZF the competition version? Its quicker than the 473/6MT both on the drag strip & track day.

The 6MT is the "fun nostalgia" version but as the quick winning competition car, that ended for the manual transmission in the 1960/1970's Muscle Car Era.
Because there's not a regular non-competition AT car, so basically any auto car is competition and that's a marketing ploy. Especially that it's just turbo boost higher, once the DME is broken in you will be able to dial up boost on either AT or MT
Maybe so, but a 6MT car will not have the same traction as a Competition car.
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      08-10-2022, 01:55 PM   #9
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Quote:
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Maybe so, but a 6MT car will not have the same traction as a Competition car.
As long as you are talking about the Competition xDrive version
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      08-10-2022, 04:30 PM   #10
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Ervin87 View Post
Maybe so, but a 6MT car will not have the same traction as a Competition car.
BS. Rwd is the same. Again marketing ploy worked - people are making up extra benefits for Auto only car lol.
You get a different flash by 4 bars higher and a blacked out badge - that’s it. There’s nothing competition about AT.
All wheel drive is a different story but there’s no 6MT all wheel drive so we will never know.
This isn’t a regular 911 vs GT3 story no matter how much you squint lol
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      08-10-2022, 04:34 PM   #11
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Quote:
Originally Posted by MTM3 View Post
Quote:
Originally Posted by Ervin87 View Post
Maybe so, but a 6MT car will not have the same traction as a Competition car.
BS. Rwd is the same. Again marketing ploy worked - people are making up extra benefits for Auto only car lol.
You get a different flash by 4 bars higher and a blacked out badge - that’s it. There’s nothing competition about AT.
All wheel drive is a different story but there’s no 6MT all wheel drive so we will never know.
This isn’t a regular 911 vs GT3 story no matter how much you squint lol
We can agree to disagree. 👍
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      08-10-2022, 04:35 PM   #12
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The Comp has nicer seatbelts.
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      08-10-2022, 04:36 PM   #13
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Quote:
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We can agree to disagree. 👍
Lol it’s not a matter of agree and disagree. It’s just a fact. 👍
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      08-10-2022, 04:42 PM   #14
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Quote:
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The Comp has nicer seatbelts.
Not sure why BMWUSA has removed 4GQ option from 6MT car but they’re not more expensive or nicer or better. Just a matter of taste. Ali express sells M seatbelts for pennies a foot of you must have them.
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      08-10-2022, 05:20 PM   #15
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yeah, I'm buying bootleg seatbelts LOL

I guess you bought a manual
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      08-10-2022, 09:05 PM   #16
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Quote:
Originally Posted by FC4 View Post
The Comp has nicer seatbelts.
That must be a US specific thing.
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      08-11-2022, 10:14 AM   #17
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Well, FWIW, in the previous generation M3/M4 (F8x), there were differences in chassis firmware for steering, differential, traction control (aka MDM mode), suspension (for EDC cars), and transmission (for DCT cars) between different models/packages. Specifically, the M4 GTS, M4 CS, M3 CS, M3/M4 Competition, and Base M3/M4 (aka the "Civic M3/M4") all had different firmware in those respective modules (although some variants shared the same firmware on some modules, but different firmware in others - it was a mixed bag of sorts). In fact, there were some hardware differences as well between the different variants such as sway bars and springs.

Once the F8x matured some (and was "cracked" so to speak), it was (and still is) popular to update the various modules I mentioned above to the M3/M4 CS and/or M4 GTS chassis firmware for improved performance. I did this as well with my F80 M3 (Competition), upgrading to all of the M3 CS firmware stuff, which made a noticeable performance improvement, especially for the EDC suspension.

As far as the G8x is concerned, I would be surprised if there weren't similar firmware differences in both the chassis modules and some of the hardware (like springs and sway bars) between the different G8x variants. I think it is a foregone conclusion that the M4 CSL will have different chassis firmware and hardware. But it makes sense that there could also be some firmware and/or hardware differences between the M3/M4, M3/M4 Comp, and M3/M4 xDrive as well. Time will tell as the G8x is eventually fully "cracked" just like the previous generations….
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Last edited by jmciver; 08-11-2022 at 10:25 AM..
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      08-11-2022, 10:42 AM   #18
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Quote:
Originally Posted by FC4 View Post
The Comp has nicer seatbelts.
My 6MT that I picked up last week.
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      08-11-2022, 11:36 AM   #19
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Quote:
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My 6MT that I picked up last week.
Interesting! I started a thread about it here as I saw a few 6MTs with them. They will be standard from MY23 on but seems like a few earlier ones had them fitted. I'll guess it came down to availability.

Oh well. At least mine came with Michelins.
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      08-11-2022, 11:38 AM   #20
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Quote:
Originally Posted by BEAR-AvHistory View Post
Why wouldn't they call the 503/8ZF the competition version? Its quicker than the 473/6MT both on the drag strip & track day.
Not if you're Randy Pobst driving on Thunderhill Raceway

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      08-11-2022, 11:48 AM   #21
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Quote:
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The Comp has nicer seatbelts.
Comp also gets the nicer trim around the shifter area
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      08-11-2022, 01:00 PM   #22
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man that gloss black already looks grody and the matte trim around the base shifter always looks nice.
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